Combo, Plain, or Serrated?

trackstar55

trackstar55

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I know I am new so be gentle please.

I am a police officer and am in need of a new knife for work. I used the Spyderco Endura with the serrated edge for a few years and liked it, but I lost it in a foot chase and need to replace it. I am interested in the Police and the Military model. There are so many options and I will be the first to admit that I don't know much about knives. I am more of a gun guy.

I was thinking about the police or military combo edge. I thought that with the combo edge, I would have the best of both worlds. Could anyone comment please. Thanks
 
hi,
I agree with your reasoning, especially on a longer blade like police or milli. The combo edge gives you enough of both to be useful. I have combo Delica and Endura and they work fine.
 
Welcome to the forum! I'm not a combo edge fan, but on a long enough blade it should be okay. The Military is a fantastic knife, light enough to forget you are carrying it, comfortable in hand, tough and reliable. I like the stainless Police for in waistband carry, as it doesn't snag on my shirt or pants when I'm stowing it there like most knives do. I don't think you can go far wrong with either.
 
I'm not a fan of serrations, but as a police officer, I can see where you might need it. I would guess a combo edge is ideal given your job.

I don't own either one, so hard for me to recommend one. Either way, you are getting a quality knife.
 
As a "I need a knife" knife, i.e. a knife that will be called upon to cut something unplanned (could be anything), I don't mind combo edges as the serrations do make cutting some of the more common "tough materials" easier. If I know what I am going to cut, I usually choose a plain edged knife.

Although I am a fan of the Military, I recommend the Police model.

I think the Police model will simply be more practicle in the long term IMO. Liner-locks are generally right-hand friendly and easier to close one handed, but the Police will be operated the same either right or left handed. Similarity in training, etc.
 
If you need a knife as a backup weapon, get a serrated edge. You can cut someone with a razor sharp plain edge and they might not feel it. They will definitely feel a serrated edge and it will cut through tough clothing and leather more effectively. Serrated edge knives make excellent weapons.

If you need a knife for utility, I prefer a plain edge. It will cut just about anything a serrated edge knife will cut but the reverse is not true. It's very hard to do a push cut with a serrated edge, and that's what you need if you're planning on doing any wood work with the knife.

Combo edges are ok, if you need a compromise. If you're mostly cutting fibrous material, like rope or seat belts, but you also need to slice cleanly, it's nice to have both options.

The new Police model only comes in plain edge with a G10 handle, so if you want a big knife with a 4" blade that's serrated or with a combo edge, you'll have to go with either a Military, or an older Police model with the stainless handle.

Liner locks are usually decidedly right handed. Back locks are truly ambidextrous, and according to Sal, the back locks are stronger. I can's stand liner locks myself, though the Military is truly a wonderfully built knife. If you have to go with a liner lock then the Military is the one to get. I, personally, have an SS Police model with a fully serrated blade. I can have it out and open in my hand, slice or pierce with it, and have it closed one handed and back in my pocket in the blink of an eye.
 
I Have always carried combo edges. Recently, I've been carrying plain edges. So I'm all mixed up! I'm really picky with combo edges. Most "half and halfs" (half serr., half plain) have too much serration for me. I Love the Military's serrations. They cover about a third of the blade, so there is lots of straight edge on there for less aggressive cutting. I used to like Kershaw's serrations because they followed the same pattern for the most part. Nowadays kershaw has some strange rounded off serrations that don't get the job done for me.

Go with the Serrated Military. Or, a combo edged Endura. It would be SWEET if Spyderco made the waved endura with serrations. Ohh man...
 
colubrid said:
Get the Military.
Click to expand...

The question was serrated, CE or PE.... ;)


To the OP.

I am not a fan of serrations, that being said I own a CE knife that I used VERY frequently while in the military as an LEO/Security troop. I found the serrations to be very useful for cutting the things that you normally would not find yourself using a knife to cut. Things like the seals on a tractor trailor door to check cargo were no match for serrations and allowed the PE portion of the blade to remain intact so you can use it for other, more delicate tasks. Just my .02.

Good luck with your decision. Buy them both in every combination and try them all :D
 
Jake Bauer said:
It would be SWEET if Spyderco made the waved endura with serrations. Ohh man...
Click to expand...

They do ;)

Waves.jpg


Tom
 
I like serrated blades and plain blades. I am not a fan of the combo edges. On combo edges they have the serrations in the wrong place. Instead of being at the base the serrations should be near the tip. Just my humble opinion.
 
trackstar, i know the role in which you operate.... i have found the the combo edge will serve me best in my job. ( the same as yours) best of both worlds. i carry the endura weak side front pocket and delica weak side rear. Used on seat belts to free people in accidents (delica 4) and once to even pry open a room door in a house (endura 4). get them both.
 
and to the police and military.....the police makes sense to me. not the military, i would have a hard time using them though based on the price. I own both and make great carry knives but not HARD users for me. tip on the military way to thin and prone to breaking and i have not used the police 3 enough to find any real POSSIBLE flaws other than the price point and the SIZE!!! just to big to lug around with all the crap i carry now...i weigh 27 more pounds when i put all this crap on in the morning more weight in my pockets just makes me mad.
 
Full serrations

You said it worked for you why change?

Serrations can cut and saw through much tougher things if you get my drift. I have a feeling you know this.

If you think you may find yourself doing woodwork and push cutting then get a staight edge.
 
If you get a combo edge unless your knife has a long blade your only going to get a liitle bit of both
 
A possible solution is carrying two knives, of different blade sizes and types, like an Endura and a Delica, one plain and the other serrated.

The Endura should have your preferred edge style for SD, and be Waved. The Delica would be more for utility work.

(I'd get a SE E4W and a PE D4, but it's a hard choice. When I got mine, there were no SE Waves still, so I have a PE E4W and a SE D4...

These models are light and affordable enough to be easily carried, acquired and replaced.

Not only would they complement, but they'd also back each other up.
 
I sometimes carry a serrated Native and a Fallkniven U-2 that is ...VERY... sharp.

However, a serrated edge seems to ALWAYS be at the very worst... SHARP ENOUGH.

I like that.

A lot of those who say they don't care for serrations are the first to go for a serrated steak knife to cut meat.

:)
 
catamount123 said:
They do ;)

Waves.jpg


Tom
Click to expand...

Doh! I was still under the impression that they hadn't come out with those yet. Werent they in PE only when they first came out?

+1 on the carrying two knives as well. There was a police officer who came into my store all the time and he usually had 3 knives on him. (one right pocket, one left pocket, and one back pocket)
 
Jake Bauer said:
+1 on the carrying two knives as well. There was a police officer who came into my store all the time and he usually had 3 knives on him. (one right pocket, one left pocket, and one back pocket)
Click to expand...

Not for defense, I suppose?
 
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