Cutting off serrations

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Feb 19, 2021
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Wondering what more knife enthusiasts might think here. I have a Ontario RD7 with serrations but I'm thinking about taking the serrations off. So, knowing that heat might change the heat treatment of the 5160, I can either slowly hand grind the serrations down or take a dremel tool and cut them off down to the choil. Then I could hand sharpen the straight edge where the serrations were. I don't have a shop or belt sander. All have are sharpening stones and a dremel tool. Just wondering if anyone would advise against this.
 
It’s been done but usually not well. You loose a bit of blade, the line of the adhesive will be incredibly funky, you will be substantially thicker at the edge, and your edge will be inconsistent.
 
I have done what eveled said with multiple knives- just sharpen over them. I would either do that or sell/trade it for one without serrations before doing the removal you described.
 
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If you decide to do it and don't have a grinder, your best bet is probably EDM stones. I could imagine removing them and blending with the bevel in about an hour.
For removing material, I like the 1" x 1/2" x 6" in 120 grit from Congress tool. I'd get 3 or 4 of them and maybe one in 320 grit in case you want it smoother when you get the shape you want. Clamp it to a board along the edge of a sturdy bench.
 
Has any one tried sharpening serrations with a normal stone to get the serrations to slowly wear off over time? I think you'd end up with an awkward edge in the meantime but I wonder if it would still be usable.
 
I’ve always just sharpened over them, over time they slowly disappear. There is quite a bit of blade loss to completely remove them. Why rush it?

Has any one tried sharpening serrations with a normal stone to get the serrations to slowly wear off over time? I think you'd end up with an awkward edge in the meantime but I wonder if it would still be usable.
I have done that. It continues to cut like a serated edge until it isn’t serated anymore. Not awkwardly.
 
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I remove my serrations on a Tormek. Takes about 3 minutes including blending.

Before I had the Tormek, I did a couple with files, they came out okay. I made a clamping jig to hold the blade horizontal in a vise.

Parker
 
Two reasons. I have two RD7's with serrations. I figure I'll keep the one with serrations and the other I figure I might try this as a project. Another reason is I don't really like finger choils so I would take the serrations down and the blade would start at the middle of the finger choil. In other words, the sharpened blade would start at the halfway point of the choil. And because of this I would not only add more sharpened edge but also give the blade a little belly as I would angle the new edge to meet where the serrations started in the middle of the blade. If that makes any sense. If you pull up a picture of the RD7 with serrations and draw a line from the halfway point (middle) of the choil to the start of the serrations angled out (not straight up) maybe you'll see it.
 
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