Spyderco Tuff Review: 5 months in. WARNING HUNTING pics

Discuss Spyderco's products and history.
J D Wijbenga
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#41

Post by J D Wijbenga »

Thanks for the extensive writeup Xavier! Very insightful!
Commendatore
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#42

Post by Commendatore »

Thanks for that interesting review and the pics.

Although the Tuff is out of my list for more than one reason (don`t need, wouldn`t use, afraid it rusts in drawer, fan of ambidextous locks, ...) the most valid information for my use is relative corrosion resistance of CPM-3V (as Superblue and M4 were mentioned not to stay as shiny) when care is being taken.
I tend to think the work with this knife was some hard one with a trained and expert hand steering the tool. Some might ruin even tougher knives trying to come to the same result. My tendency to use knives carefully leads me to think the given recommendations would apply for me.

So I would be very interested in the possible Southfork review used by the same skilled knife-fan.
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xavierdoc
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#43

Post by xavierdoc »

Cliff Stamp wrote:Any features of the Tuff which made it stand out to you for the type of work it was used for?
The fuller was surprisingly useful as a grip aid when choked up for unzipping the belly.
Despite the fuller, the blade is quite weighty, aiding chopping of material like brambles and other vegetation of approx thumb diameter.
The angle between the long axis of handle and that of the blade likewise aids light chopping (but tends to encourage cutting with the tip or belly of blade when substrate is on a surface.)
Easy to clean open back design.

The thick spine has sharp corners which work well for scraping off bark on green wood (for toasting forks and such). Of course, you have to trust the lock and hope your lateral force isn't going to upset the pivot!)

Fundamentally, the knife feels overbuilt (hence for many users a fixed blade will make more sense) but by instilling this feeling in the user, it removes concern that you are abusing your expensive cutting tool.

If the blade was a lot thinner, it would make a more efficient cutting tool for 90% or more tasks required of a knife. However, there are plenty of Spydie folders that fulfil that role. The Tuff caters to a niche of actual tasks but appeals to fantasy "needs" of certain buyers.

I'd be interested in knowing how a zero grind Nilakka would behave in 3v?
UKPK G10, UKPK Ti, Para 2CF&20CP, Stretch CF, Stretch CF conv, Manix2 M4,Endura Wave, Endura ZDP189, Pacific Salt, Captain, Gunting S30v, P'Kal, Gayle Bradley,Atlantic Salt, Spyderhawk, Crossbill, Wings slipit
Mules: CTSBD1, Super Blue, S90V, VG10, S35VN, Cos-3, M390 Fixed: Bushcraft, Warrior
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spyderHS08
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#44

Post by spyderHS08 »

Looks awesome man, I love mine. Glad to see its held up so well for you. Great pics and great review!!
39 & counting...
:spyder: E3, Para mili, Salt 1 PE, Native, D3 OD, Ladybug, UKPK, Dodo, D4, Tasman, Ladybug Salt, Smallfly, Khukuri, Para Military, USN E4, Persistence, Civilian, Yojimbo, Smallfly, Manix 2 CE, Dodo, Military, D4 , Blackhawk, Pac Salt, Military, Manix 2, Captain, Assist, D'fly PE, Spyderhawk SE, Persian, Lum tanto, Warrior, Lil Temp, Tuff, spyderfly, szabofly, :spyder:

Dodo!
Ed Schempp
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#45

Post by Ed Schempp »

Xavierdoc,
Thanks for the comprehensive review. I appreciate that you put the knife through many tasks over a period of time. The pictures were very good. I hope the piece serves you and yours for many years to come...Take Care...Ed
MachSchnell
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#46

Post by MachSchnell »

xavierdoc wrote:Image
What did you use to scallop out the bowl?
I've not had much luck using many blade types, shapes, and grinds in my attempts to carve spoons/ladles.

Great review BTW!
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xavierdoc
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#47

Post by xavierdoc »

Ed Schempp wrote:Xavierdoc,
Thanks for the comprehensive review. I appreciate that you put the knife through many tasks over a period of time. The pictures were very good. I hope the piece serves you and yours for many years to come...Take Care...Ed
You and Spyderco did a good job on this knife, so thank you, too.
MachSchnell wrote:What did you use to scallop out the bowl?
I've not had much luck using many blade types, shapes, and grinds in my attempts to carve spoons/ladles.

Great review BTW!
For hollowing I did not use the Tuff, it was mainly used for roughing out the shape from the blank (for which I normally use an axe.) When hollowing the bowl of a spoon, I use a crook knife (usually a modified Frosts), gouges or a Flexcut Carvin Jack (jack of all trades, master of none, can't do it perfectly but gets the job done!)

On larger pieces I also use an adze and homemade mocotaugan.

You can carve a hollow with normal knife blade but it's not a satisfying process.
UKPK G10, UKPK Ti, Para 2CF&20CP, Stretch CF, Stretch CF conv, Manix2 M4,Endura Wave, Endura ZDP189, Pacific Salt, Captain, Gunting S30v, P'Kal, Gayle Bradley,Atlantic Salt, Spyderhawk, Crossbill, Wings slipit
Mules: CTSBD1, Super Blue, S90V, VG10, S35VN, Cos-3, M390 Fixed: Bushcraft, Warrior
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Donut
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#48

Post by Donut »

Thanks for the intense review, X. :)
-Brian
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Donut
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#49

Post by Donut »

xavierdoc wrote:The Tuff caters to a niche of actual tasks but appeals to fantasy "needs" of certain buyers.
Haha, very true. It could also be the desires of certain designers.
xavierdoc wrote:I'd be interested in knowing how a zero grind Nilakka would behave in 3v?
The original bushcraft in O1 is somewhat similar, but yeah, 3V would be interesting as well. It could respond very different.
-Brian
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Waiting on a Squeak and Pingo with a Split Spring!
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xavierdoc
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#50

Post by xavierdoc »

Donut wrote:Haha, very true. It could also be the desires of certain designers.


The original bushcraft in O1 is somewhat similar, but yeah, 3V would be interesting as well. It could respond very different.
I have the Bushcraft (and have made similar O1 knives) and two other fixed blades with similar grind in 3v. None have the full flat zero grind of the Nilakka.
UKPK G10, UKPK Ti, Para 2CF&20CP, Stretch CF, Stretch CF conv, Manix2 M4,Endura Wave, Endura ZDP189, Pacific Salt, Captain, Gunting S30v, P'Kal, Gayle Bradley,Atlantic Salt, Spyderhawk, Crossbill, Wings slipit
Mules: CTSBD1, Super Blue, S90V, VG10, S35VN, Cos-3, M390 Fixed: Bushcraft, Warrior
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salmonkiller
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#51

Post by salmonkiller »

Great real world review! Cheers!
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Jazz
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#52

Post by Jazz »

I keep going back to your thread because I just love seeing knives in use and real life settings. Great review, and of course, the pics! Thanks for sharing. You're making me want a knife I never thought I'd like, by the way.
Nice job, Ed and Sal (and whoever else might have chipped in).

- best wishes, Jazz.
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Per-Sev
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#53

Post by Per-Sev »

Great review, I have a Tuff that is my EDC and I live in Florida and have not noticed any rust forming on the blade. I bicycle a lot and always carry the Tuff and I am usually covered in sweat by the time I get home and I have not applied any type of protection to the blade. Its funny I bought this knife after I moved down here and did not know that 3V was not stainless and when I found out I have been concerned but now that I have carried it for about 6 months and no signs of rust I am no longer worried about it. Like the OP has covered this is a great knife from lock up to carrying and I carry it in very thin shorts I have not had any issues with the weight or size of the knife. Since I live in rural Florida and wanted a big knife just in case of gators or wild hogs and of course I have not seen one yet but everyone else has but its nice to know that after your review I feel this knife will handle anything down here, just wish it would help with Mosquitos but even the Tuff has its limits.
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#54

Post by KardinalSyn »

Great review and many thanks for sharing this.
:spyder: Centofante3 (C66PBK3), ParaMilitary2 (C81GPCMO), Endura4 (C10P), GrassHopper (C138P), Military (C36GPCMO), Perrin PPT (C135GP), Squeak (C154PBK), Dragonfly 2 Salt (C28PYL2), Military M390 CF (C36CFM390P), R (C67GF), ParaMilitary2 CTS-XHP (C81GPOR2), Tuff (C151GTIP), Ladybug & Perrin Street Bowie (FB04PBB)being the newest.
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razorsharp
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#55

Post by razorsharp »

The tuff is my favorite spyderco..../ Im actually contemplating thinning it out behind the edge while keeping the grind at the same height. at the moment it probably 0.030" behind the edge , im thinking 0.018 would be nicer whilst keeping it as a hard user (its thick as a I dropped the angle)
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Holland
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#56

Post by Holland »

razorsharp wrote:The tuff is my favorite spyderco..../ Im actually contemplating thinning it out behind the edge while keeping the grind at the same height. at the moment it probably 0.030" behind the edge , im thinking 0.018 would be nicer whilst keeping it as a hard user (its thick as a I dropped the angle)
Cant wait to see pics :D
-Spencer

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Gayle Bradley 2 | Mantra 1 | Watu | Chaparral 1 | Dragonfly 2 Salt SE
bchan
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#57

Post by bchan »

The only considerations that are holding my purchase are related to the ease of sharpening/reprofiling this knife:

(1) How hard is it to sharpen the Tuff? I only have the Sharpmaker.
(2) The OP reprofiled his knife. Can this be done with the Sharpmaker?

Thanks!
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senorsquare
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#58

Post by senorsquare »

xavierdoc wrote:I'd be interested in knowing how a zero grind Nilakka would behave in 3v?
I have wondered this myself. I'd love to see a Nilakka in 3V or even Cruwear
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