combo vs plain edge [revisited]

For defensive purposes a combo-edge needs the serrated portion to be on the point-end (belly) of the blade rather than the handle end. In years gone by when I did a lot of slash tests with blades I discovered that most of the cutting was done with the last inch or so of the blade. A combo blade is not going to help you for self defense if it is configured the "normal" way with the serrations near the handle. If I had to go through leather jackets I would get a thin plain edge blade with a lot of belly and sharpen the blade with a file.
 
That configuration seems to make more sense. Especially in a knife geared toward the self defense market. I would even buy one just to give it a whirl. Hmmm....
 
Often, it was stated that serrations are good for cardboard, but I found that's not true because the cardboard keeps bunching up. I use my knives pretty normally (paper, food, cardboard, etc) and rarely need to slice rope or other very tough materials. The plain edge does well with what I mostly use my knives for. Therefore, having combo edge where I don't really have a gain of using the serration is just a waste of a portion of the blade.
 
I don't own any combo blades, but I think that the value of the combo edge would vary depending on the blade shape. For example, I could see a straight-edge combo blade being useful. On the other hand, I did not even consider buying my Camillus EDC in combo edge due to the recurve.
 
well, this topic is going along nicely. i'm surprised a few of you actually like combo edges too. I personally have plain edges and combos. the thing about defense like i said before is you guys are arguing the serrated part should be on the outside but my whole thing is that if you had a plain edge there would be no serrations at all so in a defensive position having a combo or plain would be the same? one thing i do agree with is that if you keep your knife razor sharp all the time it will cut very good and can handle most daily tasks, but even with s30v or other super steels it's still hard to keep a razor edge all the time. the main reason i like combo edge (sometimes) is because when you need a sawing action to cut something that a plain edge can't you can use the serrated part to start the cut and the plain edge to continue it. on some knives theres no doubt about it that i want a plain edge but sometimes a knife comes along that i think a combo edge might work
 
When I first got into knives, I thought that combo edges were the best of both worlds. I was wrong. It's better just to carry one fully serrated and one plain edge knife. I wouldn't say that a combo edge is useless, just not very practical.
 
I have two knives that are combo edges. An Endura and an AFCK. These I got very early on in my knife buying/collecting habit. I have to say that I do prefer a plain edge knife but on my AFCK the combo works well for me.

Doesn't see as much mileage now but I use to use it a lot when I worked at the warehouse. I found that for opening those big long boxes that the top part of the serrations acted almost like a hook to grip onto whatever I was cutting and then the straight edge part would finish it off.

If you have to go with a combo I think the 60/40 is better than a 50/50.
 
I find combo's not a problem at all.Some say not enough of either,I say not in my world:) .I use knives in my job(firefighter),my hobbies,hunting,camping,canoeing,boating,waterskiing.My yard is heavily landscaped,I mean I get mulch by the truckload,500 feet of inlaid bricks,pool,deck,patio and so on.I'm always working in the yard.50/50 works fine for cutting open bags,cutting plastic edging,trimming suckers etc.

I would have loved to have had a 50/50 when I worked on the shipping dock.Sure serrations are not good for some things like skining,but I have never ever,be it hunting,working in the yard,on the job,camping or whatever not been able to do the job with a 50/50.

What is it exactly that people find they can't do with a combo edge?
I can understand a personal preferance towards one edge type over another,its just that in all my uses I haven't really found to many things I can't use them for just fine.
 
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