Tenacious vs Cara Cara

Does your friend even like the Spyderco style? Would the prefer a gift of a real Spyderco brand - albeit from China - or some other brand imported, but not quite good enough to proudly wear the Spyderco name?

Are they going to beat the crap out of it anyway?

I don't think the answer is about the knives, but how well you know the person you're gifting.
 
Me personally I will go for the Cara-cara, just for the front-lock: safer, ambidextrous & easy to close one handed (Spydy style).
 
The tenacious is a nicer looking knife and I personally would be more proud to give it as a gift than the cara cara, nothing against it, it's just a work knife and not very attractive compared to the tenacious.
 
The Tenacious is the THEE best buy in any of the $40. and under knifes I have seen. Really amazing. I am still amazed everytime I pick it up. Still can't get over it is not a $150. knife. I actually see better quality in mine than the other spydies. Maybe I just got one out of a hundred. i don't know.
 
I’ve given a number of Cara Cara G10’s as gifts. In fact looking at the knife after I gave one to my brother was when I realized that I really like the knife. it’s a little tank. The blade is large enough for just about anything you could want. Its shaped nicely, and its got very good ergonomics. I’ve used the knife really, really hard. Reaching for the Cara Cara when I fear what I’m about is going to break the knife. The knife is still going strong.
CIMG1771-1.jpg
 
I have the Cara, Cara but not the tenacious. I don't carry mine around at all. It's just some knives I find out after purchase I really don't bond with. Nothing really wrong with the knife itself, it's just me.
Whichever one you choose I'm sure they will be happy with it. Keep in mind I agree with above poster that the Tenacious is a super value. As a matter of fact from what I've read I have not heard anyone that has been disappointed with the Tenacious. It is a bit smaller and lighter than the Cara, Cara and to alone to me would make it a much better all around edc.
 
Tenacious. It's a good worker and it'll introduce him to the brand. Byrds are great, but for the price, I'd go ahead with the Tenacious.

Another issue to consider: how sophisticated is your friend when it comes to knives? Eventually, he (or she?) will have to sharpen it. I hate sharpening serrations, so everything I buy is PE.

thx - cpr
 
I have both, and both are excellent, but...
I think I'd go with the Tenacious...somewhat 'friendlier' looking.
 
That hole in the byrd line will keep me from ever owning one. It is just hideous looking!
 
Tenacious +1

It's a superb knife, well designed and executed. A lot of thought went into designing it. Blade shape is fully utilitarian. It's a thick, FFG blade, simple drop point style, excellent jimping additions make it very controllable. The knife itself has a great design, and I'd love to see it in some of China's better (9Cr) steels.
 
I own both and have EDC'd both, I seem to keep using the Cara Cara much more. It is always a go to knife, seems to be very good at everything so far. I like the Tenacious very much also, the CAra Cara just seems more substantial and better quality, I also got the Cara CAra for about 1/2 of what I paid for the Tenacious.:D
Boatsman
 
No Tenacious, but I EDC a G-10 Cara Cara and though it took a while I now like it as much as any knife I have ever carried. Probably 2/3 the cost of the Tenacious ($28 vs. $40 from one of my favorite sites). It is just a great knife
 
FlaMtnBkr said:
That hole in the byrd line will keep me from ever owning one. It is just hideous looking!
Click to expand...

On a largish knife like the Cara Cara the shape of the hole actually works quite nicely. As for as the aesthetics of it…well I don’t care since it happens to give me a functional advantage this time.
 
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