Delica deluxe - a new angle

[Novanglus]

As I've mentioned here before, despite my respect for the unique pistols, I've never been interested in anything exotic as an EDC knife.  My choice for years has been the pedestrian, but highly functional Spyderco Delica:



For the price of an exotic folder, I can buy a half dozen Delicas and not have a coronary when when one of them gets misplaced.  But almost as important as their great utility is the fact that Delicas are very light: a mere 2.5 ounces - unnoticeable in your pocket until you need it.  

Recently I was talking with the Leonardo of leather (maestro Del Fatti) about a pending order when the conversation turned to other pocket passengers.  I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Matt is also a fan of the humble Delica.  But, as a man who does a lot of cutting,  he did allow that he did have his Delicas tweaked by knife-maker Tom Krein.  He said he sent his Delicas to Tom for regrinding and they came back as incomparable cutters.  So I decided to give it a try and here's what I got back:






And here's a side by side of Tom's regrind with a standard Delica blade (albeit a combo blade):





Having usied the Krein-itized Delica for a couple of weeks now, I can attest that Tom's work results in an astounding improvement to a knife I already treasured.   It's taken a workaday reliable, functional folder and added a simply amazing cutting edge.

Tom charges a very reasonable $35 for the regrind, plus $10 shipping.  So it about doubles the cost of a Delica, but the improvement is more than worth the modest cost.  So I stiil don't carry an exotic blade, but now I've got a scalpel in sheep's clothing ..

Many thanks to Matt for the great tip and to Tom for the excellent work.  Check out or contact Tom at:

http://www.kreinknives.net/contact.htm
Tom Krein
Krein Knives
PO BOX 994
337 E Main St
Gentry, AR
72734
(479)  233 0508
tomkrein@cox-internet.com

[Richard S]

Very interesting!  Thanks for the post and the link.

[dawkind]

I, too, have a few knives that Tom has reground and the difference is unbelievable!!!!

I've had him do a couple of Boye's.....the black one is Colbalt....and a couple of old Spyderco's.

They are literally scalpel sharp and cut with no resistance. He gets the edge down to around .008" - .010"
BEFORE he sharpens it!  



I had him sharpen the clip on this 'Police' model, along with a to-the-top full flat-grind....

[Novanglus]

Great photos, Dawkind!  Thanks for sharing the idea if the regrind on the clip - I'll definitely ask Tom to include this on the next Delica I send him.  If you have a moment, I'd appreciate your description of how the regrind works with the serrated portion of your combo blades.  I'd assumed that combo blades wouldn't be appropriate for a Krein regrind, but yours look fine ... How do the function?

I, too, have a few knives that Tom has reground and the difference is unbelievable!!!!

I've had him do a couple of Boye's.....the black one is Colbalt....and a couple of old Spyderco's.

They are literally scalpel sharp and cut with no resistance. He gets the edge down to around .008" - .010"
BEFORE he sharpens it!  



I had him sharpen the clip on this 'Police' model, along with a to-the-top full flat-grind....

[dawkind]

 If you have a moment, I'd appreciate your description of how the regrind works with the serrated portion of your combo blades.  I'd assumed that combo blades wouldn't be appropriate for a Krein regrind, but yours look fine ... How do the function?

He touches up the serrations by hand and they are VERY SHARP!!! They function as they normally would but with 10x the effciency and no drag.

Since the blade is very thin, no prying, twisitng, chopping, etc., or things will likely 'go south'. As long as the knife is used as it was intended, to cut with, there have been no problems and the transformation is amazing.

Tom has done re-grinds on a variety of knives, including many customs, that just didn't cut it......pun intended.  

[Novanglus]

Thanks Dawkind - great info!

He touches up the serrations by hand and they are VERY SHARP!!! They function as they normally would but with 10x the effciency and no drag.

Since the blade is very thin, no prying, twisitng, chopping, etc., or things will likely 'go south'. As long as the knife is used as it was intended, to cut with, there have been no problems and the transformation is amazing.

Tom has done re-grinds on a variety of knives, including many customs, that just didn't cut it......pun intended.  

[tracker]

Tom is taking vacation in 3-4 weeks so if you are interested
now is the time; I was and I did.