Cannot for the life of me decide. Entry level Tac folder

The tenacious has a thicker liner lock and is easier to open to me. I had the buck vantage pro and now I have a Buck vantage. The tenacious feels more stout to me. I like both though. If I had to pick one it would be the tenacious.
 
What are you going to be cutting with this knife?

For most people's everyday cutting: paper, cardboard, tape, etc, either knife would be just fine.

If you work outside and anticipate cutting rope, plastic, rubber, then the Buck might be a more rugged choice, and more resistant to rough treatment. The Spydercos I've used have been phenomenal slicers, but I'm always worried about their tips.

If you are going pretty far out there, or, maybe "over" there, then post back and tell us. People who backpack, or get shot at, have different requirements for their knives, and there are people here who can help you with that, too.
 
For a little clarifiication, when i said "entry" level, i meant price poit beig in the $35-40 range, as i am not looking to spend any more. What i will be using it for is miscellaneous cutting, cardboard, rope, rubber, plastic, and i will be taking it hiking in the rockies.
 
brets-ftw said:
being a leftie and owning both designs I would have to say go with the tenacious. opening the tenacious one handed is much easier especially with gloves on. using the cut-out in the vantage series is doable but not all that ergonomic for us south paws. The flipper on the vantage is nice but can be a little lack luster I found, though this might have changed as I have a 1st gen vantage pro, so kinks might have been ironed out. both locks are just fine retention and release-wise so no worries on that front. for the steel edge retention and such, theyre both close enough to each other IMO that it wont make a difference but the Tenacious blade grind and edge geometry will slice slightly better.
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+1 except i am right handed
 
They are both good folders in that price range.The Buck being made in the USA would tip the scale for me,otherwise it's a coin toss.
 
cziv said:
I don't know what that remark means or for that matter what an "entry level tactical folder" means either. My understanding of this term and I know it's the matter of much discussion/derision here, is a folder that you could with some degree of certaintly, stake your life on. A knife that is not too large for common tasks like rope cutting, making traps & snares but isn't to weak or small to defend your life in a worst case scenario.

To "enter" into this realmn you're looking at beefier construction, blade length, and probably a higher price tag. Yes a Strider or Hinderer, a Military, a 710, the new Grayman folders (notice I didn't include Sebenza :p) are all quite a bit more $$ than a Spyderco Tenacious which to me is barely acceptable as an EDC let alone a tactical folder. I did include an affordable CS Recon-1 in my suggestions if money is a burning issue. Ankerson's tests proved it to be a stout folder, well made no breakages or trouble spots and very affordable.

But, for the extra $$ you get a lot more value in the folder and if the chips are down, I hope my Chinese Tenacious isn't in my kit or pocket. It can't be since I sold mine after looking it over.

I'd think someone would tell the new guy or whomever (didn't check his post count) that these are just knock around EDC folders of the lowest echelon. Hey, why not the Rat-1, a formidable tactical folder - c'mon!
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Woah, wait a minute - I think we've had a failure to communicate or something. Were you being facetious or serious when you recommended he jump from the 30-40$ entry level knives he was looking at to spending 150$ or more on a high-end Benchmade or Spyderco? I'm sorry if I misinterpreted your meaning, but I thought you were just kidding, as I was - I thought you were making fun of the bladeforums users who always seem to give people ridiculous advice about buying something way the hell out of their price range that isn't anything like what they wanted to buy in the first place. You know the kind - the ones who tell people to go buy a Hinderer when they're looking for a discreet edc knife for under 20$, or who tell people that a limited edition framelock Military is absolutely the best option for a cheap beater slipjoint.

To clarify, if you were just being facetious, I wasn't laughing at you, I was laughing with you. If you were seriously suggesting he pay over 300% more than he was looking to spend on knives he wasn't interested in, then I think your suggestion is silly and lacks perspective.
 
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In my opinion, the tenacious isnt too great. Had one briefly and just didnt like it. Had blade play, and didnt hold an edge all that great. I have 3 vantage selects at the moment and I much prefer them. They all lock up solidly and bucks heat treat makes for some impressive 420hc. Its not going to out perform higher grade steels but it works well.
 
I love Spyderco, but in this case i would pick the buck. Made in USA and lifetime warranty is what makes the difference IMO.
 
R
harkamus said:
I don't know about you guys, but if I were Lebron James, I'd buy a custom from DDR, Brian Tighe, or Lucas Burnley.
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I don't know, the man isn't currently working and who knows when his next paycheck will come in. $40 might be all he can afford until the NBA owners come around.
 
Hi St James. I think harkamus was being facetious, and responding to another post that wasn't being facetious.

I think I would go with the Tenacious if it were me.
 
cziv said:
I don't know what that remark means or for that matter what an "entry level tactical folder" means either. My understanding of this term and I know it's the matter of much discussion/derision here, is a folder that you could with some degree of certaintly, stake your life on. A knife that is not too large for common tasks like rope cutting, making traps & snares but isn't to weak or small to defend your life in a worst case scenario.

To "enter" into this realmn you're looking at beefier construction, blade length, and probably a higher price tag. Yes a Strider or Hinderer, a Military, a 710, the new Grayman folders (notice I didn't include Sebenza :p) are all quite a bit more $$ than a Spyderco Tenacious which to me is barely acceptable as an EDC let alone a tactical folder. I did include an affordable CS Recon-1 in my suggestions if money is a burning issue. Ankerson's tests proved it to be a stout folder, well made no breakages or trouble spots and very affordable.

But, for the extra $$ you get a lot more value in the folder and if the chips are down, I hope my Chinese Tenacious isn't in my kit or pocket. It can't be since I sold mine after looking it over.

I'd think someone would tell the new guy or whomever (didn't check his post count) that these are just knock around EDC folders of the lowest echelon. Hey, why not the Rat-1, a formidable tactical folder - c'mon!
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I know quite a few guys over in the Big Sandbox who have either Rat 1's or the Tenacious. I would submit that they would disagree with you.


I suppose you also think my Glock 19 isn't an appropriate 'tactical' sidearm and only offerings from Les Baer or Wilson Combat will actually do the job?


To me, the concept of a 'tactical folder' as it's listed on her is somewhat of a a joke. With the exception of EdWood and a handful of others who post here, most will never use a knife in a 'tactical' fashion nor would they have the foggiest idea of what to do were they PUT in that situation.
 
Now ThePharce to be fair I think most of us know what to do, the pointy end goes in the other guy right? :p
 
brets-ftw said:
Now ThePharce to be fair I think most of us know what to do, the pointy end goes in the other guy right? :p
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I just worry about those who buy a knife for defensive purposes and have no training on how to defend oneself with said knife. I don't call any of my knives 'tactical'. I'm a civilian. If I have to pull my knife to defend myself it means I've already expended two full magazines of ammunition. At that point, there is nothing 'tactical' about what I'm doing because obviously, my tactics SUCK....:p
 
We;;, Nutnfancy and cutlery lover both cut themselves with the tenacious, cutlery lover dcut himself with it during a review, so maybe i should get the Buck vantage force haha.
 
ThePharce said:
I know quite a few guys over in the Big Sandbox who have either Rat 1's or the Tenacious. I would submit that they would disagree with you.


I suppose you also think my Glock 19 isn't an appropriate 'tactical' sidearm and only offerings from Les Baer or Wilson Combat will actually do the job?


To me, the concept of a 'tactical folder' as it's listed on her is somewhat of a a joke. With the exception of EdWood and a handful of others who post here, most will never use a knife in a 'tactical' fashion nor would they have the foggiest idea of what to do were they PUT in that situation.
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My son a SSgt. has done 4 tours "in the sandbox" as you call it. From the fall of S.H. to many other surrounding areas and he didn't carry a Rat-1 or a Tenacious nor did any of his men. In fact most of the guys didn't carry a folding knife. His armorer offered him Benchmade automatics a couple of times and he didn't even take one - one more thing I'd end up losing he told me.

Of course my post wasn't about combat warrior but about tactical or hard use folders. Perhaps the semantics we're involved with is giving the impression of a "fighting knife" which is the furthest thing from my mind as a tactical knife, only as a very very distant last ditch weapon and geared more toward the civilian/survivalist than a fire team of soldiers or marines.
 
cziv said:
My son a SSgt. has done 4 tours "in the sandbox" as you call it. From the fall of S.H. to many other surrounding areas and he didn't carry a Rat-1 or a Tenacious nor did any of his men. In fact most of the guys didn't carry a folding knife. His armorer offered him Benchmade automatics a couple of times and he didn't even take one - one more thing I'd end up losing he told me.

Of course my post wasn't about combat warrior but about tactical or hard use folders. Perhaps the semantics we're involved with is giving the impression of a "fighting knife" which is the furthest thing from my mind as a tactical knife, only as a very very distant last ditch weapon and geared more toward the civilian/survivalist than a fire team of soldiers or marines.
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Heh, next time his armorer offers him one...remind him of three things.. 1: Dear old Dad, 2: Mail services, and 3: The Bladeforums exchange :D (I keed I keed).

Seriously, for a neophyte who has a limited amount of money to spend on a knife and will has a .000000000000001% chance of ever having to defend himself with it, a Tenacious or Buck is more than adequate. Chances are, evil cardboard is the only thing the knife will ever attack!
 
A coated Buck in 420 and its USA made, over Chicom made - with Chicom steel. Go with the Buck, it will be a great knife for daily use.
 
trashboss said:
A coated Buck in 420 and its USA made, over Chicom made - with Chicom steel. Go with the Buck, it will be a great knife for daily use.
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I have 5 Vantages. Only one Force, the Avid. Love the aluminum scales, even though it's fairly heavy knife. Can't praise much about the basic polymer grips, of the Select though.

BUT, the sucker just won't flip worth a durn unless I loosen pivot to where there's unacceptable blade play , have to use pretty pronounced wrist flick. All my other Vantages flick with just finger. Others on the Buck forum have said the same. Dunno if it's something about the coated blade or what. Buck's description on site makes the Force series sound like the easiest openers of all, but just doesn't seem to be so.

- OS
 
OhShoot said:
I have 5 Vantages. Only one Force, the Avid. Love the aluminum scales, even though it's fairly heavy knife. Can't praise much about the basic polymer grips, of the Select though.

BUT, the sucker just won't flip worth a durn unless I loosen pivot to where there's unacceptable blade play , have to use pretty pronounced wrist flick. All my other Vantages flick with just finger. Others on the Buck forum have said the same. Dunno if it's something about the coated blade or what. Buck's description on site makes the Force series sound like the easiest openers of all, but just doesn't seem to be so.

- OS
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Thats what I am afraid of. It would make sense that the coating on the blade would cause slight friction resistance, but would that bushings wear that coating down and make the deployment quicker over hundreds of times flipping open the blade? Unfortunately, because it is a newly released design, there are limited reviews, and only ONE video review on youtube, even that wasn't very in-depth. I couldn't make a definite decision with the lack of information. I posted this thread hoping you guys have some experience with the knife.
 
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