Opinion On Combo Edge

I've never really felt a need for a combo edge, so I've never bothered with them or serrations in general.
 
I used to exclusively buy combo edge knives and then the more I used them, sharpened them, etc., realized that the combo edge is a hindrance more than anything, at least for my uses. Nothing beats a nice, sharp, plain edge.
 
I too prefer a plain edge though my 14-year-old Endura has a combo edge and has never let me down. There have been times when I needed the serrations and had them. They also keep their sharpness well and are easy to resharpen with the correct hone. I use a diamond file made just for serrations.

Joe
 
I keep one all-serrated Spyderco clipped to my PFD while sea kayaking. That knife is never used for anything; it's reserved for the day I need to cut my way free from an entangling rope or spray skirt, etc. All my other knives are plain-edged. In my experience a combo edge just makes the blade half worthless for everything.
 
wildmike said:
They stink!

They add no cutting ability, and are nigh impossible to sharpen in the field. A properly sharpened plain edge works far better.
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"No cutting ability" is nonsense. Serrations are a massive win for edge retention when cutting abrasive material and they excel at rope-like stuff (eg Russian vine aka The Most Evil Plant In The World.) They may not add any cutting ability for the stuff *you* want to cut, but that's a different thing. They're hard not to sharpen either as long as you have the right tool.
 
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Planetcat said:
I used to exclusively buy combo edge knives and then the more I used them, sharpened them, etc., realized that the combo edge is a hindrance more than anything, at least for my uses. Nothing beats a nice, sharp, plain edge.
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My thoughts exactly! In the beginning stages of my addiction I used to think what could be better than a combo-edge knife! It was the best of both worlds to me at the time, or so I thought. As I got deeper into collecting and learning how to sharpen well, I realized the comb-edge really wasn't to my liking. I pretty much avoid combo-edges now as I've realized a sharpened straight edge can do everything I need. Having said that I still have full serrated edged knives I keep close at hand as they do have their uses, but they are still a very small percentage of my collection...
 
I prefer plain edges. The only knife I like a combo edge on is my Emerson. Most CE knives are chisel edges on the serations and regular V edge for the plain edge. The Emerson flows the chisel edge all the way to the point so it feel like it cuts smoother than other combo blades I've used.
 
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