REASONS TO BUY
Sturdy
Excellent grip
Sharp right out of the box
Reasonably affordable
REASONS TO AVOID
Doesn't hold an edge for very long
A bit too large to comfortably carry every day
Spyderco Tenacious Review
This is the perfect knife for the hard-working, blue-collar professional
The Spyderco Tenacious is a full-sized, heavy-duty pocket knife at a very reasonable price, especially considering the quality.
Credit: Kyle Hameister
By Kyle Hameister ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ August 20, 2026
RELATED: The Best Pocket Knives
Our Verdict
As a surprise diamond in the rough, the Spyderco Tenacious surprised our testers by performing as well as knives that cost two to three times as much. Despite a fairly average steel, it is incredibly sharp out of the box, and while it doesn't hold an edge as long as other, more expensive knives we tested, it's quick and easy to sharpen. Most importantly, especially for a large, utilitarian knife like this one, it feels truly secure to hold, even when you're applying a lot of pressure to cuts. For anyone who needs a heavy-duty knife that will deliver without breaking the bank, the buck stops with the Spyderco Tenacious.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Tenacious gained popularity as the 'budget' option from top manufacturer Spyderco, known for making some of the best knives on the planet. We tested the plain-edge, black oxide blade variant, model # C122GBBKP.
The edge on the Spyderco Tenacious is flawlessly sharp out of the box. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Blade Quality
The Tenacious uses an admittedly budget steel for its blade (8Cr13MoV). That alloy's been in use for decades, largely popularized in pocket knives by Spyderco itself, and has a reputation for being solid.
It won't hold an edge as long as some more premium steels, but it sharpens easily, resists rust quite well, and is plenty tough. Plus, out of the box, the edge is flawless and incredibly sharp.
Even if it feels a bit bulky, this is a knife that tackles everyday tasks with ease. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Spyderco is known for their 'full flat grinds', meaning the full blade is essentially a single giant, gentle wedge. The Tenacious is excellent at slicing – it performed as well in our standard paper and cardboard cutting tests as more expensive knives with more celebrated blade steels, including its big brother, the Para Military 2
We were also quite pleased with the results of the salt water corrosion resistance test. Judge for yourself, but the black oxide coating did its job, and only the slightest blemish formed along the edge.
Ease of Use
You open the Tenacious by pressing Spyderco's trademark 'Signet ring' with your thumb, which is just that prominent hole in the blade. This action is simple and well-designed – it's ambidextrous, and even though there's some noticeable friction in the pivot, it opens reliably every time. It won't flick open as fast as other knives with a stud in the blade, nor is it as fidget-friendly, but it doesn't catch, either.
The standard liner lock engages fully, reliably, and automatically with a satisfying click when you open the knife. The Tenacious feels intuitive and easy to use, and it's very well built. There's no noticeable flex in the handle or blade, even under firm cutting pressure.
Opening and closing the Tenacious may be a bit slower than other knives on the market, but the action is reliable. Credit: Kyle Hameister
We should mention for knife newbies that disengaging liner locks requires you to push the fin in the handle aside, with the blade closing toward your finger. It's not unsafe with practice, but it's worth knowing there are safer designs for one-handed closing out there – look for knives with a forefinger guard.
Liner locks like this one are usually only found on budget knives, especially since the blade doesn't include a forefinger guard. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Carrying Comfort
The Tenacious is geared towards performance, not carrying comfort. It's not uncomfortable to carry the Tenacious in your pocket; it's just that it's larger than what many people consider to be an 'everyday carry' (EDC) knife. It's too long to fit in the 5th pocket in a pair of jeans, and is easily one of the heaviest knives we've ever tested.
That said, it's less than 1/2" thick, so it doesn't feel uncomfortable in a pocket by any means. But it is a very 'tall' knife, so it kind of demands a dedicated pocket to carry. Whenever we reached past the knife to try and grab our keys, we caught our knuckles on the edges.
It's worth noting that it isn't a deep-carry clip either, so a good 3/4" of the knife will stick out of your pocket. Credit: Kyle Hameister
The clip is very strong, yet it has a smooth finish that won't cut up the edge of your pocket over time. It also has additional anchor points so the clip is positionable 4-ways — tip up or tip down, or on left or right sides of the handle. That type of adjustability goes a long way in making it feel like your knife.
Additional anchor positions for the pocket clip make the Tenacious somewhat customizable. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Grip
Now Grip is where the Tenacious truly shines. You feel confident gripping it, even when you're applying high pressure to cuts, and the size and position of the thumb rest makes it one of the most comfortable knives to grasp with your full hand.
The 'scales' – the part of the handle your hand actually grips, which wraps around the metal structure of the knife – are a pretty standard fiberglass composite. It has a utilitarian texture, which feels secure both when the knife is wet and dry.
One of the most comfortable, ergonomic knives to use that we've ever used. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Spyderco really nailed the design of the handle, though. All four fingers of an average-sizedhand fit comfortably around the grip, with a nice scallop to support your forefinger. The pocket clip is positioned closer to the blade, which helps fill the gap of your fingers as you grip the knife, as opposed to cutting into your palm. The best feature is the thumb rest, which offers plenty of leverage and includes ridges for more grip with your thumb.
The Tenacious is a great knife for larger hands. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Sharpening & Cleaning
As we mentioned up top, the specific stainless steel (8Cr13MoV) isn't known for holding an edge well. The flip side is that it's pretty easily resharpened. The whole process should take no more than 6-7 minutes.
Cleaning is similarly easy. Our one hang-up is that mud and gunk tended to get caught in the liner lock. However, the handle is open all the way down the spine, which makes it easy to wash out under a faucet.
You'll likely want to purchase (and learn how to use) a sharpening setup to keep the Tenacious in premium condition. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Should You Buy the Spyderco Tenacious?
The Tenacious is definitely not the most office-friendly-looking pocket knife, and it's a little bigger than we'd want to casually carry in every day. However, as a relatively affordable workhorse – especially considering its performance that rivaled knives two to three times the price – the Tenacious is a solid tool. There's nothing weak about this knife, which makes it well worth your investment.
What Other Pocket Knives Should You Consider?
As good a value as the Spyderco Tenacious is for a utility knife, the CIVIVI Praxis Flipper is roughly half the cost and performs on par with the Tenacious. If you're looking for a similarly practical, high-quality knife, and don't mind spending a bit more, the Benchmade Mini Griptilian is very similar to the Tenacious, just a bit more compact, which makes it much more comfortable to carry every day.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Spyderco Tenacious versus top competing products:
| Awards |  Best Knife Under $100 |
|---|---|
| Price | $97 List Check Price at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
|
| Star Rating | |
| Bottom Line | This is the perfect knife for the hard-working, blue-collar professional |
| Pros | Sturdy, excellent grip, sharp right out of the box, reasonably affordable |
| Cons | Doesn't hold an edge for very long, a bit too large to comfortably carry every day |
| Rating Categories | Spyderco Tenacious |
| Blade Quality (30%) | |
| Ease of Use (20%) | |
| Carrying Comfort (20%) | |
| Grip (20%) | |
| Sharpening & Cleaning (10%) | |
| Specifications | Spyderco Tenacious |
| Blade Length (Measured) | 3.4 in |
| Length Closed (Measured) | 4.4 in |
| Length Open (Measured) | 7.7 in |
| Closed Blade Lock? | No |
| Assisted Opening? | No |
| Blade Style | Full flat grind, plain edge |
| Blade Material | 8Cr13MoV stainless steel |
| Blade Thickness (Measured) | 3.0 mm |
| Opening Style | Ambidextrous thumb hole |
| Lock Type | Liner lock |
| Handle Material | Fiberglass composite (G10) |
| Carry Style | Pocket clip, lanyard hole |
| Weight (Measured) | 4.0 oz |
| Closed Thickness w/o Pocket Clip (Measured) | 0.5 in |
| Other Features Or Functions | Lanyard hole, 4 position pocket clip |
—Kyle Hameister
You Might Also Like
