Kershaw Ener-g: combo edge or plain

C

CelticKnott

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Jun 1, 2012
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Hi!

I've lurked on these forums quite a bit but never registered or posted. But now I've got a question ;)

I've only been collecting knives for a year or so, and being on a very limited budget, I only have a few, and I try to pick very carefully, to get knives that I can use and that will last as well as be (comparatively) inexpensive. Thus, I've got a CRKT Long's Peak (one of the summit series, the medium, plain-edge one), one of the Tim Galyean Kershaw JYD's, a Leek, a Gerber Ripstop (II? I think?), and a CRKT trapper.

My favorite is the JYD, hands down, because it's size, blade length, handle shape, blade profile, and general features (flipper, frame lock) all fit well with my preferences. But I really like the look of the Kershaw Ener-G and I think I may like it even better than my JYD because it's near less than half the weight.

So, I was wondering which most people prefer specifically on the Ener-G or a similar knife with the same proportions of serrated/plain: combo-edge or fully plain? I don't have any combo-edge knives except for the Gerber, which I hardly handled before hating the stiff unwieldy frame lock so much (I'm a lefty and it really isnt lefty-friendly like some frame locks) that I gave it to my brother, so I'm trying not to be unpleasantly surprised in buying one. It seems online the combo-edge ener-g is about 20$ cheaper, but I'm willing to spend the extra money if a plain edge is better overall.

I don't do alot of rope-cutting or anything like that, so I can't see why I'd need a combo edge, but I guess what I'm asking is: given the proportions of the serration/plain edge on the ener-g, does anybody who has one have an opinion on whether or not the serration gets in the way (as with my gerber), or is more or less innocuous unless you actually wish to engage it in your cut. Also, I think the serrations on the Kershaw are finer(? if that's the term), where the gerber's are more scalloped, which in my handling of the latter, was annoying.

For comparison, here's an image of the riptstop and the ener-g.

GER0093-ONECOL.jpg


Kershaw-Ener-g-1740.jpg


Edit: almost forgot, sorry...This is for an EDC knife, nothing fancy in terms of jobs. But i do hike sometimes, so I like to know I have a knife that will stand up to some work, unlike my leek, which is wonderful but has too delicate a tip. I'm also a girl and have teeny hands, which is why the original JYD (as opposed to the II) and the original Ener-G are what I'm interested in.
 
I don't see any advantage to a combo edge and in fact, I feel they impede cutting sometimes. There isn't much a sharp plain edge won't cut and cut well.

If you think you'll ever need a serrated edge. buy a separate knife for that and make it fully serrated for those rare times you may need it. Maybe keep it in a BOB or your car/truck.

Plain edge FTW. For serrations, go full length . . .
 
Thanks for the input!

Here's a secondary question: Some of the Ener-G have a black finish, some do not. I know with some blades that have a coating of any kind, it's just asking for chipping and rusting. Is this the case with this one?
 
To me the coatings are only somewhat useful on carbon steel blades and even then the coating won't totally keep the blade from rusting. I see the coatings on blades as being more for aesthetic purposes more than anything else.
 
I own the Kershaw 1740, the small Ener-G. Which size were you looking at? Also, what DO you expect to be cutting with your knife, if anything?

Regarding serrations, the Gerber design (originally patented by Spyderco I am told?) is, in my experience, superior to that of the displayed Kershaw particularly in the inclusion of narrower penetration points which bring the cutting edge deeper into the material being cut. There is a reason that most serrations feature the design represented on the Gerber vs. the Kershaw. Serrations lengthen the cutting surface of the blade but more importantly deepen penetration into material being cut, and the curvature of the scallops means that the edge pulls material onto it in a slice, just like a gut-hook, improving slicing efficiency. Serrations are optimal for sawing through fibrous material like wood, rope, bread, etc. The serration-tips also provide a buffer to protect the thin cutting edge inside the scallops from contact with hard surfaces like stone & ceramic (e.g. cutting food on a plate).

However, the uneven surface of serrations causes gouging in material being cut. If what you are cutting is very thin (e.g. paper or conjuctiva) or demands a very clean separation (e.g. surgery or whittling), a polished edge will serve you better.

An important point to consider, the Ener-G has a thin hollow-grind that makes it very easy to get a deeply penetrating cutting edge without serrations. My 1740 is a scalpel, which fits my purpose for it. I have no need for serrations on it. If you do not see a need for them, DON'T get them.

As to blade coating on a stainless steel, that is for "low profile" meaning non-glint/glare. If you don't want people to notice your knife, a black blade can help.

My $0.02
 
I agree with JSMcutsoms but I'll add that in the case of bead blasted finishes, alloy or not, they will tend to spot faster than stonewashed or satin finishes because of the micro-pores holding saline and moisture but it appears this is primarily prevalent with those individuals who have a PH factor that causes corrosion more than others or where humidity and PH combined are ideal for corrosion. In Reno and with my chemistry, I have never had an issue with BB finishes corroding at all.

Bead Blast finishes will scuff easily too . . .

All in all, I highly prefer uncoated blades though.
 
I have the original JYD -- the smaller one -- and just got the 1740 Ener-G this week. I have small/medium hands and these are just right for me.

I like the 1740 in satin and plain edge. In fact, I like it enough that, if I didn't already have so many choices, I'd pick up a second before they are gone.

These are both good for EDCing -- congratulations on your choices.
 
I appreciate the posters who talked about serration. Since I havent used any knives with it, I don't know much about it, so, glad to learn.

I've decided to go with the plain edge, and to those who were asking, I mean the smaller model (2.2 oz, just under a 3" blade). The JYD I have is also the smaller one. I really like the looks of both the larger ener-g and JYD II, but the weight is just a bit too much, and I find my blade preference hovers at 3 or just under 3..

Has anybody had any bad experiences with the clip + trak-tech inserts? I've seen several youtube reviews that mentioned the combination of the two being hard on your pants if you choose to use the clip.
 
Any abrasive/grippy material can be hard on your pockets. I bent my 1740's clip ever so slightly out to reduce the hold enough that it extracts easily without being a loose clip (but mine is G10, not the insert). BTW, that clip is rather pointy and juts out, you may want to modify it by rounding the tip off if you have the tools. I'll be doing that to mine this weekend. As a light EDC, I really like the Ener-G, well worth the money. Besides the pointy clip however, I note two other design issues: 1) the ledge for pushing the liner-lock over is quite narrow and there's no groove (like on the Benchmade 745) to give you better access, which can make it harder to disengage the lock; 2) the blade choil is not slanted toward the edge, so it can catch on materials if you cut too low on the blade.
 
Just to follow up...I love the Ener-g. It's probably the fastest non-A/O knife I've handled, it's light and shaving sharp. Just the right size and shape. We have a winner. :)
 
:thumbup:
Glad to hear that you are pleased with your purchase! Enjoy your new knife :)
 
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