Partial Serration Opinions

[Dav]

After two negative 50/50 posts in "Solo Buttonlock??", I figured I'd question motives.



Let me start by stating I do not own a 50/50 knife, but I am planning on buying one soon.



I've seen posts indicating that partial serrations are not very desireable. I've always looked on this feature as "the best of both worlds." It seems that you have both the light/smooth slicing edge and the heavy/jagged cutting edge at your disposal in the same blade.



What, in your opinion, wrong with my logic? Is it that the serrated section isn't long enough to do damage and the plain edge not large enough to cleanly cut? Or is sharpening it just a *****?



Any info/prefs appreciated.



Dav

[charlie]

Dav
My experience with 50/50 edge Spyderco's is that for my cutting needs it's the best way to go for a knife that I carry. As my needs do not include hunting tasks like skinning, etc. I mostly use a daily carry for envelope opening, cardboard cutting, rope and nylon cord cutting and rose bush pruning. My current favorite is a Vesuvius with a 50/50 edge. Sharpening is not a problem with the Spyderco Tri-angle Sharpmaker 204MF. So the bottom line is choose an edge to match your cutting needs and preferences. Spyderco normally gives you at least 2 choices from serrated, plain or 50/50.

[earthworm]

I thought the 50/50 or Combo edge was a gimmick until I bought my first Delica;now I wonder how I got along without it.Please note that Gerber,Buck,Schrade,etc.are marketing combo blades-'Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery'.Camillias has a 2-blade folder:1 plain 1 serrated.It or the Dyrad may be the best of both:I found the Camillias quite handy until I got the Delica.
A thought:someone in the MBC forum suggested for a fighting knige the serrations should be toward the tip to maximize cutting on the withdrawl.?Opinions?

[Jeff/1911]

Dav,

I think that the combo serve an exellent purpose for an all around use knife; particularly if this is one's only knife.

I just personally prefer a plain edge for an small EDC knife.

Jeff/1911.

[earthworm]

P.S.-While empployed by Wal-Mart I recommended & sold many a Gerber LST with the 50/50 edge & recommended Spyderco to many customers.If I didn't carry the Delica I'd say the Gerber LST with the 50/50 would be my choice of an EDC knife(in fact,it IS lighter & more compact than the Delica!).

[ftkinney]

i share a lot of peoples responce i like the a 50/50 or 60/40, like on the wegner, i find that very usfull as long as the blade is long enoph to do your cutting task.

FTK

[Dav]

Ho! Everyone has gone the other way now!

So partial serrations = good? ;-)

Charlie - Thanks for the sharpening info.

Earthworm - I think you've stumbled across a brilliant idea idea - putting the serrations at the other end. Not necessarily for fighting (I have no clue whether serrations or plain are better for skin) but in consideration of my cutting tasks (no hunting/skinning!) it really would make sense for the serrations to be reversed!

PS - Phear the Spydie carrying walmart employees!

Jeff - Thanks for the clarification.

ftkinney - Yupyup! :-)

[Dav]

Ok so what do you all think about reversing the serrations to the end of the blade. Shall we call it the "Earthworm" ;-)

Dav

[vampyrewolf]

I carry pretty much all the options we are offered...
Ladybug on the keys(50/50)
Delica in Left/Front(Plain)--in about 1 week again
Wegner jr in Right/Front(40/60)
Cricket IWB(Serrated)

I find they all have thier uses, but I tend to use the Wegner and Cricket the most.
---The Ladybug is just too small to have 50/50, but it's sheeple friendly...
---The Delica is a great size, but cutting food is hard with a thin spine(to apply pressure to).
---The Wegner gets oiled with mineral oil so I can cut my food with it, as well as use it. The THICK blade allows me to put 2 finger on the end and rock the tip for fine cutting(herbs/spices). It has the ideal amount of both worlds for my uses.
---The Cricket... hmmm... you all know my opinion on this little work horse.

We all start with 10 fingers. Those with Spydies have 9 to spare, Still need a thumb. Good thing I still have 8 to spare...

[Dav]

<Blinks at the thought of carrying four spydies at the same time>

<img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

[vampyrewolf]

Also the
-multi-tool on right hip, horizontal carry
-soon to be SS dragonfly, belt(inverted), right hip

We all start with 10 fingers. Those with Spydies have 9 to spare, Still need a thumb. Good thing I still have 8 to spare...

[earthworm]

Dav:*VBG*The idea is not original to me so we can't call it the'Earthworm'.*LOL*
V-Wolfe:Dang!Do ya clank when ya walk?Or bath in mineral oil(which BTW is an excellent idea for knives used to cut food.Olive oil works well too.)?*VBLOL*

[vampyrewolf]

I only have a problem with sunlight <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

believe it or not, but I can carry 20 knives before I clink(with the sheaths that I have)...

Legs make good attachment points.

4/thigh[6]
2/boot[+4=10]
2/hip(back, side)[+4=14]
Left pocket[+1=15]
Right Pocket[+1=16]
IWB[+1=17]
Waistband (back above pocket)[+1=18]
Sholder rigs[+2=20]

I only glisten a bit with that many.
:p


I try to keep it at about 4 knives(in high sheeple areas), but with my sub-3" toys most ppl don't mind too much with my daily pile. The only problem is oiling them all up in one shot.

Re: Mineral oil, I found that on this forum, had been using gun blueing oil for edc, and saw that I should be using an edible oil for food knives. You can pick up a small(5-8oz bottle) for about $5 in canadian tire or walmart.


Edited by - vampyrewolf on 8/13/2001 7:10:02 PM

[The Stare]

Dav -- mostly, it is a matter of taste whether to have PE, 50/50, or fully serrated. I was amused once at an informal poll on Blade Forums once, when the same discussion occurred. Virtually everyone, of a long list, who responded came down for PEs. A few for fully serrated. Don't recall anybody favoring the 50/50 who posted. Within a day or so, I happened to be looking at the individual sales forum -- now closed -- and the vast majority of folders for sale were 50/50. Certainly made me wonder a bit.

I'm one who favors plain edges. Certainly many people who object to the combo edge do so on the basis that there isn't enough of either portion of the blade to be truly useful. Then again, many people say that the serrations are great for getting some difficult cuts started, then followed up with a PE blade.

Some people believe that for self defense, particularly against people who might be wearing leather or heavy denim clothing, that the fully serrated blade is the way to go -- that fully serrated knives tend to be the best slashers, tho many will argue that the properly sharpened straight-edged plain edge blade loses little in comparison with full serrations.

Most people with 204 Sharpmakers report serrations as easy to sharpen.

Stare

[Clay Kesting]

I suppose I'd better come in here since I was one of those who made a negative remark about partial serrations <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>. I've only ever had one partially-serrated knife (a mini-AFCK, also my only non-Spyderco knife), but I sold it without ever using it. I often sharpen pencils and whittle with my EDC and need the plain portion of the blade near the handle. On the occasions when I've had to cut rope or plasic strapping, I've had quite satisfactory results with a <b>sharp </b> plain blade even though I finish on the flats of the white Sharpmaker stones. If I ever found that I had to cut a lot of fibrous material I could always leave the edge a little coarser (corners of the grey stones) to get a micro-serrated effect. I do have a G10 Harpy which I chose as an emergencey knife for sailing and kayaking but it is my only serrated knife. However for most uses I find serrations unnecessary and in any case a partially-serrated blade gives too little of either edge to be really useful, especially if it is under 3".

Clay

Don't worry that the world might end tomorrow, in Australia it's tomorrow already.

[Alan2112]

Up until two weeks ago, I really had it in for the 50/50 edge(except Tantos). The reason being, it seemed so difficult to sharpen on our 204. While reedgeing my buddies 50/50 Delica on the 204, I learned just the right technique for the 50/50 edge. I go slow starting on the serrated side, then when I get to the middle go like you would with a plain edge. Then get the other side from the serrations forward. Then on the 5th rep. go all the way on the plain edge side to get off the burrs, now just do 15 more on the plain edge part. I'm now in heavy like with 50/50, in the last two weeks I've purchased two more 50/50 edges. RKBA!

Edited by - Alan2112 on 8/13/2001 8:18:53 PM

Edited by - Alan2112 on 8/13/2001 8:20:07 PM

[Dav]

Hey all.

Ok Wolfie. I'm giving you the Obsessive Award of the Month! I mean... gah...

Earthworm - <grins back> I still think we should call it the 'Earthworm' Can you think of a better name? <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle> 50/50 (reverse serrated) 3.5" blade with the nifty phantom lock. With a cute little laser etched worm icon on the blade. <img src="tongue.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

Stare - LOL on the story.

Clay - Muahha. I knew you'd find this thread eventually. <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle> As usual well put, your logic is as usual unfailing.

Alan - Thanks for the sharpening tips.

So what do you guys really think of a reverse serrated 50/50? It's prolly been done (though I've not seen one). genius or mediocre?

Dav

[vampyrewolf]

For the serrations options, how about a:
40/30/30

This would give a:
-plain tip for most uses
-section of serrations for heavy use
-plain at the base for controlled use(ie pencils and such)

If you use a 4" blade for example...
1.6" plain/1.2" serrated/1.2" plain

We all start with 10 fingers. Those with Spydies have 9 to spare, Still need a thumb. Good thing I still have 8 to spare...

Edited by - vampyrewolf on 8/14/2001 2:04:04 PM

[Sword and Shield]

I prefer to have either 100% serrated or plain edge, but not both, if I have a choice. All but 3 of my fairly sizable rotation of folders are full, one way or the other.

The only 50/50s that really get any use are my Ladybug and Endura. I used to carry a Gerber Chameleon 50/50, but the blade wasn't long enough to let me use either half efficiently. The Gerber also tightened up like I can't believe, making easy opening almost impossible.

I like the blades big, and completely one option or the other. I have found that one straight and one serrated will work out far better than will one compromise blade.

However, Spyderco knives do seem to have a good balance of the blade, negating many of the problems of compromise blades. While I still prefer separate knives, a Spyderco compromise is extremely good if you can have only one knife.

Keepin' it real...real sharp, that is.

Edited by - Sword and Shield on 8/14/2001 1:21:42 PM

[vampyrewolf]

Dav, so what do I get for that award? another spydie to carry? I'm sure I can find room, I'm adding a SS Dragonfly this month...

We all start with 10 fingers. Those with Spydies have 9 to spare, Still need a thumb. Good thing I still have 8 to spare...