I have a couple of favorites, but will need add unspectacular photos tomorrow. Nothing but plastic. I still have my original Delica Clipit from when first introduced. It had the plastic clip as part of the scale.

Then came the plastic scaled version with moveable metal clip held on by two-piece coin slotted barrel nut, and a wonder of flat lightness, especially when clip removed.

Now they have complicated the knives and gone to thin metal liners with bolted scales and clips, the knives weigh more, are thicker, and if you tinker with those screws almost coating the knives compared to old, there ain't no more, and the warranty is voided. AND most knives have gone to the simpler and thinner blade full flat grind.

Which brings us back to the second style, still made (for the moment) in the Salt-line. Except the barrel nut and clip is titanium, the blade and lockbar made of absolutely rustproof H1 high nitrogen (instead of carbon) steel, and other small parts (screws/washers/spring) made of 420 stainless, a nearly rustproof knife, in total.

The steel performs about as AUS6/8A/440C at 56-57 Rc, but not near as brittle, it dents rather than chips, can be ironed back into alignment at edge, and curiously, gets extremely hard while not brittle from extra grinding of serrations. A weird and wonderful steel.

Check out this in-house test blade shot, and keep in mind this is a stainless blade with an edge hardness circa 57 Rc, and at the weakest place on this Endura-sized blade. Due to its strange properties, it performs as a differentially hardened blade, with hard edge and soft back.





I have the Delica sized Salt 1, and Endura size Pacific Salt which I will add tomorrow. Oh, and they keep the razor sharp hollow grind and full thickness back, in a great worker blade design. AND less abrasive old style handle texture.

Also, just about anybody's test of lock strength with weights shows the humble lockback still king of strength, as it seems any frame or liner lock is a bent piece of metal and just keeps bending under stress.

And only 2 and 3 oz respectively....quite cool, even if only steel and plastic.



Just the biggun as for strong blade in light, flat, rounded handle, and again, clip removable and my favorite method in something this pocket friendly.