How do you distinguish what blade you are about to deploy?

BassClefJeff84 · **on:** April 14, 2009, 07:06:58 AM

On my newly aquired Wave, I am getting frustrated with being able to know what blade I am opening. The only distinguishin feature is that on the serrated blade, there is a little jimping on the spine, but that is not obvious enough to me in order to get the plain blade out in a snap. I was thinking that I could make some kind of mark on the plain blade side so that I could easily see it. Does anyone here do something like this?

-Jeff

Tinnie · **Reply #1 on:** April 14, 2009, 07:19:24 AM

I generally carry my Charge with a pocket clip so therefore if i know which side my pocket clip is facing while in my hand I know what blade is going to be deployed. I actually find the jimping on the serrated blade to be quite useful and has helped deterimned which blade is which and also whether I am deploying the file or saw.

donvito · **Reply #2 on:** April 14, 2009, 07:20:32 AM

Welcome to the forum

The ridges on the back of serrated blade are enough for me to distinguish it from plan edge, even in the dark. As to a fast deployment you can store/clip it in a way where the PE blade is first to be accessed. A proper folder can also take care of that, and leave/save you Wave for other tasks.

Tinnie · **Reply #3 on:** April 14, 2009, 07:24:20 AM

Quote from: donvito on April 14, 2009, 07:20:32 AM

A proper folder can also take care of that, and leave/save you Wave for other tasks.

Agree 100% on that one. Really a MT knife should be a backup knife or even a back backup one

cliosguy · **Reply #4 on:** April 14, 2009, 07:31:40 AM

Quote from: Tinnie on April 14, 2009, 07:19:24 AM

I generally carry my Charge with a pocket clip so therefore if i know which side my pocket clip is facing while in my hand I know what blade is going to be deployed. I actually find the jimping on the serrated blade to be quite useful and has helped deterimned which blade is which and also whether I am deploying the file or saw.

mee too

Quote from: Tinnie on April 14, 2009, 07:24:20 AM

Quote from: donvito on April 14, 2009, 07:20:32 AM
A proper folder can also take care of that, and leave/save you Wave for other tasks.

Agree 100% on that one. Really a MT knife should be a backup knife or even a back backup one

i agree as well

Leatherman123 · **Reply #5 on:** April 14, 2009, 12:30:38 PM

I carry my Charge's with the diamond file facing the back of the sheath . So, when I deploy the tool out of the sheath-the serrated blade is the first blade to open.

DaveK · **Reply #6 on:** April 14, 2009, 12:35:22 PM

I had to think about that, I always seem to get the blade I want, but don't really pay much attention now. having just checked, it seems that I run my thumb over the jimping to determine which way round the tool is and work from there.

flapjackboy · **Reply #7 on:** April 14, 2009, 01:49:47 PM

Doesn't make much difference to me, being left-handed as I can't OH open the blades easily anyway.

Tim, if you're reading this, please help us lefties out and produce leftie-friendly tools for us.

ratslash7 · **Reply #8 on:** April 14, 2009, 03:36:41 PM

I had this problem with my Original Wave which has no jimping or any other way to tell till you open the blade. I put a dot of green enamel paint on the non-serrated blade so that it can be seen with the blade closed. This worked for me for years till I found this forum and read about the jimping on the new Wave. I used my diamond hone to add jimping to my serrated blade and now I have 2 ways of distinguishing which blade I am opening.

Perhaps you could add a more obvious mark with a diamond hone or something similar. I used an enamel paint marker on my non-serrated blade near the pivot and it has held up for years.

Just a couple of ideas.

I do not carry a dedicated folder unless I'm carrying my Crunch. I find that my Leatherman's blades are more than adequate for my purposes.

Dave

kwakster · **Reply #9 on:** April 14, 2009, 04:47:58 PM

On mine it's really very simple, as the plain edge blade has 154CM etched on it.
Seems to have been a special edition i think,

Picture:

Mike 56 · **Reply #10 on:** April 14, 2009, 06:09:31 PM

I put a zip tie on the main blade to use as a thumb stud makes it easy to open and you know what blade you are opening with out looking at the tool.

Mike

nuphoria · **Reply #11 on:** April 14, 2009, 07:13:48 PM

I think I use psychic powers or something... well, maybe just knowing which way round things are due to familiarity!

Crouton · **Reply #12 on:** April 14, 2009, 07:17:35 PM

I actually just use whichever happens to be first. I generally prefer the Serrated blade in all situations but if I don't get it the first time I flip it over and redeploy. I think I like Mike56's way of marking your favorite blade with a small ziptie for a more tactile way of determining which is which.

PyroJames · **Reply #13 on:** April 14, 2009, 07:22:27 PM

As tinnie and donvito mentioned, the pocket clip and jimping on the serrated blade helps. For Charge owners, a quick glance at the blade works since the plain edge charge blade is marked "154cm".