Do double-edged blades have any practical purpose?

[maximus83]

I realize that many folks will carry a double-edged blade for defensive carry purposes, and I have considered that myself but currently don't. Interested to hear others' thoughts on a couple of things:

1) Whether a double-edged blade REALLY has any practical usefulness even for defensive carry,
and
2) Whether a double-edged blade has any OTHER practical uses.

[uspJ]

As far as defensive practicality I prefer a single edge over the double edge. I was never fond of the thought of slicing myself on the back blade while thrusting.

As far as other practical uses I find the one side serrated and one side plain very practical for work, one side is for slicing and normal cutting tasks while the serrations work great for strapping, rope and breaking down heavy cardboard without wearing your plain edge down.

[jameslee228]

I have heard someone on here (forget completely who it was) say that have a double edged knife with one side having a thinner bevel and one side being thicker for different types of cutting. Also I would t hink that depending on the type of cutting being done ie. Cutting a crap ton of cardboard, it could be useful to have two edges and when one is dull just simply flip the blade over and continue on. Just my thoughts

[Chris Pierce]

I can see how a double edge knife might be useful. But you also have to consider the steep primary grind on most double edge knives. I like a nice thin knife so I'm not a huge fan of daggers for work.

[OrdnanceBubbaUSMC]

Easy way to understand it is think of any type of forceful swinging, hammering, pushing, thrusting, pulling or hooking motion when there is a point or edge on everything but the flats and maybe a guard and some blade tang.

[Tim616]

Self defense. Other than that not essentially.

[idaho]

REAL daggers where very large knives. Larger than most bowies. In blades this size two cutting edge are an advantage if combat. But in small "tactical knives" - not really.
And no benefits for utility. Or I cannot think of any, except for some very rare occurrences.

[Chris Pierce]

When I think of fighting knives I like to look at the knives that Wild Hog hunters use. They stab things to death on a regular basis and probably know a thing or two about it.
Many of them like a double edged knife.

[Mark Schmitt]

I would speculate that for defensive use a double edge would be useful (instead of 'prying' through a thrust with one edge, one would be able to cut/slice), but I personally don't use knives for such things.

What I do find practical and useful is a sharp-ish swedge. Sharp enough to scrape off bark, dry wood, and tinder material but dull enough to use as a fish scaler (without cutting up the fillets). This is really only the first 1"-3" near the tip. The spines of some knives are usable in this fashion even without a swedge. Other than that I don't really have a use for a double.

Mark

[Brad "the butcher"]

Other than self defense or sticking animals there is not too much practical purpose but for those purposes they are ideal.

When sticking a couple pumps on the handle after insertion will sever a lot of tissue and vessels easily, we used double edged sticking knives with a full D handle in the slaughterhouse.

The romans banned leaf shaped double edged daggers at some point in history I recall because they created a wound that would not close.

I own two, a peacemakerII and a Taipan

[paranoidsentry]

For defensive carry a double edged knife gives you some advantages, if you know how to use it. It makes piercing easier and offers more cuts. As wells makes it easier to thwart some disarming techniques. I won't say it is the best for defensive carry because it will come down to what you know how to use along with what is legal, and many other considerations.

For utility I personally don't like them. You can't choke up on the blade easily for more control, and as was mentioned earlier the steep grind. For piercing task I find a drop point with swedge and other grinds nearly as effective for utility work. Yes there is something to be said for having a serrated and plain edge on the same knife, but I don't think the trade off is worth it, since I almost never want a serrated knife, even for rope or cardboard. Besides if I really need a serrated blade I use my leatherman.

[bubba in c.a.]

For everyday use, they are dandy for cutting your fingers by accident, looking `bad`and irritating LEO in many areas. Some, like the Arkansas toothpick or the Farbairn, have historical charm.
That being said, for a knife for dedicated killing of something, 2 cutting edges are better than one and an opponent would have a tougher time grabbing or blocking a double edged knife. If you are Navy SEal or SAS, this might apply to you.
Most militray knives are single edge becasue they are used far more often for general use and rarely for stabbing. To stab, push harder!

[MarkIII]

I think they look cool but not that practical. I remember reading that double edge knives were used by mountain men and the like back then simply because when one side gets dull they can just flip it over.

[Skimo]

To answer the OP, sure, double edged blades are just fine for cutting stuff... you double your blade length.

Most practical for any given situation? No, but what knife is most practical for every situation?

[singularity35]

Colonel Rex Applegate and William E. Fairbairn musta known a thing or two...

[bdmicarta]

Years ago I thought the SOG Pentagon would be great for camping, then I discovered that double edge blades were not legal in many areas. I was thinking about cutting soft materials with the knife such as packages, food, cloth, rope and string. I wasn't thinking about chopping wood with it. The Pentagon has a plain edge and a fully serrated edge, so you could pick which edge was better for the job at hand. In the years since that time I have preferred plain edges and never really used the serrations of the combo edge knives that I've owned so my original reason for desiring the Pentagon might not have been that valid.