My thoughts on Serrated vs. Combo vs. plain edges.

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kgriggs8

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I see a use for all three types.

I carry a knife at work and I have found that it is really helpful to have a combo edge blade. If the plain edge gets dull, the serrations will always cut. I can use the SE part to cut stuff that I would rather not cut with the PE part and keep the PE part sharp. If it is going to be a hard use work knife, I prefer combo to PE or SE.

For when I am not at work, I will carry a knife for three reasons.
1. Self defense
2. EDC light duty
3. Out doors stuff like boating mostly.

For self defense, either PE or SE can be good if the knife is the right type. I normally carry either a PE Al Mar Shike or a PE Massad Ayoob for this role. Sometimes I carry a SE Centofante II but it is really more of an EDC than what I would consider a SD knife.

For EDC on the weekends or nights, I like to carry a smaller knife like the Calypso Jr. or R2. Both in PE. I also carry the Centofante II which is SE.

For boating and other similar tasks, I think SE rules. I have a Rescue but a Salt would be a good choice as well. Much better than PE when cutting things that want to slip away from you when wet. Plastic ropes and many other items are easier to cut with a SE than a PE.

I am not nearly as opposed to SE edges as I once was. One thing however, even in a SE, I always like a little bit of PE near the tip. I think about an inch is perfect. The tip is where you will do your fine cutting and PE is better for fine cuts or cuts where you need to press. The new Rescue has about 3/4" of PE at the tip and it is a big improvement over the older version that was SE to the very tip.

I know everybody has different uses for knives but I think most people would have a use for either a CE or SE in their rotation if they gave one a chance.
 
i dont know that much about serrated edges other than i have a few pe/se knives. I would like to get an assist or rescue though and try it for edc for a while. Never have been a big fan of serrated knives though always seem to cut myself on them.
 
My very first EDC Spyderco was a fully serrated Rescue, and while it performed well, I often found myself needing a plain-edge.

So I then moved on to a combo-edge Endura.
It worked very well for the most part, but sometimes the serrations just got in the way of an otherwise smooth slice.

Then I got a plain-edge G-10 Police!
There was no going back to serrations after using that.
That long thin flat-ground blade just sliced everthing so well--it was amazing.
But the tip was a little too fragile for my tastes, and I was never that happy with the word "Police" on the blade--it made me feel like a "wannabe" or a poser.

And now, I'm back to the Rescue--only this time it's a plain-edge Atlantic Salt or my plain-edge Rescue 93mm.

I'll still go and get my fully serrated Delica if I plan to cut something that will very quickly dull a blade, because as you stated, even dull serrations will still cut.
But for about 99% of my daily knife tasks, a plain-edge works fine.

Different strokes...
Allen.
 
I'm not a big fan of combo edges per se. I do own a few and just don't quite do it for me - just don't run into enough situations that require both. They are handy, though. I am a big PE fan, though, but that's just what works for most of my stuff. I finally broke down and recently bought a 93 mm Rescue with a full SE, more as backup in my Maxpedition, and though I haven't used it all that much, took quite a liking to it:) Would I EDC a blade with a full SE? Well, it got my curiosity up enough, that I just might spring for an FRN/SE Delica "to try":).

- gord
 
I like full serrations, and I like plain edges. I don't like combo edges, because I feel that in most cases, you don't get enough of either to really be worth it.

So I carry a plain edge (one of several in rotation, but sorry, no Spydercos), and a serrated Atlantic Salt. Like kgriggs8 I do prefer just a bit of plain edge at top (I loved my blue Rescue 93mm, but I need the rust-proof Salt for what I use it for and IWB carry), but you can't have everything I guess.
 
I never really got on with CE for EDC.
If I wanted a plain edge then the serrated part just got in the way and made the useable portion of the edge that much smaller. If I needed a serrated edge, it always seemed wrong to me that it was at the back and on a CE it was too small.

I am finding myself reaching for my SE Atlantic Salt more and more. I can see before too long it is likely to become my primary knife.
 
Yes, I too just *love* the Salt, in this case my Pacific Salt SE black. I have another two Salts on the way -- a Salt 1 plain and a Pacific Salt PE yellow.

The serrations are nice for some things like cutting lots of rope, cardboard and so forth. But I do hate combo edges -- I have one on my ER MPC and I can't stand it.
 
That's why my friends I declare that I got the best of both Worlds. I have a big C-44P&S Dyad. YOu know him>> The 2 bladed Spyderco knife that has a fully serrated blade and a plain edge blade. That knife is truly the best of both worlds.

Now I do also agree with kgriggs about the combo edges. They do take some getting used to but I think anyone will find them quite useful when you learn to utilize them. I used to hate fully serrated blades but I am now finding all kinds of uses for them.

Like just the other day I was at work and we needed some old carpet cut off of a fixture. I took out the fully serrated blade on my Dyad and it just walked right through it. Wow!! there is nothing like working with good quality tools. Check out the big Dyad for those of you who are "TORN BETWEEN" the 2 different edges.
 
I have a question that seems relevant...is there an advantage to Spyderedge as opposed to the more conventional, evenly serrated knives?
 
cognitivefun said:
I have a question that seems relevant...is there an advantage to Spyderedge as opposed to the more conventional, evenly serrated knives?
Click to expand...
Spyderco's serrations seem to me to have the best balance between aggressiveness and smoothness of cuts with their serrations. The spacing of those wide scallops with the narrower ones make for a very useful blade that can saw through hard material yet still glide through the softer stuff. I don't leave home without a Spyderco SE knife along with some sort of PE blade. Can't wait for the new Dyad to come out.
 
I've allways carried SE knives since my conversion from slipjoints. IMHO SE cuts just as well if not very very much better than PE for MY edc needs. I would never carry a PE as my only knife and as of now (though that might change since Spyderco doesn't seem to offer tip up SE on their new models), I have no plans to to purchase any. It all boils down to personal preference so there isn't any right or wrong.
Cheers,
Rob
 
Serrations all the way. They just cut better for me.:thumbup:

If I buy a knife it must have at least 60% serrations on the blade:D
 
The serrations are very helpful in a work knife. If you use your knife in a different way, I can see how serrations would just get in the way. PE is better for cutting apples or opening boxes and smooth slicing. SE are great when you just have to rip though something. The serrated edges grab material and tear and rip it as much as cut it. This is a good thing for some materials and a bad thing for others. It all boils down to how you use.

I need at least a CE on a work knife and a SE would be fine as well. I am perfectly happy with a PE knife on my afterwork and weekend knives. I cut different things at work than at home so I need different knives.
 
I like to carry PE but SE sure comes in handy sometimes. If I had to choose one single bladed folder for the field, it would be CE, like a Mili or Manix.
 
Now I will go on to say that Spyderco's serrations really have a good bite to them. I consider theirs and Benchmade's some of the best serration patterns out there. Whereas I hate Cold Steel's serrations. They are virtually impossible to sharpen and really don't cut nearly as good as the aforementioned. Thumbs up for the DYAD :thumbup:
 
While I am not a fan of SE, I do admit it has it's advantages. I did some "experimenting" on my wife's old purse that was out of commission. My Rescue Jr. just totally ripped through the thing as if it was made of melted butter! It held a grip on what ever I was cutting and got the job done, no slipping at all. But my Para performed nearly as well, so it's a testiment to what a well sharpened piece of S30v will do! SE has its place, but for what I carry for, PE is for me.
 
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