Spyderco Tenacious - my take on it

[Kwon Kwang]

Ladies and gentlemen, here is my opinion of the Spyderco Tenacious after owning it for a little while.

Ergonomics are great. Feels good in hand, great jimping, adequately grippy handle. No complaints. It's great for ergonomics.

Build quality and construction are very good, except for a small amount of side to side blade play. The knife opens and closes smoothly with no problems.

I am absolutely in love with the blade shape. I think it is not only very aesthetically pleasing, but its broad FFG leaf shaped blade is a cutting machine. That blade, by the way, was very sharp out of the box.

What about edge retention? Well, I haven't used it enough to test that. I haven't carried it more than a few times. Why? That brings me to my next point..

I thought that because the Tenacious has a nice, thick liner lock, that the lock would be strong. But, lo and behold, a few light spine whacks (light, not heavy, as per my own testing) are enough to move that lock over and cause it to fail. If that knife is in my hand in, say, a theoretical tactical situation, or it just gets hit hard by accident while I'm holding the knife, I'm going to be picking my fingers up from the floor.

The pocket clip is superb and keeps the knife securely attached to my pocket, while making it easy to get the knife on there and to get it out when I want to cut something.

Overall, I like the Tenacious and I think it's a great value as a light duty utility knife. Someone looking for a tactical folder should look elsewhere in my opinion - I think it is neither big nor strong enough for that task.

It does cut really well and as long as you're not taking it to war or abusing it, the Tenacious will do everything you need it to.

 

[roncunningham]

You can probably adjust the blade play out

 

[Kwon Kwang]

Tried on multiple occasions. No can do without making the knife slow and hard to deploy.

 

[galactorrhea]

Yeah, I agree that the lock-up on the Tenacious is unsatisfactory. On a number of examples I've had or handled, it does not take long for the liner to travel far over to the end of the tang and end up with lock-rock -- even on examples that initially came with solid and early lockup.

 

[Kwon Kwang]

Yeah, I agree that the lock-up on the Tenacious is unsatisfactory. On a number of examples I've had or handled, it does not take long for the liner to travel far over to the end of the tang and end up with lock-rock -- even on examples that initially came with solid and early lockup.

I'm sure Spyderco's other offerings have stronger locks, but I think I'm going to avoid all but the most tested and proven liner locks from now on.

 

[galactorrhea]

I'm sure Spyderco's other offerings have stronger locks, but I think I'm going to avoid all but the most tested and proven liner locks from now on.

Yes, I have used/owned a good number of Spyders at this point and the Tenacious is the only one I've ever had issue with. Not badmouthing the model -- it works and serves its intended purpose, but in my experience it just can't match the excellence of the rest of the line-up [that I've tried].

 

[Jastab]

I have a video of me trying to baton through a nickel sized branch, yep I hit FAIL. I put it away since then and havnt touched it. Probably failed 4-6 times getting through that tiny stick. I wasn't impressed with it at all.

 

[sweet]

I have a video of me trying to baton through a nickel sized branch, yep I hit FAIL. I put it away since then and havnt touched it. Probably failed 4-6 times getting through that tiny stick. I wasn't impressed with it at all.

Post up that video, thanks!

 

[Jastab]

Post up that video, thanks!

https://m.youtube.com/#/my_account?layout=mobile&client=mv-google

Hopefully this is right, I'm not a tech guy at all.

 

[Jastab]

Damn, don't think its right...

 

[Moxy]

I don't think ANY folding knife is appropriate for "tactical stabbing". Even Ernie Emerson himself does not recommend using his knives in a stabbing motion. And Emerson knives are the ultimate tactical edged weapon make.

 

[Kwon Kwang]

I don't think ANY folding knife is appropriate for "tactical stabbing". Even Ernie Emerson himself does not recommend using his knives in a stabbing motion. And Emerson knives are the ultimate tactical edged weapon make.

I never mentioned "tactical stabbing". I also think we will likely have to agree to disagree on who makes the ultimate tactical edged weapons.

This isn't the right forum for that discussion, however, although I would like to say that I see most Spydercos as fun EDC knives rather than hard use, performance-oriented tactical knives (and I think that's where Spyderco really excels).

 

[Moxy]

Hehe. Well let me just say that I'm sure not an Emerson fanboy. Let me re-phrase myself and just say that Emerson himself, and many other I'm sure, consider his knives the best tactical knife brand. I owned one of his knives and sold it soon there after. Whether or not a knife is "tactical" is not a trait I hold in high esteem when buying any knife. Sorry for veering off topic.

But you did say someone who is looking for a tactical folder should look elsewhere. By extension you're saying that a tactical situation warrants the need for an exceptionally strong lock. I certainly agree that that would be ideal. But proper knife fighting technique should never overly tax the lock mechanism.

 

[Kwon Kwang]

Hehe. Well let me just say that I'm sure not an Emerson fanboy. Let me re-phrase myself and just say that Emerson himself, and many other I'm sure, consider his knives the best tactical knife brand. I owned one of his knives and sold it soon there after. Whether or not a knife is "tactical" is not a trait I hold in high esteem when buying any knife. Sorry for veering off topic.

But you did say someone who is looking for a tactical folder should look elsewhere. By extension you're saying that a tactical situation warrants the need for an exceptionally strong lock. I certainly agree that that would be ideal. But proper knife fighting technique should never overly tax the lock mechanism.

I agree, but the issue is that **** happens. Let's say a soldier is forced to use his knife against an enemy combatant. The soldier attacks, his enemy dodges, the knife hits a steel table. Worst case scenario (he was using a knife designed as a light duty utility blade, or worse, just a cheap knife), a 3/16" of the tip snaps off, the lock disengages, and our poor soldier friend is now bleeding and/or missing a finger or two. Mr. enemy combatant uses the opportunity to beat Mr. soldier's head into said table with a rock.

Now, in a civilian environment, your knife could accidentally hit something hard, or you could be using the spine of the blade for something. What if the lock disengages? What if you're a contractor on the top of a 25' ladder when this happens?

Lock strength is very important.

 

[Grease]

You should pick up a Manix 2 with a FFG. Slightly wider and pointier blade than the Tenacious, and a stronger lock. It's a slicing/stabbing machine, and a lot of fun to flip open once you get the lock worn in.

 

[heresthedeal]

I didn't have any problem with mine, and I did take it to a war zone.

just wanted to add,

I didn't have to do a lot of knife fighting either, its a good thing, I could have lost a finger.

as far as a tactical knife goes, I took a mora in a kydex sheath, my plan was to use my rifle for fighting and my knife for cutting stuff.

 

[Kwon Kwang]

You should pick up a Manix 2 with a FFG. Slightly wider and pointier blade than the Tenacious, and a stronger lock. It's a slicing/stabbing machine, and a lot of fun to flip open once you get the lock worn in.

Yup, I agree. I've decided that my next Spyderco will be the Manix 2 lightweight. Now, should I get it in plain edge, or half Spyder Edge...

 

[bdmicarta]

I think the Manix2 and Tenacious are fairly similar in size and shape, but to me the handle of the Tenacious feels too short. They both seem to flick open about the same. My Manix2 with unskeletonized liners is a lot heavier than the Tenacious.

 

[Nic S.]

I agree, but the issue is that **** happens. Let's say a soldier is forced to use his knife against an enemy combatant. The soldier attacks, his enemy dodges, the knife hits a steel table. Worst case scenario (he was using a knife designed as a light duty utility blade, or worse, just a cheap knife), a 3/16" of the tip snaps off, the lock disengages, and our poor soldier friend is now bleeding and/or missing a finger or two. Mr. enemy combatant uses the opportunity to beat Mr. soldier's head into said table with a rock.

Now, in a civilian environment, your knife could accidentally hit something hard, or you could be using the spine of the blade for something. What if the lock disengages? What if you're a contractor on the top of a 25' ladder when this happens?

Lock strength is very important.

Well all of the grunts I know would use a fixed blade if they were in a knife fight. Not many people I know would buy a tenacious or any other folder to take to the Stan for a "tactical" blade.

 

[ericvar101]

if your planning on needing to stab someone with your folding knife, you should get gun and use your knife for cutting things. You guys who are worried about tactical sitiations whatch too many movies. your never going to stab anyone with your knife.