Gift knife for non-knife person - plain, serrated, or combo edge?

Which edge for Spyderco Tenacious, given question below?

  • Plain Edge

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Serrated Edge

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Combo Edge

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
  • Poll closed .
HikingMano

HikingMano

Joined
Sep 2, 2008
Messages
7,702
My GF is getting her younger brother (recent college graduate) a pocket knife for Xmas. I decided, given the budget, that we'll get him a Spyderco Tenacious, so the only question now is "which edge?". I picked the Tenacious because it is a versatile EDC, capable of performing both the finer and relatively rougher tasks in all sorts of uses. I'm aiming for general utility, not a niche tool. The choice of knife is done. Please vote in poll after reading the context.

The guy is pursuing a career in horticulture/agriculture/landscaping, so I'm sure he would find a decent EDC pocket knife handy on a daily basis. The work tasks he'd employ the knife in are probably down and dirty in nature, so the knife should be able to handle a wide variety of cutting tasks reasonably well. And I'm sure from time to time he'd be cutting ropes/nets and fibrous plant material when the knife is the quickest thing at hand to get the job done. I'm also fairly confident that since he isn't a knife knut, yet at least, the knife won't get babied and will in all likelihood get rather trashed (I'll be sure to make him aware of the limits of the Tenacious liner lock). He may end up learning to sharpen the knife himself, but it is equally likely that he'd take the knife somewhere to get it sharpened, and that may be infrequent if he does it at all.

I'm inclined to get him a PE, given my own bias, but wanted to throw the question out there for others to weigh in. I'd like to believe that if I give him a PE and encourage him to try learning how to sharpen, he'd be able to maintain the blade himself to keep the PE performing decently even in nasty cutting situations over the long haul. Plus he could apply the knowledge to better maintaining his kitchen cutlery. But the worst case scenario is he wouldn't learn how, would use the blade until it's dulled from the stock edge, then never bother to sharpen it. Then he'd end up thinking the knife is crap because of a failure to maintain.

In this case, I can see the merits of the full-serrated blade, considering the steel&HT and anticipated usage as a outdoor-worker non-knife-knut; he could use it for a long time before it stopped cutting. And when it finally did dull enough to warrant attention, he may be able to find someone local who could sharpen it for him periodically. The skills and minimal equipment needed to sharpen a PE pocket knife can be applied to sharpening kitchen knives, but I'm not certain he'd want to pony up for special stuff to properly sharpen a serrated edge. Anyway, my concern with a fully serrated edge is that he might not use it for "everything and anything" (within the scope of a pocket knife) because of the relatively coarse sort of cutting a fully serrated blade is limited to. If I couldn't use my EDC for "everything and anything", I wouldn't carry it around much. I want this to be a worthwhile gift for him, not something that ends up forgotten in an random drawer or box in the closet.

I think combo-edge small knives are failed compromises, especially rear serrations, but included it as a poll option as well. I kinda go back and forth on it as a gift for a non-knife person.


Feel free to comment if you wish, in the context of the specific question I've just laid out. Thanks in advance!
 
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The Tenacious is a good choice for the non knife nut.
I have used mine for some rough tasks and it holds its own.

The plain edge is what I would get them.
It would not hurt to throw in a stone too.
The ceramic that KC sells for 3 bucks is a great stone.
 
You're overthinking. He's never had a knife before, what makes you so sure he would find a knife handy on a daily basis? Having said that,
to someone who's studying horticulture/agriculture/landscaping, it's not the edge that matters, it's the shape of the blade, most of his cuts will be chocking the blade and cutting towards himself. Go see how a florist works, he'd benefit from a straight edge with no belly. Variations of this blade:

ScreenShot2013-11-28at81616PM_zps9b42f538.png
 
I can appreciate why you some of you are suggesting other knives, but I'm already settled on the Tenacious. I assure you none of this is "overthought"; the parameters of the question are there for a reason. For example:

orixa said:
You're overthinking. He's never had a knife before, what makes you so sure he would find a knife handy on a daily basis? Having said that,
to someone who's studying horticulture/agriculture/landscaping, it's not the edge that matters, it's the shape of the blade, most of his cuts will be chocking the blade and cutting towards himself. Go see how a florist works, he'd benefit from a straight edge with no belly. Variations of this blade:
Click to expand...

I am sure he'd find a knife handy because I've spent enough time dabbling in and helping with the same things he'll be doing for a work. And he likes to do the same activities, more or less, that I enjoy for play. I can extrapolate from my own experience how useful he'd find an EDC.

As to the sheepsfoot, while not an unreasonable suggestion, I find them too specialized for general utility. I'll reiterate: I want him to actually carry the knife because it's useful for anything and everything. Perhaps I should edit the OP to really emphasize the desire for the general utility of an EDC.

Alnamvet68 said:
Spyderco Delica 4 with combo blade; 'nuff said.
Click to expand...

Out of budget.

Malkav said:
what about getting him something like this? http://www.opinel-usa.com/proddetail.asp?prod=Opinel-garden-knives-trio-beechwood#.Updklko1jGg

it would be a nice present (box), reasonably priced for what you get, Opinel is a good brand and the knives are nice and of good quality. It would also fit the agriculture/horticulture theme.
Click to expand...

An opinel is a fine tool indeed, I have several, and I considered it for a while before settling on a modern folder with modern locks and materials (I actually considered an Opinel #8 + Mora Companion or #8 + #8 Pruner gift). My experience has been that the Opinel requires more diligent maintenance than a modern folder. The wood swelling when wet is an annoyance. While it can be prevented with proper pre-treatment of the pivot, even if I did it the first time before we shipped it to him, I'm not certain he'd renew as necessary. I also want something he can always open one-handed; doing the coup du savoyard and then pulling open a stiff pivot can be a bother when you only have one hand and no handy hard surface is in reach. Rusting can also be an annoyance at the pivots even if use or care keeps rust off the blade. Plus, I have an inkling he'd be more "impressed" with the modern Tenacious vs. the Opinel as a first knife, and he may like having a pocket clip. If he becomes a knife knut, I'll probably give him an Opinel and a Mora down the line :) I agree though: the opinel would fit the agri/horti theme. :thumbup:



Anyway, thanks for taking the time to respond, but for future posters, all I'm looking for is an opinion on PE, SE, or CE. Thanks.
 
Thanks, Bob W :thumbup:

Looks like PE is winning so far, so it may end up being PE Tenacious with economical stone for gift :thumbup: I'll just have to really encourage him to make the effort to sharpen. I think he takes care of his tools, so it probably shouldn't be a stretch.

Oh yeah, Happy Thanksgiving to all! :)
 
Voted plain edge, but honestly I'd get him some pruning shears. It's the same principle as when people come in asking about knives for EMT's and people say trauma shears. Get the right tool for the job. For the knife bit some sort of SAK/Leatherman would get the job done, and it's multi purpose gear. ;)
 
Thanks sideways, but he wouldn't EDC pruning shears, and he probably has a good set already, better than what our budget would allow, possibly. As for SAK/Leatherman, I had considered the SAK OHT Trekker with front serrations, but I think he'd carry the Tenacious more since it's a little easier for pocket carry and it's more minimal. I would have gotten him an alox Pioneer Harvester, but I couldn't find them anymore, the last time I looked.

This is probably the last "you should get him this instead" post I'll respond to. The Tenacious is the "right tool for a variety of jobs," let alone the other factors (e.g. likely preferences of receiver, budget, carry, materials).
 
I'm sure the Tenacious will be a good fit for a 'newbie'. As for the edge: plain edge for sure. As you said, sharpening and maintenance is key, no matter what knife you buy him, he'll have to take care of it.
A non-knife person that (most likely?) doesn't know a whole lot about sharpening will have it a lot easier sharpening a plain edge on a stone than trying to restore sharpness on serrations. If he finds himself using his new knife a lot, finds himself cutting rope a lot, and finds himself not minding getting appropriate sharpening materials... then he'll eventually get a serrated blade himself. HM, you've stated multiple times that it's key that he uses the knife for general EDC, which includes a large variety of tasks. A plain edge in that role will perform better too, it's just more versatile. In the end, serrated edges are -just like a specific blade pattern like the sheepsfoot- intended for specific tasks and they don't have a spot in a mere (unspecialized) EDC role. IMO ;-).

Anyway, that's a cool gift you've come up with. I'm sure he'll enjoy it quite a lot.
 
HikingMano said:
Thanks sideways, but he wouldn't EDC pruning shears, and he probably has a good set already, better than what our budget would allow, possibly. As for SAK/Leatherman, I had considered the SAK OHT Trekker with front serrations, but I think he'd carry the Tenacious more since it's a little easier for pocket carry and it's more minimal. I would have gotten him an alox Pioneer Harvester, but I couldn't find them anymore, the last time I looked.

This is probably the last "you should get him this instead" post I'll respond to. The Tenacious is the "right tool for a variety of jobs," let alone the other factors (e.g. likely preferences of receiver, budget, carry, materials).
Click to expand...

That's cool. Just throwing it out there. The tenacious is a solid knife choice and plain edge is the way to go IMHO. If maintenance is a thing and you know he won't do it you could throw in a note with *good for 1 free sharpening* on it.
 
Thanks, GS, good point: he may pick himself up a serrated knife himself if he discovers it worthwhile. And no matter what knife, he'll have to take care of it. Might as well be a PE he has a chance of sharpening himself rather than a SE he would for sure have to take to someone to sharpen. He'd probably just stop using it once it did finally dull too much to be useful.

I know there are folks who'd argue that there's nothing a SE can do in EDC that a PE can't do, and they do EDC SE and leave the PE specifically for the carving-based woods tasks. I tend to agree with you though: based on my experience thus far, PE seems more versatile for EDC.


Seems likely the poll trend is likely to continue: approx. 80% PE, 20% CE, 0% SE. So it looks like we'll pick up the PE. Thanks all.
 
sideways said:
That's cool. Just throwing it out there. The tenacious is a solid knife choice and plain edge is the way to go IMHO. If maintenance is a thing and you know he won't do it you could throw in a note with *good for 1 free sharpening* on it.
Click to expand...

Thanks bud, and yeah, I really don't know if he'd take care of it. My GF seems to think he doesn't take care of his stuff, but that could be a sister's bias, haha. I can't imagine he treats his tools all that poorly. Offering one free sharpening is a good idea, if nothing else, to serve as a reminder, haha.
 
Good thread - good choice of knife. Imo!

Being honest, a combo edge won´t do it for him.

The SE will be better for cutting structure like rope and such things. But when it´s dull, he won´t be able to get an easy fix on the edge. Sharping SE blades needs some experience. Which he propably won´t have. The next aspects is that SE may frighten his coworkers. "The knife has teeth!" - which might qualify it as a weapon. When it get duller, the edge will not cut anymore. It will rip through the stuff.

The PE will be a better choice making clear cuts, which could be a better for a job he´ll have to do. The social aspect is also not to forget, it won´t be associated as a weapon, at least not that fast. Next what I think is a better way to sharpen it more easily.

So my vote goes for Plain Edge, in any way.

Good luck with such a nice gift :)
 
A Tenacious is a "big" knife for a non-knife person. I would suggest a SAK.
But, if you are set on the Tenacious, it doesn't sound like he has any need for combo or serrated edge blades.
 
Plain edge for sure, with the sharpening stone. It will handle all that he needs and he can learn how to keep it sharp!
 
Plain edge is the only way to go. It's far more functional, easier to sharpen, less likely to make it viewed as a weapon, and it'll provide cleaner cuts.
 
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