This was my first Spyderco knife. I felt the Byrd series wasn't as good quality, they felt uncomfortable in my hand, but the Persistence felt solid and was still at a lower price point. Of the lower cost series this model had the right balance of size to fit my hand and to fit comfortably in.my pocket. It has a solid clip and lock mechanism, and is sufficiently grippy without being too abrasive.
The spyderco persistence was my first edc knife. It was a great choice! The blade is a people-friendly length (under 3") and has super smooth deployment, due to its phosphor bronze bushings. The liner lock engages early and lockup is rock solid. The only cons for me is that the knife is really broad and doesn't carry deep. It carries great in a pair of jeans, but takes a lot of space in dress pants. If you're looking for a solid first knife and a great intro to spyderco quality, the persistence is a winner. The Ontario Rat 2 is a good competitive alternative.
Spyderco Persistence Reviews (3 total)