Spyderco Tenacious?

Caleb M.

Caleb M.

Joined
Dec 22, 2012
Messages
157
So I recently earned $60 for a job. Now I just have money sitting in Paypal. So I decided to browse Ebay. I saw a Spyderco Tenacious with green G-10 scaled. It was non-serrated as well. I like it but I'm not sure if I what to go for the kill. I have owned only one Spyderco before (Endura 4) and liked it. Does anybody have any recommendations for SE good folders or any experience with the Tenacious?
 
The Tenacious is a good knife at a good price, and I really like that particular shade of green.

At that price range some of the recommendations will be the Ontario RAT 1, Kershaw Blur, and Benchmade Griptilian. To me the Tenacious seems like a higher class knife, but the Blur and Griptilian are available with better steels.
 
If you've done the research and that's the knife you like over the other choices on the market then definitely buy it.
The tenacious is a decent knife for the money and i'm sorry to bring up the battle that is in the knife world between the Tenacious and the RAT-1 (It's a lot like 1911 vs Glock/polymer pistols)
I was in the SAME EXACT situation as you except i only had 40 bucks or so and i did probably 30 hours of total research watching videos, reading reviews, and looking at pictures before i chose the RAT. Honestly I don't believe one blade is better than the other as that is merely opinion and much like Tac said... You can get 2 RATs for around $55 and 2 Tenacious would be a minimum of $70.

If it helps, here's a quick comparison....
Grind: Flat grind for both
Blade length: RAT 3.6 Inches 3.3 Inch cutting edge. Tenacious 3.4 Inches with a 3.4 inch cutting edge (No shoulder so it's a lot easier to cut yourself if you fumble while closing.)
Handle length: RAT 5 Inches. Tenacious 7.75 Inches
Deployment: RAT Thumbstud. Tenacious Spyderhole. (The RAT deploys faster, more smoothly, and with less effort but the stud is a bit uncomfortable if you open it dozens of times in a row.)
Price: Got my RAT for 27.20 (plain edge with free shipping) around 24.50 for the combo. Tenacious The lowest i can find for the plain edge is 35.77 (free shipping) and 32.96 + shipping
Pocket clip: Both are completely reversible to both sides as well as tip-up and tip-down carry.
Weight: RAT 5 ounces. Tenacious 4 ounces
Liner/scales: Rat full steel liners with no milling and Nylon 6 scales. Tenacious full steel liners that are milled with G-10 scales.

In the end it's preference but it's just my recommendation. I'm posting an in-depth review of my Rat later if you're interested and there are hundreds of youtube videos for both knives.

Other good knives to look at are (like Tac said) The Utillitac II, the Kershaw Chill, the Kershaw Skyline, kershaw cryo, Kershaw Thermite. (KAI fanboy much?) CRKT drifter, i know there are a few more CRKTs in this price range as well as many others but these are the ones I'd recommend and most of all the RAT.

Good luck on your decision, man.
 
Rip Gut Tactical said:
with $60 I would buy two Utillitacs instead of the Tenacious.
Click to expand...

HELL YEA!! I have the tenacious, Cryo 2, Thermite, Blur, and a griptilian. For the money the utillitac beats them all hands down!!! And to the original poster try amazon usually better prices than eBay.
 
Well since you guys brought it up, the Cryo 2 might be another good option.

Tenacious vs. Rat1- I have not tried the Rat1 but I like the blade shape of the Tenacious better, it's that simple. I have read a lot of good about the Rat1 so I have to assume that it is a good knife, just choose the one that you like best.
 
bdmicarta said:
Well since you guys brought it up, the Cryo 2 might be another good option.

Tenacious vs. Rat1- I have not tried the Rat1 but I like the blade shape of the Tenacious better, it's that simple. I have read a lot of good about the Rat1 so I have to assume that it is a good knife, just choose the one that you like best.
Click to expand...

Perfectly stated. You said in a couple sentences what took me about a paragraph to say.
 
bdmicarta said:
The Tenacious is a good knife at a good price, and I really like that particular shade of green.

At that price range some of the recommendations will be the Ontario RAT 1, Kershaw Blur, and Benchmade Griptilian. To me the Tenacious seems like a higher class knife, but the Blur and Griptilian are available with better steels.
Click to expand...
And are both USA made don't forget.
 
Cereal_killer said:
And are both USA made don't forget.
Click to expand...

Oh yes, of course. If that matters to you. The Tenacious is Chinese made with 8CR13MoV and the RAT is Taiwanese made with Japanese AUS-8 which is the equivalent of the Chinese 8CR15MoV. In my experience the AUS-8 holds up better in all aspects even though it's not much different. (Perhaps i've had poor heat treated blades)

In any case the quality control is still great for both the knives. It only matters if you're a guy who only buys US produced.
 
Okay. Thanks for all the help. I'll definitely keep looking, as I don't want to just blow my money. I actually gave a Rat 1 to my friend who was going to the mountains for a church retreat.
 
For that kind of money I'd go kershaw USA made,delica or mini grip if you can find it. Not a fan of Chinese steel knives.
 
I have a Tenacious and it has been a great knife. I've used it for everything a knife wasn't intended for and it's held up great. I doubt you'd be disappointed.

With that said, take a look at the Buck Vantage Pro. S30V steel and can be found for right around $60 and you get Buck's warranty service to boot.
 
I bought a tenacious as an experimental blade ( learning to sharpen, stone washing, etc...) I will say that I think its a great knife so I also bought one with a black finish that stays in the go bag. I've put the one without the finish through some serious abuse and can easily bring it back to shaving sharp very quickly ( soft steel?).

If you want a spyderco on a low end offering, its fantastic. But if you've got a little extra money check out the blur from kershaw and a few other offerings some of these guys have mentioned.
 
If you want the Tenacious and country of manufacture doesn't matter to you, then you should buy it.
 
Save just a few more dollars and buy a mini Griptilian. It is superior to the Tenacious. Better steel, better lock and made in the USA.:thumbup:
 
I've got a Tenacious, I bought it a while ago. It was a decent knife for the money, well made but not terribly exciting. I've been looking at some on-line stores and the current price seems to be between $35-$45, I wouldn't pay more than $30 for it. I think the Utilitac II might be a better deal at around $25, and if you're looking for a strong beater a CS Voyager for $40 or so would be a better choice.

However, if you've got $60 to spend, you can get much better US made knives. Kershaw Leek, Skyline, Blur (even the S30V or composite blade versions, much cheaper if you get a blem). Or a Japanese Spyderco like the Centofante III, Delica or Endura.
 
I think the Tenascious is one of the most over rated knives around. Especially considering Sanrenmu sells them unconctracted for $10USD in China. It's a good $10 knife, but a "meh" $30 knife.

Depending on your use, the Utilitac is one of the best cheap knives you can get. I've converted a couple Tenascious owners allowing just a few minutes of handle time.

No offense to the guy above at all, but avoid the Buck Vantage line. I'd go into my accounts of it, but just search the 100% lock up/lock rock thread and look how many are Vantages. I'd take a Tenascious any day of the week over a Buck Vantage. I'd take one Utilitac over ten Vantages or ten Tenascious' though (unless I could sell them to buy more Utilitacs).
 
I have the very same one your talking about.
G10 Green scales plain edge.
I love it.
Tore it down ,polished the bushings and the contact area on the blade.
Lighting fast opening.

Now to what I normaly carry but rotate thru.

Zt350, Manix2, Large Griptilian 550, CryoII hinderer
and the
Green G10 Tenacious.The scales Green.
If you go with black G10 you can find a tenacious for aroung 30 to 40

Get it.
Enjoy it.

And if that Sometimes over opionated Nuttinfancy likes
it. Chances are you will to.
 
Last edited:
o4tg said:
I think the Tenascious is one of the most over rated knives around. Especially considering Sanrenmu sells them unconctracted for $10USD in China. It's a good $10 knife, but a "meh" $30 knife.

Depending on your use, the Utilitac is one of the best cheap knives you can get. I've converted a couple Tenascious owners allowing just a few minutes of handle time.

No offense to the guy above at all, but avoid the Buck Vantage line. I'd go into my accounts of it, but just search the 100% lock up/lock rock thread and look how many are Vantages. I'd take a Tenascious any day of the week over a Buck Vantage. I'd take one Utilitac over ten Vantages or ten Tenascious' though (unless I could sell them to buy more Utilitacs).
Click to expand...

This^^^

An exact mirror of my experience with the knives mentioned.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top