Spyderco Tenacious; The Gateway Knife — Blog Contest Entry

Spyderco Tenacious; The Gateway Knife

            Justifying the expense of a “high end” knife isn’t necessarily high on the priority list for many knife enthusiasts, especially beginners. After all, there are literally thousands of cool looking blades for around twenty bucks that are readily available at expos, flea markets, and the web. How many of you are guilty for buying a cheap knife based solely on looks? I know I am. Mostly because of my lack of knowledge on the subject, I often came home with a poor quality folder with asymmetrical grinds and 440 steel if I was lucky. I would also e.d.c. (every day carry) these overweight butter knives that could not take an edge let alone hold one after some simple cutting tasks.

Buyer’s remorse soon set in and my interest in knives began to dwindle away. Frustrated with my terrible skill on my three dollar Wal-Mart sharpening stone and knives that just wouldn’t stay together; I decided it was time to retrace my steps to see where I went wrong.  I soon turned to the internet in search of a respectable knife and after reading hundreds of reviews I decided to give the Spyderco Tenacious a shot. The reviewers often raved about how much you get for the money but I still could not grasp the concept.

The black on black Spyderco had finally arrived and I could immediately feel the difference. It came a whole lot sharper than any of my other blades ever where. Full flat grinds were new territory here and they cut like a dream. The action was smooth and the blade deployed quicker than I expected. The G-10 handle along with the jimping on the thumb ramp offered great traction without causing any discomfort, not only because of the handle shape, but also the attention to detail in the beveled edges. The knife immediately became my primary e.d.c. with a very respectable carry weight of four ounces.

I couldn’t be happier with my purchase and for the first time I felt the true meaning of bang for the buck. While the knife was the most expensive I owned at the time, I felt like I got a great deal and my fascination with blades was reignited in a whole new perspective. I began to research everything I could about knives. If 8cr13mov Spyderco Tenacious steel was this much better than what I had experienced, I just had to know what else was out there. The choices were endless…and often expensive. This time around however, I focused more on value than I did on price. I knew what I wanted in a knife.

The Tenacious was my gateway knife. It opened the door to other high value knives such as the Benchmade Griptilian, Kershaw RAM, and the Spyderco Manix to name a few that ended up in my collection. It also prompted me to learn about proper use, care, and sharpening; I had to take care of my investments. The three dollar sharpening stone was tossed in the garbage and replaced by a proper sharpening and knife maintenance station where the right technique is paramount. I’ve come a long way and the road ahead has no end in sight but I’m glad I’m here. The tenacious and an open mind put me on the path I was looking for as a knife guy.

I know what you’re thinking, and the answer is yes. The Spyderco Tenacious is still in my e.d.c. rotation quite often. I do have many other knives now, some of which are arguably better than the Tenacious but that does not matter to me. It is still one of the best bang for the buck knives out there. My point here is that while the Tenacious helped me graduate from complete novice to intermediate, it is just one of those knives that should be in everyone’s collection. The holidays are among us and maybe a Spyderco Tenacious as a gift can spark the same interest in others as it did in me.

Mike