I had originally planned on doing a shoot out between the Mini Grip 555hg and the Delica 4, but given the rise in popularity of the Skyline, I thought I'd throw it into the mix. This turned out to be VERY complicated to write. Here are the three competitors:

Mini Grip 555hg:

Delica 4:

Skyline:

Before I get to the shoot out, I want to give a few caveats about the three knives selected. First, I am using the regular VG-10 Delica, 154 CM Mini Grip, and 14c28n Skyline. I know all of them have different steels available, but these are the most common iterations of these knives, so that is what I will be looking at in this shoot out. If I were choosing any of these knives with any of the possible steel options, the ZDP-189 Delica would win the shoot out before we even start. That steel is so superior to the options in this shoot out that regardless of other criteria, I would choose that knife first. It is more expensive and less common, so I am not going to consider it. Second, it is possible for smaller knives to work in this EDC role, but I have chosen to look at these three because they are all roughly the same size and that size, medium sized knives or around 3 inches in blade length, seems to be more commonly carried and researched. If I were looking at ANY EDC knife, the Dragonfly II ZDP-189 would win, barring consideration of a custom knife. But for a lot of folks that knife is just too small. I am fine with it, but not everyone is, so the Goldilocks principle says I should look at these three blades. Finally, I am not going to consider the thumb stud version of the Mini Grip. It is probably more common than the thumb hole version, but I cannot, for the life of me, figure out why someone would opt for a thumb stud over a thumb hole. The hole is easier to open and does not do bad things in your pocket like a thumb stud can. If it were in the running, again because of the total inferiority of the thumb stud, it would lose regardless of how it did on the other criteria. Thumb stud, when the alternative is available, is a deal breaker for me. Note that while the Skyline has a thumb stud, it is really a flipper design with the stud acting as a stop pin.

Here are the reviews I did of each of the knives in this shoot out:

Mini Grip 555hg

Delica 4

Skyline

In terms of design, all three are "in house" designs, that is designed by folks that work for the knife company itself. The Mini Grip is a Mel Pardue design, the Skyline is Tommy Lucas's creation, and the Delica is designed by the grandmaster Sal Glesser.

The Mini Grip got a 19/20, as did the Delica, and the Skyline got a 18/20. The Mini Grip lost a point for its overly grippy pocket clip. The Delica lost a point for its steel. The Skyline lost a point in both blade shape and blade grind. Overall pretty close scores. So how do you determine which is best? Well, here is how I am going to do it.

Methodology

I am going to use my folding knife scoring system, but instead of awarding a score of 0-2 for each criteria, I am going to rank each blade, from first place to last place. Instead of just ranking them I am going to weight the ranks. A first place ranking is worth 5 points, a second place ranking is worth 3 points, and third place ranking is worth 1 point. This separation makes it less likely that the value winner will just be the cheapest knife (as a straight ranking system would award a straight last place knife 10 points for merely being included). The one that wins the most overall points has a big advantage going into the final assessment, which product value (performance compared to price). Here is the folding knife scoring system. In terms of value, it will be an easy math formula: dollars divided by total points score. The less dollars per point, the better the value. Simple. Yeah, simple. It only took me two weeks to figure out this methodology.

Scoring System Points

Design:

The Benchmade Mini Grip is by far the most traditional or conservative of the knives in this shoot out. The Delica's shape has been unusual since its release twenty years ago. The Skyline has only one liner. But the lack of design flair serves the Mini Grip well. It is a very functional, compact design. It squeezes a ton of blade into a handle that is comfortable in any position and it has the best lock on the planet, in my opinion. The Delica's thin handle and unbelieveable sense of control make it a great knife, but it is a big knife, substantially larger than the Mini Grip and about the same size as the Skyline, but with a smaller blade than both (2.88" on the Delica to 2.91" on the Mini Grip and over 3" on the Skyline). I like the Skyline design, but it is just a bit big for me. And it is not hardy enough to be pressed into tactical uses, so the extra size is just extra bulk.

Mini Grip: 5

Delica: 3

Skyline: 1

Fit and Finish:

Really there is no competition here. The Mini Grip's fit and finish is quite impressive. The whole trick of the Axis lock requires incredibly precise tolerances and the Mini Grip pulls that off well. The Delica is no slouch either, but the roughness of the edges of the G10 on the Skyline and the slightly oversized liner was strange.

Mini Grip: 5

Delica: 3

Skyline: 1

Grip:

The Delica's grip is not that far behind the Mini Grip, but the Benchmade entry is simply covered in jimping. There is no jimping whatsoever on the Skyline. Really this is a two horse race with the Skyline way behind. Only the flipper/finger choil resembles a traction plan.

Mini Grip: 5

Delica: 3

Skyline: 1

Carry:

The Mini Grip scores a victory here again based on its size. Both the Delica and the Skyline are thin, which is nice, but they are just too long.

Mini Grip: 5

Delica: 3

Skyline: 1

Steel:

I don't really like VG-10 all that much. It is only slightly better than AUS-8 in my experience. It has no real edge retention, and both the Mini Grip and Skyline have steels that do.

Mini Grip: 5

Skyline: 3

Delica: 1

Blade Shape:

I love the sheeps foot blade on the Mini Grip and the Delica is not bad, but the Skyline's blade shape STINKS. Fat on the top to make it a not great slicer and thin at the tip to make it less hardy than a three inch knife should be.

Mini Grip: 5

Delica: 3

Skyline: 1

Grind:

Spyderco's grinds are rarely spectacular, but the Delica's are great, even having a bit of mirror polish to the secondary bevel. The Mini Grip's were also good, but not polished. By contrast the Skyline's grind was not even and the hollow grind was very pronounced, perhaps a bit too pronounced causing a bit of jamming in very hard materials (i.e. wood during whittling). Also, the grind was not even towards the tip of the knife.

Delica: 5

Benchmade: 3

Skyline: 1

Deployment Method:

The thumb hole, in my opinion, is the superior deployment method. A flipper is definitely second best, and the flipper on the Skyline is decent, not as good as the ZT 350's but still good. All three do well here.

Delica: 5

Benchmade: 3

Skyline: 1

Retention Method:

The Skyline's clip is the most unobtrusive and at the same time it is not a pocket shredder. The Delica's is a bit long, as is the Mini Grip's, but none are truly terrible here.

Skyline: 5

Delica: 3

Mini Grip: 1

Lock:

Okay, with the fixes to the Axis lock, it is by far my most favorite lock design and the Mini Grip's Axis lock is great. The Delica's backlock is also good, but not as nice overall (fingers in the blade path during closing). The liner lock on the Skyline is good as well, probably close to the backlock on the Delica, but again, fingers in the blade path.

Mini Grip: 5

Delica: 3

Skyline: 1

Total Points

Mini Grip: 42

Delica: 31

Skyline: 16

Value Calculations

I am going to use the most frequent price for the item as listed on Amazon. You might be able to find them cheaper, but Amazon is usually the cheapest, most reliable price, especially when you include Amazon Marketplace and Partners. These prices are as of 10/5/11.

Mini Grip: $64

Delica Price: $52

Skyline Price: $35

Value (price compared to performance; dollars/points)

Mini Grip: $1.52

Delica: $1.68

Skyline: $2.19

Conclusion

The value calculations work well in this one instance. I am hesistant about using them everywhere for reasons I stated before, but here it worked out. The knife that is the better of the three is the Mini Grip. It is not really all that close. I bought, carried, and used all three and in the end the I sold both the Delica and the Skyline. I love Spyderco's designs, I am a self-described Spyderco Fanboy but here, the Mini Grip just does almost everything a little bit better. It is a truly great knife.

All three blades are decent blades. All three would work well as EDC knives, but the lack of refinement hurts the Skyline and the poor blade:handle and soft steel hold the Delica back. If I had the choice, and I did, I would buy the Mini Grip 555hg every time.