Are partially serrated blades really all that bad?

[Alarion]

Sharks teeth are serrated. If you look at all of them in a row it is another level of serrations. Serrations definitely work and work well!

So what? Birds have feathers, and they fly pretty well. Proverbial for it, if I remember well...
But I don't remember of any fighter plane with feathers on its wings. Or have the Skunk Works been toying with some new amazing prototype?
Moreover, unlike birds for flying, sharks are not famous for the finesse of their cutting.

I don't know about your table manners, but I'm not used to maim and tear apart a Turnedos Rossini and frolic in tumbling myself in the blood.:foot:
People tend to look at me in a funny way, if I do...

 

[Alarion]

Try a slip joint?

Have many of them, most traditional regional italian knives.
But right now my favored EDC is a small M16 EDC. Had to get to some trouble to find a plain edged one...
Anyway, the thread subject is "are partially serrated blades really that bad?
The answer is definitely "YES!".

 

[imaginefj]

They are great for some applications but a pain to sharpen. Not all of them are equal, some can sharpen and cut much easier than others.

I prefer plain 99.9 percent of the time though.

 

[5.56]

Those are full SE blades, not combo edges.

Well I may have a slight argument there, check their "ComboEdge" Native. Sure looks a lot like the "serrated" Para.

For some reason the Para's are called serrated, but the Native is called combo edge, yet they both have similiar partially serrated blades.

Spyderco does do that with their full SE blades, leaves about 1/2" of the tip (sometimes a little less) PE. I like it.

I consider this fully serrated.

EDIT: Or maybe Spyderco just calls it a Spyderedge and makes it how they want.

 

[vjb.knife]

#60 Today, 08:14 AM
Josh K
Paracord Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Michigan
Posts: 1,991

Quote:
Originally Posted by slimshaneee
Sharks teeth are serrated. If you look at all of them in a row it is another level of serrations. Serrations definitely work and work well!

Shark teeth also fall out all the time.

Good point Josh, Sharks don't re-sharpen their teeth because they are always growing new ones. They also don't have to cut much besides flesh; no rope, no wood no nylon webbing, etc. When they do have to break through bone they have considerably more power than a man and this is also when they are losing their teeth. I don't find the shark analogy to be that applicable unless you throw your knife away when it gets dull. But, YMMV.

 

[Salvatore2]

Oftalmic scalpels are still made out of flint, obsidian or special glass.

Yes, this is true. Basically for the surgeries that require an Extra sharp blade.

And Just let it be known, I don't hate serrations or anything, I just don't like a lot of them. I think Leatherman actually makes some really nice serrations, personally.

 

[barley]

Have many of them, most traditional regional italian knives.
But right now my favored EDC is a small M16 EDC. Had to get to some trouble to find a plain edged one...
Anyway, the thread subject is "are partially serrated blades really that bad?
The answer is definitely "YES!".

Most manufacturers make their smaller knives with your choice, but many retailers do not stock them. Maybe try Benchmade or Boker, they both offer many smaller models with plain edges( Case as well). There are many others as well, but these are my favorites.

 

[THG]

I dislike them. It's not the best of both worlds; it's not enough of either.

 

[mp510]

I like partially serrated blades on my one hand folders. On everything else, I prefer plain edge, except on some kitchen knives (full serrations).

 

[Guntotin_fool]

Never once found a place where they cut better than a sharp plain edge.

They suck for game, they suck for whittling, they suck for most anything. THE only place I can see them is a rescue guy who regularly is either cutting seatbelts or superfiber ropes, otherwise, absolutely useless.

 

[barley]

Some of us actually use them for those tasks. THAT is the point! They are useful for the right task. "They suck" for this or that is the type of answer that is all too common in this type of thread. Just because YOU don't have a use for them does not mean "they suck". I own alot that are not serrated, and many that are, and ALL of them are better geared towards certain types of uses than others. You understated the obvious, they are no good for game or whittling. Who, other than someone that does not know any better, would attempt to use a serrated knife for either of these tasks?

 

[knerd]

I hate combo edges, because of the lack of length on both the plain edge and the serrated edge. I don't really use serrations, but if I did I would prefer a full serrated blade instead of the 1" of serrations on most combo edged knives.

 

[Ptaltaica762]

+1 barley
I love serrated bladesPreferably fully serrated for rough use,but I have no problems with a partially serrated blade that is close to 4 inches.My Manix is a great example-best of both worlds,and I've never had a problem sharpening any serrations.Takes longer-you just have to have a little patience though.Besides a serrated blade will keep on cutting long after a plain edge is dull.My cheap 20 year old kitchen ginsu knike is still wicked on tomatoes and it's never been sharpened despite some rough usage:thumbup:
Just my 2 cents worth.