Handle - Endura vs Delica vs Endela

[David Mary]

Looking for others' opinions on this little phenomenon.



I bought my first Endura a few years ago, and Endura 4 with brown handle scales. I loved it. Strong, light, slim, everything a large EDC should be. I never had a problem with it. But then one fateful day I read a post from someone somewhere, I can't remember if it was here, or the Spyderco forum or somewhere else, but this person mentioned how the handle points, or bumps were not positioned very well for his hands, and that he found them uncomfortable. I found others who said the same, and particularly mentioned that the bumps were too sharp or pointy.

Oh no! the seed of awakening was planted, and over the time, I started to notice the same thing. Eventually I ground the first bump off for a continual curve in the handle until the second bump, and this alleviated most of the hitherto unnoticed issue for me. I bought a Delica 4 Wharncliffe, and found the same treatment improved the comfort in hand on this knife for me as well.

I do not own an Endela, but have often felt that I would like the Delica blade to be just a touch longer. So the Endela is interesting to me, and I also notice that they have rounded the points in the handle as well.

So I am just wondering how others feel about these three knives, the E4, D4, and Endela, with regard to the handle bumps/points. Do you like them, hate them, or not even think about them? If you don't like them, how would you or did you mod, and what were your results?

I like my Endura 4, Delica 4, and Salt 2 better like this:



And as a slight aside, the Endura 3 handle on my Pacific Salt is way more comfy like this:



But I hired someone to make me carbon fiber scales for my E4 Wharncliffe, based on my drawing in paint.net.




He finished them and sent me this pic, and now I am expecting them in the mail (yes I did specifically ask for left side tip down carry):

 

[BladeScout]

Looking for others' opinions on this little phenomenon.
........
I never had a problem with it. But then one fateful day I read a post from someone somewhere.....

First of all, they are your knives and you can do with them as you want. That being said, there is a lot of that going around i.e. people reading about problems and then suddenly developing similar problems themselves. Sort of Münchausen by proxy but with knives*
Tongue in cheek of course

On a more serious note, Enduras and Delicas are popular with those who like to mod their knives. Some with more luck than others. To make sure, I got an unmessed with example, I bought my latest Endura from KC. A 4 in V-Toku2. I dont have a problem with the handle 'bumps.'
My most used Delica is bone standard as well (though I sometimes bob the tip, Janich-style).
I dont own an Endela, as Im covered with the above knives and a slew of PM2s.

*I cant wait for you to read about blade to handle ratio

 

[David Mary]

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that the handles were a problem exactly, more that after reading the comments and continuing to use the knife, I realized "You know what, I think it would be much more comfortable for me if I did something about this". The same was true with the Shaman, the Caribbean, and a few knives I made a while back. Once I made this change, I found all the handles I did it to more comfortable.

*I cant wait for you to read about blade to handle ratio

 

[South paw draw]

Very interesting reading. I have the delica 4 only and I put the pull ring on the back. I don't have any problems with the bumps. I do like the thought of the endela and I'll probably pick one up for work but that's what it will be for.... work. Imho the delica is just about the perfect size for the work space. It could use a tiny but more blade. And I like sydercos vg10. Stays sharp and it's easy to maintain in the field. I was hoping to find a used endela here on the forums. Maybe I should pick up a endura and give it a try. Just think at that size the pm2 is a better choice.

 

[BladeScout]

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that the handles were a problem exactly, more that after reading the comments and continuing to use the knife, I realized "You know what, I think it would be much more comfortable for me if I did something about this". The same was true with the Shaman, the Caribbean, and a few knives I made a while back. Once I made this change, I found all the handles I did it to more comfortable.

Many owners have modded the handles on the Endura and Delica, as mentioned and there are various aftermarket scales to be had. Ive tried exchanging the Delica factory scales for aftermarket scales just for the heck of it. I bought the alu Wise Men Co scales but dont recommend them. There are holes in the scales, which I find uncomfortable. I prefer the factory scales over the WMC scales.
Further more, putting more weight in the form of alu scales on a handy little light weight knife like the Delica seems counterproductive.

Boomer52 here on the forum makes some great looking scales. His scales are popular and he is a nice guy to deal with.

So I am just wondering how others feel about these three knives, the E4, D4, and Endela, with regard to the handle bumps/points. Do you like them, hate them, or not even think about them?

The Delica4 is a great little knife as were the previous models. It instantly shot to the top of my list of most often used knives, when first I got one. Ill never willingly not own a Delica.

 

[kylemiller]

I have yet to see a pic of an Endela in the wild. Great idea, but maybe a few years too late.

 

[BladeScout]

I have yet to see a pic of an Endela in the wild. Great idea, but maybe a few years too late.

Not sure I agree. Plenty find that the Endura is too large a knife and the Endela is the answer to that. As always to each his own of course.

 

[timbo813]

I’m excited about the Endela. If they make it in salt format with LC200N I will definitely buy one.

 

[vba]

A little late to this thread but the Endura and Delica "bumps" don't bother me at all and I have extra-large hands.

I believe too much has been made of this.

 

[patrickguignot]

Eventually I ground the first bump off for a continual curve in the handl

Have you used sand paper for this? Is it easy to do on FRN? I'm thinking of doing it because I have the same problem than you with the Endura. I dislike the "bump" in the handle.

In fact, in the category of "long and slim EDC" I prefer my Manly Peak. Same backlock but the handle is more ergonomic, the S90V steel is better than VG10 and the edge is thinner.

 

[David Mary]

I used the top wheel of a worksharp ken Onion Edition for the majority of the removal, smoothed it out on the slack belt portion afterwards and then hand sanded with sandpaper and sanding sponges. If you don't have some kind of power tool, files should work fine, and then hand sand to finish. If you use files, it'll be easiest if you can set it up in a vise first.

 

[BenchCo Spydermade]

The thing with "bumps" and choils on handles is that when they fit your hand they are great, but if they dont then they make hot spots. A finger nestling in a groove is very different than a finger sitting on a bumps peak. Depending on the size of the hand, any given knife with "ergonomic" finger grooves can be uncomfortable for the wrong hand. Less bumpy scales that taper and swell without grooves tend to be more one size fits all. Seems like your hand doesnt fit the handle, but you love the knife designs and have found a solution!

 

[Sergeua]

The bumps are fine for me, but I did put a chamfer on the inside of the scales, because it's just sharp from factory and that's how you get the hotspots.

 

[David Mary]

The thing with "bumps" and choils on handles is that when they fit your hand they are great, but if they dont then they make hot spots. A finger nestling in a groove is very different than a finger sitting on a bumps peak. Depending on the size of the hand, any given knife with "ergonomic" finger grooves can be uncomfortable for the wrong hand. Less bumpy scales that taper and swell without grooves tend to be more one size fits all. Seems like your hand doesnt fit the handle, but you love the knife designs and have found a solution!

Someone who gets it.

The bumps are fine for me, but I did put a chamfer on the inside of the scales, because it's just sharp from factory and that's how I get the hotspots.

Fixed it for you.

 

[David Mary]

Well I figured I should update this thread with my all time favourite Endura. I ordered custom carbon fiber scales for it, and the design I submitted him was a bit on the fat size, as can be seen by the pic above. That gave me the wiggle room that I knew I would need to fit it perfectly to my hand. Here is the result:



What I didn't anticipate was the nice increase I got in cutting ability going from bendy FRN to stiff carbon fiber!

 

[Edgeoflife]

I personally love the Endura and own 8-9 in various different iterations and steels. This is the knife that made me realize a large Folder can be easily EDC-able when In the right package. Prior to this I carried 3-3 1/4" blades pretty much exclusively. The bumps and fingers grooves personally don't bother me but everyone's hand is different and obviously finger grooves are not as ergonomically neutral as without them and won't be comfortable for everyone. I've owned a few Delica's and eventually sold them off finding them a little too small for my personal tastes (funny as I previously liked smaller sizes) except for the KC exclusive pakkawood version which I do like quite a bit and also have its bigger brother the endura exclusive, both in HAP40. These models are more reminiscent in construction of the old G10 enduras with full liners,Full length exposed metal backsprings and spacers, albiet a little heavier compared to the FRN models. They are awesome but the beauty of the FRN models are the lightweight and affordable price points imo and they make fantastic work knives. I also have a couple enduras with G10 aftermarket scales which I do find as a nice upgrade but it does add some weight. I'm probably gonna end up pulling the trigger on some Aramis CF scales at some point as I've been eyeing them for sometime and they shouldn't add much weight not to mention they look fantastic but CF lacks traction usually compared to g10 Or FRN which is where the finger grooves come into play locking the hand in the grip. I haven't handled the endela yet and it looks like a great in between size but Ive been kind of avoiding it because I love the Endura so much and also bc it's currently only available in one configuration that I know of with black FRN with VG10 blade steel and costs about the same price as an Endura. I dig those custom CF scales and hope you're enjoying your Endura wharnie!

 

[David Mary]

I am, thank you. But ironically, I am going to my Tenacious, and especially my Resiliences more and more lately. I modded a couple Resiliences by cutting the rear portion of the handle off which has the screw holes and lanyard hole, so that they are now kind of like the Endela of the Spyderco Chinese line value knives. One is a wharncliffe, the other is a low tipped leaf blade, akin to the Sliverax. I left one alone (aside from sprucing it up, it still has the same dimension, except behind the edge, of course!), and the other received a straight spine and some handle material removal to counterbalance.

As for the Endura, it is a little slick, as you say. That is part of the reason for the little hook on the back.

Aramis Akhmedov, good maker. I got the blue Marabou Line scales for my Yojimbo 2, then modded away the thumb ramp for a continuous curve to the point, removed the finger groove for a more comfortable and neutral handle, and ground the handle and tang forward slightly on a small wheel (worksharp) to slightly increase the grip area. It is one sleek knife. And Aramis is a genius with how he oriented the lines on the scales; they are horizontal by the lockbar cutout, adding to the grippiness of the knife when using the lock, but they curve slightly so that at the back of the handle, they are perpendicular to the direction in which you would draw the knife from your pocket, thus adding to the grippiness for this motion as well. Genius.

 

[David Mary]

*I cant wait for you to read about blade to handle ratio

If they won't make one just how I like it, I'll do it myself! (Hint, it's the second knife, the Tenacious is only in there for a comparison).

 

[Edgeoflife]

If they won't make one just how I like it, I'll do it myself! (Hint, it's the second knife, the Tenacious is only in there for a comparison).

Was that your modded resilience? I own both of those models so I'm familiar with the original profile. Looks like it turned out pretty nice.

 

[edgecentricity]

Delica owner, here. I found the handle bump -- the one higher up on the handle -- uncomfortable from the get-go, and removed it using files and sandpaper. Feels much better. On the whole, I simply prefer a more neutral handle shape, not one that forces the fingers into a certain position.