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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/ Price is $300 ea, one per household please.
Benchmade Vex-Opinions?
- Thread starter rwasham
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- Sep 19, 2007
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For around the same $ and near same blade steel, I like the Spyderco tenacious better. I have handled the vex, and own the tenacious, and I think the fit and finnosh and lockup is better on the tenacious.
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- Mar 16, 2005
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What Jake said +1!:thumbup: I find that I can hold the Tenacious tenaciously, where as holding the Vex, I just find vexing.
Regards,
3G
The only difference I can see is the shape. The Tenacious has a dropped butt grip, and the blade is wider, which makes the closed knife wider.
I haven't had a Tenacious in hand - like many I made my observations based on photos and prior ownership of similar knives. I decided the Tenacious would not be as slim in the pocket and would interfere with getting my hand in for other stuff, especially in jeans, a preferred work uniform.
I bought the Vex. I also chose it because the Ti plating is extremely abrasion resistant and NOT black. I've been cutting double corrugated cardboard with it for weeks now, and there's almost no wear in the surface. It also has a very slick finish which contributes to cutting, and the flat ground blade is easy to choke up on or use full grip, an advantage with a flatter back profile. The blade back itself is rounded, not squared, and doesn't gouge my thumb as much under pressure.
The grips are a straighter profile, something I've used for decades. Dropped butts do allow the knife to rest more comfortably in the grip under pressure, but they also rotate the tip down in the cut. That may or may not be an advantage - it takes some time to experience a real difference, and a appreciation of whether you are actually cutting for that long anyway.
Both have opening holes, the Tenacious being more exposed. Some prefer that for speed of deployment, I prefer a slimmer profile in carry where it rides 95% of the time anyway. A few split seconds in retrieve and deployment don't make a difference when attacked by feral antifreeze boxes.
It seems a lot of reports come back that the Tenacious is more attractive or has better fit and finish, which those owners seem to value. I prefer a knife that actually works as a tool, and the Vex does that for me.
I haven't had a Tenacious in hand - like many I made my observations based on photos and prior ownership of similar knives. I decided the Tenacious would not be as slim in the pocket and would interfere with getting my hand in for other stuff, especially in jeans, a preferred work uniform.
I bought the Vex. I also chose it because the Ti plating is extremely abrasion resistant and NOT black. I've been cutting double corrugated cardboard with it for weeks now, and there's almost no wear in the surface. It also has a very slick finish which contributes to cutting, and the flat ground blade is easy to choke up on or use full grip, an advantage with a flatter back profile. The blade back itself is rounded, not squared, and doesn't gouge my thumb as much under pressure.
The grips are a straighter profile, something I've used for decades. Dropped butts do allow the knife to rest more comfortably in the grip under pressure, but they also rotate the tip down in the cut. That may or may not be an advantage - it takes some time to experience a real difference, and a appreciation of whether you are actually cutting for that long anyway.
Both have opening holes, the Tenacious being more exposed. Some prefer that for speed of deployment, I prefer a slimmer profile in carry where it rides 95% of the time anyway. A few split seconds in retrieve and deployment don't make a difference when attacked by feral antifreeze boxes.
It seems a lot of reports come back that the Tenacious is more attractive or has better fit and finish, which those owners seem to value. I prefer a knife that actually works as a tool, and the Vex does that for me.
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- Dec 30, 2008
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I bought a vex and after a few HOURS use i returned it. I hated it. It was uncomfortable, the liner lock made a blister on my thumb and was painful enough to make me not want to use it. I'm a tough guy and that lock just plain hurt! It's also not as smooth of an opener as I would have liked. If they fixed the lock and rounded the scales out a bit more i would have loved it.
Granted I don't have a Tenacious so I can't really talk about it a lot but I do have a Vex. The Vex I have has very good lockup and fit and finish, I was surprised at how well made it was. If the reports are correct and the Tenacious is a more well put together knife then it is one relly good knife for the money. I chose the Vex because although I have a few Spyderco knives I'm more of a BM kind of guy. I think it was a pretty good $37 spent, YMMV.
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- Sep 19, 2007
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I have had a vex in my pocket. The tenacious is wider, but the vex if i remember correctly was fatter.
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True.
The Vex is "okay", but for about the same money I think the Tenacious is a better deal.
Of course the Boker+ M-Type beats them both IMHO.
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- Sep 2, 2004
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I have better knives than the Vex, but I still rotate it as an EDC. I like it enough for what it is.
It's hard to argue a $10 difference in price internet retail. Because they are nearly identical materials and construction, the value of the fit and finish at $28 would be more appreciated even if they were equally well made.
I chalk up the price difference to BM's current policies, already commented on elsewhere. This is exactly how the buying public will think and act on them - Sypderco gets more business, BM gets more gripes for not meeting the perceived value as well.
My son works at an office supply store while finishing his last year in college - they spent the last two days repricing items lower as directed by corporate - many went to the typical On Sale! pricing. In this economy, cutting back on your distribution and keeping prices artificially high is probably not so good.
I'm still hearing complaints about engine oil prices from my customers - last years markups simply aren't justified at current costs, and I see some competition heating up to get consumers back in the stores . . .
I don't agree that fit and finish has much affect on a tools ability, but those who buy the Tenacious will certainly feel more justified for what they get at the lower price.
Is Benchmade even listening?
I chalk up the price difference to BM's current policies, already commented on elsewhere. This is exactly how the buying public will think and act on them - Sypderco gets more business, BM gets more gripes for not meeting the perceived value as well.
My son works at an office supply store while finishing his last year in college - they spent the last two days repricing items lower as directed by corporate - many went to the typical On Sale! pricing. In this economy, cutting back on your distribution and keeping prices artificially high is probably not so good.
I'm still hearing complaints about engine oil prices from my customers - last years markups simply aren't justified at current costs, and I see some competition heating up to get consumers back in the stores . . .
I don't agree that fit and finish has much affect on a tools ability, but those who buy the Tenacious will certainly feel more justified for what they get at the lower price.
Is Benchmade even listening?
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I have not had one but alot of people also bring up the byrd cara cara with G10 when comparing knives to the VEX. Knifecenter has them for around $27.
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I like the Vex, and when it first came out it was one of the better values out there. Now that the Tenacious is around there's not really any need to consider the Vex anymore.
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Sounds right. I'd get a cara cara before a Vex.
Not all users like the style of a Spyderco, or the way it fits the hand. At least the Vex gives purchasers the option of a straighter gripped style. It fits the parameters of more using knives - like the Boker M.
The TiN plating also adds to the knife's value as it will not scratch or abrade as much and keep it's looks longer. That's something a long term owner can appreciate as superior, compared to the bright-shiny younger buyers prefer.
For a go-to field or duty knife, it fits in the genre as much as any Spyderco, with a more useful drop point less likely to break when abused. The wedge shaped Spyderco blade style is less able to slide under materials, and I've seen owners post they would never trust the tip to prying.
I see it as a Vex for work, and a Tenacious for show.
The TiN plating also adds to the knife's value as it will not scratch or abrade as much and keep it's looks longer. That's something a long term owner can appreciate as superior, compared to the bright-shiny younger buyers prefer.
For a go-to field or duty knife, it fits in the genre as much as any Spyderco, with a more useful drop point less likely to break when abused. The wedge shaped Spyderco blade style is less able to slide under materials, and I've seen owners post they would never trust the tip to prying.
I see it as a Vex for work, and a Tenacious for show.
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- Dec 12, 2007
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I have both (the Vex was a gift) lets go through the differences the Vex is thicker heavier and maybe a bit stronger the Tenacious is thinner more comfortable and has a thinner edge with a higher grind .I have an issue with the clip on the Vex as it is uncomfortable in the hand and is pretty large for no real reason getting in the way of an otherwise comfortable handle.The fit and finish is actually a bit better on the Tenacious (some flaws in the finishing of the handle edges on the Vex) for the price I would have to say the edge goes to the Tenacious . I would try to handle both because one might "talk" to you more,both are fine knives and I am happy with both but I really only carry only the one.
Josh, thanks for the fine pics. It does give ample evidence the blades are quite similar, so the comment on the Spyderco's finer point is moot.
I find the Vex's double indent clip to be more comfortable as it gives my hand room to grip more closely, and a subhilt between the index and middle finger. It was specifically offered IIRC because some felt the typical clip protruded too much and was more uncomfortable. It works well in typical jeans and slacks, no issues there.
Goes to show buyers need a hands on test to determine what works for them.
I find the Vex's double indent clip to be more comfortable as it gives my hand room to grip more closely, and a subhilt between the index and middle finger. It was specifically offered IIRC because some felt the typical clip protruded too much and was more uncomfortable. It works well in typical jeans and slacks, no issues there.
Goes to show buyers need a hands on test to determine what works for them.