I know a lot of people around here are not big fans of serrated blades, but in my experience they cut cardboard and fabric much more aggressively than a plain edge of the same length. My Spydie Civilian is my go-to defensive blade for when I'm downtown or visiting the less "hospitable" areas of ATL. I've actually done a bit of testing with it on cardboard covered with fabric (simulating clothing) and it penetrated and tears very well. I've seen a couple of youtube reviewers show their defensive ("Tactical" - I hate that word for a knife) blades and I've noticed that none of them are serrated. Just wondering if anyone else thinks the way I do or if there's a reason a plain edge may benefit for a defensive blade.
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Defensive blades: Serrations or plain?
- Thread starter blade14
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Lynn Thompson, is that you?
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I think you may find that many here don't have a very positive view of using a knife as a defensive/offensive weapon. The term "mall ninja" many be thrown about. In any case, I think you may find there are better options for self defense. If you choose to use a tool (hammer, screwdriver, or knife) it will hardly matter if the blade is serrated or plain edge. Training and the will to use a knife against another human being will be the deciding factors. I'm guessing the second is highly underrated.
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You should have posted this in Practical Tactical, or checked to see if this issue already had been discussed, just a heads up. I say Partially serrated though, smooth enough to make a primary incision then it gets gritty.
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I'm a mall ninja and I prefer plain edge because I've found that serrated edges(in normal blade configurations) tend to just grab the fabric instead of cutting what's under.
I prefer "Internet Shopping Ninja" really because I hate shopping malls. I agree that a knife is not the best self defense tool. (I got to use pepper spray on an aggressive drunk outside of a bar two weeks ago - works great by the way
The reason I would carry a defensive knife or pepper spray is because it's a less lethal option than a firearm.
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Not necessarily. I'd rather take a bullet in the thigh than a Civilian in the neck.
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You are confusing Lynn T with William Fairbain? Oh lawd!
I prefer "Internet Shopping Ninja" really because I hate shopping malls. I agree that a knife is not the best self defense tool. (I got to use pepper spray on an aggressive drunk outside of a bar two weeks ago - works great by the way
I'm not sure any court in the nation would agree that a knife is less lethal than a gun, but good luck. I'm not sure a life is worth that gamble, but that's just my opinion.
Also, cloth over cardboard, what sort of muggers do you have down south? Are they made of cardboard or do they wear it as smatchet armour?
To the OP: I have only found 2 uses for serrations, cutting rope/wet rope or large sections of sinewy tissue when butchering. Both can still be cut with a plain edge, but sometimes dull the blade. Animal hair will also dull a blade quicker than anything. Most don't like serrations because they are not done right. For a right hander the flat side needs to be on the bottom when cutting away from you. Same with a left hander, the flat side should be on the bottom when cutting away from you. At least i feel this way. I am right handed. I find most serrations are done for left handers. The main purpose for serrations,(i think anyways), originated from wanting to keep a blades ability to cut, when cutting on ceramic plates. Only the point/tip of the serration would make contact with the plate---leaving the rest sharp & able to cut what ever needed to be cut.
I bought a BUCK Silver Creek Bait Knife, that has the serrations on the spine or top of the blade. It is the first one i found that i felt was done properly, for a right hander. Great cheap knife with serrations done right, for a right hander. When you turn the knife handle upside down to use the serrations, the flat side is on the bottom.
Any knife can be a defensive blade. Purely for that purpose, i cant see the advantage. A properly sharpened blade can make some devastating cuts, even through clothing. Just don't bring a knife to a gun fight !!!
I bought a BUCK Silver Creek Bait Knife, that has the serrations on the spine or top of the blade. It is the first one i found that i felt was done properly, for a right hander. Great cheap knife with serrations done right, for a right hander. When you turn the knife handle upside down to use the serrations, the flat side is on the bottom.
Any knife can be a defensive blade. Purely for that purpose, i cant see the advantage. A properly sharpened blade can make some devastating cuts, even through clothing. Just don't bring a knife to a gun fight !!!
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To the OP: I have only found 2 uses for serrations, cutting rope/wet rope or large sections of sinewy tissue when butchering. Both can still be cut with a plain edge, but sometimes dull the blade. Animal hair will also dull a blade quicker than anything. Most don't like serrations because they are not done right. For a right hander the flat side needs to be on the bottom when cutting away from you. Same with a left hander, the flat side should be on the bottom when cutting away from you. At least i feel this way. I am right handed. I find most serrations are done for left handers.
I bought a BUCK Silver Creek Bait Knife, that has the serrations on the spine or top of the blade. It is the first one i found that i felt was done properly, for a right hander. Great cheap knife with serrations done right, for a right hander. When you turn the knife handle upside down to use the serrations, the flat side is on the bottom.
Any knife can be a defensive blade. Purely for that purpose, i cant see the advantage. A properly sharpened blade can make some devastating cuts, even through clothing. Just don't bring a knife to a gun fight !!!
Appreciate the insight and thanks for sticking to the topic!
Any knife can be a defensive blade. Purely for that purpose, i cant see the advantage. A properly sharpened blade can make some devastating cuts, even through clothing. Just don't bring a knife to a gun fight !!!
Agreed. If one has been trained in blade based self defense, knife style matters.
If one hasn't (I don't believe testing on fabric covered cardboard counts), then one might as well use a grocery store steak knife. It's going to be just as (in)effective as a 500 dollar custom with a scary sounding name.
In my opinion.
So. Since grocery store steak knives are usually serrated....I say "serrated."
I'm regretting asking the question already...
The testing (not training) was to see which would better penetrate 3 layers of 1/4 inch cardboard, covered with a layer of flannel. The 2 knives used were a plain edge and a fully serrated Endura. Both were as sharp as I could get them using an Edge Pro on the plain edge and a Sharpmaker on the serrated blade. Stabbing penetration was equal (to be expected). Slashing penetration using approximately the same force with both knives resulted better average penetration with the serrated vs the plain edge. On most cuts, the serrated edge penetrated all 3 layers of cardboard, the plain edge averaged about two.
This was done to satisfy a curiosity I've always had and because I generally love to use my knives and cut things
The testing (not training) was to see which would better penetrate 3 layers of 1/4 inch cardboard, covered with a layer of flannel. The 2 knives used were a plain edge and a fully serrated Endura. Both were as sharp as I could get them using an Edge Pro on the plain edge and a Sharpmaker on the serrated blade. Stabbing penetration was equal (to be expected). Slashing penetration using approximately the same force with both knives resulted better average penetration with the serrated vs the plain edge. On most cuts, the serrated edge penetrated all 3 layers of cardboard, the plain edge averaged about two.
This was done to satisfy a curiosity I've always had and because I generally love to use my knives and cut things
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I certainly prefer serrated blades over plain. I've been able to pick up a few bargains ,because so many people, who can't think for themselves, buy the argument that plain edge blades are preferable to serrated, that some knife sellers discount the serrated version of a particular model. So please "opinion moulders" keep running down serrated blades so I can keep on snapping them up.
My main problem with the majority of partially serrated knives is that the serrations are on the wrong end of the blade. If they were nearer the tip I feel that they would be more popular. The Tops TSK is an exampleof how I think it should be done. Some SAK models as well. I have been eyeing the TSK solince it came out. Just haven't seen much info on them so I have always found something else. That and my Fiskars M95 is taking all my time lately
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I believe it was Richard F. Burton in his classic Book of the Sword who noted that "the edge cuts, but the point kills." I'd prefer a firearm, myself, but that statement still holds.