Does anyone prefer combo-edge?

F

fishtale

Joined
Dec 19, 2002
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Seems like every manufacturer make CE models but very few people ever talk about them here. I assume they sell well but does anyone like them better than PE or SE?
 
I had a 50/50 combo. IMO they are not good for knife chores. They do look very appealling & is why sales are brisk. I want either all plain edge or all serrated. The all serrated knives will cut a lot of tough stuff! Why settle for only half a serrated or only half a plain edge? The cool factor & visual appeal keeps them going. JMO.
 
I do prefer it in ATS34 and 154CM steels. I have more trouble getting the kind of biting aggressive slicing edges on these two steels for some reason than I do on others so the serrations seem to satisfy that for me. Sometimes a 440C or VG10 or BG42 blade will get really sharp for me and slice well but with others sometimes of the same model and blade steel they seem to behave like the first two steels mentioned and get more of a push cut edge on them. Both shave hairs but thats not what I'm interested in. I have two Buck Strider 880 folders and one is BG42 steel, the other ATS34. Both sharpened the same way, at the same time with the same stones and yet one has a different edge than the other. Go figure.

One thing about S30V and D2 in my experience they both slice well and take an aggresive slicing edge and keep it. Most of the time I get these other steels very sharp too but the edges push cut better than slice and I really don't like squishing my tomatos for my salad or lunch when I've just sharpened the darn thing and it still won't slice worth a darn. Serrations usually help the blade slice better depending on the size and shape of the serrations and what you are slicing. They aren't the end all solution but they usually slice up a storm compared to say a highly polished fine plain edge. With the combo you can have the best of both.

STR
 
I found a combo edge useful for work. It made zip-ties, corragated Al, and similiar materials easier to get thet initial bite into. Not to mention synthetic rope and such.

For normal carry, I still prefer plain edge with some curve.
 
The combo edge seems to be more for people that can't put a decent edge on a plain edge. My knives get worked hard, and I found the combo edge to be less usefull than a full edge of one or the other.
 
I've never felt an appeal to combo edge blades. I thought about ordering a combo G10 Meadowlark since New graham is out of plain edge...be a good excuse to try them out and see what I think about them.
 
I would like a combo edge but I think that currently the combo is all screwed up as the serrations should be in the front in order to perform all the rough cut work ripping through things. The PE should come after.
 
A CE gives you more versatility than a standard plain edge will. If you use your knife for cutting tough materials a serrated edge will cut some things much better than a plain edge can.
 
Always thought CE was the worst of both worlds but I am starting to reconsider. On larger folders the plain part is large enough for my needs and the serrated part is there for rope etc. without interfering. I am no fan of sharpening CE though.
 
I prefer to EDC a plain edge blade. If I need to cut anything that can't handle, I have a fully serrated Spyderco that takes some real punishment. I only own one serrated knife, and dozens of plain ones. :)
 
Almost all my knives have the CE. I've found that in day-to-day use the plain part of the edge does what I need, and having those serrations handy when I need them is always a good thing.
 
I hate CE, though I own a Desert Cruiser (only way they came). I rather go one knife PE and one fully serrated
 
Gerard Breuker said:
Always thought CE was the worst of both worlds but I am starting to reconsider. On larger folders the plain part is large enough for my needs and the serrated part is there for rope etc. without interfering. I am no fan of sharpening CE though.
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I think this is key. CEs can be useful, but the blade's got to be long enough to give you a decent sized portion of each edge type. Four inch blade is the minimum, IMO.
 
I only have one CE and it's new to me , so the jury's still out. That said, I can see how the PE could initiate a tough cut with the SE biting in without binding up like sometimes happens with full SE ,as it would have a "running start". That happens to me with full SE at times.I still would take full PE or full SE if given the choice, from my experience.
 
I have had a few CE blades and still EDC one, mostly to abuse and save my better blades. I have pretty much sworn to never buy another. A SE has its uses and I keep a couple around but I havent found them as practical as PE. I only purchase PE blades at this point.
 
I agree with othogonal1. For work, combo is the way to go. The serrations are there, but not in the way. -You need to keep a plain edge very sharp to cut large plastic zip ties and such. But a fully serrated edge doesn't seem quite as percise to me as a plain. Serrations can tear into certain things you don't want damaged. Combo takes care of both worlds in my opinion.
Also, I think the serrations are at the bottom of the blade because you can generate a little more power down there.
 
I normally buy PE only and stay away from tantos also. However, one of the most useful combos I have found is a Cold Steel Voyager, tanto, fully serrated. The plain front of the tanto is useful for small plain edge jobs (opening mail, cutting packaging tape) as is the first non serrated 1/4 inch of the main blade. The rest of the blade is used when I need a serrated edge. For me, its the best compromise.
 
My EDC Grip is a combo and the serrations are useful at times. Overall though, I hardly ever use them and would have been better off getting a plain edge. Live and learn, combo edges aren't for me.
 
I find that if I keep my knives sharp, I don't need anything more than a plain edge. I do own one fully serrated knife, but it is for emergency use and stays in my center console, unused.
 
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