My Tenacious PE Just Arrived

[Sal Glesser]

Hi Rhino,

Your results do seem odd. Though it would be difficult to see what was on the edge as it has been re-shaped.

We can test the Rc for you.

8Cr13MoV has performed about the same as Aichi's AUS-8 in edge retention. AUS-8 has better corrosion resistance.

At this time, 8Cr is the best performing steel made in China. We're working on getting better steel, but it's still in the experimental stage. If you are used to USA made or Seki made blade steel, you will notice a difference.

sal

 

[thekid_1]

I must admit I have the same problem as rhino. I loved the knife at first. In fact I was blown away and was going to buy all the blade variations. The knife took a great edge after just a little sharpening but after VERY LITTLE use it became extremely dull. time and time again

I have also had an issue with the blade centering. It may be my fault but the jury is out on it. I took the knife apart to clean and ever since the blade is way off center and I cannot fix it without a very tight pivot. I have done this on many spydercos and other brands without this problem. It appears that the liner pivot holes are not in the same location on each side. I have destroyed the screws trying to remedy the situation without a tight pivot.

At the end of the day I figure you get what you pay for. Yes it is a very nice knife and I prefer liners to mid locks but I rather spend the extra money for a military. The bonus is my money goes to American workers. I am not anti china, like I said I would have bought more of this model had it been better after use. Like they saying, you can’t judge a book by its cover.

 

[Kim Lau]

Hi Rhino,

Your results do seem odd. Though it would be difficult to see what was on the edge as it has been re-shaped.

We can test the Rc for you.

8Cr13MoV has performed about the same as Aichi's AUS-8 in edge retention. AUS-8 has better corrosion resistance.

At this time, 8Cr is the best performing steel made in China. We're working on getting better steel, but it's still in the experimental stage. If you are used to USA made or Seki made blade steel, you will notice a difference.

sal

I hoope Spyderco does make this knife in a better steel. After hearing of Rhino's results, Ive put off buying the knife until maybe it might be made in a better steel. I was trying to figure out whether to buy a Spyderco Tenacious or a Benchmade Vex. But after hearing mixed reviews of the blade steel. I think I should just wait.

 

[rhino]

If you have any interest in doing so I can mail you my Tenacious to compare with yours.

Thanks for the offer, Vivi. I appreciate your feedback and I might take you up on it in the future at some point. Maybe we could trade and see if your sharpening and testing get better results with my knife and if my sharpening makes your knife similar to mine. That way we might know whether my knife is different from yours, or if it's just a case of me being a knucklehead.

No time for such things now, though. I foolishly agreed to teach two physics classes and a math class during the summer session and it's killing me.

 

[rhino]

Sal:

Thanks for the response. I would assume that any testing you did with the 8Cr13MoV vs. the AUS8A would have been with blades whose heat treatment and hardness you could verify. I suspect that productions examples may sometimes stray a little from the heat treatment "reservation" so to speak.

Yeah, I suppose I am spoiled. Over the years, a lot of really good working knives have emerged from Seki in AUS8A. The only thing that I like better than seeing "SEKI" on the tange is "USA."

Benchmade is doing some good stuff with their red box, low-end line with AUS8A, but I think they're all made in Taiwan instead of China, which at least for now seems to make a huge difference. Of course, it wasn't that long ago when Taiwan = crap, and before that, Japan = crap. The Chinese industrial machine will catch up ... in a few years, their knives will be as good as any. Of course, they'll probably cost a lot more too.

Hi Rhino,

Your results do seem odd. Though it would be difficult to see what was on the edge as it has been re-shaped.

We can test the Rc for you.

8Cr13MoV has performed about the same as Aichi's AUS-8 in edge retention. AUS-8 has better corrosion resistance.

At this time, 8Cr is the best performing steel made in China. We're working on getting better steel, but it's still in the experimental stage. If you are used to USA made or Seki made blade steel, you will notice a difference.

sal

 

[rhino]

I must admit I have the same problem as rhino. I loved the knife at first. In fact I was blown away and was going to buy all the blade variations. The knife took a great edge after just a little sharpening but after VERY LITTLE use it became extremely dull. time and time again

So maybe it's not just me after all! Thanks for sharing your experience.

On the bright side, I have to risk repeating myself that for factors other than the cutting performance, the Tenacious is a very well made tool, especially considering its point of origin. Given that, we all know what really counts when it comes to a knife ... how well it cuts.

On the other bright side (especially for Sal), owning this Tenacious did not sour me in any way on Spyderco. On the contrary, it has impressed me that they can get things made as well as they do. I'm not one of the "Spyderco Only" devotees, but I continue to notice the way Spyderco has helped push the industry forward in terms of design, features, and manufacturing standards.

In addition, I really, really, really like the flat ground blade. This Tenacious has inspired me to get more serious about acquiring a Military or flat ground Endura.

 

[senoBDEC]

So maybe it's not just me after all! Thanks for sharing your experience.

On the bright side, I have to risk repeating myself that for factors other than the cutting performance, the Tenacious is a very well made tool, especially considering its point of origin. Given that, we all know what really counts when it comes to a knife ... how well it cuts.

I've recently started reprofiling my Tenacious, and I'm running into this issue too. However, I suspect my lack of equipment (I freehand using Sharpmaker stones --- silly, I know) and lack of skills might be part of it. However, I have observed that 8Cr13MoV seems to have very low wear resistance, I can make like 2-3 passes and the Sharpmaker stone (med. grit - gray, flat) is already covered in steel (making further sharpening almost pointless).

I'm thinking of just going out and grabbing a bunch of different sandpaper grits, and convexing it and working on it from there.