What do you really need from a pocket knife? You need a tool that is dependable when you call on it and made from quality materials. You shouldn’t take pride in abusing it, but it should be able to handle whatever hard use you dish out to it when you do. It should be made from high-quality materials, and feature an ergonomic fit and finish. Ideally, it should also have an attractive price point as well. The Spyderco Tenacious hits it out of the park on all of these prerequisites, and then delivers some extra, just for good measure. I think it might actually be the best Spyderco pocket knife, period.
One of the great things about this Spyderco pocket knife is that it is available in so many different configurations. I can’t offer you any hard answers on weight, which varies according to the scales you choose for the knife, but here are some constants.
The Tenacious is 4.45 inches closed, and sports a 3.39-inch blade with a humpbacked design (typically of Spyderco), with a full flat grind and a gentle drop point, giving a total open length of 7.76 inches. Another constant is that the blade is made from 8Cr13MoV steel – considered by some a budget steel, but expertly treated by Spyderco’s specialists.
It is available in configurations that feature either fully serrated, partially serrated, or a full straight edge with no serrations. It is also available with a wide range of handle scales, including, among many other things, G10, FRN, and carbon fiber. You can also find brass and titanium scales for the Tenacious – another measure of its popularity. Regardless of the handle scale material, the Tenacious hovers around 4 ounces of weight.
The Spyderco Tenacious also features a liner lock mechanism that is both easy to engage and disengage and impressively sturdy. While many other comparable knives feature a lock back or Tri-Ad lock (either of which is arguable stronger) the liner lock engages effortlessly and is easy to operate with one hand.
This Spyderco pocket knife also punches well out of its weight class in terms of ergonomics. It is both comfortable to carry and comfortable to use, with no hard or rough edges. It indexes nicely and is not unpleasant in the grip, even when the user is exerting him or herself. I also love the fact – as do many other Spyderco fans – that the pocket clip is reversible, allowing for either tip-up or tip-down carry. You can also drop the knife in your pocket and forgo the clip. Spyderco makes it possible.
The humpbacked design of the knife is augmented by adequate jimping along the spine to enhance the user’s grip, and it does. The knife rides comfortably in the hand and both the edge and the tip can be controlled deftly.
The flat grind is also ideal for slicing and carving and can be brought to a razor’s edge pretty easily. Ideal as an EDC knife, it can be used for carving, food preparation, or even cutting up old boxes – whatever the day throws at you. That’s the point of everyday carry, after all. It’s just enough knife for tough tasks without feeling either unwieldy or small.
Interested in learning more about the Spyderco Tenacious? Want to learn more about a different Spyderco pocket knife like the Spyderco Delica (another contender for “best Spyderco knife,” for sure) or the Spyderco Salt, which is made with an H1 steel blade that is impervious to corrosion? Visit White Mountain Knives, the foremost online provider of pocket knives in general and Spyderco knives in specific.
Their catalog is huge and contains numerous variants of the Tenacious mentioned here as well as countless other Spyderco knives in addition to knives and tools from other brands. You can learn more on their website, WhiteMountainKnives.com, but if you can’t find what you’re looking for, get in touch with them at WhiteMountainKnives@gmail.com and their customer service team would be glad to assist.
