Spyderedges Losing Their Popularity>> Why?

J

JD Spydo

Joined
Nov 20, 2004
Messages
4,827
I'm a huge fan of all the Spyders and I dearly love my models that are Spyderedged. I have about as many with the Spyderedge ( serrated) models as I do plain edge. I only have 3 combo edged blades because I don't use CE that much. Some blade styles I prefer in Spyderedge.

Here in the past 3 years I've noticed a trend developinig that kind of depresses me in a way. There seems to be a growing concensus that Spyderedges are not desirable for use and even looked down upon. Personally I think it's just because they are a little more difficult to sharpen myself. But as far as I'm concerned I wish they would even bring back some of the models that used to be available in Spyderedge like the Military, Native, The Dodo and the G-10 Ayoob with Spyderedge. I particularly miss the Military in SE and I have an older Ayoob SE model that I dearly love and most of the new guys just don't realize how much work you can do with Spyderedged blades.

I'm wondering why this trend is gaining steam? Is it just because no one wants to learn to sharpen them? Also there was some models that were never offered in Spyderedge that I truly believe would have been awesome blades in SE. The C-111 Captian and the Superhawk both would have been great with a serrated edge IMO. Hawkbills in particular perform much better in my opinion with a Spyderedge.

So why are the Spyderco models with Crocidile teeth being looked down upon here of late? What would it take to change your mind? Why won't people even give them a chance?
 
I carried SE Delica for a month may be long time ago. During this time I learned: there are tasks where SE will work better, but PE is more universal. The same time, which took me to sharpen my SE Delica, I could sharpen probably 6 PE. During all this time of PE use I never missed SE. Except, may be twice a year, when I cut vines I wish I have SE Tasman.
 
Plain Edge is by far a more practical EDC for a majority of knife users. Like bh49 mentioned, a lot of people are discouraged with the time it takes to sharpen a SE knife.

I personally think a plain edge just looks better. I own one fully serrated Spyderco, and that will only see use in an emergency when I need to cut a seatbelt or some rope.
 
I love serrated edges, especiall the US made Spyderco. If you notice, they are smooth transitions in the serrations, not necessarily jagged and super pointy. A serrated edge will give you more cutting area than a plain edge. While some might assume they are hard to sharpen, this is not the case provided you own a sharpmaker.

My very first Paramilitary was serrated, and I carried that knife exclusively for over a year. I love that knife and still do. Nothing bites quite like a Spyderco
 
I think (guess, really) that it's the sharpening issue combined with the perception that SE is limited use.
 
RevDevil said:
I love serrated edges, especiall the US made Spyderco. If you notice, they are smooth transitions in the serrations, not necessarily jagged and super pointy. A serrated edge will give you more cutting area than a plain edge. While some might assume they are hard to sharpen, this is not the case provided you own a sharpmaker.

My very first Paramilitary was serrated, and I carried that knife exclusively for over a year. I love that knife and still do. Nothing bites quite like a Spyderco
Click to expand...

Yeah I tend to like the Golden, Colorado USA Built serrated Spyders myself. However I have a ton of the Seki City and Japan SE Spyders and love them.

I do find the USA made SE Spyders to be a bit easier to sharpen. I just wish that they would make more fixed blades with Spyderedges.

Spyderco truly does have a few different variants of serrated edge patterns. My old AUS-8 Catcherman has some low profile serrations like none I've ever seen before and they work great on meat, fish and food prep. Some of the patterns from the early 2000s are somewhat different than they are now.

There are a lot of features of Golden Colorado made Spyders I like better. But in a way that's one other thing that makes Spyderco knives kind of intriguing is the wide array of different features and different designs. No matter what you like in a knife you'll find at least one or 2 models in Spyderco's line up that you will like.

Some of my favorite Spyderedged models were what a lot of people would call weird>> The Dodo, The Ayoob and the big selection of serrated Hawkbills. But you're right there is something extra special about Golden Colorado made Spyders. I just recently got an XHP Military model and it's quickly becoming one of my all time favorite Spyders. I've always loved the Golden made Native model. It just blows me away how tough and rugged that Golden made SE Native is.
 
I used to avoid serrated edges because I assumed things about them - which turned out not to be true. You can do virtually anything with a serrated blade that you can do with a plain edge, from sharpening a pencil to peeling an apple. And there are many applications where a serrated edge excels. A serrated edge often will not open an envelope as cleanly as a plain edge, but thats the price you pay for an edge that eats through rope, vines, twine, garden hose, cardboard, etc. like magic.

20121120_133420.jpg
 
I've had a Salt 1 SE for about 6 years. I agree that a good SE blade can do nearly everthing a PE can do. Seems like a SE can take more hard use without the need to resharpen as often.
 
I really like serrations on hawkbills.
on different blade shapes, I really do have the passion to own SE on it but as I like to experience steels, I think grabbing the PE is a good idea.
But if its a H1 steel, I'd really like to own it in SE. of course based on the myth of the steel actually get harder after use :D
 
I don't mind spyderedges, but the vast majority of my spydies are plain edges. I think that the main reason is sharpening. I just don't know how to sharpen them properly, so I pretty much stick to a blade that I DO know how to maintain.
 
It seems to me people aren't against Spyderco serrations specifically, but serrated knives in general. I wonder if serrated knives are really losing their popularity in terms of numbers sold. There are lots of combo edge models in the lineups of major companies which makes me think that combo edges are popular.
 
Could part of it also have to do with the growing sharpening mania among knife fanatics? People who are busy trying to show off the mirror polish they achieved with their latest system/strop/diamond paste aren't going to get the same OCD joy from sharpening a serrated edge no matter how functionally sharp the knife may be.
 
Hawkbills with serrated edges are the best. I am trying to track down a Spyderhawk in H-1 with a serrated edge for a decent price/trade right now. I have a PE one right now that I carry on my bike, which is great. Finding one in SE would be preferred. My son has a SE Delica which has impressed me. Seems like it holds a wicked edge longer than PE versions I have had. Most of what I carry is PE, however. I don't have an axe to grind with SE and like them fairly well, but I do tend to prefer PE for most of my blades (although I wouldn't mind another Dodo - this time as SE). I think that both types of grind have a place in the knife world and would not like to see SE phased out by any means.
 
I feel that the Plain Edge has a cleaner cut and that Spyder-edges were more popular before the super steels came out giving the PE knives the same performance and overall utilitarian use. I think that spyder-edge still has it's place and performs beautifully with rope cutting among other things and would like to see it's continued production, it's nice to have a choice.
 
I can only speak for myself, but I've always thought plain edges were the jack-of-all-trades while serrated edges were reserved for rope cutting. On the sharpening side of things, if you have a Sharpmaker it's really the same basic motion.
 
I only have 3 Spydeco's with the fully serrated edges. One is a Pacific Salt, one is the discontinued red handled utility knife with a 4 inch blade and the other is a black handled knife with a 6 ½ inch blade. I use the Pacific Salt with the fully serrated blade as my fishing knife for cutting bait, line, etc. I find it does a better job than my 1st Pacific Salt in the plain edge and seems to hold an edge better. Any time I need to cut up a lot of cardboard I reach for my red handled utility as I have not found another serrated knife that can match the performance it gives me. With that thin blade and those serrations it goes through cardboard like lightning.
 
Like most things, it's probably a combination of factors. One possible reason is that serrated folding knives are no longer unique to Spyderco. Nowadays everybody and their brother is offering them. So, instead of having a corner on that particular niche market, they only have a share of it.
 
For the trend of disappearing serrations, it is probably because a combo of assumptions and preferences that vary from person to person that lead to the wanting of a Plain edge.

I have used serrations and I do like them for a beater work knife. I have not tried Spyderco's out though. From what I've been told time and time again they can't be beat, and the next one I buy will have a full SE, but there isn't many offered like mentioned. I'll probably go for the tenacious as I know I already love the knife. Maybe I'll get the SE cricket with it who knows. I have even put my own serrations on some cheaper knives. My biggest issue with them was sharpening but I recently learned that it isn't hard at all and my assumptions were dispelled. I would like to see more fully serrated knives myself though. There are so many knives out there that would benefit from having a full SE edge, and they just look wicked :D.
 
Mr. Sal may be able to provide some sage counsel on this subject. Sage. Har har. Some are operating under the assumption that the SE is declining in popularity. What that may be true, it also may not be true.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top