Efficiency of Serrations

David E

David E

Joined
Nov 10, 2005
Messages
2,979
How well do the "Flying Serrations" cut ?

I have a custom Howling Rat w/ serrations and, truth be told, I'm not impressed.

Do I have a less than perfect example, or am I expecting too much?

I'm just curious.

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Have you tried cutting anything with it yet? Seems that'd be a quick way to make a judgement.

I imagine that their performance would vary depending on what material were being cut. I've often thought they'd work well cutting large diameter rope, etc.
 
Along the same lines, do any of the flying types actually get used (Mojo, Tiger, MOASH, whichever)? They seem to be pretty rare for the most part and all of the ones I see are mint. I'm interested in getting one at some point, but I'd want to use it, even if it has a 4 figure price tag. Can any owners step forward and tell tales of use?
 
360joules said:
Have you tried cutting anything with it yet? Seems that'd be a quick way to make a judgement..
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Well, duh ! :D

I cut cardboard and it kept getting hung up in the serration. It doesn't appear that the leading edge of the scalloped serration is very sharp, only the top of the "tooth." This seems to explain why it gets caught rather easily.

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like most serrations, they are probably only useful for notching sticks and small logs.

the flying serrations were designed, iirc, for providing less drag when penetrating flesh, not for sawing.
 
Usually serrations are meant for cutting fibrous materials and aren't really much use for too much else. Excepting ripping through flesh that is ;).
 
Yep,

You might want to look into what they were designed to do, IIRC a lot of the forward serrations on Busse knives were intended for cutting through vests and other garments that an oponent might have on at the time of their demise. Badmojo might have some background on what they were designed to do.
 
They've always seemed to be decoration to me. They seem too far apart to really do any good.

Of course, 99.999% of all serrated-ish Busse's have a double-edge, so I'm outta luck anyhoo. (No double-edged knives in Mass. Massachusetts, that is. I dunno if hte Catholics don't allow them in Mass. Maybe they do too. Of course, wearing a FNMOASH to church would be sorta funny.)
 
I understand they're not for "sawing" but it seems like fibrous material gets caught up in the gullet of the serration pretty easily, that's all.

I don't plan on stabbing anyone w/ a Howling Rat to see how they do on flesh! Maybe a turkey for Sunday dinner...............hmmmmmmmmmmmm.... :D
 
Seems to cut flesh well...

badmojobad.jpg
 
I think the Busse/Swamp Rat serrations are meant for speed and on the Howler frankly seem pointless except that it is a rarity. I think trying to slice through something slowly with them will provide the bumpy, catchy experience you have described.
 
I found that the Busse serrations do increase the efficiency of slashing through textiles, such as the heavy nylon webbing used in car seat belts. Further, they manage to do this while maintaining durability for chopping.
 
My Howler serrations don't seem to be designed for clean cutting per say. Notching would be right up it's alley though. It's not a Busse though! I have one Busse with serrations, the ST-Ripper, it's serrations are very effective for cutting. I only have one blade with forward serrations, and it's not a Busse since I haven't had the chance to buy one yet ($$$). I am a huge fan of forward serrations and fully believe in there worth on a fighting knife. Try taking a razor blade and hacking a leather jacket, then try a cheap serrated blade.

Just like in my previous life as a chef, a serrated blade is more effective in cutting through thick skinned mediums (hard skinned fruit and veggies, french bread) than a chef's knife.

I think the forward flying serrations would maximize that ability against a clothed target.

On that howler specificly, I'm not sure exactly what they had in mind for the serrations. I also don't think it is a through hardened knife. I used mine to demonstrate the Busse family's toughness against another blade. With the edge I was able to cut hunks out of both sides of my friends knife with little to no damage to mine. I tried using the back and it rolled significantly more but still removed steel from the other blade.

This may bleong in the Rat forum...
 
Why Serrations ??

If you look at some of the recent knives we have come out with, notably the Flying Tiger and the Flying Mojo, you will notice they are "adorned" with unique serrations toward the front of the blade.

I have often been asked of late as to whether they really improve performance.

The answer is "No" and "Yes"! These serrations do not improve chopping performance, nor do they hinder it. Due to their shape and design they will not get stuck in whatever it is you are chopping, like normal serrations have a tendency to do. But the knives we have put them on are not really choppers, they are fighters.

Jerry has long believed that serrations are in the wrong place. For a fighter, you want the serrations on the front of the blade. Why? Well just like the old Ginsu knives were able to cut through anything, our "Flying" serrations would make short work of a leather jacket or equally heavy clothing or canvas material that would otherwise repel the sharpest blade. Our serrations, besides looking very aggressive, are VERY AGRESSIVE.

Just like the Combat line can win just about any cutting or chopping contest on this planet, they will likewise win any contest that simulates stabbing. So the next time someone pokes fun at these curious looking blades with their unique serrations, remember, they are not just for show, they are for real !

Contender
03/06/02
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This is from badmojo, it may clear this up a little bit.
 
David E said:
How well do the "Flying Serrations" cut ?

I have a custom Howling Rat w/ serrations and, truth be told, I'm not impressed.

Do I have a less than perfect example, or am I expecting too much?

.
Click to expand...

Nope, you are right on target. They are not anywhere near as overall efficient and effective as a plain edge. They are a additional work on a knife, so for looks they may look cool, but if you will use the knife, best to keep them off your knife. Also I would not call any grooves that are not continuous, serrations. I'd call them teeth or notches.

The best serrations I have ever seen where the ones Kit Carson uses, they are a scalloped rounded serration that has no points but cuts real well. Mission knives uses them as well.
 
Cobalt said:
The best serrations I have ever seen where the ones Kit Carson uses, they are a scalloped rounded serration that has no points but cuts real well. Mission knives uses them as well.
Click to expand...

I am pretty much not in favor of serrations. That being said, the ones on the band breaker region of the NARK are frighteningly sharp.

fighters1.jpg


Rick
 
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