Spyderco Tenacious v.s. Benchmade Vex Face Off!

[Chewy1]

I really like my Tenacious in VG10.

Alright, I'm messing with you, but Tenacious gets my vote, too. FANTASTIC ergos and build. Way to go, Sal!

 

[Jake Bauer]

Why not add more havoc and add the Monochrome and Skyline into the mix?

because these two are a little more similar to each other blade steel wise.

 

[SecSpyral]

This isn't even a contest. Tenacious ALL the way!

 

[jim preston]

Why not add more havoc and add the Monochrome and Skyline into the mix?

I've handled a Monochrome and it did not seem to be nearly the quality of the Vex, or the Meadowlark, for that matter. As for the Skyline, it seems to be a great little knife and has the advantage of being available from a major retailer (Wal-Mart.) However, the Skyline is smaller than either Vex or Tenacious and may not be as suited to rough use.
That said, it does have good steel and is USA made to boot.

 

[UpChUcK]

Why not add more havoc and add the Monochrome and Skyline into the mix?

As much as I love my Skyline, I believe my Tenacious is still a slightly higher value knife. My Skyline is one of my favorite EDC knives in my rotation of 5 knives, all around or under 3". I know the Tenacious is only about 1/4" larger, it is wider in profile and significantly heavier. Skyline features such as light weight, grippy and ergonomic G-10 scales, fast flipping and good steel are perfect for my requirements for EDC. That said, my Tenacious just FEELS of higher quality. It has nice heft without being too heavy. The blade shape is really nice albeit too big (wide) for my EDC needs. Fit and finish for both are excellent but my Tenacious does have an advantage of a centered blade when closed. My Skyline is a bit off to one side. Both use phosphor bronze bushings which is common on higher end knives but really highlights both knives' high value at the $30-35 price point. I would classify the Tenacious as my weekend knife (I like smaller knives in an office environment) or hard-use knife so it would be in a different class than the Skyline.

 

[Jake Bauer]

I'm with you upchuck

 

[Gtscotty]

+2 Upchuck,

The monochrome always catches my eye, and I'd really like to try the N690 steel, but I can't get past the fugly steel handle. If they had a monochrome in g-10, I do believe I would be first in line.

 

[UpChUcK]

The monochrome always catches my eye, and I'd really like to try the N690 steel, but I can't get past the fugly steel handle. If they had a monochrome in g-10, I do believe I would be first in line.

+1 on your comments on the Monochrome. I was in Gander Mountain and almost pulled the trigger on the Monochrome but the "fugly" handle killed it for me. And yeah, G-10 would have sealed the deal!

 

[ginaz]

That said, my Tenacious just FEELS of higher quality.

I'm with you upchuck

but you both reject the monochrome based on appearances?

 

[SPERRON]

I have many expensive knives to choose from at home. But if I lost my Tenacious and found out that they had doubled the price - I would still buy another one. Still well worth the money.

 

[autoopen]

How is the Tenacious steel holding up for everyone?
I still haven't received mine yet to test out but the way many of you are talking about it, you'd think the Tenacious is the REAL successor to the discontinued Manix & Mini-Manix!

So any steel issues?

 

[tirod3]

Being the steel is said to be the same as in the Vex, and AUS8 level, I have no issues with it. It's not S30V - but at least I can sharpen it.

I've been cutting boxes, rubber hose, paper, wood, and trimming my nails with it for a month now, it has a good edge, keeps it reasonably long, and touches up easily enough on medium and hard crock sticks. It doesn't seem to blunt much on formica or other hard surfaces - it will - but not dent or chip. That may be due to the lack of carelessness I give it being new.

I consider it a better steel than 420 and appreciate it. Given my experience with Spyderco's scary sharp factory edge, the BM probably is not as optimized, but then, I'm doing rougher work - which the Vex seems more suited to.

 

[dewingrm]

I admit to being a big Spyderco fan. Having said that I really love my Tenacious. I've carried my Tenacious for at least 4 months. I cannot believe the value in this knife. It locks up solid and IMHO has a great blade shape for EDC. The handle fits my hands perfectly and it feels like a more expensive knife. The Tenacious is a great value.

 

[UpChUcK]

but you both reject the monochrome based on appearances?

Yes, appearance does factor into my decision . I prefer G-10 scales. I do have some metal-handled knives but usually shy away from them. Just preference.

 

[Jake Bauer]

but you both reject the monochrome based on appearances?

The appearance makes it look like it would have an uncomfortable handle, and having sold BM's in the past and handling the monochrome a lot, it this case, the appearance was correct. The Handle is not comfortable and it's heavy.

 

[ginaz]

i guess one mans heavy is another mans solid.

 

[Razorsharp1986]

I've given my Vex away. It was a nice knife, for the price of course, but the Tenacious feels way more solid, smoother, sharper and more ergonomic.
I've got 3 Tenacious knives and they're all great. I use the cr^p out of this knife, and it keeps coming back for more. At one time, I used it as a throwing knife (Bad idea, I know), nothing bad happened though. It just once again- yearned for MORE!
Also, I generally HATE cheap knives, just usually doesn't feel right...

 

[tirod3]

it feels like a more expensive knife.

feels way more solid, smoother, sharper and more ergonomic.

I generally HATE cheap knives, just usually doesn't feel right...

my Tenacious just FEELS of higher quality.

I wish there was some way to quantify exactly what this means. Obviously it met the perceived expectations of the owners. HOW is a much more subtle list of production operations that Sal Glesser certainly has down pat, and continues to exercise. I just bet he's not talking about it, either.

There's no doubt the final fit and finish of Spyderco knives appeals to a large number of buyers - regardless that in this case, the materials used in the knives are similar, if not identical, and possibly the Chinese source, too.

Thinking further, if Sal bought out Benchmade and resurrected some of the older designs, imposed his standards, and made fistfuls of money, I certainly wouldn't complain.

 

[Jake Bauer]

i guess one mans heavy is another mans solid.

for an edc knife as both are designed for, the tenacious is more than "solid" enough. I forgot to mention that i thought the Mchrome's handle felt too slippery.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I really like my Tenacious in VG10.

Alright, I'm messing with you, but Tenacious gets my vote, too. FANTASTIC ergos and build. Way to go, Sal!

Where'd you get one in VG-10? I thought they were 8Cr13Mov.