Spyderco Tenacious — 3.39 inch drop point blade in 8Cr13MoV

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Spyderco Tenacious · Drop Point
3.39″ blade · 0.118″ spine · 4.1 oz · ~1.44″ tall

Spine thickness, same scale

0.118″

Length and spine thickness drawn to true scale from published specs. Outline traced from the maker's side-profile photo.

Spyderco

Spyderco Tenacious

EDC FolderFolding

The Spyderco Tenacious is a 3.39" drop point folder in 8Cr13MoV, full flat ground. The handle is G-10, secured by a liner lock. Its blade is 77% of its closed length, the 8th-highest of the 76 folders here — it carries shorter than its blade suggests.

Blade: 3.39″
Weight: 4.1 oz
Steel: 8Cr13MoV
Price band: Mid

Best for

Everyday carry and general utility

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Specifications

Manufacturer-published figures, cross-checked against knifecenter, spydiewiki.

Blade length: 3.39″
Cutting edge: 3.39″
Spine thickness: 0.118″
Blade shape: Drop Point
Grind: Full Flat
Steel: 8Cr13MoV
Overall length: 7.76″
Closed length: 4.375″
Weight: 4.1 oz
Lock: Liner
Deployment: Manual
Handle material: G-10
Country of origin: China

Why a drop point

The default hunting and EDC shape, and the safest general answer. The spine curves down to the tip in a convex line, which keeps the point low and strong and leaves plenty of belly for skinning. It is hard to make a drop point bad at anything.

Every drop point here →

About 8Cr13MoV

The Chinese value workhorse, roughly comparable to AUS-8. Fine on a $30 knife, unremarkable anywhere else.

Edge retention

1/5

Toughness

3/5

Corrosion resistance

3/5

Ease of sharpening

5/5

1-5 is a relative ranking drawn from published composition and hardness, not a lab measurement. Higher is better on every axis, and no steel is a 5 across the board — edge retention and toughness pull against each other. All 8Cr13MoV knives

What owners say

Drawn from 847 owner discussions of the Spyderco Tenacious since 2024. The opinions are theirs. The specifications above come from the maker.

What owners like

A work knife people are happy to abuse: one owner beat the absolute hell out of theirs while working construction and calls it a complete workhorse for $60, and another got theirs as a beater that has not disappointed in any situation
8Cr13MoV is quick and easy to sharpen, several owners say; one prefers it to D2, one owner of both a Tenacious and a RAT rates Spyderco's 8Cr above other makers', and one fan would be less sad damaging it than a MagnaCut or CruWear blade
Better corrosion resistance than budget D2 for sweaty or humid work: a courier whose D2 work knife rusts heavily recommends the Tenacious for that reason
The liner lock locks up well: an owner with three Tenacious knives says their lockup is far better than on seven RATs, which all creep toward late lockup, and another calls the liner lock perfect
The Spyderco hole makes it easier to open with gloves on, and owners call the ergonomics great, with one buying two more after a Tenacious LW fit their hand perfectly
Still cheap: owners report paying about $60 new, and one buyer called it super nice for the money

What owners flag

Edge retention is weak: a foundry maintenance worker cutting straps, hose, gaskets and boxes has to sharpen theirs every two weeks, and another owner says the one they had would not hold an edge at all
Action can be rough: an owner of both says their RAT 1s have better actions than their Tenacious, and one Tanto owner found theirs gritty next to PM2s and a Delica, improved only a little by oil
The factory edge on the 8Cr version is noticeably duller than on the M4 version, according to one owner who bought both
Price has crept up: one owner paid $30 for theirs in 2013 or 2014, and another remembers it at almost half today's price
The clip holes use an odd spacing, and one owner had to drill out a deep-carry titanium clip to fit it
Not everyone keeps one: one buyer returned theirs and said that any future Spyderco will not be this one, and another owner finds it too big for their purposes

At 3.39 inches of 8Cr13MoV on G-10 for around $60, the Tenacious is a Spyderco people buy as a first one or as a work knife they will not mind wrecking. Owners have used it in construction and foundry work, and one courier whose D2 work knife rusts from sweat and humidity recommends the Tenacious for that reason. The Spyderco hole makes it easier to open with gloves on.

Sharpening every couple of weeks is what one foundry worker who cuts all day pays for that steel, while owners who like to sharpen call it quick and easy to bring back. The liner lock gets good marks, with one owner finding it far more consistent than RATs, but one owner's RAT 1s have the better action and one owner found a Tanto version gritty. Upgraded versions in M4 and S35VN exist and are discussed alongside it; one owner found the M4 factory edge considerably sharper than the 8Cr one.

The Ontario RAT 1 and RAT 2 are what one construction worker weighed it against, and opinions split between the RAT's comfort for bigger hands and the Tenacious's size, toughness and Spyderco hole. For more budget, one suggestion is the Para 3 or Para Military 2 and another is stretching to a Delica for its back lock, while two point smaller hands to the Persistence.

Tenacious or Ontario RAT for construction work?

Opinions split. One suggests a D2 RAT for heavier use and another says the RAT 1 is more comfortable for bigger hands, while two others point out that 8Cr13MoV is tougher than D2 and that the Tenacious is bigger than a RAT 2 and easier to open with gloves. One owner with three Tenacious knives says their lockup is better than on seven RATs, and another with both says their RAT 1s have the better action.

Is 8Cr13MoV going to dull too fast?

It dulls quicker than better steels. One foundry worker sharpens theirs every two weeks, and another owner says theirs would not hold an edge. Owners who like it say it sharpens easily, one finds it resists sweat and humidity better than a D2 work knife, and one who bought it as a beater says it has not disappointed.

Is the Tenacious a good first Spyderco?

Several owners started with one, and two say they are happy with it. Others suggest stretching to a Delica for its back lock or saving for a Para 3 or Para Military 2 as better knives. One buyer still wanted a cheaper knife to beat up on a job site rather than a $200 one.

Can I upgrade the scales and clip?

Yes. One owner fitted Flytanium brass scales bought for $32 to an M4 Tenacious, and another put $40 copper scales on an S35VN one and forced a patina. The clip holes use unusual spacing, so the M4 owner had to drill out a deep-carry titanium clip to make it fit.