My first spyderco: Tenacious? Or something more expensive?

the blue endura 4 was my first spyderco, you will like it. It's a big blade but the blue is a sheeple friendly color.
 
My first Spyderco was a Pacific Salt 1. I like that it fits a role that no other knife I currently own fits, which is going fishing, to the beach, to the pool, or working out (getting sweaty). Next were two Manix 2's, a G10 and a lightweight blue. Out of those last two, I would recommend the lightweight Manix for your first Spyderco. But first consider one of the Salts.
 
My first Spyderco was the (sadly no longer produced) Spyderfly and I love it. Recently I bought a Tenacious, I think it is a great blade for mid-to-heavy use. You won't regret it.
 
I love my tenacious! its got a decent steel and great blade shape. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another tenacious, for the money you cant beat it. But for another $20 you can pick up a delica or endura and then you enter the VG-10 realm which is fantastic. Those two blades are some of my fav spyderco's because of quality, price, and weight.
 
I have a Delica and Endura and really enjoy both, do NOT get the saber ground versions. I have heard the Manix 2 in florescent blue is a good model, that's just what i have heard though.
 
I love the Tenacious, and I will be getting another one. It is the best Chinese-made knife I've ever seen. The build quality, the materials, the workmanship, accuracy of grinds, etc, are everything they should be on a Spyderco, regardless of where it was built. It takes a great edge, and holds it. I convexed the edge on the one I had, making it an even better slicer. It is a tough, heavy duty folder that locks up like a vault door.

I just got a Delica. I'm not convinced yet on the Emerson opener, but everything else about it I'm impressed with. Lighter, more compact and thin, it will probably work better in my office slacks than the Tenacious did.

I didn't sell that knife, btw. I lost it. A new one will be my next knife purchase.
 
I got my endura in the mail, and it's pretty nice. Came nice and sharp, though the edge isn't uniform along the whole length of the blade, and it isn't quite centered. But that will even out with sharpening over time I guess. Haven't had it long enough to know how well the VG10 is going to hold up, but I've heard good things about it. I love how light the knife is for its size too (it turned out to be bigger than I expected, but its still very comfortable to carry). Overall I like it. Though for some reason everyone in my family hates the blue :D
 
Spyderco are great knifes for the price, highest quality, lightweight, great designs. I have a Manix 2, and Manix XL. Love them both!!!!!!!!!!!

I was hesitant to buy by a spyderco, thought it was all hype, it is NOT. GREAT KNIFES!!!!!!!!!
 
I start my Spyderco Journey with first production Manix & Chinook. I don't hv them any more during personal financial crisis and recently bought a Original Manix back.
Since it now is too precious to use, I pick up Delica the first time just to see what the hype is about. Man, I love it. Next day after I received Delica, I ordered a Endura. Although I knew it is gonna be too big in my hand since Delica is perfect.
I can't believe I missed out Delica/Endura all these yrs. Gen 4 is fantastic model to start.
 
I would say go Endura or Delica, or try the Byrd line. The Cara Cara and Meadowlark are somewhat similar to the endura and delica. I suggest these to my friends before the Tenacious or Persistance.
 
On finger choils, I feel like a finger choil gives me more control of the blade during cutting. Plus, choils increase the comfort of holding the knife for me. I really like finger choiles. Most of the folders I had that did not have choils are now gone......

And, the choil is one reason my first Spyderco was a PM2.
 
I would start with a Delica. its the perfect mid size Spyderco with good steal. if u find a Vg-10 model your looking at about 55 to 70 bucks. sometimes you can get lucky and get a ZDP-189 for less then 90 bucks. Both are great. Vg-10 IMO is better overall for rust resit and edge retention, but the ZDP-189 will hold a edge allot longer.
 
The manix in florescent blue is a great looking blade and I am looking at getting one in the next little while.its under 3 oz. and would make for a great backpacking blade
 
For me personally, the Endura was my route into quality cutlery (a spyder-edged one I purchased 18 years ago). So I can't fault that route, but I think the world has moved on a little in terms of what is available.

I would see the Tenacious family as the gateway product for people who aren't used to spending on a quality knife as it will start to give them an idea of what they've been missing. But for someone already used to spending on Benchmades, Kershaws, etc, I think they'd probably be most impressed with the standard model PM2 or Manix 2s (FFG S30V small or XL). Those models really offer top quality products (design & materials) at very reasonably prices.

In the final analysis through, just begin with whatever excites you the most. Likely you'll get others in the future.
 
The Tenacious was my gateway drug into this knife thing. Get it a don't ever look back. :)
 
Hey strick284 what a coincidence,,,I just ordered my first Spyderco and its the Endura 4 FFG....$54 with free shipping and I went with gray...
 
My first was a Delica 3, PE, lightly used. Loved the needle point but the edge was a bit obtuse (from sharpening?) so over time I convexed it (and made a hash of it - ugly) but it ended up sharp and ready for anything. That was bout 7 years ago and now Spyderco forms at least 2/3 of my collection, if not more....
Para2, Military, and Lum Chinese are my favorites. The newer Walker ZDP is my fav small knife. Couldn't really warm up to the Cricket or Dragonfly or Endura or Delica in the end, liked them, but liked others better.

Try the Para 2 or the Military next. You might just not buy another knife... or not?
 
I have both knives and I can't really pick one over the other. My recommendation follows suit with everyone else here. I will say that I lost my first black tenacious and ended up getting a new green one to replace it. The green is sexy and I prefer it to the black, but that's just personal taste. I find myself carrying my Endura 4 with the Emerson wave a lot. Super light tactical blade. Congrats on your gateway knife.
 
Tenacious is made in China. Delica & Endura are made here in the USA, that in itelf makes the higher price all worth it. Granted the Tenacious is not a cheap piece of crap just because it's from China, Spyderco has very good quality control and the Tenacious is still a great knife, especially for the price. Call me old fashioned, but I thoroughly enjoy seeing "Made in USA" on my knives, and anything really.
 
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