Spyderco Tenacious vs. ESEE Zancudo

Cereal_killer

Cereal_killer

Joined
Apr 4, 2013
Messages
3,415
So we get multiple "best under $50" threads a week and these two are always a couple of the top responses but I've seen very little direct comparison between the two. Their prices is pretty much identical but their features are quite different, does anyone have both and care to shed some advice on them vs. one-another? I know the size is quite a bit different, almost 1/2" different blade as well as the tenacious being a good bit taller (especially when closed) but other than size how do they compare? AUS-8> 8Cr13MoV no doubt, what lock is stronger, which has better ergos, which will last longer and have a better warranty ect...


I ask because my kids want to purchase me a knife for Xmas and "Santa" (my wife) has asked I keep it around $35 so I'm not really lookin for a knife to fill a specific roll or use, just general EDC and these are 2 knives I've been interested in around the price she asked for, I'm really not leaning one way or the other, that's why I'm asking here, if you were me what one would you tell her to go with?

(This isn't really a "just get both" situation, even tho theyre cheap to start with my kids are 9 & 6 and 20months so that answer, while usually acceptible just isn't going to fly this time)
 
I have both and liked the aesthetics of the tenacious more. Then I started beating up and on the rat 1. Wow. That knife takes a licking. Keeps ticking. The action gets smoother as it is used more. I did have to tighten the pivot to remove side to side play. It was minimal. I did baton and trim 1/2 inch saplings with it. So it was expected. I'd suggest it for all of those reasons PLUS unless your kids have man hands the rat should be more comfortable in hand. Good luck sir.
 
"AUS-8> 8Cr13MoV no doubt" I think the jury may still be out, they are so similar I am not sure what you mean by better...

I'd get the Spyderco but that is just me.. 4 point carry, US based company, great warranty service, better traction plan...
 
glocker199 said:
Ontario RAT1 or Utilitac II are both better than either, IMO.
Click to expand...

I own both size rats, I want to keep it specifically between these two...

Smokinape said:
"AUS-8> 8Cr13MoV no doubt" I think the jury may still be out, they are so similar I am not sure what you mean by better...

I'd get the Spyderco but that is just me.. 4 point carry, US based company, great warranty service, better traction plan...
Click to expand...
Again I have knives in both and I consider AUS-8 (even AUS-6) much better than 8Cr by far at edge retention and rust resistance... Good point about the clips tho, the zancudo doesn't allow deep carry with an aftermarket clip without drilling& tapping but lack of 4-way doesn't bother me in the least, I carry right hand tip-up exclusively.
 
Tenacious The steels are more or less the same. The g10 and build quality of the tenacious is fantastic vs. other inexpensive knives. The Zancudo is just plain plastic. Plus the tenacious is a leaf shaped blade which is very useful for edc. You can even spread peanut butter with it if you needed too ;) I have a resilience a bunch of other significantly more expensive knives and it sill impresses me how great it is at it's price point. I don't think anyone's budget line can touch Spyderco's.
 
The blade shape is a good point, I like the shape on the zancudo, so much infact I've actually moddified my rat-1's blade to match that. I'm sure it could spread peanut butter lol.

As far as the plastic scale, yea I'm not happy about that but I make scales (from G10, micarta even moon glow) so that's a non issue. Again my biggest turn-off to the zancudo (and the biggest positive for the spyderco) is the pocket clip.
 
I can't suggest the Zancudo mainly because I've never handled one however the Tenacious is popular for good reason. I think my favorite aspect is it's great handle-to-blade ratio. They waste no blade as the edge starts right where the handle ends. You basically get the same amount of cutting edge as the RAT 1 but with a little less handle. Note: the Tenacious is a little wider than the RAT 1 but doesn't bother me.
 
The Tenacious all the way. They did the blade grind and HT well on the Tenacious. It is actually the best done 8cr13 knife that I have ever used out of maybe 8 or 9 from different makers. It fills the hand really well too. For pocket carry its not so great as its a medium size knife. If you are actually going to EDC it the Zancudo will be better in some instances if you prefer the most compact EDC out there.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top