Spyderco Tenacious/Ambitious Hybrid

B

Bugout Bill

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Jan 2, 2013
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Although I only live about 30 minutes away, I hate going into the city of Chicago and make every effort to avoid that forsaken place. While the oppressive expense and hoards of people are usually enough to keep me out, the moronic 2.5 in blade limit also causes me a great deal of irritation. None of my folders are compliant with this limit, so I am either forced to break to law or not carry a knife when I have to go into the city.

In my fairly half-assed search for a compliant knife, I've taken a liking to the Spyderco Ambitious. Unfortunately, it seems like it might be a bit too small for my hands. Since the Ambitious essentially belongs to the Tenacious family of knives, I was wondering if it might be possible to exchange the blade from the Tenacious with that of the Ambitious.

Opinions on this idea?
 
I haven't done it, but according to the specs that should work perfectly. Great idea!
 
Without actually trying it, might not be fitting. Spyderco usually design the knife anew even if it's for a family series. I suggest posting it under Spyderco subforum, more people might have the answer, and perhaps Sal himself will reply.

Another option is get a Tenacious and grind down the blade, the knife is not that costly.
 
From looking at the two knives in person, I'd be willing to give it a shot if I were in your position.

I too hate small handled knives, regardless of blade length. I have big hands, and it really sucks trying to fiddle with small handles.

The only reason I tolerate my Rat-3 anymore after I got a Gravelle, is that the Rat-3 is my beater fixed blade and goes everywhere with me to do the stuff I don't want to mess up a folder on. The gravelle is better in every respect, besides size.....and to be honest, the generous handle of the gravelle is my favorite feature of the knife. Just so comfortable to hold, and carries like a dream.
 
Bugout Bill said:
Although I only live about 30 minutes away, I hate going into the city of Chicago and make every effort to avoid that forsaken place. While the oppressive expense and hoards of people are usually enough to keep me out, the moronic 2.5 in blade limit also causes me a great deal of irritation. None of my folders are compliant with this limit, so I am either forced to break to law or not carry a knife when I have to go into the city.

Opinions on this idea?
Click to expand...

I'm in the same boat. None of my folders were under the limit, so I usually carried a small looking ~3" folder like the BM 707 and just rolled the dice everyday. I'm not sure if the Ambitious blade will work in the Tenacious handle, but let me suggest a few alternatives that require no modification.

Recently I decided to find something that would actually be legal, and now I carry a Spyderco Kopa (carbon fiber version) or a cheap and sturdy Cold Steel Mini Tuff Lite. Both feature big functional choils, making their handles surprisingly large and useful. If you go with the part handle/part blade choil knives you end up with something you can still get your whole hand on, even though it's a tiny knife. Other Spyderco options include the Cat and Dragonfly knives.

Consider a few of my knives. Here are a 3" blade BM 707, a 3.4" blade BM 940, a 3.46" blade Spyderco Southard, and two < 2.5" mini knives with big choils, a Cold Steel Tuff Lite and a Spyderco Kopa (cf version):

NudX819.jpg


If you look at the functional choil as part of the grippable handle area, you can see that the little knives are actually "bigger" than the 3" BM 707 by a large margin, and have around the same amount of stuff to grab as the much larger 940 and Southard:

Ve329tI.jpg


My suggestion, before you go full on franken-knife is that you try the available stuff first. If you need a sturdy knife to cut stuff, the Cold Steel Tuff Lite is <$30 and it feel like a big solid bastard of a little knife (I carve with mine all the time, and I use it hard). If you want something dressier, go with a stainless Spyderdo Dragonfly or a CF Cat if you can find one.
 
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sweet_hitch-hiker said:
isn't the choil considered part of the blade though?
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That would be an issue, except that both small knives I suggested that are in that picture are under 2.5" measuring from where the handle ends . . .

Both blades are completely Chicago-legal (if you look at the Tuff Lite as an example, the sharpened edge is 2" long and the full blade is 2.4" or so).

The magic of the choil is that that little 2" cutting edge has a massive, comfortable handle to hold onto. Chicago-legal and really comfortable and useful.
 
Just carry what you like, how often are you confronted by law enforcment asking to see your knife? Me, not once...
 
evilgreg said:
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I'll save the typing ;)

zgmosz1.jpg
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Ive spoken to a few cops on the matter(Texas cops). Most of them don't even look at your knife, unless you're being a dick or behaving in a weird/threatening/suspicious manner to begin with. However, if you do something to make them actually inspect your knife, they say they are allowed to measure to the pivot point, NOT just the part of the blade that is exposed. If that is also the case in Chicago, the Tuff Lite still wouldn't pass.
 
DShiflet said:
Ive spoken to a few cops on the matter(Texas cops). Most of them don't even look at your knife, unless you're being a dick or behaving in a weird/threatening/suspicious manner to begin with. However, if you do something to make them actually inspect your knife, they say they are allowed to measure to the pivot point, NOT just the part of the blade that is exposed. If that is also the case in Chicago, the Tuff Lite still wouldn't pass.
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I have no argument that a LEO who is looking to hassle you will find a way, but the I seriously doubt that would hold up in court if you fought the matter. In my post above I admit to having regularly carried longer knives (e.g. a 3" little 707 for years everyday) in Chicago without much fear myself, for the reasons you've described (unless you're doing something stupid, nobody will hassle you in most cases).

However, having seen some really shady LEO stuff in the last few years I've decided it's better to follow the letter of the law where possible, to take away one more way for bad cops to screw you.

I just called the Chicago non-emergency police line and after getting some attitude managed to get at least one Chicago police opinion (they told me the 2.5" means measured from the end of the handle to the tip of the blade it must be equal to or less than 2.5" per chapter 8-24 of the Chicago municipal code, FWIW).
 
Honestly, i think that is a good suggestion EvilGreg, most people would not think of a choil first, to help extend the handle.

I for one love choiled pocket knives, they are more comfortable regardless of the handle size.

As far as the OP question, according to spydercos website, the ambitious actually has a slightly thicker blade. They measure it at .125, and the tenacious comes in at .118. This will affect the blade being off centered, and possibly rubbing.

The other thing to consider is the pivot size. The actual pivot bolt seems to be the same size torx, but does not mean the pivot itself is the same size. If they were different size, it still might fit, but you could have a problem with lockup.

You also have to consider the width of the blade and where the stop pin is. The blade could hit the spacers, or the edge could hit the stop pin while closed if the length between the pivot and the part of the blade that meets the stop pin is shorter.

The issues I mentioned are not for sure, and it could fit beautifully, you just have to try.

Good luck
 
^^ +1 Spyderco Squeak or even the Pingo.
Both are small with a choil for more room on the handle and being able to choke up on the blade.
They have good steel, a nice grip on the FRN, low-ride clip(makes it less obvious if that's an issue), thin and light.
Overall either would make a good EDC, the tip on the squeak may be more desirable.
Perfect for carrying in the city. =]
 
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