- Joined
- Jun 12, 2006
- Messages
- 956
When I started collecting knives, I liked the "tactical" look of of the combo-edge. After using the combo's awhile and doing a little thinking, I started to only buy plain edge knives.
A few months back I decided to buy a Spyderco Military. The "SpyderEdge" (serrations along the entire length of the blade) looked so awesome on this particular knife, that I decide to give it a try.
A few nights ago I was playing with my Military and a CS Recon 1 plain edge clip point (new model with AUS-8 blade). The Recon was razor sharp at the time.
I started whacking tightly rolled up newspapers. Up until that point, I thought a good, sharp, plain edge could keep up or even out perform a serrated edge. As I really got into "paper cutting", my mind was changed. The Spyderco Military kicked ass in cutting ability compared to the Recon (both are 4" blades). With approximately the same speed and strength, the Military cuts were 1.5 - 2 time as deep.
A combo blade will not give much of a cutting advantage in a self defense situation but a fully serrated blade with the right type of serrations (like Spyderco or SOG), has a distinct advantage over a plain edge. One advantage is that you get about 25% more blade length that is "hidden" in the serrations. Also, the points act like the teeth on a saw, helping to remove material as it cuts. A plain blade has to "push" the material out of the way. As a side note, serrations don't need to be sharpened as often as a plain edge.
So, as a self defensive weapon, a fully serrated folder like the Spydero Military or Police, will do more damage with much less pressure. Against heavy denim or leather, it's will cut much deeper. A fast and firm slash (not a push, a slash) would surely go through the material and hit flesh.
I'm still a plain edge collector and carrier most of the time but what I learned last night was quite surprising after all these years. I also helped put the Military with fully serrated edge as one of my top contenders for the best self defense folder one can carry.
Regards
A few months back I decided to buy a Spyderco Military. The "SpyderEdge" (serrations along the entire length of the blade) looked so awesome on this particular knife, that I decide to give it a try.
A few nights ago I was playing with my Military and a CS Recon 1 plain edge clip point (new model with AUS-8 blade). The Recon was razor sharp at the time.
I started whacking tightly rolled up newspapers. Up until that point, I thought a good, sharp, plain edge could keep up or even out perform a serrated edge. As I really got into "paper cutting", my mind was changed. The Spyderco Military kicked ass in cutting ability compared to the Recon (both are 4" blades). With approximately the same speed and strength, the Military cuts were 1.5 - 2 time as deep.
A combo blade will not give much of a cutting advantage in a self defense situation but a fully serrated blade with the right type of serrations (like Spyderco or SOG), has a distinct advantage over a plain edge. One advantage is that you get about 25% more blade length that is "hidden" in the serrations. Also, the points act like the teeth on a saw, helping to remove material as it cuts. A plain blade has to "push" the material out of the way. As a side note, serrations don't need to be sharpened as often as a plain edge.
So, as a self defensive weapon, a fully serrated folder like the Spydero Military or Police, will do more damage with much less pressure. Against heavy denim or leather, it's will cut much deeper. A fast and firm slash (not a push, a slash) would surely go through the material and hit flesh.
I'm still a plain edge collector and carrier most of the time but what I learned last night was quite surprising after all these years. I also helped put the Military with fully serrated edge as one of my top contenders for the best self defense folder one can carry.
Regards
