Salsa CE: my first comboe edge Spyderco

M

MG_Saldivar

Joined
Feb 5, 2005
Messages
857
My prior thread describes my first Salsa, a violet PE. I love this knife so much that for the first time, apart from SAKs, I've bought multiple versions of the same model so I have a Salsa to carry well into the future. I have a black PE that's going into storage but today I received a cranberry combo edge that is going into my EDC rotation.

This is the first Spyderco CE I've ever owned, and only the third serrated edge of any type I've owned (the first was my Gerber AR 3.0 back in the 1990's, my first non-traditional EDC, and the second was my recently purchased Victorinox Bundeswehr OHT).

I have been resistant to serrations for a long time, but despite the modest demands my white-collar grad student life puts on most of my folders, lately I have found myself having to saw through cardboard with a plain edge on three occasions. I saw this knife for a decent price on eBay, so I thought, "Why not?"

I haven't put it through its paces but the fit and finish are solid and the compression lock is like a vault. I briefly considered removing what I like to call the C.O.B.R.A. hood (hehehe) but I'll keep it for a while and see what happens...

I'll have to review my Sharpmaker video before I try to touch up the edge, though. :o

Combo edge Salsa
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For scale, shown alongside a 74mm (3.25 in) SAK
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Nice purchase. I've been considering one of those for my girlfriend. I'll probably get the PE so its not as intemidating for her.
 
I am a big fan of CE knives for real use. I carry a CE at work every day and it does things that only a CE can do. At times, I need the SE part and at times I need the PE part. I am not going to carry two knives so a CE makes a lot of sense.

I feel that CE works best in a blade that is at least 3" long, 3.5-4" is ideal. That way you get enough blade for the PE and the SE to do what they were meant to do.

The good thing about CE knives is that on the used market they sell for less than the PE so you can find some bargins. I got a CE Military for $60 and I think it is the best of the Military models. I have a PE, CE and SE Military and they all have a place at my side but the CE is the one I grab when I I am not sure what I may need to cut. It is a workhorse and cuts so well that it is almost too much knife for the job. It seems like as soon as I pull it out, the cut is done and I wonder if I should have just carried a smaller knife. The thing is, sometimes, the smaller knife is not enough knife. It is rare but when you really need a knife, you tend to really need a large knife.
 
my bad, i should be a little more diligent in my reading....5 times on the serrated edge and then once on the other side, using the tips of the triangular rods, not the flat sides.
 
SE don't need to be sharpened as often as the PE part. I probably sharpen at a ratio of 5-1. SE will cut if they are razor sharp or not. Since I use my knife at work, I don't keep a fine edge on it. I use various things to keep it sharp. At work I may just find a piece of cardboard and really strop it. If the card board happens to be a little dusty, that is a plus.

At home, I use my Lansky with the SE stone. It is just a triangular stone that fits in the serrations. I use the edge of a piece of card board so it fits in the groove as a touch up since a leather strop won't get in the grooves.
 
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