Spyderco Tenacious | Knife review

The Spyderco Tenacious is a long standing budget favorite among knife enthusiasts and for years it has been the de facto first purchase for many Spyderco first-timers. It has everything that makes a Spyderco knife great, for a leaner budget than the regular lineup. Here is my review of the Spyderco Tenacious.

Spyderco is a knife brand that offers a great selection of knives, their premium line or regular lineup is made in the USA, Japan, Italy, and Taiwan, which also comes with a price tag. For that reason, they have released a Byrd lineup that’s made in China, and a few models without the Byrd branding. The Spyderco Tenacious was the first offering that used cheaper labor costs and materials without foregoing the Spyderco branding and making it an instant favorite for many.

Affiliate links may be mentioned in this article, by purchasing a product through those links I may receive a kickback. At no extra cost to you.

Specifications

Blade length	8.7 cm
Full length opened	19.5 cm
Length closed	11 cm
Weight	117 grams
Pocket clip orientation	4 way
Locking mechanism	Liner lock
Buy it now on Amazon

Knife

The knife sports a full flat grind blade profile that defines many Spyderco knives, the Spydie hole for easy opening, and jimping on the back of the blade for a secure grip.

It is easy to sharpen and maintain due to the Full Flat grind and steel type, 8cr13mov, which is a Chinese alternative to AUS 8. It will rust when exposed to enough humidity or water. And does require a bit of maintenance to keep it rust free. It is a step down from the regular steel types Spyderco employs but still is a great performer. And therefore makes a great budget EDC knife.

The blade bites into any material and is very functional in design, which is aimed primarily at EDC use. Or every day carry.

Handle

The handle is available in a few different materials, and the two most useful versions for this price range are the G10 handle and the Lightweight version, which is a molded plastic handle with a grippy pattern. Both choices are good, it just depends on preference. The weight saved with the Lightweight version is minimal, as it weighs in at 105 grams. So 12 grams difference.

Mine is the G10 handle with the blackout pattern on the blade since I already had a plain one in the Spyderco Persistence. To have a bit of difference between the two. It is comfortable to use for short tasks and cutting.

The blade centering is in my knife spot on and can be adjusted as needed with a special star screwdriver if needed. Other than that the knife sports bronze bushings to keep the action smooth, to keep it that way you can use a drop of ballistol or olive oil to keep it smooth and food-safe.

Liner Lock

I always liked a liner lock, and it’s easy to use for right-handers, it’s not the strongest mechanism out there, but plenty for all manner of tasks. Just don’t baton wood with the knife and you will be fine and safe with pretty much any other task.

Available blade types

There are several different blade types or layouts available, where you have the choice of partial serrations, full serrations, or like mine the plain-edged model. I always prefer the plain edge models in any knife, since serrations are harder (or almost impossible) to sharpen yourself.

In my opinion, it also is not a big advantage, and even with cutting rope the ripping effect of the serrations is not always the goal. If you prefer partial or full serrations in your folder then nothing is stopping you of course.

Perfect for the beefier EDC tasks

Due to its size in my use, this is classified as a beefier EDC knife, since I work with computers the need for a bigger and more tactical-looking knife is not really needed. And I often carry my MAM Iberica instead for most tasks. The Spyderco Tenacious is therefore reserved for bigger jobs or camping trips and shines in that regard.

As always bushcraft and woodcarving tasks are not the best fit for this knife, since pocket clips and jimping are rough on your hands and not all that comfortable for longer use. An Opinel or Mora is better suited for that work.

Brothers of the Spyderco Tenacious

If you’re looking for a smaller or bigger alternative to the Spyderco Tenacious then you’re in luck, due to the popularity of the Tenacious, Spyderco has expanded its lineup quite a bit. And you can get it in a variety of sizes.

The Spyderco Persistence I already reviewed, and I actually prefer the size over the Tenacious. As mentioned I rarely need a bigger knife for my cutting tasks, and the Spyderco Persistence fits my daily needs better. Take a look at their lineup and see what model speaks to you most.

ZipTie mod for any Spyderco knife

With any Spyderco knife, you can easily mod it with a zip tie to become an out-the-pocket opener, which can be handy in certain situations where you need the knife now and don’t want to fuss around. Pictured above is the Spyderco Persistence with the zip tie mod, the same can be done for the Spyderco Tenacious.

The Spyderco Tenacious is a great budget EDC knife for anyone who is looking at the brand but doesn’t want to break the bank on their more expensive models. It can be a great beater knife that you can use day in day out without babying it. And therefore defines a workhorse knife. I highly recommend the Tenacious for that use case, and it’s a favorite for a reason.

Buy it now on Amazon

Happy Hiking and Hike for Purpose!