Tenacious vs. Delica for EDC?

David Lowry said:
Well if you want to look at only martial type cutting tests then I would also bet a Stanley utility knife does pretty darn good too.

The Delica has a nice sharp edge but I will never understand why they had to make the grind so short on it. If I am cutting string, or opening mail or whatever it doesn't matter.

However, slicing a tomato, cutting a rubber hose (like a radiator hose or a 1/2" thick braided rubber air hose) the Delica cuts worse than the Tenacious.

I am not at all kicking on martial arts but I don't do it and I don't carry or buy my knives for it. So for what I do, the Tenacious outcuts the D4. However, after I spend $45 to have my ZDP-189 D4 reground by Tom Krein it will do what I want it to do......be a knife and not a screwdriver. :)
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Well, I am sure you will enjoy the Krein regrind. Congratulations--in ZDP-189, that should be an interesting piece.

As for the utilitiy knife versus the Delica in a martial context--actually the utility knife does very poorly compared to the D4. The Delica cuts meat very well--whether in a martial context, or a "let's eat a bit of this Porterhouse" context. The D4 is a tough little knife, and can stand a lot of abuse. I still like the D3 better though (I like the splinter picker tip). I do prefer the ergonomics of the Military, or some of my various other Spydercos or Emersons, to the D4. Between the D4 and the Tenacious, though, I prefer the D4--based on ergonomics, "the feel of quality," and the actual performance of the Delica in a variety of contexts.
 
As I've edc'd a Delica for the past two years, I highly recommend, you guessed it, the Delica. For me it's proven to be the perfect knife for everyday chores. I've removed the clip on mine and it carries very inconspicuously in my front pocket. Love the VG-10 steel. Easily takes a razor sharp edge and holds it with minor touchups on my Sharpmaker now and then. I have a FG G10 Delica on the way and I can't wait for it to get here. Great knife imho.

-Dan
 
I find the Tenacious more ergonomic and I prefer the full flat grind for it's superior cutting ability. The G10 is well done.

The Delica is lighter and thinner, making it carry much better. The ergonomics do not personally work well for me, but for others they seem to. The saber grind does not cut very well compared to the full flat grind when cutting materials affected by geometry like cardboard, wood, carrots etc. the VG10 blade is a notch above the 8Cr13MoV in regards to both edge retention and corrosion resistance.

I'd take the Delica if the handle fit my hand, and I'd seriously reprofile the blade. As the designs stand I'd go with the tenacious because it's more ergonomic.

However, the Salt 1 is similar to the Delica, except the hollow saber grind cuts a little better than the flat saber grind, it's rustproof, it's thinner and lighter and I find the handle fits my hand better than the D4. Something else to consider.
 
i have never had a tenacious but my dad has a delica 4 and i really like VG 10 blade as it is strong and holds an edge but it is soft enough to sharpen easily. it also is comfortable to carry and is not too bulky
 
Unfortunately I don't think you're going to get enough quality feedback on this subject. IMO, many people dislike a product made in China enough to degrade it without much of any real use (or even owning one). From my personal experience, these knives compare very closely in quality.
I agreee that the VG-10 of the Delica will hold an edge longer and the blade grind of the Tenacious is better for cutting. However, a lot depends on how you use them and sharpen them (you may or may not even notice much of a difference). The steel on either knife will do everything you need in every day cutting, hold an edge for a good amount of use and be easy to sharpen.
As others have already mentioned, the difference, IMO, comes down to design. The knives will feel different in hand and have different locks.
The locks may as well be equal because neither one will fail under most any cirmustance a folder is intended for. I believe both are heavy duty rated. Spyderco makes some of the very best back locks and liner locks you can get in a production folder. This one comes down to which one works better for you (and if you're right or left handed).
Handle materials and ergos are also personal preference. One handle may be just big enough for your hand, one may be too small, etc.
The open back construction of the Tenacious is definitely a strong point in the field, just as it is for the Military model. However, if you're not getting down in the dirt or mud a lot, then the Delica is great as long as you periodically check for debris where the lock engages.
 
Good arguments for both knives here, and there is no wrong choice.

That said I find that I definitely prefer the tenacious. The blade to handle ratio is excellent, the blade length is perfect for my edc at about 3.5", and the handle ergo's fit my hand perfectly. I also love the price, meaning that you can use/abuse it without fear, and if you shop around you can almost buy 2 tenacious for the price of a delica.
 
The Tenacious is a great knife but I prefer the "feel" of the Delica. But the Tenacious has a lot of good things going for it -- solid lockup, flat grind, tough as nails.
 
I don't have a Tenacious, but I do have two Delica 4's, and I carry the SE version down in my RF pocket, or in my coat pocket, clip and all. It carries extremely well, and my SE version cuts extremely well. I even use it to cut fruits, which it does surprisingly well, considering the fairly short primary saber grind. I find the full SE D4 seems to cut better than the plain edge portion on my CE D4. Oddly enough, though, my PE E4 seems to cut into things better than my SE E4.

It would be cool if the FFG became standard on the D4/E4; or at least if the primary saber grind started a bit higher, as on the D3/E3. I think the grind starts lower due to the larger opening hole, but perhaps even raising the grind up into the line of the hole may not weaken the blade, yet still give a thinner profile.
Jim
 
I have had both, but I still have my Tenacious. No matter where a knife is made, if you've handled enough knives you can feel quality. The materials and fit and finish on the Tenacious are first rate. The larger handle and blade fit my hands much better, although it is a space-hog in my pocket. I will commit the ultimate sin and state that I don't notice a difference in performance between the two steels that is great enough to be a deciding factor. I don't for a minute doubt that there are differences that show up in methodical testing with a machine, but in day to day use, I don't see a big difference. Love the flat grind and G10. The downside to the Tenacious, in my opinion, is the deep belly that can make some slicing tasks more difficult. I have difficulty turning the blade while taking the skin off a pineapple, for instance.
 
I'm going to say Tenacious. While I usually am not a liner lock fan,mine locks up tighter than some more expensive spyderco knives I own.The Tenacious I own is very well put together and has one of the slickest actions I have ever felt on any knife,but opinions are like belly buttons, and most everyone has one.Heck buy both.:D
 
I have several versions of the Delica and a Tenacious and I prefer the Delica 4 over the Tenacious. The FFG version of the D4 is amazing and this thread reminds me that I need to pick up another one. I really like it. I also wish the saber grind was higher, but the standard D4 is still a great knife.
 
Based strictly on the information and two choices you stated, I'd select the Delica, primarily due to the superior blade steel.

"EDC for my military activities" is a little vague. What I would recommend as an EDC knife for a finance clerk at Fort Lewis wouldn't be the same as for a mortar crewman in Afghanistan or an engineer in Alaska.
 
Delica is a hell of a knife. All it's different combinations? I have about half a dozen and they are all different in the blade. The handle is just very comfortable.
 
I have both and the tenacious is far more knife for the money. Fit and finish superb.
 
I prefer the VG-10 steel on the Delica, and IMO Spyderco does FRN handles the best. Its also lighter and carries better. The grind is a bit thick, but I reprofiled mine to 15 degrees a side and it cuts well.

The Tenacious does have the benefits of a full flat grind, but I prefer VG-10 over 8cr13mov.

If you have the money, the G-10 Delica is in another class.
 
The Tenacious fits my hand better, and with the cutting I do, the steel difference doesn't have too much of an impact.
 
I think I would opt for the the Tenacious in your situation.

Full flat grind (compared to the Flat Saber grind on the lightweight Delica, less wear resistant steal (for ease of field/emergency sharpening), slightly more blade length and less expensive.

Devil's Advicate:

You could get a Full Flat Ground Delica and have less weight than the Tenacious, less frequent sharpening required (which may avoid some of the field/emergency sharpening), thinner profile for ease of carry and a friendlier NKP appearance by avoiding the large black scales.

Best wishes,

Doug
 
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I have both and prefer the delica. But other then the steel I’m not sure why there is just something about it.
 
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