Spyderco Persistence Lightweight C136BK Pocket Knife Review

If you are a loyal follower of Spyderco Knives, then you have undoubtedly heard about the Persistence Lightweight, part of Spyderco’s Value series of folders. This is one of the best knives in the market, and we will tell you why in a while.

This pocket knife was designed for pockets. The convenient, lightweight feel champions it as an everyday knife. While its characteristics are similar to other knives in the series, the C136BK impresses with a comfortable feel thanks to the adjustments made to the handle. But we will get to that in a while.

The following information seeks to answer burning questions about the features and functionality of this new knife. You will learn where it prevails and where the knife fails. Then you can make an educated decision on whether this pocket knife is worthy of joining your collection.

But first, let us cover the basic description and properties of the Spyderco Persistence Lightweight C136BK.

Also Available at: Spyderco, theknifejoker, Eknives

Basic Description

If you ask anyone who has used a Persistence Knife, they will tell you that it is an ideal EDC. And the features are here to prove it. This knife has a beautiful 8Cr13MoV blade with stainless steel liners.

The blade is ideal for skinning while the steel liners hold the handle in place without weighing down the knife. The focus remains on use and weight.

This model comes with injection-molded fiberglass-reinforced nylon or FRN handle. It is a notable change compared to other models in the series that have a g-10 handle. The handle also has bi-directional texture patterns that give you a non-slip grip. The shift in handle material makes the models significantly lightweight while maintaining a good grip.

The Persistence Lightweight C136BK also comes with a four-position pocket clip, a liner lock mechanism, and the signature Spyderco Round Hole for fumble-free one-hand blade opening and closing.

The technical specs of the knife are as follows:

• Overall Length- 6.90" (175 mm)
• Closed Length- 4.13" (105 mm)
• Blade Thickness- 0.122" (3.1 mm)
• Blade Length- 2.77" (70 mm)
• Weight- 3.3oz (94g)

It is no surprise that the blade is part of the Persistence series, for the knife holds its own regardless of challenges. But is it the right knife for your specific needs? Do not make any conclusions yet. Instead, follow us as we take a closer look at these features.

Notable Features

Blade Steel

The Persistence Lightweight C136BK has an 8Cr13MoV blade. This blade is Chinese-made stainless steel that shares properties with the Japanese AUS 8. The high-carbon knife is part of the CR13 series. It first appeared in Chinese knives, then became popular globally, and even appears in lightweight pocket knives.

The chemical composition of 8Cr13MoV is as follows:

• Carbon. The knife has 0.8% carbon which is high but not uncommon for pocket knives. Because carbon works as a hardening agent, it increases the strength and hardness of the steel. Unfortunately, this could also mean brittleness and carbon has a negative effect on steel toughness. It also improves the blade's corrosion resistance.
• Chromium. The blade has 14.5% chromium which is ideal for pocket knives to prevent corrosion. Steel needs to have at least 10.5% chromium to form a passive protective layer. Besides corrosion resistance, chromium also gives the blade resistance to brittleness.
• Nickel. The blade has 0.2% nickel, which improves corrosion resistance and oxidation, especially in elevated temperatures. It enhances toughness and strength at extreme temperatures.
• Molybdenum. The 0.3% molybdenum increases the hardenability and tensile strength of the blade by lowering the required quench rate during the heat treating process to make strong and hard steel.
• Manganese. It has 1% manganese which decreases brittleness and increases harness.
• Phosphorus. The blade has 0.04% phosphorus which increases the machinability of the steel and resistance to corrosion.
• Silicon. The 1% in this steel makes the blade free from defects and damages. It also improves hardness and strength but to some lesser extent.
• Sulfur. Amounts exceeding 0.05% of sulfur often cause steel blades to be brittle and harder to weld. Luckily, this blade only has 0.04% sulfur which increases the machinability of the blade.
• Vanadium. And finally, the 0.25% vanadium ensures that the blade has a refined structure, toughness, wear resistance, and strength.

Handle Material

FRN (fiberglass-reinforced nylon), or GFN (glass-filled nylon), is a durable, high-strength plastic material that is popular in folding knives. This nylon polymer is mixed with glass polymer then injection-molded into the desired shape. It comes in multiple colors and textures.

Also Available at: Spyderco, theknifejoker, Eknives

The Persistence Lightweight C136BK sports a black FRN handle with bi-directional texture patterns. This handle presents several advantages and limitations.

• FRN is practically indestructible because the nylon strands in the material are all arranged randomly. This makes it strong in all directions, and it is where it beats carbon fiber and G-10 handles. Their strands lie in the same direction, making them weak in the opposite direction and, therefore, easy to tear.
• FRN is highly resistant. It is resistant to corrosion, water damage, abrasion, bending, and impact. This is thanks to multiple factors, including the arrangement of the strands plus the impervious nature of nylon.
• FRN is relatively affordable. It is one of the cheapest knife handle materials in the market, beating carbon fiber and G-10. It becomes a relatively inexpensive knife when you partner it with a good blade.
• FRN comes in short in grip. It tends to be less grippy than G-10 and carbon fiber. However, the bi-directional patterns on this knife improve the grip significantly.
• And lastly, if you are focused on visuals, then FRN might not be the material for you. It looks relatively cheap because of the plastic nature of the materials. It also feels cheap despite its indestructible nature.

Blade Edge

You can get three types of edges in pocket knives; a plain edge, serrated edge or a combination of both. Each has its advantages and ideal uses. The Persistence Lightweight C136BK comes with a straight edge.

The plain edge is a continuous sharp edge, the traditional edge present in many knives. They are ideal for EDC and outdoor purposes. You can apply strong and steady pressure with a plain edge knife.

Additionally, you will receive clean cuts every time you use this knife. Unfortunately, this blade is not ideal for cutting rope and synthetic materials because it tends to slip on the material. Similarly, it loses its edge faster. But it is much easier to sharpen, depending on the blade's composition.

Therefore, this knife is ideal for skinning, shaving, and other applications that require push cutting. Push cutting demands control which is what a plain edge can give you. This knife is not ideal for motion cutting.

Also Available at: Spyderco, theknifejoker, Eknives

Final Thoughts

As the Persistence Lightweight C136BK, we want to give you a clear outline of what you can expect in terms of this knife's functionality and mechanical properties.

• Safety

The knife has a liner lock, a system that works with the help of a metal spring bar in the knife handle. The biggest benefit of this mechanism is the ease of use– you can use it with one hand. However, your finger can easily come in contact with the blade.

Luckily, Spyderco has a big round hole in the blade to prevent this. Therefore, we can confidently say that this folding knife is safe and ideal for use, even among newbies. The increase in grip also adds safety, and the adjustable clip ensures you have a secure carrying experience.

• Edge Retention

The knife offers good edge retention since it is high-carbon steel. However, it rates as ‘decent’ compared to high-end steel. But this is just as good considering the overall cost of the knife. It is suitable for EDC uses as they are not as demanding of edge retention.

• Sharpening

The blade's pain edge and low vanadium make the knife easy to sharpen. Sure it may lose its edge faster, but it is relatively easy to sharpen compared to other blades. You do not even need special tools as standard sharpeners will have this knife as sharp as new. Therefore, if this is a significant issue for you, rest assured you will not struggle.

• Corrosion resistance

And finally, we love the corrosion resistance of this knife. Rust is a major issue when it comes to pocket knives. Many people have had to throw away good knives because of oxidation. But this will not be the case when you purchase the Persistence Lightweight C136BK knife.

It has excellent corrosion resistance, and you can keep it by your side for years to come. This makes the knife ideal for use in moist or humid environments.

Also Available at: Spyderco, theknifejoker, Eknives

So Who Is This Knife Perfect For? We believe that this is an ideal knife for newbies. It is sleek, lightweight, easy to use and safe. We also encourage people looking for an everyday knife to consider the Persistence Lightweight C136BK. It matches all the requirements you would need in an EDC knife. We do not recommend it as an outdoor adventure knife unless it is complementary to your primary knife.