Correlation between price and desire for serrations?

shootist16

shootist16

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Would you say that people that by the higher end Spyderco's prefer plain edge?

Does the ratio for desire of serrations go down with price?
 
Interesting question, my answer... I usually only buy serrated on a knife that I know I am going to use hard as a dedicated "utility" knife. For those uses I don't see any need to move beyond the Delica/Endura range. I'm not going to use my Lum Chinese folder to do stuff like cut drywall. I guess I don't think of serrated blades as being as "nice" as plain edge, so it doesn't make sense to buy a high-end Spyderco with a serrated blade, unless you want an overly nice "utility" knife.
 
shootist

For me it doesn't follow any pattern. It depends upon which I feel is more aesthetic or what I want the knife to represent. For example, I wanted my CF Police to have the serrated blade so characteristic of a classic Spyderco. On the other hand, I liked the aesthetics of the PE blade on my Ti Lum folding tanto. I must admit, however that I do favor the PE versions.

David
 
I am a PE kind of guy, independent of the knife, except for the rescue style knifes.
 
I tend to lean to PE, but as stated before, a Police is just not the same without the teeth! :D
 
Well, historically, some of the most "high end" Spydercos have been available in both plain and either serrated or combo edge. The C22 Swiss-Made Walker, C27 Jess Horn, and the C67 R come to mind. Most, if not all, of the Blanchard embellished Hunters are combo edge and I believe the Blanchard Police are serrated. Lately there does seems to be more of a trend toward offering more of the fancier models in PE only. Which is fine by me, as PE is my preference.
 
It seems that most of use prefer plain edge. I believe we are more knowledgeable than the average ELU. Maybe the correlation would be between serrations and lack of knife knowledge?
 
I think that I remember Sal saying something like, the knife-knut buyer usually prefers plain edge. And since it is likely that self-same knut who buys the high-enders, I'd bet that they sell more PE than SE in the expensive blades.
 
I've always said there is a big difference between a good beater using knife and a good quality keeper knife.

Both have their place and I agree that knives are meant to be used. Even the good ones. But for me the best using folders are number one and foremost on my list, easily replaced in the event they get worked to death, or lost. Number two they need to be affordable so that it doesn't break my pocket book or my heart when one does get ruined or lost and number three, they should be a quality made knife from a company that backs up what they sell.

Serrations are a plus for jobs that require frequent cutting through cardboard, or rope, and stuff like lots and lots of bag cutting or paper cutting tasks. Plain edge is a must for the whittler and the guy that does delicate jobs with a knife. But plain edges are more maintainance which is probably why serrations are so popular. The average joe working six days a week, doesn't have time to sharpen his knife all the time so he wants one that keeps cutting longer. Even a weak steel like the 420 series steels cut great if serrated so the companies that make knives love that and the folks using them love the prices.

I don't think that the serrated blades in Spydercos line are any less quality than the plain edges but it does seem like some of the higher end ones are only offered in plain edge at times. My Viele folder is an example of one that is only offered in plain edge.
 
While some ppl would think the police should be serrated only... the stainless in plain edge has the elegance and beauty that screams "use me"...

I think that both the lines of the knife and the user's intended use define the need for serrations... the rescue and cricket both are beautiful with serrations, while any leaf blade is beautiful in plain edge.

My ce millie is getting beat on for the last couple weeks as we do renovations in the basement. Trims drywall and wire nicely.
 
About 20 years ago, I first got into knifes from the father of an old girlfriend.
He was a machinist & gave me a few knife magazines, I was hooked.

I read an article about a then new, Gerber LST - I ran out & bought it & carried it for about a year daily, it still is carried when I wear a lightweight suit & dont want the weight to drag me down.

THEN, I saw a picture of a Spyderco Mariner in a magazine, but couldn't believe the cost, I think it was about $60 bucks, back then, that was WAY out of my league.

I went to the Wisconsin state fair & saw a spyderco booth & got a first hand demo from a really great guy. He sold me on their standard (cheapest model) with serations.

I carried it & used it every day for the next 15 years & could not understand why anyone would ever buy a plain edge spyderco (or any other brand) when they could have the serrations.

Now I carry my small dyad with the best of both worlds OR one plain edge, (a UK Penknife or calypso jr) AND a fully serrated harpy.

Got to have both.

Sorry for the long winded post.
 
People who buy expensive knives have more than a passing interest in cutlery, and are generally farily knowledgeable. Most people who are really into knives feel that a PE is superior to a SE. Therefore, most of the "high end" purchases are for PE.
 
I uaually buy plain edge knives, especially for more expensive stuff. Somehow the serrations always look like they ruined the shape of the blade, except for a few cases when it looks right. The Rescue models, in my opinion, look good with a serrated edge.

Another reason I usually go for plain edge is sharpening. A serrated edge can be sharpened, but I never get it to look the same as when it was new. I can sharpen a plain edge to look almost new.
 
Although I am not sure whether Spydero makes the same numbers in PE, CE or SE if available the general preference of PE in this thread would be a good explanation for my observation that CE and SE versions of discontinued models remain available long after PE versions are out of stock. The same holds true for eBay IMO because the models I would like to bid on are far too often in SE for my taste.
 
Gerard Breuker said:
Although I am not sure whether Spydero makes the same numbers in PE, CE or SE if available the general preference of PE in this thread would be a good explanation for my observation that CE and SE versions of discontinued models remain available long after PE versions are out of stock. The same holds true for eBay IMO because the models I would like to bid on are far too often in SE for my taste.
Click to expand...

Excellent observation. I agree. It does seem that the plain edge sells out more quickly than CE or SE.

I wonder if someone from Spyderco could chime in with their observations?
 
I don't like serrations at all, regardless of the price. Ergo, no correlation whatsoever negative or positive) between presence/absence of serrations and price for me.
 
I also find it frustrating that the rarer Spydies seem to be SE or part serrated.

Spderco serrations work really well, but a plain edge does 95% of the jobs better and works ok on the remainding 5%. A serrated edge however is far more specialised. I have to say though, I have 3 Militaries in plain edge and 1 with full serrations... that is a fearsom looking knife.
 
If you take the time to do the research, SE is a much more effective cutter, suffers less damage to the edge, and stays sharper longer than PE. From what I've read Spyderco has spent a large part of their history trying to convince ELU of this, most of which has fallen on deaf ears. It seems to me that PE is winning out in the popularity contest while SE at least is becomming rarer and rarer these days. I like SE for utility use, nothing better IMHO, I got my first PE about 2 months ago (a Dodo), it's nice, I carry it, but not as much as my SE Dodo. Sometimes I miss the teeth. It's personal choice I know but that's what I like.
 
I think most people dislike serrations because they are harder to maintain. To some particular blade shapes, serrations also may impose to the aesthetics. Others, just like VW already stated, beg for serrations (and yes, I am the one who thinks the Police looks better serrated) ;)
 
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