Spyderco Delica 4 Lightweight 7.15" Folding Pocket Knife with 2.90" VG-10 Steel Blade, Emerson Opener & Plain Edge - EDC, Camping, Hiking & Outdoor Survival Tool

Update after almost 4 years: gall durn if it isn’t still the best dang edc knife I’ve ever owned. Upgraded my sharpening game with a ken onion WorkSharp, and this blade is still shaving sharp with a few seconds of touch up from time to time. I’ve never had to do any drastic reprofile besides a slight tip breakage, and I do not use my tools gingerly. Still locks up perfectly, still opens effortlessly, still the best combination of light weight and utility I’ve found. I still buy an occasional edc knife when it catches my eye, for example, I also really like the CRKT m16, but the blade steel,utility, and workmanship is nowhere near Spyderco. It’s just a matter of time until this delica ends up back in my pocket. I use and carry a knife every day, and while I’d be sad to lose or break this one, the price point won’t have me howling like something even higher end. There are many great knives out there, but this is still the best all around knife value I’m aware of.Update after 2 years: so ugly but so good, a truly great value. Of course looks are subjective, but this knife is all business, and I feel like anything that would make it look better, would probably be detrimental to its function. The wave opener makes the blade look weird, but it sure works great. Sadly it’s a bad bottle opener, but works if there’s nothing else available, more as a leverage tool against the side of your finger. If you’ve ever opened a bottle with a lighter you know what I’m talking about. The handles are indeed a weird dark blue, not exactly an attractive color, but they are very light, and very grippy despite the thin profile, fish slime tested and approved. Blade is very durable, with a perfect balance of edge holding vs. sharpenability. I abuse it in salt water and other awful environments and other than a few spots of gray patina, it looks like new... other than the damage I’ve caused, of course. I broke the very tip off, so I made that into an edge too :) pocket clip has just about all the paint worn off but still kicking. Handles, lock, etc., all work perfectly, and I’ve never had to take it apart for cleaning. Soap, water, and some corrosionX have taken care of all the fish guts, sand, saltwater and other assorted mocus this thing has been regularly exposed to. I have other knives, and have bought a few since this, but as for a workhorse edc knife, the light weight, instant deployment, and incredible blade steel make this the champ.Original review:In my years of searching for a great edc knife, I'm glad I finally found this one. Years ago I tried a couple lower end Bokers and a junky Browning tanto, a nice-ish victorinox, nothing over maybe $40, all adequate but easily dulled blades, loose hinges, everything expected in low end folders. I didn't know any better. I would carry one for a while, then something else would catch my eye, and I'd get another piece of junk. I still have most of them, no harm done, and I can have a knife packed away in every tool box, camping pack, car, etc.Fast forward a few years when I actually have a few bucks in my wallet, and a friend showed me a Benchmade. I was intrigued, I had no idea knives could be so sharp and well made, but had no intention of paying over a hundred bucks for any knife that could possibly get lost, let alone $200 or more. I figured I was stuck with junk, but I then found there was a market for mid-priced high quality folders. My first USA made knife was a Kershaw Shallot. A bad a** looking and nicely operating knife no doubt, but not exactly designed as a workhorse. I paid a bunch for some Leatherman tools as well, very glad I found the Charge TTI, my other edc tool, and since it does so much so well, I could stomach the cost.Then I finally tried a Spyderco, did a lot of research and settled on the Endura wave. Holy cow, I was impressed, what a combination of size, light weight, and instant opening. The only thing was, it's honestly a little big for cutting boxes, gaffers tape, herbs from the garden, and many of the other little tasks I do regularly. The belly of the blade is just too far away from the grip for my tasks, so I wanted a smaller spyderco. I tried the Dragonfly next, which was a mistake; although it's still a high quality knife, it's just too small and light, and I don't like the grip being basically on the blade, I'm a musician, I need my fingers to remain as intact as possible. So I did what I should have in the first place and bought the Delica wave. It's awesome. Unassuming, lightweight, instantly deployable, sharp as all get out (and probably easier to sharpen since the blade is thinner than the Endura). The grip is just as strong as the Endura with a little more finesse leverage available due to the smaller blade.Are Benchmade and Emerson nicer? Sure. But I'm not looking for a BMW, you ever see how much a muffler costs for one of those? I'll take the Acura. If you want a nice, dependable workhorse piece of gear that's instantly useful and yet is so light you can forget it in your pocket, look no further than the Delica.