C11 Delica

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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).

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).

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)

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.
  • 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 black FRN variant and a foliage green FRN variant later in 2006
  • 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
  • Black FRN handle with black blade variant in 2008

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

Spyderco, probably Sal Glesser and 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

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

Variations

Variations of the Delica 1

SKU Handle Edge(s) Steel MSRP Note Number made Grind Clip
C11BBK Black FRN SE ? black ? ? ? Hollow? Integral, fat
C11BK Black FRN SE GIN-1/G-2 66.95$ 1990-1994? N/A Hollow Integral, fat
C11BK Black FRN SE GIN-1/G-2 ? Year?, Eddie Bauer edition ? Hollow Integral, ?
C11BK Black FRN PE PS SE AUS-8 ? 1994-1995?, 1997-1998 N/A Hollow Integral, fat
C11BL Blue FRN SE GIN-1/G-2 ? ? N/A Hollow? Integral, thin
C11BL Blue FRN SE AUS-8 ? 1994-? N/A Hollow? Integral, fat
C11GR? Green? FRN PE AUS-8 ? ? ? Hollow? Integral, fat
C11PN Pink FRN SE ? 66.95$ ? ? Hollow? Integral, ?

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

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 clip
C11BK Black FRN PE PS SE VG-10 66.95$ 2002-2005 N/A Flat Saber Barrel bolt clip
C11BBK Black FRN PE PS VG-10 black ? ? N/A ? Barrel bolt clip
C11BL Blue FRN SE ATS-55 ? ? N/A ? Barrel bolt clip
C11BL Blue FRN PE VG-10 ? ? N/A ? Barrel bolt clip
C11PBLE Navy blue FRN PE ZDP-189 109.95$ 2005 Sprint ? <1500 Flat Saber Barrel bolt clip
C11BOD? Olive drab FRN PS VG-10 black 66.95$ ? N/A ? Barrel bolt clip
C11PN Pink FRN SE ATS-55 ? ?; no Boye dent N/A ? Barrel bolt clip
C11TR Red FRN N/A AUS-6 ? 2001-2003; trainer N/A N/A Barrel bolt clip
C11TR Red FRN N/A AUS-6 66.95$ 2004-2005; trainer, holes/blade N/A N/A Barrel bolt clip

Variations of the Delica 4

SKU Handle Edge(s) Steel MSRP Note Number made Grind Clip
C11BK Black FRN PE PS SE VG-10 ? 2006- N/A Flat Saber 4-way
C11BBK Black FRN PS VG-10 (black) ? 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 ? 2006-:PS; 2007-: SE N/A Flat Saber 4-way
C11GRE British Racing Green FRN PE PS SE ZDP-189 ? 2007- N/A Flat Saber 4-way
C11GYW Grey FRN PE PS SE VG-10 ? 2006-: PE; 2008-: PS,SE; Waved N/A Flat Saber 4-way
C11PN Pink FRN PE VG-10 ? 2007 Sprint (1st run, black clip) 500-600? Flat Saber 4-way
C11PN Pink FRN PE VG-10 ? 2008 Sprint (2nd run, polished clip) 500? Flat Saber 4-way
C11TR Red FRN N/A AUS-6 ? 2006- N/A N/A 4-way
C11TRW Red FRN N/A AUS-6 ? 2008-; Waved N/A N/A 4-way
C11WH White FRN PS VG-10 ? 2008 Sprint 1200 Flat Saber 4-way
C11GFG Foliage Green G-10 PE VG-10 ? 2008- N/A Full Flat 4-way
C11 Stainless Steel PE PS SE VG-10 ? 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, carbon fiber 1500? Flat Saber Metal, left and right hand
C11TI TI PE ATS-34 ? <2002?, no Boye dent, titanium, japanese market only ? Hollow Metal, right hand

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.

Questions regarding collecting the C11

  • There are open questions marked with '?' in the above variations table. Any answers?

Technical information

Measurements (mm and grams) of the C11 Delica 4 with FRN handles:

Length overall Length closed Cutting Length edge Hole Ø Blade thickness Weight
181 108 65 13 2,5 71g

Measurements (inches and ounces) of the C11 Delica 4 with FRN handles:

Length overall Length closed Cutting Length edge Hole Ø Blade thickness Weight
7 1/8" 4 1/4" 2 9/16" 1/2" 3/32" 2.5oz

References

No references so far.

Pictures

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

About this article

  • Status:
    • advanced draft starting to cover basics (i.e. covering the easier to find information found in forums and catalogs)
  • Current goal: cover the Delica basics as starting point for all Wiki editors to continue correcting, extending, and adding article information
  • Scope: C11 Delicas manufactured and sold by Spyderco (ie. no or very little on Santa Fe and custom models)
  • Information sources:
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