Don't like Serrations? Maybe you just haven't used the right kind yet....

M

MatthewSB

Gold Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2013
Messages
1,631
I'm a huge fan of good serrations. Before I tried good serrations I had only used bad ones which caused me to think that I did not like serrations and that all serrations were bad. I'm sure I wasn't the only one. CRK makes very good serrations.

The two sided serrations, unique to CRK as far as I know, are incredible. The cuts are made alternately on either side of the blade. Both sides of the blade are sharpened the same as the plain edge, but the additional cutting edge provided by the serrations is noticeable. My serrated 21 Zips through anything, and since I don't use my folders for carving the serrations have never gotten in the way.

If you think that you 'don't like serrations' you may find that you just haven't tried the right style yet. If they didn't work, I doubt CRK would offer them....

Here are some poorly focused pictures of my Sebenza 21:



 
I typically don't like serrations becasue I like smooth cuts and ease of sharpening. However, I haven't tried CRK's version so I can't speak about how they work. As serrations go though, their version looks the best!
 
I like serrations on a folder but I wish they didn't have them on their hard use fixed blades. can you order a green beret without it? I have seen 3 crk fixed blades brake in half all of which the break began at the serration.. awesome designs but I feel like serrations add inherent stress points.. just my 2cents
 
I haven't gotten around to buying a 21 yet, but when I do methinks a serrated model might be the one. Kinda off-topic..but would the serrations be handy for cleaning and filleting trout on the trail? I ask because the Inyoni's had serrations.
 
Robdude said:
I like serrations on a folder but I wish they didn't have them on their hard use fixed blades. can you order a green beret without it? I have seen 3 crk fixed blades brake in half all of which the break began at the serration.. awesome designs but I feel like serrations add inherent stress points.. just my 2cents
Click to expand...

Were the GBs in question S30V or S35VN? S35VN is significaticantly stronger than S30V. My experience with both is that S35VN is likely to bend or deform unlike S30V which just breaks. I've beat on my S35VN Green Beret a little bit, some light batoning just to see how it did, and haven't broken mine yet. The blade is 0.200" of steel, with a very thick spine all the way to the point, and heat treated on the soft side - I'm not worried about breaking it so long as I don't hit it with a sledge hammer.

It should be pointed out that even though they are not staggered like on the Sebenza, the serrations on the Green Beret aren't your typical serrations. They are only cut into one side of the blade, which is sharpened on both sides just like the rest of the plain edge. There's little to hang up while carving or batoning, and sharing the same profile as the plain edged rest of the blade they cut straight through material instead of wanting to veer off like a chisel ground blade.

The brilliant design of the Green Beret allows the user to choke up on the blade, for fine work like carving, comfortably. The serrations have yet to become a problem but the knife is relatively new to me. My point is that, like the serrated Sebenza is different from other serrated folders, the serrated Green Beret is nothing like other serrated fixed blades.

jacobconroy75 said:
I haven't gotten around to buying a 21 yet, but when I do methinks a serrated model might be the one. Kinda off-topic..but would the serrations be handy for cleaning and filleting trout on the trail? I ask because the Inyoni's had serrations.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure how much of a benefit they'd be, but I doubt that they'd make anything harder. Where most serrations tear through material, CRK's seem to zip right through materials leaving neat, straight cuts.
 
MatthewSB said:
Were the GBs in question S30V or S35VN? S35VN is significaticantly stronger than S30V. My experience with both is that S35VN is likely to bend or deform unlike S30V which just breaks. I've beat on my S35VN Green Beret a little bit, some light batoning just to see how it did, and haven't broken mine yet. The blade is 0.200" of steel, with a very thick spine all the way to the point, and heat treated on the soft side - I'm not worried about breaking it so long as I don't hit it with a sledge hammer.

It should be pointed out that even though they are not staggered like on the Sebenza, the serrations on the Green Beret aren't your typical serrations. They are only cut into one side of the blade, which is sharpened on both sides just like the rest of the plain edge. There's little to hang up while carving or batoning, and sharing the same profile as the plain edged rest of the blade they cut straight through material instead of wanting to veer off like a chisel ground blade.

The brilliant design of the Green Beret allows the user to choke up on the blade, for fine work like carving, comfortably. The serrations have yet to become a problem but the knife is relatively new to me. My point is that, like the serrated Sebenza is different from other serrated folders, the serrated Green Beret is nothing like other serrated fixed blades.



I'm not sure how much of a benefit they'd be, but I doubt that they'd make anything harder. Where most serrations tear through material, CRK's seem to zip right through materials leaving neat, straight cuts.
Click to expand...
Hmmm interesting, Im not sure what steel the were but im guessing they were the S30V because two of the three I saw brake were a friends and they seemed to have very little flex to them. I was unaware this blade came in two steels. I love the design, kinda a good middle ground between a thin camp knife and a monster Busse knife. it feels good in the hand. do you know if you can order it without serrations? just curious..?
 
Robdude said:
Hmmm interesting, Im not sure what steel the were but im guessing they were the S30V because two of the three I saw brake were a friends and they seemed to have very little flex to them. I was unaware this blade came in two steels. I love the design, kinda a good middle ground between a thin camp knife and a monster Busse knife. it feels good in the hand. do you know if you can order it without serrations? just curious..?
Click to expand...

I read somewhere that they won't make the GB without serrations because that's what .mil specified.

They're all S35VN now, an easy way to check is that the newer GBs have different handles, they're textured micarta with a line straight up the middle of each handle. Also, the birthday card says what steel was used.

The Green Berets, especially the 5.5 inch version, feel incredible in my hand. I love the double guard and serrations, both concerned me at first but neither has gotten in my way.
 
I like serrations period - esoecially fine serrations. I used to have a Sm partially serrated regular that was fantastic. The key to an effective combo edge knife is using fine serrations like Chris Reeve does. The aggressive Spyderco style serrations work well when it's a full Spyderedge but not so much for a combo edge
 
I like serrations but not on a Sebenza. Not sure why. Just like my Sebenzas nice and clean.
 
Yes , serrations all the way on Sebs….. wonder what an Insingo with serrations would be like! Bart
 
I've been contemplating picking up a small 21 with serrations, but I've been hesitant because I usually prefer no serrations on my blade. Are there any advantages to the CRK serrations over the plain edge CRK blades?
 
I typically don't care for serrations. The only knife I have owned that had a partially serrated edge was a Benchmade that I carried for a few years...
At that time I was actually using my knives a lot, every day, and on many different materials. I did actually use the serrations, but I realized the first time I used them, the section that is serrated is just to small...

Granted it did work, but I think for me if I felt I needed a knife with serrations, I would prefer to have one that is serrated the full length of the blade.
However, in all fairness, the knife was on the smaller side of things. Perhaps the serrations would be more user friendly on a longer blade.
 
I did actually use the serrations, but I realized the first time I used them, the section that is serrated is just to small...
Click to expand...

That's the problem, other manufacturer's lolserrations completely ruin a portion of the blade for a lot of cutting tasks. CRK's serrations, however, maintain the edge bevels of the plain edge and pretty much only add some additional cutting edge with the non-aggressive 'teeth'.
 
Last edited:
MatthewSB said:
That's the problem, other manufacturer's lolserrations completely ruin a portion of the blade for a lot of cutting tasks. CRK's serrations, however, maintain the edge bevels of the plain edge and pretty much only add some additional cutting edge with the non-aggressive 'teeth'.
Click to expand...

That's true. They are a totally different design
 
Never been a huge fan of serrations on a blade, I have owned a few Benchmades , Spydies and Kershaws with them and unless your gonna be cutting a lot of rope I consider them in the way when cutting everyday things, especially food
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top