Spyderco Tenacious v.s. Benchmade Vex Face Off!

I own a Vex and have only handled a Tenacious, and I have to say that both feel like great knives for the money.

I agree the Vex is a little stiff to open but the liner lock is the best I have. The liner is thick, the lock bar always stops in the same place regardless of how fast/slow you open it, and it stays there until you move it over youself. My fingers feel really safe with my Vex.
 
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yeah I'll give that to the Vex, it is safer then the tenacious. The tenacious has a strong detent, then snaps shut trying to nip your fingers with no middle neutral ground.
 
You get more choices with the Vex, and for that reason, it's better.

my Vex held up better than my Meadowlark, and compares fairly well to my ZDP-189 Endura.

The only other choice you get with the vex is a tanto tip, which most EDCers have no use for. You also have the option of fully serrated with the Tenacious.

How long have you used your ZDP endura? I cant even fathom how 9cr13mov "compares fairly well" to ZDP 189.
 
It seems to me that the blade shape alone on these two knives would separate buyers into camps- pro and con. And for that same reason, besides price points (and some clever copy in the Spyderco marketing lit) I wouldn't really be comparing the two.
 
The only other choice you get with the vex is a tanto tip, which most EDCers have no use for. You also have the option of fully serrated with the Tenacious.

How long have you used your ZDP endura? I cant even fathom how 9cr13mov "compares fairly well" to ZDP 189.

It's 8Cr13MoV, the 9 stuff is around AUS-10 status. 8's around AUS-8.
 
Well I'm glad this thread has gone the way it has, because of you guys I decided to give Sal my money. I ordered a PE Tenacious this morning! $36 shipped from yourcornerstore.com
 
Thanx Autoopen,

We appreciate the confidence and support. We hope you enjoy the design and the quality of the piece. Eric and I worked very hard on the Tenacious.

sal
 
Yeah but it dos'nt matter if the choices are inferior in the first place. If the tenacious was offered as a partially serrated tanto would anybody want one?
Because the choices are not of inferior quality. The Vex is of equal, or greater quality than the Tenacious. And don't discount the tanto blade shape. It's great for long, pulling cuts, say like across carpet or foamboard. Also, by choices I don't just mean blade shape-- you can also get the Vex with a thumb stud. (IIRC, the Vex can also be switched between tip up and tip down, though I might be wrong.)
yeah I'll give that to the Vex, it is safer then the tenacious. The tenacious has a strong detent, then snaps shut trying to nip your fingers with no middle neutral ground.
The Vex's linerlock is very easy to close shut, and seems very secure. A comparable Buck framelock (Mayo designed Hilo, I think) did not feel as secure. Even Kershaw has US made knives (Zing) which don't have as comfortable a linerlock. Also, with a locking knife, which would presumably be used as more of a beater, a stronger lock is better thing.
How long have you used your ZDP endura? I cant even fathom how 9cr13mov "compares fairly well" to ZDP 189.
Sorry, bad phrasing on my part. I meant to say "compares fairly well to my ZDP Endura when compared to the Meadowlark" Obviously, no Chinese alphabet steel will match ZDP (I've had it for around 3 months, and have yet to have to sharpen it.)

I still stand by what I originally said. The Tenacious is undoubtedly a great knife, but the Vex is equally as great and gives you more choices. It ultimately comes down to personal preference, though.

Also, I'll repeat what I said when I said to get a Needs Work. If you want a hard-use knife, than you can't go wrong with that.
 
I've owned 3 Tenacious (Tenaci?) and have been satisfied. Having said that, I handled a Tanto thumb stud Vex in the store, was very impressed. Great handle, better than the Tenacious IMO, very easy and natural to open, great pocket clip. Its a winner.
 
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No, it isn't. Holding them both in hand, there are obvious, non-opinion related disparities in quality and function in favor of the Tenacious.
Which are?
As I've stated, my Vex's edge performed better than the edge on my Byrd. The Byrd and Tenacious have the same steel. They are made in the same country. It wouldn't surprise me if they were made in the same factory. They have similar price points. As I said, I can't directly compare the Tenacious and Vex, but I can compare the Vex and a knife similar to the Tenacious, in which case the Vex wins.
Other people have said that the Vex has great ergonomics and great lockup, in which case I'd agree with them. The two areas in which the Spyderco appears to win are 1. Price- from the same retailer (in this case, Your Country Store, first Google Shopping result) the Tenacious is $8 cheaper, and 2. the option for full serrations.
 
I actually haven't tried the Vex, but I agree that the Tenacious is a fantastic value, and worth at least double. Can't wait for the mini version.
 
My tenacious has major problems with the washers and I am having ALOT of trouble trying to get replacment washers (Even spyderco wasn't able to send me the right size, Thanks though for trying!) It still is a very good knife but the washers are really bugging me. The Vex on the other hand actually seems to be one of the most rock solid knives I own, ZERO blade play and almost flawless fit and finish but like everyone said the deployment speed isn't very good on the vex. As of now I like my Vex way more then the tenacious but if I got my tenacious fixed I probebly would like them the same.

I had some problems too, but the washers Spyderco sent me (from the Military or Paramilitary) work okay. Just "okay" and not "perfectly" because although they do fit around the pivot, they are a little smaller in diameter than the Tenacious's original washers. I believe this is the reason for the slight horizontal blade play it now has. I finally solved the problem by getting a D2 Paramilitary.:D... best ergonomics I've ever experienced... and slices better than my Sebenza.
 
I bought a Vex. Having researched a little and knowing the steel was identical, I knew it would make no difference in edge longevity. That would be a coin toss based on batch which got the better heat treat, or which piece of alloy had a marginally better melt.

Both have G10, and knowing the various vendors of that, again, a coin toss. It's all fiberglass with a linen finish.

What I could choose was the blade finish and shape, plus the grip ergos. Flat ground dropppoints are my utility blade of choice. Experience has taught me they do more work better. The Tenacious has a similar shape, so it came down to the Ti plating. I've used knives with it, and the abrasive resistance and slickness in cutting is superior to bare stainless. Plain stainless blades have more friction and get scratched up more easily.

The grip shape does influence how you use it -and a dropped butt handles differently than a straighter one. How each of us use it is largely a part of our natural experience. I've used straight grips for a long time - tried others on Spydercos, but seem to move back to straight ones as they fit for me. One is not necessarily "better" than the other, just better suited.

The close fit of the thumb hole may bother some, but I have smaller fingers. No problem. It also reduces the overall width clipped in the pocket and takes up less real estate. Spyderco's humped blades require more room - and leave less for a hand reaching in. Since I carry it clipped a lot more than use it, and don't need nanosecond deployment against feral cardboard boxes, the slimmer profile makes more sense. In today's XXL sized market, that may not mean anything.

Pricing? They are both imports, but the Ti plating does have to cost more, so a reasonable increase should be expected. After all, these knives aren't exactly identical - just at first glance.

As for fit and finish, I can only assume - there are no BM or Spyderco dealers close by at all to compare them side by side. In this regard, I would expect buyers to downrate the rounded blade back and scales on the Vex - which actually take more work - and rate up the easier to grind Spyderco flat back and scales, which just take a pass on a grinder to true up. Go figure. I feel that's more a reflection on the buyer's lack of production knowledge and appreciation for a flashly finish.

Of course, the real point of these knives is to sell at a price point that could otherwise be lost to an import competitor. So, it's preemptive, and simply a marketing move. I'm sure either maker would prefer we all buy Made in the USA - at a higher price and markup. $$$$.

No doubt the Tenacious is a good knife, and it certainly has earned it's fans. That doesn't make it the better - it's more a comparison of different treatments and who they fit. For those who think about it, find the features that you know work for you, and choose.

I chose the Vex.
 
Wow the discussion of these two knives seems to really polarize people. I think theyre both great, and really would like a Tenacious. Im partial to both companies but have to say if the Tenacious had been out when I bought my Vex I probably wouldve given it a try first. I really like Spyderco knives!

I think both knives are extrodinarily made given the price and if one or the other suits someones fancy they should go for it!
 
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