• The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
    Price is $300 $250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
    Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.

  • Today marks the 24th anniversary of 9/11. I pray that this nation does not forget the loss of lives from this horrible event. Yesterday conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was murdered, and I worry about what is to come. Please love one another and your family in these trying times - Spark

Southard or Tuff?

B

Bigdave78

Joined
Jul 14, 2014
Messages
8
Hey all,

I will start off by saying I have never owned any spyderco blades before mostly because they just don't really appeal to me looks wise, but I saw two knives that just kinda caught my eye in photots and watched a few videos on both. I'm talking about the Spyderco Southard and the Spyderco Tuff. Given there price I can only get one at this time as they are both in the 250 dollar range here in Canada, so my question is which of the two do you al like most and why. Also do you see there being a collector value to either of them or would they be considered high end edc.

Thanks

Dave.
 
I have only had personal experience with the Southard, but I would say that these are two knives build for very different purposes. The Southard is a lightweight edc knife in a high wear resistance steel. The Tuff is an "overbuilt" knife meant to be far sturdier than most folders. The 3v of the Tuff should be very resistant to damage and have good wear resistance, but it is not stainless, and the cts-204p of the Southard should hold an edge significantly longer when used for light cutting tasks.

Both knives are of similar quality and have great materials, but they are build around very different purposes of design. If you are doing light cutting, the Southard with its hollow grind and high carbide steel should work well. If you are prying things or cutting tough materials the sturdier build and tougher steel of the Tuff may be a better option.

I think the Southard would be a better edc, but that's just my opinion.
 
The Tuff is a big boy, slightly shorter than the Military, but a lot heavier and much more substantial. Too big for EDC IMO, unless you have some kind of outdoors occupation.





For me: Tuff for camping/hiking/hunting/outdoors, Southard for the office/EDC.
 
The Tuff carries a lot less obtrusively than you might think...I don't notice it much more than a Manix 2 as far as pocket carry goes. Something about the ergonomics of the Southard just doesn't groove with me...I've held one on several occasions at my local knife store and never warmed up to the feel. As soon as I held the Schempp Tuff I knew I'd be walking out the door with it. As for flippers, the Domino is much more comfortable to me than the Southard, but that's getting off topic. I prefer the Schempp Tuff to the Southard, but you should also give the Military and especially the ParaMilitary 2 a good look. My top 4 (I couldn't choose a favourite between them) are the Schempp Tuff, CTS-204P ParaMilitary2, Chokwe, and CruWear Manix2.

Schempp Tuff


CTS-204P ParaMilitary2


Chokwe


CruWear Manix2
 
The Tuff is one ugly duckling IMO, and does not seem very practical. I always recommend the PM2 as a first Spyderco Purchase, in your price range perhaps PM2 in M4? But if I had to choose between the two it would be the Southard, not because I don't like the Tuff, but because I actually like it personally, good ergos and the blade shape is very intriguing, but there's a dozen Spydercos I would buy before I get to a Southard
 
I haven't seen the M4 steel version in a while, only time I see it is on the For Sale here on the forums. But the regular S30V and S35-VN can be found on pretty much any big online knife store, most people shop on BladeHQ, they also have price-matching
 
There hasn't been an M4 para to my knowledge, maybe you're thinking of a different model or steel?

I've had several southards since they came out and its a great model, though the handle is on the short side for my tastes. I still carry one occasionally.

I had a tuff for about a week before deciding to sell it. I found it hard to open and unlock, and it seemed a shame to waste all that potential cutting edge on a knife so big. Way overbuilt and strong as anything though.

Both great knives that hold most of their value well. Its up to your tastes and needs.
 
The S35VN Para2 has been out of stock in most places since mid 2013. Some places may have one or two, but they may not be mainstream well known retailers, and most certainly not one of most named dealers.
 
I went with the Tuff for hiking/camping as a backup to my large fixed blade. It's excellent in that role.
 
I have both and I must say this is the toughest choice I have come across on the forums. They both split time and share the top spot on my favorites list. The tuff is big and burly, but does not feel that way in the pocket to me, while the southard is much more sleek and low key and basically vanishes (especially with a new deep carry clip). The flipper on the southard is butter smooth everytime, while the Tuff can be a bit stiffer to open because of its size and strength. I would probably be more likely to get the southard as it is just so much more compact, and I can never get sick of flipping it open.
 
Southard. Light and sleek, flips well, solid, feels good in the hand, great blade steel, and shaped for everyday use. Good blade to frame ratio. Pointy but with lots of belly. Relacement scales an option. Excellent for EDC and, with its semi-skinner profile, a perfect folding hunting knife. If you're looking more for function in the field, you couldn't go wrong with the Southard. - - Many good knives out there. Enjoy whatever you decide on. And remember you can always buy more.
 
Both are great choices. I love them both.

The Tuff is way over built but I love it. My hands are pretty strong since I work with them a lot and lift. I can flick the tuff open with my thumb or my middle finger and I can close it one handed. Most can't and that's not a bad thing. It was meant to be a two handed open and close knife. It's concept was to be a folding fixed blade.
It's also designed as a fighting knife. Blood letting grooves ;)

The Southard is a beautiful knife and is great for edc like the tuff. However it's more people friendly to sheeple than the tuff. I usually use my Southard when I go out to eat.
You should try them both out and decide for yourself.
 
ShepardCC said:
Both are great choices. I love them both.

The Tuff is way over built but I love it. My hands are pretty strong since I work with them a lot and lift. I can flick the tuff open with my thumb or my middle finger and I can close it one handed. Most can't and that's not a bad thing. It was meant to be a two handed open and close knife. It's concept was to be a folding fixed blade.
It's also designed as a fighting knife. Blood letting grooves ;)

The Southard is a beautiful knife and is great for edc like the tuff. However it's more people friendly to sheeple than the tuff. I usually use my Southard when I go out to eat.
You should try them both out and decide for yourself.
Click to expand...
I bought one of the first Tuff knives for sale from Knifeworks, the day they came out actually. I cannot and have not ever been able to flick the blade out one handed. I've also allowed several friends and coworkers to try it. These friends are firefighters, law enforcement, plumbers, electricians, and general contractors. No one can flick it open with their thumb. ;)
 
RevDevil said:
I bought one of the first Tuff knives for sale from Knifeworks, the day they came out actually. I cannot and have not ever been able to flick the blade out one handed. I've also allowed several friends and coworkers to try it. These friends are firefighters, law enforcement, plumbers, electricians, and general contractors. No one can flick it open with their thumb. ;)
Click to expand...

I think the first one's are extra Tuff. :D
 
I've had all my tuffs apart and I have one numbered 84, one in the 2xx and one numbered 548. I can thumb flick all of them. ;)

I don't have the 200 one anymore

Want me to make a video? Lol.
I don't know how to load them tho
 
Last edited:
RevDevil said:
I bought one of the first Tuff knives for sale from Knifeworks, the day they came out actually. I cannot and have not ever been able to flick the blade out one handed. I've also allowed several friends and coworkers to try it. These friends are firefighters, law enforcement, plumbers, electricians, and general contractors. No one can flick it open with their thumb. ;)
Click to expand...

I can thumb flick mine (With A LOT of effort, but it's not practical to do so...however one hand opening is fine with either hand).

Luckyleo said:
Hey now! Sweet scales on the Tuff :D. Where did you get them?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

See Eric (ShepardCC), who's posted a few times in this very thread, and if you want more pictures of my Tuff I can certainly PM you more (Don't want to hijack this thread...he also has a thread in the Knife Exchange > Custom Shop where you can see several Schempp Tuff and Southards that he's worked on).
 
Wasn't there a slight rework of the Tuff? I bought one recently and is very flick-able and can be closed one handed. Solid without play.
To OP, I wouldn't be able to choose between the two. Love them both. Can't find any flaws in fit or finish.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top