New Spydie for EDC: Tenacious or Tasman Salt?

O

Olive Tree

Joined
Jun 14, 2012
Messages
106
Hello everybody!
I'm going to buy a new Spyderco for EDC (eventually SD) and I can't choose between the Tenacious and the Tasman Salt. They both have intriguing features.

Tenacious:
PRO: Big FFG blade, steel liners/G10 handle
CON: Not so rust resistant steel (I'm not a big fan of 8Cr13MoV, actually)
Tasman Salt (Plain edge):
PRO: Very rust resistant H1 steel, hawkbill blade (do you like them?), very light
CON: not FFG (minor issue), FRN handle (how strong is that handle?), pinned and not screwed construction.

I'll buy both of them sooner or later, but I'm going to leave for travel and I need a small/medium blade to carry with me.
Help me figure it out! And feel free to suggest different knives if you have some good ideas. :thumbup:
 
To me the Tenacious blade profile is better for EDC. Also the steel will hold an edge better than the H1. I own a Tenacious and live in humid Florida. My Tenacious is great, no rust issues with me.
 
So 8Cr13MoV is not that bad... I've been talking about it at my local knife-store and the owner (a knifemaker himself) told me he thinks it sucks. Described it as a "cheap, chinese, low rust resistant steel" (And no, he didn't tell me that to make me buy a more expensive blade: he's an old friend and he knows I only buy on the internet because I save money).
(Tenacious gaining points)
 
I mean it's no S30V or anything but it's not like it's gonna rust like a carbon steel either. If you wipe it down every couple days with mineral oil or something then you shouldn't have a problem. Don't throw it into buckets of water hours on end though lol
 
Not a diving knife, I guess :D I think I'll buy the Tenacious (and later the Tasman, just for my collection)

What do you think about hawkbill blades? I always liked them and I usually carry a small hawkbill while mountaineering/climbing (CRKT Ringer II, strange little knife), but probably they're not the best as EDC.
Last doubt: the FRN handles (like those on the Delica or on the Matriarch II). They seem cheap and fragile to me.
 
Olive Tree said:
Last doubt: the FRN handles (like those on the Delica or on the Matriarch II). They seem cheap and fragile to me.
Click to expand...

Unless you are going to pry with the blade so hard that it will pop out of the handles, unless you like skinning whales or unless you have this hobby where you like to jam large rocks onto your knife's handles, FRN will do just fine.

I do neither of those, and my Delicas have both held up great. No chipping, no deformation, no cracks,...
 
Olive Tree said:
Not a diving knife, I guess :D I think I'll buy the Tenacious (and later the Tasman, just for my collection)

What do you think about hawkbill blades? I always liked them and I usually carry a small hawkbill while mountaineering/climbing (CRKT Ringer II, strange little knife), but probably they're not the best as EDC.
Last doubt: the FRN handles (like those on the Delica or on the Matriarch II). They seem cheap and fragile to me.
Click to expand...

hawkbills are good, just not for EDC for me
 
i love my tenacious its not super steel but keep it oiled and use it like the knife it is it will do the job, besides spyderco sets the standard that the chinese factory uses to make the knives. i would dare say the tenacious is one of thier best sellers that says something! i also have the manix2 xl its a great knife needs less edge care but both cut the same way lol.
 
The Manix 2 XL is a great knife, but it's too expensive for me to be carried as a EDC. Love it, anyway.
Just ordered a Tenacious on ebay (satin finish, plain edge). Thanks guys!
 
Olive Tree said:
Hello everybody!
I'm going to buy a new Spyderco for EDC (eventually SD) and I can't choose between the Tenacious and the Tasman Salt. They both have intriguing features.

Tenacious:
PRO: Big FFG blade, steel liners/G10 handle
CON: Not so rust resistant steel (I'm not a big fan of 8Cr13MoV, actually)
Tasman Salt (Plain edge):
PRO: Very rust resistant H1 steel, hawkbill blade (do you like them?), very light
CON: not FFG (minor issue), FRN handle (how strong is that handle?), pinned and not screwed construction.

I'll buy both of them sooner or later, but I'm going to leave for travel and I need a small/medium blade to carry with me.
Help me figure it out! And feel free to suggest different knives if you have some good ideas. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Re:"pinned and not screwed construction".
The new models of the Tasman Salt use torx screws instead of riveted pins.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-media/product-gallery/B000IHFNI4/ref=cm_ciu_pdp_images_0?ie=UTF8&index=0&isremote=0
 
I much prefer the tasman but the hawkbill has limitations but to it's shape... Get both? :D
 
I think it really depends on what your EDC tasks are. If you are breaking down boxes, cutting zip ties, cutting rope/string/cord, or opening packages regularly, then the hawkbill is actually an AWESOME shape. If you are going to be slicing food or really doing any fine slicing, then the Tenacious is probably the better EDC choice. I hardly would call 8cr13mov a crappy steel. Not great, but it functions perfectly fine for most EDC uses, and it is the easiest steel to put an edge on I've ever encountered. A few passes on the sharpmaker or strop and it can go from dull to hair popping.
 
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