Is the tenacious too good?

DaveH

DaveH

Joined
Dec 2, 1999
Messages
12,249
I just got done with the passaround tenacious, thanks Sal and company for your continuing generosity.

Here's what I'm wondering, the tenacious was so good, for such a low price, it makes me wonder if the knife ultimately hurts sales in the vast middle ground of production knives ($50 - $125).
 
I haven't seen one yet but it seems to me from what I've read like this knife may set a new bar for China made knives. If that's true, more and more knives will be made overseas.
 
I don't know if it will hurt sales of more expensive knives, but I was blown away at what I got for $32. I guess when you factor in it was made in China, and doesn't use the latest and greatest super steel, the price makes sense. Build the same knife in Golden, CO, use s30v, or whatever, and it's probably a $80-90 knife.

I couldn't be happier with it. It's been my EDC since I got it, replacing my BM 710, which is hard to do. Not sure how long it will last, but I really love the blade, it's about the perfect size for me, and slices like a laser (as Spyderco blades always do).

I'd love to see sprint runs of this knife with different colored G-10, various blade steels, etc, and a price of $80-100 would be acceptable for such runs.
 
I'm not sure it will change much. The people like us that can tell the diffrence between vg-10, aus8, 154cm, s30v, etc are going to buy the best we can get and be picky about things like lock type and fit and finish. But there are those out there that only look and price and basic design "hey that knife looks cool and it's only 20bux" will sale more knives to the genral public than "strider designed buck with ats-34 and bos heat treat at only 150.00". Knives like the Tenacious give Spyderco a chance at saleing to people that consider spending 50.00 for a knife crazy. People like us will still buy the latest and greatest with the best of steels but others just want a somewhat decent knife for not alot.
 
I keep opening this knife and repeating, "$32 for this-wow!" I am going to get another one before the secret gets out and the price of the Tenacious goes up:D
 
I just got mine on Thursday, I extremely happy with it :D. Given the replacement price I'm not nervous about using or losing it. I'm hoping some day (soon) they make a Golden CO version with a lock-back instead of liner lock...

I would still be willing to shell out $120 for a Paramilitary and certainly $50 for a Endura.
 
Hold a Tenacious and then hold a P-Mil. Then choose. I know which knife it will be.
 
Yes, the Tenacious is so good that it will redefine what "value" means for production folding knives.....I dare say the F&F on my Tenacious puts some of my Seki City Clipits to shame..... it's just another day in Spyderco Evolution ;):cool:

tenaciousness018.jpg
 
The knife looks great, kinda reminds me of the Military, or is it just my old eyes. How does the 8CR13MOV steel stand up to everday use?
 
My curiosity has finally gotten the better of me and I ordered an SE Tenacious yesterday. I'm very eager to give it some pocket time.
 
DaveH said:
Here's what I'm wondering, the tenacious was so good, for such a low price, it makes me wonder if the knife ultimately hurts sales in the vast middle ground of production knives ($50 - $125).
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Good question, Dave. I've not handled a Tenacious yet, but recently started carrying a G-10 Cara Cara which I paid about $25. It does not have the fit/finish of the more expensive Spydies, but it just works. It works VERY well.

Great values will rule the day in the greater population. I'm an affi, but also see a great deal when I see one. The Byrds and Tenacious will sell tons.
 
I have collected a number of Byrds and have been very pleased with the value of them. However, I will probably give the Tenacious a 'pass' due to the fact that I can get a Native for a few bucks more and have vastly superior steel.
 
DaveH said:
I bought a native once, this is way better then a native, IMO.
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hi DaveH, i gotta agree with you there...my one Tenacious PE sample has better F&F than my 2 Natives (Golden) ;)
and I have around 15+ Byrds...the Tenacious build quality beats them all.
 
Well, true to my earlier post, I picked up another Tenacious today, this time with the serrated edge. Nasty sharp it is, and just as smooth as my plain edge Tenacious:thumbup:
 
My impressions on the Tenacious from the passaround before it went out are that it is much more Spyder like than Byrd like in appearance and design. Put it next to some G10 Spydercos made in Golden or Seki City and you might have a hard time telling where they were made unless you read the fine print on the blades.


The Tenacious’s liner lock is very much like the Military’s and the blade shape reminds me of the mini Manix. Ergos and handling, down to the round hole are Spyderco all the way. The Tenacious’s blade steel, country of origin and low price are more Byrd like.


To be really picky, I thought that the sample Tenacious’s build quality was also more Byrd like: the blade was polished to about the same luster as Byrd knives I have seen, which is not too bad at all, better than is typical for Spyderco’s S30V but not quite as good as is usual for Spyderco’s VG10 knives. The Chinese G10 seems to be a little darker and more glossy in appearance than the USA G10 Spyderco uses, and seems to have less of a washed out look after some pocket time, which I like. A few things I didn’t like where the partial serrations (too big), the un-nested liners and I thought that the back of the scales/spacer could have been finished a little better. The polished stainless clip looks good, but I would have preferred a uglier but more subdued black clip, or better yet a wire clip.


I think that the Tenacious is a good buy for someone looking for quality at a low price and who doesn’t mind too much that it is made in China. For most of us that are interested enough in knives to hang around here, I still think that the Golden or Seki City Spydercos are the way to go.





Frank
 
The Chinese G10 seems to be a little darker and more glossy in appearance than the USA G10 Spyderco uses[...]
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I think I remember Sal mentioning that the G10 is delivered to the chinese factory from Golden... isn't it?

But it in fact differs from the G10 on my other (Golden made) Spydies..... It's easy to see when you see it side by side.... still wondering how why, given the G10 is really made in the US, or at least in the same factory as the G10 found on i.e. my Manix.

Now, as I take a look at it, the Tenacious' G1ß and the one found on my CaraCara seem to be virtually identical.... the pattern is not as fine as on the Manix's G-10 for sure.

Will try to post some comparison pics if anybody is interested.

Dennis
 
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