Combo Edge 30 Day Challenge - 2/1/2025 - 3/2/2025

[JonesE]

1. ElevenBlade
2. Gra_farmer
3. IMR4198
4. AzteCypher
5. Pacu
6. Barry Rowland
7. Farmer X
8. JonesE

[nate j]

There’s the common thought in the MT / EDC circles that combo edges aren’t good for anything and are only a marketing gimmick. I’m hypothesizing that anything that needs doing can get done with a combo edge and a little finesse

Of course a CE can still cut stuff.  However, the compromise inherent in that design choice means they will never be the best at anything.

But considering that I already owned at least a couple CE blades, and this challenge has now cost me another, I’m in:
1. ElevenBlade
2. Gra_farmer
3. IMR4198
4. AzteCypher
5. Pacu
6. Barry Rowland
7. Farmer X
8. JonesE
9. nate j

[ElevenBlade]

Of course a CE can still cut stuff.  However, the compromise inherent in that design choice means they will never be the best at anything.

But considering that I already owned at least a couple CE blades, and this challenge has now cost me another, I’m in:
1. ElevenBlade
2. Gra_farmer
3. IMR4198
4. AzteCypher
5. Pacu
6. Barry Rowland
7. Farmer X
8. JonesE
9. nate j

I am willing to bet that a lot of us started out with a combo edge that we tossed in a drawer years ago.  There weren’t many choices and models like the PST2 were all the rage.

[BPRoberts]

Not sure if I'm going to hop in here or the modular challenge for February, but might as well drop my two cents. I think (properly executed) a combo edge is a great way to "save" the main part of a blade. You can cut miles of cardboard with a combo edge and save your plain edge for food prep and stuff. A pair of dedicated blades would be better, but I'm not always going to be carrying two full sized knives (or a large enough multi to have both). Someday, someone will make a trapper with serrations on the spey and a PE on the clip (or any similar pattern) and I'll be over it. (Apparently Case did. Maybe they'll vault it.)

[nate j]

I am willing to bet that a lot of us started out with a combo edge that we tossed in a drawer years ago.  There weren’t many choices and models like the PST2 were all the rage.

Perhaps so.

For me, my first knife was a Case pen knife.  My second was a Vic Spartan.  My third was a Western fixed blade hunting knife.  It all runs together after that…

[nate j]

Not sure if I'm going to hop in here or the modular challenge for February, but might as well drop my two cents. I think (properly executed) a combo edge is a great way to "save" the main part of a blade. You can cut miles of cardboard with a combo edge and save your plain edge for food prep and stuff. A pair of dedicated blades would be better, but I'm not always going to be carrying two full sized knives (or a large enough multi to have both). Someday, someone will make a trapper with serrations on the spey and a PE on the clip (or any similar pattern) and I'll be over it. (Apparently Case did. Maybe they'll vault it.)

As you probably know, you can participate in multiple challenges in the same month, but only earn one badge per month.

I’m curious how you would define a “properly executed” CE?  Certainly, all serrations are not created equal. Then there are interesting design choices to be made about the location of the PE vs.  SE sections, as well as the ratio of the sections.  I’d also suggest that, to have independently useable SE and PE sections, the overall CE blade needs to be fairly long, probably at least 4”.

I do agree that one PE blade and one SE blade (though, other than bread, I don’t run into many applications where I think a SE meaningfully outperforms a properly sharp PE) is better than a CE blade.  You’re correct that that Case has made some knives like this, but not with regularity.  I’ll put a plug in here for the Cold Steel Lucky (sometimes called the Lucky Two or Lucky Twin).  Italian made, linerless carbon fiber handles bring the weight to only 1.2 oz, two ~2.5” CPM S35VN blades (one PE and one SE)…a heck of a knife for about $70 IMO.

Shown with 91mm Vic for scale…

[IMR4198]

I had a two bladed Schrade jack knife with one plain edge and one fully serrated blade.  It was green.  That's all I remember, except I had to clean blood out of it after the previous owner got bit while cutting weed wacker string with the serrated blade.   Actually, that was why he sold it.  Don't remember what I paid.  A few dollars probably.  Best wishes.  G
 

[BPRoberts]

That Cold Steel looks nice. Gonna put it on The List.

Size is an issue. It's hard to make a two inch blade half and half and have enough length of each to be usable. I much prefer handle end serrations on smaller blades (hard to bite in on the PE if it's too small), but tip end can work on a large enough one.

[nate j]

Size is an issue. It's hard to make a two inch blade half and half and have enough length of each to be usable.

I agree.

I have a couple of CE blades that are IMO large enough to have a useful PE section and a useful SE section.  But, as we’ll see in the challenge, these are    big blades, which seems somewhat contrary to the idea that a CE is somehow more efficient than carrying a single knife with a PE blade and a SE blade, or even two smaller knives.

[ElevenBlade]

It’s not the size that counts, it’s where you stick it 

Seriously though, I’ve used the Skeletool a lot, and it’s no more than 2.6 inches or so.  Maybe it works for me because I use the whole length while leaning the tip vs the heel into what I’m doing as necessary. I’d be willing to admit that I just don’t do the type of work needed for a longer blade though.

[nate j]

It’s not the size that counts, it’s where you stick it 

Seriously though, I’ve used the Skeletool a lot, and it’s no more than 2.6 inches or so.  Maybe it works for me because I use the whole length while leaning the tip vs the heel into what I’m doing as necessary. I’d be willing to admit that I just don’t do the type of work needed for a longer blade though.

Interesting take.  I was thinking in terms of using each section separately, which does require a larger blade.  Do you feel like you are getting any benefit from a CE blade with this “use the whole length” approach?

[ElevenBlade]

Interesting take.  I was thinking in terms of using each section separately, which does require a larger blade.  Do you feel like you are getting any benefit from a CE blade with this “use the whole length” approach?

No, there’s no real benefit… but there’s no major drawback. I think Felix Immler does a video where he makes feather sticks using a One Handed Trekker and it performs better than one would expect. The drawback I would expect is that you have to carefully focus the work on the plain edge of the blade and that’s not quite necessary

[Krista Liinamaa]

Sounds fun. My first challenge. I'm in.

1. ElevenBlade
2. Gra_farmer
3. IMR4198
4. AzteCypher
5. Pacu
6. Barry Rowland
7. Farmer X
8. JonesE
9. nate j
10. Krista Liinamaa

[Barry Rowland]

  Welcome aboard Krista!  Challenges are a lot of fun.

[Antti Lammi]

I could also join this challenge too since i have some combo edged tools.


1. ElevenBlade
2. Gra_farmer
3. IMR4198
4. AzteCypher
5. Pacu
6. Barry Rowland
7. Farmer X
8. JonesE
9. nate j
10. Krista Liinamaa
11. Antti Lammi

[Krista Liinamaa]

I have a question about rules. Do I need to choose one MT with ce and stick with it whole month? Or can I change my daily carry as long as it has ce?

[IMR4198]

As long as it has a combo edge.  Some challenges are like "Mini Champ Challenge".  Then you have to carry a mini every day, but can change from one mini to another.  I would suggest you look at the Buck Challenge going on now and read a few days worth of posts to see how things work.  Best wishes.  G
 

[Farmer X]

Gary explained it perfectly. The only thing I could add is to include "Day 1," "Day 2," and so on with each post; that makes it easier for the mods to track things. 

[Krista Liinamaa]

Thanks. Just wanted to be sure.

[LoopCutter]

For clarification please.
This challenge as I understand is for a tool that has a blade with two edges on the single blade, a PE and a SE

Does this challenge also include tools that have two blades, one PE blade and one SE blade.

I saw mention of the Spirit w/Butterblade. But my spirit does not have a PE blade.
Or, like my SE Spartan. Two blades only one is SE.

I ask because I am traveling first week in February using airline transport with destination outside U.S. so I must be careful of packing and hiding in checked bag as well as local knife laws in another country.

I have two favorites, a SAK OHO tool, and a CASE Copperhead with combo blade.

TIA

[nate j]

Well, I’ll defer to EB, but I thought the point of this challenge was to use only CE blades for the month, regardless of what tool they are part of/attached to.  Having a tool that has a PE blade and a separate SE blade doesn’t make either blade CE.

[IMR4198]

    But my opinion doesn't matter either.
  Best wishes.  G

[ElevenBlade]

For clarification please.
This challenge as I understand is for a tool that has a blade with two edges on the single blade, a PE and a SE

Does this challenge also include tools that have two blades, one PE blade and one SE blade.

I saw mention of the Spirit w/Butterblade. But my spirit does not have a PE blade.
Or, like my SE Spartan. Two blades only one is SE.

I ask because I am traveling first week in February using airline transport with destination outside U.S. so I must be careful of packing and hiding in checked bag as well as local knife laws in another country.

I have two favorites, a SAK OHO tool, and a CASE Copperhead with combo blade.

TIA

As Nate J says, it should be one blade with a combo edge.  Any folding knife or MT would qualify as long as it has one blade with both types of edge on that one blade.  So a LM PST2  would qualify but a LM Wave would not.  A Cold Steel Voyager would qualify but a Cold Steel Lucky would not. 

[Pacu]

This challenge has me doing some thinking. 

Never been big on serrations so 30 days of carry would force me to give it a chance.

Folder or fixed.

The fixed I could get more leverage if needed in serrations and more real estate in the PE portion.
Folder like a Delica or PM2 sized would be a lot more pocket friendly.

I got the rest of January to narrow the field down a bit. 

[nate j]

Folder or fixed.

The fixed I could get more leverage if needed in serrations and more real estate in the PE portion.
Folder like a Delica or PM2 sized would be a lot more pocket friendly.

I got the rest of January to narrow the field down a bit. 

In true MT.o fashion, you can use both.
 

[Pacu]

In true MT.o fashion, you can use both.
 

 

[ElevenBlade]

This challenge has me doing some thinking. 

Never been big on serrations so 30 days of carry would force me to give it a chance.

Folder or fixed.

The fixed I could get more leverage if needed in serrations and more real estate in the PE portion.
Folder like a Delica or PM2 sized would be a lot more pocket friendly.

I got the rest of January to narrow the field down a bit. 

You can carry both and use whichever you want. As long as they are both combo edges you would meet the requirements on any given day of the challenge.