How solid is the Tenacious lock when closed?

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Dec 9, 2007
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I have seen plenty of praise and are confident on the tenacious lock to be rock solid holding the blade open, but no comments about how well it holds the knife closed. Also have curiosity a bout LL in general.

I am concerned as I think that the Military (similar LL design) being a large LL is point down only to prevent accidental opening and also I saw a video from Nutfancy where he got cut by an accidentally opening tenacious.
 
I don't think there's a Walker style liner, or Reeve style frame, lock made that has much in the way of closing bias or blade retention. I'd say, if anything, the Tenacious is somewhat better than the Military in that regard, the ball seems larger and the detent deeper. The blade is also shorter, and thinner, so there's less mass to retain. That said, I think carrying any Walker or Reeve lock knife tip up is dangerous, but there are those who want to do it, so Spyderco allowed for it on the Tenacious.

Paul
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IIRC, nutnfancy stated he got cut from carelessness with the Tenacious.
Not from it being defective or anything. Be careful and use common sense.:thumbup:
 
The single best way to minimise the risks is to carry the knife tip-down. If you absolutely go bug-nuts if the knife isn't tip-up then you might eventually have an issue.
 
always carried it and any other liner locks tip up, the way I carry them is against the back of the right front pocket, along the seam of my pants, impossible for it to come open, and even if it somehow did, impossible for me to catch it on my hand.

Never had an issue. That said, just pulled my tenacious out of my pocket (it's a VERY smooth opener after some work by me) and it doesn't budge with some fairly vigorous wrist snapping unless I hold it inverted and snap the wrist hard enough for it to hurt my wrist. :)
 
Theres nothing to be worried about.The Tenacious is a good knife,Buy it and find out for your self.
And don't believe everything you see on you tube.
 
My Tenacious isn't as retained as my Military, but I haven't had any problems with it opening up in my pocket or anything.
 
I have seen plenty of praise and are confident on the tenacious lock to be rock solid holding the blade open, but no comments about how well it holds the knife closed. Also have curiosity a bout LL in general.

I am concerned as I think that the Military (similar LL design) being a large LL is point down only to prevent accidental opening and also I saw a video from Nutfancy where he got cut by an accidentally opening tenacious.

If we're talking about the same vid, Nutnfancy cut himself when he reached into his fannypack for the Tenacious, which had somehow sprung open inside.

My hats off to the Nut for taking the time to review all those knives, but anyone who carries a knife in a fannypack deserves at least a little nip on the finger!
 
Mine is pretty sturdy. I currently carry it tip up in a back pocket. It could be a bit tighter, though.
 
I have had mine for months and used it daily along with my slip joints. The tenacious does the dirty work. It locks up great and hasn'e sliped yet.
 
The single best way to minimise the risks is to carry the knife tip-down. If you absolutely go bug-nuts if the knife isn't tip-up then you might eventually have an issue.
If you carry a knife tip up in your front pocket, the blade will rest against the seam of your pocket and it CANNOT open up, unless you prefer to clip the knife in the middle of your pocket(which makes access to anything in your pocket impossible).

The ball bearing on my tenacious is very strong and has very good retention on the blade when closed.
 
Any more info on circumstances where the Tenacious is opening on its own?
I was surprised to see this.

Over the years, since I live in Levi's, the only Spyderco I found small enough to work in my pocket was the Native. Larger models have been too big for the pocket & also tend to work themselves up & fall out. I used the WalMart Native for a couple years quite happily, and was able to re-seat it when it started occasionally to rise up in the pocket.
Sometime last month it managed to escape completely, and I miss it.

Considering trying the Tenacious I have here, but thinking it'll probably be too big in the long run.
Then I saw this thread.
I prefer tip up use, and the thing would be carried clipped at the rear of the Levi's pocket, right side, with the blade resting against the seam. Past experience tells me it'll rise & try to fall out, but the Native never moved forward away from the seam.

At first, in reading the above, I thought the Tenacious must have some hidden weakness that could result in the blade beginning to open in bringing it out of a pocket, but unless somebody can explain to me how that's happening in a pocket, I'm assuming it's a non-issue?

Mine seems to have a decent amount of tension holding it closed & I can't flick it open at all.

No problem?

Denis
 
Just want to echo what others have said - I have a Tenacious and carry it tip-up in my front pocket. I've never had an issue with it popping open when i didn't want it to.
 
I have seen plenty of praise and are confident on the tenacious lock to be rock solid holding the blade open, but no comments about how well it holds the knife closed. Also have curiosity a bout LL in general.

I am concerned as I think that the Military (similar LL design) being a large LL is point down only to prevent accidental opening and also I saw a video from Nutfancy where he got cut by an accidentally opening tenacious.

I also saw that vid with Nutnfancy where he cut himself and in ANOTHER video by CutleryLover he too cut himself with the Tenacious. Although CutleryLovers cut was from him closing the knife...not from failure of blade retention in the handle.

I do own the Tenacious and I have never had an issue, but the retention in the handle is no where near as strong as my endura or delica knives.
 
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