Avoiding injury: plain or combo?

[johnniet]

I'm about to be a first-time Bali owner. Right now, the combo-edges at 1stopknifeshop (the one with all the links from this forum!) are a bit cheaper than the plains. That's fine, because I am not normally afraid of serrations (and often use them). However, when flipping around in the air, it's a different story -- it seems like you could get bitten harder by a serrated point than by a straight plain edge.

So: when people do get cut by their balisongs, are they cut by the front (closer to the tip) of the blade, or the back (closer to the handle)? Do any of you have *experience* indicating that combo/serrated edges bite any more, or any worse, than a pretty sharp plain edge?

 

[Clay]

It doesn't really matter either way. You'll end up getting cut from all areas of the blade. Usually when you least expect it.

Slices, push cuts (where the blade "pushes" down into you) and, if you're adventurous, you'll probably also experience a few "Tip down into the palm" cuts.

The serrated edges are sometimes known to leave jagged cuts, but to be honest, I haven't noticed it in the "self inflicted wounds" I get during practice mishaps

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Clay
www.balisongxtreme.com
Because......
getting 'em open
is half the fun!

 

[Gollnick]

Clay is right. You get cut from all parts of the blade. But, Some of the worst bites I've had have been screwing up on finger twirls. Those cuts come from the base of the blade. So, I tend to prefer plain blades. It won't keep you from getting cut, but I do think it reduces the risk of a really grizzly cut just a bit.

On the other hand, serrations are a lot better at cutting through cardboard and rope.



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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com

 

[Quijebo]

In my opinion, if you want a balisong just to play with, go with the straight edge, if it's sharp enough the cut will heal quicker than a cut from a serrated egde. If the knife is going to be used as a daily carry knife, or something you want to take on a camping trip, go with the combo. I have a Benchmade/Emerson (its the CQC7) with the combo edge, and I use the serrated part alot more than the straight edge. Hope this helps..

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Raffi Vartanian
WinAmp, Skins Review Committe

[This message has been edited by Quijebo (edited 03-19-2000).]

 

[WrongFriend]

Take a combo-edge, to save the little bit money for your next bali. The day is close at hand!

Jokes aside, in my experiences (i.e. scars) with bali, serrated part seldom came onto my fingers. Only the tip or the edge closer to the tip tend to bite my fingers.

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\(^o^)/ Mizutani Satoshi \(^o^)/