C11 Delica

The C11 Delica was first introduced in 1990, together with its bigger brother the C10 Endura. They have gone through most major and minor revisions together.

Generations

The C11 Delica has a long and complex history. Grouping the variants into different generations (as done by collectors, in this article, and partly by Spyderco) simplifies handling the complexity.

                 1996                     2006
                 |----- Generation 2 -----|---------------->
                                          |- Generation 4 ->
|---- Generation 1 ----|-- Generation 3 --|---------------->
1990                   1999               2006

Generation 1

The first C11 Delica variants introduced in the earlier 90s with an FRN handle and an integral FRN clip are considered first generation Delicas (D1).

Initially GIN-1/G-2 steel was used for the blade, later AUS-8 was introduced.

The G-2 stamp on the blade was used from around 1992 to 1995. Prior to that Spyderco knives were not marked with the steel used. Around 1995, the steel remained the same, but the marking was changed to GIN-1, the name given it by the steel's manufacturer.

Generation 2

In 1996 the Delica II was introduced with an originally different SKU (C43 Delica II). The major modifications from the D1 are a

• stainless steel handle and a
• stainless steel clip
• AUS-6 steel blade

In 2000 the SKU was changed to C11. A Boye dent was added in 2002.

Nowadays, all stainless steel handled variants of the Delica (including the C43) introduced earlier than 2006 are considered to be second generation Delicas (D2).

Several engraved variations of D2 exist. Common ones are PRCA, DEA, FBI and "Bug and web".

Generation 3

The third generation of the Delica (D3) was introduced in 1999. The most prominent modifications from the D1:

• Different and more highly effective form
• Reversible, stainless steel clip that can be mounted for left and right-hand carry (barrel bolt clip)

A Boye dent was added in 2001.

Generation 4

The fourth generation (D4), including the Delica 4, Delica SS 4, and Delica Trainer 4 came out in 2006.

Major modifications of the blade from earlier generations:

• The blade has a less pointy and stronger tip, an enlarged 13mm opening hole, and jimping added to the spine of the blade.

Major modifications of the Stainless Steel handle from D2:

• The clip is connected to the handle with 3 small screws with four different possible mounting positions (4-way clip: tip-up/tip-down for left and right-hand carry).

Major modifications of the FRN handle from D3:

• The D4 has a screw together construction for easier cleaning and adjustments (see Delica 4 Lego and Delica 4 Lego Redux for more information).
• The scales are made using Bi-Directional Texturing (trademarked) to provide better traction and improve ergonomics.
• This is the first Delica to have skeletonized stainless steel liners (with holes cut in to save weight) to give it added strength without adding weight to the knife.
• The clip is connected to the liners with 3 small screws with four different possible mounting positions (4-way clip: tip-up/tip-down for left and right-hand carry).

All variants have a David Boye dent.

Additional variants introduced after the initial release:

• Waved navy blue FRN variant and a foliage green FRN variant later in 2006, both VG-10
• British Racing Green FRN with ZDP-189 steel blade in 2007
• Foliage Green G-10 handle with full flat grind VG-10 blade in 2008
• Waved trainer variant in 2008
• Waved navy blue FRN variant with fully serrated and combination edge in 2008
• Black FRN handle with black blade (combination edge only) variant in 2008. These knives (including a similar Endura model) initially were planned to only be available in the SAS catalog for the Military and LEOs, but the public demand was so great it was decided to make them part of the stock line in 2008.. They appeared in the main 2009 catalog.

Appearance in catalogs

Since at least 1993 the C11 Delica appeared in the annual Spyderco product catalogs. (1991, 1992: must have been in there but not yet verified).

Designer

Sal Glesser designed the original 1990 Delica. Today's design updates he also designs together with Eric and Peter as a team.

History, mentionings etc. from the forums

No direct references so far, but part of the information in this article originally was posted in the forums. Too many to reference them all here.

Information from the Spyderco catalog on the web

"In 1990 Spyderco shook things up by introducing two knives, the Delica and Endura. First of their kind on the market, both folders opened up the knife market to lightweight performance, one-hand open pocketknives that just about everyone could afford. They settled as Spyderco’s top two bestsellers and their improvement hasn’t slowed since. Refinement has been so ongoing and continual Spyderco tagged the updating/upgrading process with the term CQI- Constant Quality Improvement. During the Endura and Delica’s CQI journey Spyderco tweaked ergonomics, refined blade steels and fine-tuned their performance countless times. They are an evolutionary work in progress and the next level is here with the new Endura4 and Delica4. Both models now have screw construction making cleaning and adjusting easier. The fiberglass reinforced nylon handles come molded with Bi-Directional Texturing® for preferred traction and improved ergonomics. Inside the handle dual skeletonized stainless steel liners make the knife stronger without adding weight and make an anchor for all external and internal components to attach through adding sturdiness and rigidity. Their VG-10 blades are flat saber-ground with a stronger tip and larger 13mm opening hole. Added to the blade’s spine is slip resistant jimping. Phosphor bronze washers smooth out the open/close action and the clip is upgraded to a four-way tip-up, tip-down, left- or right-handed clip."

Variations

Variations of the Delica 1

SKU	Handle	Edge(s)	Steel	MSRP	Note	Number made	Grind	Clip
C11SAF	Black FRN	SE	AUS-8 black	?	?	?	Hollow?	Integral FRN, fat
C11BK	Black FRN	PE SE	GIN-1/G-2	66.95$	1990-1994?	N/A	Hollow	Integral FRN, thin
C11BK	Black FRN	SE	GIN-1/G-2	66.95$	?	N/A	Hollow?	Integral FRN, fat
C11BK	Black FRN	SE	GIN-1/G-2	?	Year?, Eddie Bauer edition	?	Hollow	Integral FRN, thin
C11BK	Black FRN	PE PS SE	AUS-8	?	1994-1995?, 1997-1998	N/A	Hollow	Integral FRN, fat
C11BL	Blue FRN	SE	GIN-1/G-2	?	?	N/A	Hollow?	Integral FRN, thin
C11BL	Blue FRN	SE	AUS-8	?	1994-?	N/A	Hollow?	Integral FRN, fat
C11GR?	Green? FRN	PE	AUS-8	?	?	?	Hollow?	Integral FRN, fat
C11PN	Pink FRN	PE SE	GIN-1/G-2?	66.95$	?	?	Hollow?	Integral FRN, thin

Variations of the Delica 2

SKU	Handle	Edge(s)	Steel	MSRP	Note	Number made	Grind	Clip
C11	Stainless Steel	PE PS SE	AUS-6	68.95$	1996-2005: PE, SE; 2002-2005: PS; since 2002: Boye dent	N/A	Hollow	Metal, right hand, tip up/down

Variations of the Delica 3

SKU	Handle	Edge(s)	Steel	MSRP	Note	Number made	Grind	Clip
C11BK	Black FRN	PE PS SE	ATS-55	?	1999-2001; 2001: incl. Boye dent	N/A	Hollow	Barrel bolt
C11BK	Black FRN	PE PS SE	VG-10	66.95$	2002-2005	N/A	Flat Saber	Barrel bolt
C11BBK	Black FRN	PE PS	VG-10 black	?	?	N/A	?	Barrel bolt
C11BL	Blue FRN	SE	ATS-55	?	?	N/A	?	Barrel bolt
C11BL	Blue FRN	PE	VG-10	?	?	N/A	?	Barrel bolt
C11PBLE	Navy blue FRN	PE	ZDP-189	109.95$	2005 Sprint	? <1500	Flat Saber	Barrel bolt
C11OD	Olive drab FRN	PS	VG-10 black	66.95$	2001?, incl. Boye dent	N/A	?	Barrel bolt
C11PN	Pink FRN	PE SE	ATS-55	?	?; no Boye dent	N/A	?	Barrel bolt
C11TR	Red FRN	N/A	AUS-6	?	2001-2003; trainer	N/A	N/A	Barrel bolt
C11TR	Red FRN	N/A	AUS-6	66.95$	2004-2005; trainer, holes/blade	N/A	N/A	Barrel bolt

Variations of the Delica 4

SKU	Handle	Edge(s)	Steel	MSRP	Note	Number made	Grind	Clip
C11BK	Black FRN	PE PS SE	VG-10	79.95$	2006-	N/A	Flat Saber	4-way
C11BBK	Black FRN	PS	VG-10 (black)	93.95$	2008-	N/A	Flat Saber	4-way
C11BLE	Blue FRN	PE	ZDP-189	?	2006 Sprint	?	Flat Saber	4-way
C11FG	Foliage Green FRN	PS SE	VG-10	79.95	2006-:PS; 2007-: SE	N/A	Flat Saber	4-way
C11GRE	British Racing Green FRN	PE PS SE	ZDP-189	119.95$	2007-	N/A	Flat Saber	4-way
C11GYW	Grey FRN	PE PS SE	VG-10	104.95$	2006-: PE; 2008-: PS,SE; Waved	N/A	Flat Saber	4-way
C11PN	Pink FRN	PE	VG-10	79.95$	2007 Sprint (1st run, black clip)	500-600?	Flat Saber	4-way
C11PN	Pink FRN	PE	VG-10	79.95$	2008 Sprint (2nd run, polished clip)	500?	Flat Saber	4-way
C11TR	Red FRN	N/A	AUS-6	79.95$	2006-	N/A	N/A	4-way
C11TRW	Red FRN	N/A	AUS-6	104.95$	2008-; Waved	N/A	N/A	4-way
C11WH	White FRN	PS	VG-10	79.95$	2008 Sprint	1200	Flat Saber	4-way
C11GFG	Foliage Green G-10	PE	VG-10	164.95$	2008-	N/A	Full Flat	4-way
C11	Stainless Steel	PE PS SE	VG-10	99.95$	2006-	N/A	Flat Saber	4-way

Other variations

SKU	Handle	Edge(s)	Steel	MSRP	Note	Number made	Grind	Clip
C11CF	CF	PE SE	VG-10	139.95$	2003, shiny carbon fiber, single liner on clip side	1500 total (600: PE/RH, 600: SE/RH, 150: PE/LH, 150: SE/LH)	Flat Saber	Metal, left/right, tip up/down
C11TI	TI	PE	ATS-34	?	<2002?, no Boye dent, titanium, japanese market only	?	Hollow	Metal, right hand, top down

The C05 Economy/Standard and the C76 25th Anniversary Delica can be considered as variants of the C11 Delica, depends on individual preferences.

Most collectible variation

Collecting knives and selecting a specific variation to be most collectible is a very subjective topic and changing over time. Many would consider the C76 25th Anniversary Delica to be the most collectible variation, others might not even consider this a C11 Delica variation because of the differing SKU.

All the earliest variants seem to be more and more sought after, and the SAF variants are made in very low numbers. The CF variants are sought after as well.

Questions regarding collecting the C11

• There are open questions marked with '?' above and below. Any answers?

Technical information

Measurements of the C11 Delica 1 (AUS-8 blade):

Length overall	Length blade	Length edge	Hole Ø	Blade thickness	Weight
173mm	73mm	?	?	?	50g
6 13/16"	2 7/8"	?	?	?	1.75oz

Measurements of the C11 Delica 2:

Length overall	Length blade	Length edge	Hole Ø	Blade thickness	Weight
173mm	73mm	?	?	?	110g
6 13/16"	2 7/8"	?	?	?	4oz

Measurements of the C11 Delica 3 (ATS-55 blade):

Length overall	Length blade	Length edge	Hole Ø	Blade thickness	Weight
177mm	77mm	?	?	?	54g
7"	3"	?	?	?	1.9oz

Measurements of the C11 Delica 4 (FRN handles, VG-10):

Length overall	Length blade	Length edge	Hole Ø	Blade thickness	Weight
181mm	73mm	65mm	13mm	2,5mm	71g
7 1/8"	2 7/8"	2 9/16"	1/2"	3/32"	2.5oz

Measurements of the C11 Delica SS 4 (Stainless steel handles, VG-10):

Length overall	Length blade	Length edge	Hole Ø	Blade thickness	Weight
179mm	73mm	65mm	13mm	2,5mm	114g
7 1/16"	2 7/8"	2 9/16"	1/2"	3/32"	4oz

Closed lengths:

• C11 Delica 4 (FRN, VG-10): 108mm, 4 1/4
• C11 Delica SS 4 (SS, VG-10): 106mm, 4 3/16

Pictures

• 

  Delica 1s (thin clip)

• 

  Delica 2s

• 

  Delica 3s

• 

  Delica 4s

• 

  other Delicas

See the "Show your Delica's" thread in the Spyderco forum for more pictures.

About this article

• Status: Draft covering basics. Open for all Wiki editors to continue correcting, extending, and adding article information.
• Scope: C11 Delicas manufactured and sold by Spyderco only (ie. no Santa Fe or other custom models or aftermarket variations)
• Information sources used so far:
  • C10 Endura article
  • Spyderco catalogs: (older, newer)
  • Several Spyderco collectors and Delica specialists active in the Spyderco and the Messerforum.net forums. Thanks to all! (See for example this Spyderco forum thread for specific names.)
  • Rob's priceguide
  • Pictures by RIOT