Spyderco Tenacious - My First Impression

Rasco

Rasco

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Jan 3, 2014
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I recently ordered for a friend the Spyderco H1 Salt series, fully serrated pictured here:
spyderco-pacific-c91sbk-large.jpg


But what Amazon mistakenly shipped to me was the Spyderco Tenacious partially serrated:

spyderco-c122gps-tenacious-large.jpg


Aside from being disappointed by the order mistake, I was even more disappointed with the quality of the Tenacious.
Having the chance to handle one, I can honestly say I was not impressed one bit.
If you're looking for a large-ish 8Cr13MoV blade on a chinese-made folder on a budget, I would say away from these cheapo Spydercos and consider spending less than half the money on one of the budget-priced Kershaw offerings.

I think there is a video on YouTube of a gear reviewer cutting himself on a Spyderco Tenacious while reaching into his bag, because the blade had come loose. I can see how this would happen easily, the Tenacious I handled had very little blade retention, to the point it felt weak, or poorly made to me.

The correct knife is on it's way, but I just thought I'd see what yall's opinions were of the Tenacious.
I think compared to a knife like say, the Kershaw Clash, it's incredibly over-priced and inferior quality.
I'd have been disappointed if I had ordered it for myself and was expecting a $40-50 knife.
Seemed more like a $15-25 knife to me.
 
At around the $65 price point, I am expecting the H1 Pacific Salt to be of higher quality, but I'll see in a few hours when I go home for lunch...
 
I found the Tenacious to be an extrordinary value. It is the knife that got me hooked on Spyderco. Obviosly, YMMV.

Here it is with a little customizing:

 
Rasco, I believe that most folks have a pretty high opinion of the Tenacious and its siblings. I sure do. You get a decent steel, G10, 4-way clip, Spydie hole and more for not much coinage. I have heard of one other blade-retention complaint besides yours, but that's about it. I love the entry level Kershaws too, btw. But the Tenacious lineup is a big seller for Spyderco, and there is a reason why. Many people think they rock.

 
Not every knife appeals to everyone. However, I own all four knives in the Spyderco budget line and they all are an exceptional value. I enjoy carrying and using them just as much as any of my more expensive folders. I've never had a problem with the detent on any of mine.
 
The Tenacious was my first Spyderco. I now own all four in the series. I still think they're a good value for the money. Your mileage obviously varies.
 
Is the Tenacious one of the Spyderco models that are being knocked off...?
I only ask because there were a few factors I found odd...
The box arrived, I opened it up, and the first thing I noticed was it was the box for a Tenacious, but a "Pacific Salt" sticker had been slapped over the Tenacious label. I thought... "Hmmm, odd, but maybe they use the same box.." (in hindsight, it would make more sense for them to use the Endura box??) Even had the Tenacious manual inside.

When I opened it up, the blade looked like it had been licked / had some kind of residue on it, and I had to wipe it with a rag to get the steel looking good.

I admit, this is just an "initial impression" and I don't have years of using this knife to speak to how well it performs or holds up, I was just a little disappointed in (what I perceived to be) the low quality when compared to similar knives that run half the price.


Since there are some questionable factors here, I'll chalk it up to a fluke.
I'm withholding judgment until I get a chance to check out this H1 Pacific Salt.

Can any of you speak to the price gap between the low-end Kershaws and the low-end Spydercos?
For similar steel and materials, I can't seem to grasp why one company charges $20-25 and the other $40-45.
 
I have to agree with the OP. Sanrenmu makes $15 knives, and while a decent one at that price, that's what I find the Tenascious to be. It's not a bad knife, I just think it's pretty low on the scale at it's price point. I say the same of CRKT's though, so luckily we all have the freedom of opinion.

I traded into a Sanrenmu 913P since it's supposed to be a Tenascious on steroids. It still has that hollow clunky feeling I got from the Tenascious though. The G10 is mostly resin like the Tenascious, and the 8CR14MOV is the same brittle feeling but easy to lose it's edge steel as the Tenascious. Same sluggish action too.

Is it better than a S&W folder for the same price? Yes! I will say the cheaper Ontarios blow away any knife I've owned from China, but maybe they just set my standards too high.
 
Oh, and Sanrenmu sells the Tenascious domestically in China. They're over half the cost they sell for here as they don't have to pay licensing to Spyderco in their own country. So it's technically not a knock off since they make them for Spyderco.
 
I'm not saying the Tenacious is a bad knife, I'm just saying I feel like it's a $20 knife, not a $45 knife.
I recently picked up an ESEE Zancudo folder for $28 and sure it's a little smaller, but it doesn't feel like what I'd call a "swap meet knife", but the Tenacious does.
If the Tenacious was priced at or around $25, I really wouldn't have any complaints about it at all.
 
I carry a full serrated tenacious every day at work. It has really impressed me with its durability. I cut roof shingles, insularion, drywall, thick electrical wiring, plastic wrap, cardboard, roofing rubber and a lot more random things. It has performed amazing, but the spydie edge has a lot to do with it. Its an excellent value blade imo. I'd buy 3 more in a heart beat.
 
i sort of felt the same way. i was disappointed after a little use with the knife. I thought the steel got dull quick but after i decided to beat on it and my opinion changed. I hammered on the knife and to my suppress the knife held a very good utility edge. really liked the g10 and the blade shape. the only thing i can't stand about the knife is the low quality screws. they strip extremely easily so you have to be very careful. I actually contacted spyderco and they said that they needed to look into that because they had a few complaints about them. in my opinion i think its a good knife.
 
I owned a tenacious. It took an amazingly sharp edge, but I know from use on a co-workers the tip would easily bend and go back to normal. That says it is soft enough not to chip and hard enough to be a cheap EDC. After a month. Lock up was about 50% after alot of cutting. I made custom green strider texture scales for it and loved it for 40 bucks and 2 hours of work. Sold her on ebay. But darn. Tight lock, spyder hole and decent steel. Was a bargain if you ask me. I like the para, mili, manix and tenacious. The Tenacious is well worth the cost as a beater.
 
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I'm not familiar with the Sanrenmu and I've never owned a Kershaw. Maybe I need to remedy that. But I've seen similar comparisons and I've always been curious if they are really apples to apples.

Do either of the cheaper knives have any or all of the following features?

Skeletonized stainless liners
Phosphorus washers
G-10 scales
4-way pocket clip

I realize the steel type and scale material may be similar but I suspect the above features account for at least part of the price difference. Or do they?
 
My tenacious has a slight blade retention issue also, it could be better but it could be a lot worse also. I'm aware of it, so It doesn't bother me. I like everything else about it for the price.
 
o4tg said:
Oh, and Sanrenmu sells the Tenascious domestically in China. They're over half the cost they sell for here as they don't have to pay licensing to Spyderco in their own country. So it's technically not a knock off since they make them for Spyderco.
Click to expand...

It actually is a knock off because it was a Spyderco design, and SRM can't just start selling them under a different name without permission from the designers.

And I got mine for $30 new...
 
spydercobenchmadekai said:
It actually is a knock off because it was a Spyderco design, and SRM can't just start selling them under a different name without permission from the designers.

And I got mine for $30 new...
Click to expand...
The designers have no patents ir cooyrights in China. Now if Sanrenmu exported them to the US, they'd be in trouble and likely lose their contract.

In fact, the 913P I have is a legacy of a knife they were contracted to make by Benchmade. The Vex actually.



Don't take that as defending Sanrenmu as they do makes knives that violate US patent laws and heavily borrow from other designs. On the site that can't be mentioned, you can get a Tenascious for $12-$15, but you're going to have to wait weeks for it, risk your credit card security, and risk it being confiscated by US Customs.
 
Ok, so...
Second knife arrived. It is the exact same one. Called Amazon. Got a refund. Ordering the Pacific Salt from BladeHQ.

On the second Tenacious, I will say, the blade stays snug pretty well, better than the first one I was mistakenly sent.
Comes out easily, and for some reason felt slightly more solid than the first one I got.
But I will say, the blade still has the same crappy film on it.







I dunno, just looks like somebody gave it to their 1yo to play with before they shipped it out... (not recommended :P)

In the bottom pic, you can see how the "Pacific Salt" label was just slapped over the top of the Tenacious label. Way to go Amazon :rolleyes:

I'm still not convinced this is a $45 knife.
I do appreciate the 4-way clip options, but I only need one, (right pocket, tip up) maybe two(?)
I guess I would need feedback from someone who has handled both the low-end Kershaws and Spydercos, and obviously I haven't put the Tenacious to years of work (though I was kinda tempted to keep it, just to see, but I paid for a Pacific Salt, $65, so no thanks), but I gotta imagine they stack up pretty similarly in terms of performance, so I'm still not sure why the price gap.
 
I almost have to find your experience hard to believe, or that you got a flawed example. I have not handled a Tenacious myself, so I won't say that "OMG YOUR WRONG" but it does seem a little odd, given how many glowing reviews of this knife there are out there. Plus, there are plenty of places that a Tenacious can be had for low $30 range. ANY Spyderco is going to be a decent deal at that price-point, I'd imagine. Sorry yours didn't work out. Let us know how you like that H1.
 
I dont find anything wrong with the tenacious as far as quality and pricepoint, there may be some variability sometimes but thats the way production knives are. I have owned two china kershaws (I only have one now) and I have a tenacious and resilience, the quality of the china kershaws vs the tenacious line are pretty much the same, they are all a great value. Theres a good point about a kershaw thats very similar to the tenacious in quality and materials being about 5-10 dollars cheaper, but thats just depends on what you want. I am a spyderco guy so I will pick them over other high value offerings but I like kershaw alot too, if you dont like the tenacious thats fine, its not your preference. Its always interesting to hear what other people think differently from me but maybe im just wierd. Btw every china knife I have ever pulled out of a box had some strange oil/smudges on it, I promptly clean them thoroughly just in case haha.
 
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