It's been a while since I put up a review, mostly due to the fact that it's been a while since I've gotten a new knife. I wanted the Spyderco Persistence - that's the Spyderco Tenacious' little brother - since I saw them for pre-order. After some trading, a new-in-the-box Persistence showed up. It's the same thing as the Tenacious, but shrunk down slightly. The end product is, in my opinion, a better EDC blade than its bigger brother. The model number is C136GP, and it costs around $30 in stores. Like the Tenacious and Bug, the Persistence is made in China. The measurements listed are from my ruler and not a website description, although you can find Spyderco's page on the Persistence here... http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=417
The knife weighs 3.3 ounces by Spyderco's description, but mine weighed in at 3.15 ounces. You'll have to forgive the stock photos until I have access to a camera again, at which time I'll post my photos. Let's take a closer look...
The Handle: The Persistence is a pocket-friendly 4-1/8" long and 7/16" thick, not counting the pocket clip. The liners are stainless steel, 1/16" thick, and they're drilled out to reduce weight. The back is an open design; just blow out any pocket lint or debris. The liners aren't nested, they're fully visible, and the handle scales are attached to them with hex screws (not Torx). Two hex screws are used per side, and one T-8 Torx screw as the blade pivot bolt.
Open back design...
The scales are black G-10, 1/16" thick, and they're textured a little more aggressively than the Tenacious' scales. Mine looked and felt a little unfinished; there were some rough spots, and two of the "edges" had what can only be described as splinters. This was quickly fixed with some 800-grit sandpaper, and after doing the edges, I sanded both scales to my liking. This wasn't necessary at all; I like my G-10 a little smooth and I think it looks better that way.
Nice texture on the G-10...
There's a lined lanyard hole for those of you who would like to attach one. It's large enough for a shoe lace, but I had to mess with it to get a folded piece of gutted 550 cord in there. The pocket clip is polished stainless steel and has the Spyderco bug etched in; it's the exact same pocket clip used on the Tenacious. It's adjustable via three hex screws for tip up or down, left or right (four-way) carry. This is a big plus for me, being a lefty.
Hex screws; not Torx...
The lock is a right-handed linerlock, and it's jimped. It's not recessed - it's on a higher plane than the opposing handle scale - for easy access. The ball detent holds the knife closed more securely than the Tenacious, and lock-up is solid. I didn't have to adjust the blade pivot bolt at all.
Nice lock-up...
Jimped liner...
In use, the Persistence is very comfortable. There are no "hot spots" or pinching. I'd say that the Persistence has all of the comfort of the Tenacious; it just feels natural in your hand.
The Blade: The Persistence shares the same blade steel as the Tenacious and the Byrd line of knives; 8Cr13MoV at 57-58 on the Rockwell scale. It's similar to AUS-8, and from my experience with the Tenacious and the Byrd Cara Cara, it's just fine for any EDC chore that I can throw at it. Opening envelopes or boxes, cutting rope, and food preparation are all easily accomplished long before a touch-up is necessary. The blade has a full flat grind, which I love. That blade is 1/8" thick too. Not too thick for a daily-use knife, but thick enough that it can do some serious work.
The opening hole is 1/2" in diameter, and that means it's big enough to use with gloves on. Not heavy fire gloves, but anything you'd be wearing to keep your hands warm will work just fine. The blade rides on dual phosphor bronze bushings, and on taking mine apart, I found that there are actually two very thin phosphor bronze washers on each side (making it a quad bushing system?). Opening is smooth and fast. I usually need to either loosen the blade pivot bolt or squirt some lubricant in the blade area to get a knife where I want it, but not here. It was just perfect.
Hex screw, but I found that a T-8 works too...
Phosphor bronze washers...
The blade is exactly 3" long, and it's all cutting length. The blade, as it came out of the box, was extremely sharp. It shaved hairs readily, and took an even sharper edge after a brief stropping. The back of the blade has jimping on the spine ramp, and it's very functional. The angle of the ramp coupled with the jimping almost guarantees that your thumb won't slip forward.
In terms of markings, the Persistence is as follows...
Left side, blade tang: SPYDERCO vertically, next to 8Cr13MoV. The left side also has the Spyderco "bug" logo.
Right side, tang: China vertically.
Overall, I really like this knife. It's not a "good for $30" knife, it's just a great knife! Put it this way; my wife doesn't like to trade her knives for anything, but she wanted my Persistence in exchange for her Byrd Meadowlark and 3rd-generation Delica. I told her no, because she doesn't know she's getting a Persistence as a Halloween gift.
Check out the Persistence; like I said with the Tenacious, you can NOT beat it for the money.
The knife weighs 3.3 ounces by Spyderco's description, but mine weighed in at 3.15 ounces. You'll have to forgive the stock photos until I have access to a camera again, at which time I'll post my photos. Let's take a closer look...
The Handle: The Persistence is a pocket-friendly 4-1/8" long and 7/16" thick, not counting the pocket clip. The liners are stainless steel, 1/16" thick, and they're drilled out to reduce weight. The back is an open design; just blow out any pocket lint or debris. The liners aren't nested, they're fully visible, and the handle scales are attached to them with hex screws (not Torx). Two hex screws are used per side, and one T-8 Torx screw as the blade pivot bolt.
Open back design...
The scales are black G-10, 1/16" thick, and they're textured a little more aggressively than the Tenacious' scales. Mine looked and felt a little unfinished; there were some rough spots, and two of the "edges" had what can only be described as splinters. This was quickly fixed with some 800-grit sandpaper, and after doing the edges, I sanded both scales to my liking. This wasn't necessary at all; I like my G-10 a little smooth and I think it looks better that way.
Nice texture on the G-10...
There's a lined lanyard hole for those of you who would like to attach one. It's large enough for a shoe lace, but I had to mess with it to get a folded piece of gutted 550 cord in there. The pocket clip is polished stainless steel and has the Spyderco bug etched in; it's the exact same pocket clip used on the Tenacious. It's adjustable via three hex screws for tip up or down, left or right (four-way) carry. This is a big plus for me, being a lefty.
Hex screws; not Torx...
The lock is a right-handed linerlock, and it's jimped. It's not recessed - it's on a higher plane than the opposing handle scale - for easy access. The ball detent holds the knife closed more securely than the Tenacious, and lock-up is solid. I didn't have to adjust the blade pivot bolt at all.
Nice lock-up...
Jimped liner...
In use, the Persistence is very comfortable. There are no "hot spots" or pinching. I'd say that the Persistence has all of the comfort of the Tenacious; it just feels natural in your hand.
The Blade: The Persistence shares the same blade steel as the Tenacious and the Byrd line of knives; 8Cr13MoV at 57-58 on the Rockwell scale. It's similar to AUS-8, and from my experience with the Tenacious and the Byrd Cara Cara, it's just fine for any EDC chore that I can throw at it. Opening envelopes or boxes, cutting rope, and food preparation are all easily accomplished long before a touch-up is necessary. The blade has a full flat grind, which I love. That blade is 1/8" thick too. Not too thick for a daily-use knife, but thick enough that it can do some serious work.
The opening hole is 1/2" in diameter, and that means it's big enough to use with gloves on. Not heavy fire gloves, but anything you'd be wearing to keep your hands warm will work just fine. The blade rides on dual phosphor bronze bushings, and on taking mine apart, I found that there are actually two very thin phosphor bronze washers on each side (making it a quad bushing system?). Opening is smooth and fast. I usually need to either loosen the blade pivot bolt or squirt some lubricant in the blade area to get a knife where I want it, but not here. It was just perfect.
Hex screw, but I found that a T-8 works too...
Phosphor bronze washers...
The blade is exactly 3" long, and it's all cutting length. The blade, as it came out of the box, was extremely sharp. It shaved hairs readily, and took an even sharper edge after a brief stropping. The back of the blade has jimping on the spine ramp, and it's very functional. The angle of the ramp coupled with the jimping almost guarantees that your thumb won't slip forward.
In terms of markings, the Persistence is as follows...
Left side, blade tang: SPYDERCO vertically, next to 8Cr13MoV. The left side also has the Spyderco "bug" logo.
Right side, tang: China vertically.
Overall, I really like this knife. It's not a "good for $30" knife, it's just a great knife! Put it this way; my wife doesn't like to trade her knives for anything, but she wanted my Persistence in exchange for her Byrd Meadowlark and 3rd-generation Delica. I told her no, because she doesn't know she's getting a Persistence as a Halloween gift.
Check out the Persistence; like I said with the Tenacious, you can NOT beat it for the money.
Last edited:
