Spyderco Endura 4 vs. Tenacious

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woodentsick

Joined
Apr 27, 2009
Messages
28
Hi guys,

Which of these 2 models do you think is best for outdoor cutting?

Spyderco Tenacious
Spyderco Endura 4

Factors to consider are edge retention (the steel), handle material (strength + grippability:D), blade grind and overall strength.

Thanks!!

p.s. mods, i thought this thread was suitable for Wilderness and Survival Skills but if you think it is better placed in the Spyderco forum, feel free to move it.
 
I have been using a plain edge Tenacious for the last couple months. I have been very impressed with it. I have owned many Enduras over the years, but none right now. I prefer the Tenacious.

The G10 scales are well done, comfortable and secure grip. The blade is about perfect length, offers good control, but is a bit wide. Opens, closes fine and fast. Good one handed operation as you would expect from a Spyderco. Edge holding is fine, and sharpens without issue on a ceramic rod. It did not come with as nice factory edge as other Spydies- for example I got a little ladybug in the same order, and it was scalpel sharp, the Caly3 came just as sharp. The Tenacious, not so much.

I have only used it to whittle a bit of wood while on a walk break, but have used it around the house and in the kitchen quite a bit.

I carry it in preference to my Millie due to its size, it is not too big, not too small. I stopped carrying Sebenzas in the woods after losing one on a hike.

As to locks, the liner lock seems plenty secure, though my daily use knives are slipjpoints, so I am not reliant on locks and may not be the best judge.
 
There are several models of Endura to choose from, but only one Tenacious. Which Endura are you comparing it to?
 
I have a delica and a tenacious. So I'll compare those.

The delica has some play front to back, which bugs me for woodcraft. I'm sure it wouldnt break, but it feels wierd. The tenacious is solid.

The tenacious has a better blade grind. As far as steel vg10 is supposedly better, though I'm very fond of the 8cr13mov. I hear its not so stain resistant, but haven't noticed anything. Edge retention is good, to me it seems better than vg-10, but I'm probibly crazy. anyways it's easy to get sharp. Tenacious came screamingly sharp, odly the delica did not. I guess spyderco just has some discrepancy with sharpness.

grip is good on both, but the edge probibly goes to the delica for its pattern. Ni ether have any problems.

If I had to give one up, I would give up the delica for woods use.
 
I brought my E4 on a 5 day (2days mountain and waterfall, 3days beach camping) trip to Malaysia last month so here's my take on it's use as an outdoor knife. It's adequate... I wish I had a fixed blade but all I had in my collection were folders and the E4 looked like it could take a bit of beating without breaking the bank. The one I used was the all black PS version.. It was wet and humid during the trip and other than a few minor rust spots that wiped away easily it was none the worst after the trip. The grip on the E4 is very very comfortable and secure. It's not G10 but the texturing makes up for it. Spyderco's FRN is very tough stuff... The steel liners helps keep the knife rigid. I'm very used to the backlock mechanism so it's usually the one I choose. This is especially because they seldom make linerlocks for lefties. For cutting open packages, food prep. and cutting cordage the E4 is definitely adequate. Edge retention was ok.. By the time we arrived home it was still sharp but not shaving sharp, a working edge I guess. A few minutes was all it took to bring back that shaving edge. I use sandpaper glued onto glass for sharpening.
 
For that extra folder you throw in a pack in case the poo hits the turbine? Tenacious. Can't beat the price, easier to clean I found, and mine feels a little lighter to carry.

My Endura is a Foliage Green G10 with ffg, A great knife that is in the Rotation for EDC but I'm afraid to beat on it due to replacement cost. No Hesitation with the Tenacious, in fact I have two a Plain Edge and a Fully Serrated.
 
I have a First Gen FRN fully serrated Endura and two Tenacious's.
Strictly on ergonomics i'd choose the Tenacious model, i like the handle shape better and i don't like choils at all.
Also i like the Tenacious's full flat grind better.
And the Tenacious's more open design is easier to clean.
And although i have quite a few lock-blades i've recently come to prefer liner locks.
And honestly the steel in the Tenacious holds an edge well and is easy to sharpen.
So for me it would be the Tenacious (thats why i bought a spare one, lol).
 
dd61999 said:
What limitations did you have with the folder, that made you wish you had a fixed blade?
Click to expand...

Insufficient blade length and heft to process firewood... Other than that the E4 is very sufficient. That and knowing a fixed blade will almost always be stronger than a folder. The folder however was a practical choice as I really needed to keep weight down as it was just me and my OL on the trip. I've my heart set on an RC-5 for our next trip. My first fixed blade...
 
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