Shabaria PE or Combo ?

R

richardallen

Joined
Oct 15, 2002
Messages
1,101
i'm wondering whether i should get the shabaria in plain or comboedge. combo seems to look a bit better to me, and i believe it might offer even more options in this knife. i'm not sure though, anyone got opinions on this particular knife and which edge to chose ?

cheez
 
Plain-edge. I think that the combo-edge is better suited to more of a "utility" knife, such as a Native or Delica.
 
The Shabaria ia a beautiful under-rated knife, once you become familiar with the unusual handle it offers a wealth of handling styles. It sits very low in the pocket too, almost disappears.
I would go for the combination edge, the blade style suits the Spyderedge and still leaves a lot of forward plain edge for slicing. It makes the knife far more versatile, and Eduard Bradichansky apparently modelled the knife on the type carried by the Jordan River nomads, as a multi-purpose tool / weapon, and the combination edge suits that purpose best. I think the plain edge is in fact the variation, the combination edge is the original design.
 
I almost always find myself not needing the serrations much, so I mainly get plain edge knives. Also in this country, the acceptance of carrying knives isn't that great, and the serrations are just going to scare people.
 
My vote goes to plain edge. I think they offer cleaner lines on the knife, and far more versatility, as well as ease of sharpening. Hypothetically speaking the plain edge would be more sheeple friendly, but I think that's a bit of a moot point. That needle tip and wicked recurve get plenty of notice either way.

In my mind it's alot easier to make a plain edge perform the tasks of a serrated edge than vice versa.
 
The combo edge was discontinued, so I say get it first. Then down the road get a plain edge. :)


Blades
 
I would go plainedge.

I have found that a properly sharpened plainedge blade will do everything that a serrated one will; if slightly less efficiently on fibrous materials.

A serrated edge will not perform like a plainedge regardless of how it is sharpened.

Unless you have a real need for a dedicated rope or vegetation cutter plainedge will likely work better.
 
well zardoz said exactly what i was thinking. it seems to be designed as a multi purpose tool, hence combo would seem to be intended. i know what you guys think about serrated blades in general, and mostly i agree with it, but this knife seems to 'want' serrations. like for example the civial wants a serrated edge, this one is 'probably' (and that's why i ask) longing for a combo edge. then again, i heard lot's of bad things about combo edges, like they would actually decrease function. mostly i agree with that, but i'm curious about this one, and it seems *most* answers are more in general (sorry, no offense, maybe i'm wrong then please accept my apology), and i didn't intend another 'serrated vs plain' thread.
as a matter of fact: spyderco doesn't say it's discontinue, just a batch item, and currently offered in both combo and plain edge.

cheez
 
Plain.

Spyderco makes decent serrations, I'd take a Spyderedge over any other manufacturer's serrations any time. However, plain is more versatile, easier to sharpen, guarantees fine cuts (no tearin') and just looks better. Thus, even a Spyderedged blade isn't better than a plain edged knife IMO, except for special tasks (cutting fibrous materials like rope).

And there's another reason: like many others, I too think that this partially serrated stuff is only a good idea if it's on larger blades. On a folder the size of the Shabaria, you get two different edges - but both are very short.
 
I had the same dilema when I bought mine. I could'nt decide on the plain or serrated, I liked the way the ser. looked, but decided to go with the plain. Glad I did after seeing the serrated and the plain I could see that the blade shape was much more useful in the plain edge.
so it depoends on what you want to use if for. If you want an all around utility knife go with the plain. If you want something for maily making cuts (rope, string, ect.) go with the serrated. Its best if you could see for yourself the way the blade profile feels. personally I would go for ther plain again.
 
thanks rev, that was exactly looking for to be convinced. i'll get the plain one. thanks everyone, guess i'll stick with joe's way of sharpening recurves, so i'll be fine.

cheez
 
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