A QUESTION?

Bartman · Mar 6, 1999

Now don't freak out! I would just like to know what exactly does a plain edge blade do better that say a 70%plain/30%serrated? I am finding I can do pretty much everything I did with a plain edge,but with the added benefit of a few teeth on the end, do alot of things much better. You still have that 70% of plain blade. And in some cases more than a small say 2" blade that some carry for utility.
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Whittle, you can use the plain edge,although,not optimal, but very possible.
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Carve a turkey breast, not a problem.
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Skin an animal, sometimes the serrations work best,through grissle, muscle,ect; but you use the front belly of the blade mostly anyway. Im not a expert skinner,but have only dabbled in hunting.
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Scrape? What do you scape? the hair off a kiwi..Just kidding

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Again please don't take this the wrong way! I am learning and do not want to evoke negative reactions from anyone! AT EASE

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"They say I'm immature and crazed!"
"Better,I think than confused and dazed?"

DC · Mar 6, 1999

Personally I don't like serrations, but agree that they can cut some things better than a polished edge.

I have a utility knife that I use around the farm sometimes...its still plain edge but the rear half I sharpen with a coarse stone (so I have microscopic grabby teeth) and the front half is sharpened with a fine stone.

Best of both worlds and I can always uniformly sharpen it with a particular grade stone.

Ken Cook · Mar 6, 1999

The thing that plain edges do better than serrated is sharpen! I own one serrated knife. A Spydie Police. I wouldn't dream of inflicting that sharpening nightmare on myself twice. Just too much of a PITA for me. I find that a good hair poppin plain edge is far easier to maintain. May not zip through as well as a new serrated, but it does well enough for me. I'd love to find a sharpening tool for serrated that REALLY works. If you know of one, let me know. I may change my mind about serrated blades.

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I cut it, and I cut it, and it's STILL too short!

David Rock · Mar 6, 1999

Sometimes you want to use the plain part of a partially serrated blade, and you find that the task would be easier if you could use the part of the blade nearest the handle. Trimming fingernails is one exmple that comes to mind. Peeling apples is another. Sometimes you're cutting something with the plain portion of the blade, such as a wide sheet of paper from a roll, and the serrations catch and rip the paper. Drat. That happened to me once. I had a brand new combo-edge mini-AFCK, and I was helping my wife set up for a church banquet. I was cutting a large piece of paper to cover a table (damn, I was cool!) and the serrations snagged and tore the paper. How embarrassing. My brand new, expensive, razor-sharp birthday knife couldn't "cut it". I hated that knife from that moment on. It tormented me until I finally gave it away, and I vowed I would never buy another combo-edge knife if I could help it. So far I have been true to my principles.

Why give up half of a perfectly good blade?

A combo-edge is not the best of both worlds. I prefer to have a plain-edged knife in one pocket and a fully serrated knife in the other.

David Rock

Mike Turber · Mar 6, 1999

Personally I like combo edges. You simply get the best of both worlds.

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Best Regards,
Mike Turber
BladeForums Site Owner and Administrator
Do it! Do it right! Do it right NOW!
www.wowinc.com

James Mattis · Mar 6, 1999

I like a fully serrated blade, because sometimes I want to start cutting some tough material out toward the point. I like a completely plain edged blade because sometimes I like to control a precise push-cut at the base of the blade. That's one reason I carry at least two knives.

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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com

Brian Lavin · Mar 6, 1999

I used to be a big fan of fully serrated edges only. Then I got a really well profiled straight edge and began to modify my position(that's what life and learning is all about, eh ?) Now I think that serrations are good for really brutal work edges and plain works for most everything else. When I used to dp a whole lot more hard physical daily labor, I preferred a serrated edge, not because I didn't know how to sharpen it, but because it held up better under extreme use. Now, if I want to skin critters or clean fish etc., I'll take a plain edge thank you, thank you very much. SO, not such a short answer, but I believe a full serrated edge is best in work scenarios, a plain edge in most "food prep" areas. I'm in possesion of about 2 or 3 combo blades and they don't seem to quite bridge the gap the way I thought they would. I'd carry both.

[This message has been edited by Brian Lavin (edited 06 March 1999).]

Marvin Edgeworth · Mar 7, 1999

For Ken Cook - I have several serrated blades, and have found the Spyderco Sharpmaker, with the triangular ceramic sticks, to be quite effective on other than microserrated blades, such as the Cold Steel kitchen knives with the itsy-bitsy serrations. I also have the EdgePro Professional, which cost a LOT more than the Sharpmaker, and it does a lousey job on serrations.
I also agree completely with James Mattis - if I want serrated, I want ALL serrated, and those combos just don't get it for me. But the straight blade is more often useful. So carry two - they're not that heavy!

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Jim March · Mar 7, 1999

My favorite type of serration is a single monster mutant out-of-control serration point right about 2" behind the tip...and about an inch tall

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Jim (it lives!) March

Bartman · Mar 7, 1999

My thanks to all, I will continue to carry my new combo edge. I am having so much fun researching the pros and cons of this new found toy. It, along with this forum, has renewed my enthusiasm in a hobby that got kind of boring. I enjoy ALL the opinions! Hey, its whatever fliks your folder

So again THANKS....Sorry for keeping this controversial topic going, but its just so controversial!!
The Bartman/alias Bart

Mick Razzano · Mar 8, 1999

BART....you do love controversy don't you!!! You already know my feelings on this subject.
Mick

Mick Razzano · Mar 7, 1999

Oh.. Bart, before I forget, When I skin a deer, my knife only starts the cut at the neck, just down from the head about 3" then skins about 4" down from there. Then I get a golf ball, drape the 4" of skin around it, tie it in securely and with the deer hanging from its head in a tree, I tie a rope from the skin covered golf ball to my bumper and slowly drive away. The whole skin comes right off clean as a whistle..When I have a lot of deer to do, this saves me a lot of time and sore wrists. Do you have any idea what the edge geometry is on the bumper of a Chevy S-10 pickup????

...just jokin....
Mick

Nakano 2 · Mar 7, 1999

I' ve used and can recommend the DMT Diafold series' tapered rod for maintaining a nice edge on serrated blades, even on the "micro" serrations such as the pattern used by CS. I have the fine grit version(red handle) and find it very convenient to carry. Of course, it works every bit as well on your plain edges.

L8r,
Nakano

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"To earn a million is easy, a real friend is not."

m · Mar 8, 1999

I agree with the carrying two blades concept, one plain edge and one serrated if you need it. Serrated edges do not work well for me stripping wire, cutting thin ribbons of wood, and other chores I perform better close to the handle.The only thing I personaly like serrated edges for is cutting thru fibrous material like reinforced hose, cardboard, etc., and I can do that with my plain edges, just not as agressively.
m