Hard-user needs a good Syderco beater.

Shoki

Shoki

Joined
Apr 10, 2007
Messages
7,395
I'm a long-time Spyderco fan. I like most all of their offerings and have a few favorites that I keep safely tucked away but my go-to work knife from Spyderco has been the Tenacious. I bought one because I like the utilitarian design and the low price and it has served me well. I'm a welder-fabricator and have a tendency to beat the hell out of my work knives to the point most would call abuse and the tenacious has served to shim parts to be welded, de-burr sheared aluminum, bend round stock with the thumbhole, knock off weld spatter/slag and even used as a center punch. So far, it's taken everything I can throw at it (still wondering about the quality of Chinese-made Spydercos? You shouldn't be.). Anyway, while the Tenacious has stood up better than many of my past beaters, I do like to mix things up a bit and occasionally retire my work knives before they're rendered unusable in favor of something different. I'd like to hear from other tradesman who carry a Spyderco and do unspeakable things to it. While some models are obviously not up to the task of or too spendy for being used as a tool that they aren't (Civilian, Police, etc.) some, like the Tenacious, will surprise you and I'm wondering which knife has done that. There must be some mechanics, carpenters, plumbers, even other welders who carry a Spyderco that has gone above and beyond for them and I'd like to try out something new. Some things I like in a work knife are; rugged edge geometry and tough steel, medium-large size, not too fine a point, heavy is good, tough handle material, corrosion and grime resistance. I know there isn't likely much that exemplifies all those traits but let's hear what works for you.


P.S. Sal, if you get your designers on a purpose-built welder's knife, I can personally guarantee that you'll sell at least five of them to the guys in my shop. :D
 
Sounds like you want a Manix2, or if that's too big, then a Native5. I can't imagine much that would be able to break those knives. My Native 5 is the most solid feeling knife I own. It feels like it could baton through a tree and keep chugging along like it was nothing.
 
I like the lock on the Manix, one-handed closing is a huge plus.
 
My wife and I are in the process of moving. Needing a knife for cutting boxes and tape and whatever, I thought about all of my EDC knives and selected the Manix 2. It has worked out very well for me. When I first bought the Manix 2 I was struck by its weight and how solid it seemed. Its performance over the past 2 weeks has supported that impression.

I have taped very many boxes, and this is a very good example of needing a one-handed knife. I bought my wife a Dragonfly many years ago and she was carrying and using it. I've noticed that she would have to stop what she was doing so she could use 2 hands to open or close the knife. With my Manix 2 I didn't have to do that. I have a lot of different EDC knives with different opening and locking mechanisms, and I've decided that the Manix 2 is very fast to operate one-handed. I can open it faster than most of my other knives, and I've learned how to close it quickly and easily. I'll be glad when we are finally through moving so I can clean all of the tape residue off of the blade and touch up the edge, but I think I'll be cutting boxes open and unpacking for quite awhile.
 
Along the lines of the Manix 2 a Sage 3 would also work. Similar lock mechanisms different steel type.
 
On hiking camping trips my friend always packs two Tenaciouses. One for food prep and one for abusive camp choirs. He shows it no mercy when batoning fire wood. Because of the abuse he heaps out, I have twice recommended the Tenacious to deploying troops.
 
Mechanic checking in, Gayle Bradley works great for me, got a co worker that loves using his para2.
 
I own/operate a small machine shop- to give you an idea of the work I do on a daily bases it includes operating a LARGE mill, 50 ton brake, 50 press, hot tank, plastic extruders and so on, I also MIG, TIG and plasma cut. I also do a little wrenching (I was an ASE mechanic before I got into this). I use a few spyderco's way harder than they were ever intended, I have my EDC knives on me that I use the crap out of but then I have a few "shop" knives that sit around the work areas (I don't have any employees other than my wife and one or two friends that come when needed so I don't often have the problem of nice things growing legs). One of those knives is a spyderco Native 5 (non-FFG) and then a dragonfly salt that sits near/on the hot tank to remove any zip ties or other packing material before submerging stuff. (I also have a Cold steel around somewhere)

I do alot of sheet metal/bar stock scribing with it, and not just lite lines, I'll take notes and color/shade out areas that will be removed later, really gouge the heck out of some pretty tough materials yet my tip is still there.
Another hard use I often ask of the native is to seperate sheets of material off the stock pile- I'm talking 3/8 all the way up to 1/2" plate, my shop crane hooks around 2 opposite sides so it has to be balanced in the center, not just stuck on an end. I jab the blade between sheets and pry the top one up enough to have clearance for the hook.

I'm sure there's tons more crap I probabily shouldn't do but those are a few examples of the hardest stuff I ask of my shop knives.


Shhh, don't tell Sal!
 
The pacific salt is my beater Spydie.

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The manix 2 and the gayle Bradley. Those two are tanks. I have my manix 2 in the car and can easily close it with one finger. Please post pics of what you end up with.
 
I work in a factory that manufactures aerospace aluminum and beat the hell out of my work knives. It seems as though the Tenacious was built and designed for this kind of abuse. I have been using it almost every day for about four months (I rotate in a Kershaw Cryo 2 lately) and am amazed at the abuse it can take! It handles scribing metal, trimming gasket, cleaning steel grooves, separating plates and sheets, cutting packaging (cardboard, masonite, plastic sheets, plastic tarp, metal and plastic banding, aluminum tape, etc.) all the while covered in abrasive compound! This knife exceeded all my expectations and has led me to purchase a Manix 2 that I have yet to put through the wringer. I was late getting into Spyderco knives because I was not especially fond of their aesthetics, I now am a big fan and see their beauty in that they are exceptionally functional and ergonomic.
 
Snag a superleaf while they're still around at reasonable prices! Thick FFG blade with a robust tip, and a compression lock for quick one hand closing. Great spyderco to beat on.
 
I agree the Superleaf would be a great choice. Can't go wrong with the Gayle Bradley, either, with its CPM M4 steel. Or the Tuff.
 
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