Hypothetical Carry Question

cerulean · Oct 29, 1999

God demands that you carry two folders at all times. One of these knives has a 4" blade and the other knife has a 3" blade. These knives are identical in design, quality, and price. God also demands that one of these knives be completely serrated, and one of these knives be completely plain edge. He lets you choose which is which. Which one would you want serrated, and which one would you want plain edge?

Follow up question: same as above, but blade lengths are 5" and 2".

Cougar Allen · Oct 29, 1999

This is nonsense, theologically. If anyone is suggesting you should carry a serrated edge, that deep voice from nowhere is not God ... that's the Devil talking to you. Tell him to get behind you.

-Cougar Allen :{)

JoHnYKwSt · Oct 29, 1999

Small and large Sebenzas with matching decoration--one expensive pair. Both plain edge.

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Johnny
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David Rock · Oct 29, 1999

I like Cerulean's question. I don't know the answer. I have given some thought to the matter, though, and this is what I believe at the present time.

1. A plain-edged blade is more generally useful than a serrated blade.

2. A small blade is more generally useful than a large blade.

3. For cutting tasks where serrations are called for, a sawing motion is probably also called for, in which case the longer-blade-serrated format seems to make sense, as when slicing thick sandwiches, for example.

There are some complications, however.

4. The knife you find most generally useful (i.e., small and plain-edged) should be carried in the most easily accessible location. For me, this is clipped in my right front pants pocket.

5. In opposition to principle #4, a person (like me) who prefers a large blade as his primary emergency (defense or whatever) knife should carry THAT knife in the most easily accessible position. In other words, your most useful knife is no longer the most useful, because it will be in the wrong pocket most of the time.

6. In consideration of principle #5, it seems reasonable to compromise and have your plain edged, most accessible knife be the large one. For me, having a blade a bit larger than I need is less of an inconvenience than having serrations would be when I don't want them, or even worse, having a knife too small for the job in a big-knife emergency.

My solution to the problem, given the rules stipulated by God in Cerulean's scenario, is to carry a large plain-edged knife in my right front pocket, and a small serrated blade in my left pocket.

Another possible solution is to carry a large serrated blade in the strong-hand pocket, and a small plain edged blade in my shirt pocket. This way both knives are relatively easy to get to.

What I actually do most of the time these days is to carry a large plain-edge knife(Spyderco Military) in my right front pocket, a large serrated knife (Spyderco Endura) in my left pocket, and (sometimes) a third knife--small and plain-edged (Spyderco Calypso Jr., Benchmade Leopard Cub, or Al Mar Falcon Ultralight) in my shirt pocket.

That's a lot of philosophy on a Friday afternoon.

David Rock

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AKTI Member # A000846
"Never carry a knife shorter than your schnoz."

OWL · Oct 29, 1999

God tells me to carry an Emerson, plain-edge Commander, clipped in my right hand pocket and a Spyderco Matriarch (serrated)clipped in the left. The Devil is always behind Me, with good reason.

silverwing · Oct 30, 1999

LOL -- i *love* this forum!

cerulean, great question, and i found David's answer very thoughtful. my reasoning is different, because i have different uses for my knives than David does, but i come to a similar conclusion:

i like serrated blades for opening boxes, which i have to do a lot of in my job as head network nerd. the serrations make short work of fibrous packing tape, and also the weird grades of cardboard used to package computer parts.

when opening a box, i don't want a blade that is too long, or i risk cutting the contents as well as the tape or the cardboard. also, a longer blade requires just a tad more force (theoretically, right, more mass?), and with more force i run the risk of punching the knife through the box to the goodies inside. this is Bad (especially if the contents are your much-needed new memory chips for your server, right Spark?).

plain edges are for cutting my food, and opening mail, and other tasks where i don't want much carnage to result. trying to cut a sandwich with a tiny blade, well, that just don't cut it with me (ducking to avoid incoming rotten veggies).

so i also would vote for the shorter blade to be the serrated one, and the longer one to be the plain edge. (i'm not saying my reasons are really sound ones, they're just MY reasons, which i encourage anyone to talk me out of if you are wiser and more experienced with blades than i am.)

plus, i just don't like to scare the kiddies, and a long fully serrated knife would give my coworkers heart attacks, the poor babies. they're such sheeple that they get nervous when i pull out my pearl-handled BM 850!

due to being plagued by Stupid Girl Clothes, i don't always have two (or three) pockets for my carries. when i do, the shorter blade (which i use most often) goes in my waistband, opposite my strong hand, and the longer blade goes in my strongside pocket. (weakside pocket is reserved for my keys and multitool.) If no pockets are available, long blade get relegated to outside pocket or strap of The Purse, and short blade is clipped inside my armhole, to my blouse placket, hem of sweater, ear of flunky co-worker (oh no, wait, that's wrong) or anywhere else i can find.

i'm finding that i don't like my longer blade so far from my hand, however, so i'm working on a solution for the days when i have to dress like a girl but when i need to be prepared like a boy scout

silverwing

Hypothetical Carry Question

cerulean

Cougar Allen

Buccaneer (ret.)

JoHnYKwSt

David Rock

OWL

silverwing