I collect knives, and in addition to the Spyderco Tenacious, I have three other "good" folders of about the same size & weight, suitable for every day carry. All are well regarded in their price classes ($40.00, $90.00 and $120.00).
From among these choices, the knife that I am carrying most often these days is the Tenacious. Admittedly, a part of the reason for that is that this knife is newer than the others. But some new knives I have received over the years (Christmas, Birthdays, etc.) found their place in a drawer pretty quickly. Newer or not, I wouldn't carry this knife if I felt that it was notably inferior to the others.
First, the blade: The Tenacious offers a hefty chunk of steel, especially compared to most other knives at this price point. The modified leaf shape, non-serrated design is very close to the optimal drop point style I prefer. Adequate blade thickness together with the flat grind and wide chord design give this blade extra strength. I'd expect this knife to perform well even for rugged duty tasks. I respect - and never deliberately abuse - my knives. But I don't baby them either and so far these expectations (over about 3 months use) seem well founded.
The Tenacious has some niceties and features that are not usually expected at this price point. The G-10 scales and the smoothness of blade deployment, for example. The pivot tension is user adjustable. I also like the fact that the pocket clip can be switched around to suit user preference. Last but not least, the skeletonized steel liners and a hefty liner lock give this knife a solid feel. (Some people don't like liner locks but unless you are a lefty, I don't know why. They are used on some of the most expensive, custom built folders and with good reason - there is no locking design that is inherently stronger).
I can see just two areas where the Spyderco's designers cut costs on this model. The 8Cr13Mov blade steel seems like pretty good quality - probably comparable to AUS 8 (which was considered absolutely top quality not too many years ago). But it isn't D2 or S30V (see the $90.00 and $120.00 folders mentioned above). The other area where Spyderco cut cost is going with Chinese manufacture. Labor is apparently pretty cheap over there. But you wouldn't know it from the Tenacious build quality.
This knife is amazing. It has all the features of a much more expensive knife without the price of one. The g10 checkering on the handle fits snuggley in my hand, The blade comes shaving sharp out of the box, and it flicks out extremely fast for a un assisted blade. The only draw back to this knife is the blade steal. 8cr13mov steal is kinda on the soft side and my blade after a weeks worht of use is now no where near as sharp as it was out of the box. So if you plan on buying this knife id invest in a spyderco sharpining tool too.
With brass bushings and a decent quality and sharp blade, the Spyderco Tenacious is the best value for the money anywhere for the entry level knife collector or carrier. I recommend that any knife collector or carrier get this one for their collection; you cannot go wrong with this one. For a very detailed review, I recommend looking up Nutinfancy on YouTube. He provides an excellent review on everyday carry (EDC) knives.
For $35, this is the best knife you'll find. It came out of the box razor sharp, and still holds a decent edge after some use with cardboard boxes and cutting paracord. After about 5 mins of stropping, it was just as good as new. The G-10 is comfortable, and holds a decent grip even if you have sweaty palms. This knife (though ambidextrous) was designed for the right hand, as the G-10 has a slight groove for the thumb while opening and closing. The carry clip was a slightly stiff when I ordered it, but it works perfectly right now. Carry tip up, tip down, either side. The liner lock is tough and thick, but smooth enough so you're not closing it with two hands. It deploys quick and smooth, with a beautiful snapping click. The entire grip and design of the knife fits very well, and I love the fat belly of the knife. Makes cutting a whole lot easier. It's pretty light, at around 4.0oz. I had been carrying around a leatherman most of the time, and this thing is a feather compared to the Skeletool CX. If you're leaning towards buying this knife, just get it. It'll be a knife you can actually use and abuse.
I recommend getting the full straight blade instead of the 1/2 serrated.
If you're thinking about spending $30 or more on the little brother (Spyderco Persistence), you might as well get this one. Bigger blade, similar weight, and same price.
At just over $30 this is a fantastic little knife. The G-10 handle feels great. The lockup is superb, with no play up and down or left and right. Deployment speed is very fast and the blade comes razor sharp out of the box. The ability to move the pocket clip tip up/tip down on both sides is another nice feature of this blade. Also, functional jimping on the thumb ramp allows you to get a strong grip on the handle. While this knife is made in China, that doesn't mean it is lower quality. The overall quality of the Spyderco Tenacious is outstanding.
Also, for more information on this knife, check out Nutnfancy's review on YouTube (shameless plug for The Nutnfancy Project). He does a fantastic job reviewing knives, guns, tactical gear, etc. - Folding Knife - G-10 - Folding Knives - Tenacious'
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