Experience with Cold Steel serrations?

[DangerZone98]

So far, all I have are plain edge versions. How do the serrated models perform? Do they chip easily? Are they a snagfest?

 

[GCG199]

It is smoother cutting than the typical three-step serrations that are more common.

It is much more fragile and care has to be used, as the smaller teeth will break-off really easily though.

I really like it for cutting down cardboard.

Plus, a lot of people run into problems with sharpening them.

Lansky makes a special "dogbone" sharpener for them too.

 

[BitingSarcasm]

I've had a Vaquero Grande for about 25 years, and it is fully serrated. It has been through a ridiculous amount of fiberglass insulation, wood, and cardboard, all without issues. For a long time I would sit down and sharpen the individual serrations when it needed it, but I learned the trick of getting it sharp off the flat side and never looked back. Serrations work for catching hold, and sometimes they do bind a bit in material that is both soft yet resistant--think green wood and some cardboard--but it's never been that much of issue. The cuts are never as clean as a plain edge,too, if that matters.

Get a serrated edge in one of the cheaper models and see what you think. I don't like serrations, haven't bought one in 20 years, and don't miss them at all. That extra "catch" only really matters if you really don't have the time to just lay the edge precisely, say cutting ropes and cordage in a nautical emergency. My Vaquero is well on it's way to being a plain edge anyways, and if it came to replacing it I would go with a plain edge.

 

[Bigfattyt]

For sharpening them, I use Spyderco Sharp Maker triangle rods. Works well.

The teeth are not ment for cutting wood.... or hard objects.

Flesh, seat belts, clothing, rope... etc.

I don't normally buy them, but have owned a few.

If I worked arround dangerous rope, etc I'd go full serrrated.

 

[Mitchell Knives]

Every serrated Cold Steel knife that I have actually used has broken teeth. They were never abused and have been used for basic cutting tasks on soft materials only.

The teeth are simply too acute and fragile for general use. I think they are OK for a disposable defensive blade, but otherwise useless for the most part. Spyderco serrations are far superior.

Heavily buffing the serrations, thus creating a slightly more rounded and less acute point, helps a bit but they are still problematic.

 

[DangerZone98]

Every serrated Cold Steel knife that I have actually used has broken teeth. They were never abused and have been used for basic cutting tasks on soft materials only.

The teeth are simply too acute and fragile for general use. I think they are OK for a disposable defensive blade, but otherwise useless for the most part. Spyderco serrations are far superior.

Heavily buffing the serrations, thus creating a slightly more rounded and less acute point, helps a bit but they are still problematic.

Thanks for the feedback, Mitchell. I’ll take note of the Spyderco serrations. That and they’re kinda not the best idea for general use. Got it.

 

[DangerZone98]

For sharpening them, I use Spyderco Sharp Maker triangle rods. Works well.

The teeth are not ment for cutting wood.... or hard objects.

Flesh, seat belts, clothing, rope... etc.

I don't normally buy them, but have owned a few.

If I worked arround dangerous rope, etc I'd go full serrrated.

So serrations would be ideal perhaps in an emergency knife? Thinking like a Spyderco Rescue? Suppose I’ll stick with plain edge for EDC then.

 

[Mitchell Knives]

So serrations would be ideal perhaps in an emergency knife? Thinking like a Spyderco Rescue? Suppose I’ll stick with plain edge for EDC then.

I think serrations similar to those used by Spyderco are perfectly adequate for a variety of tasks and would work well for an emergency knife. (Seat belt webbing, rope, etc.) Spyderco serrations can also be easily sharpened with a Sharpmaker unlike the Cold Steel style.

Overall, I think a plain edge is superior to serrated 99% of the time. The scenarios in which a serrated blade truly excels is relatively small.

Also, dull serrations tend to get hung up in materials while a plain edge will just slide off.

 

[Bigfattyt]

So serrations would be ideal perhaps in an emergency knife? Thinking like a Spyderco Rescue? Suppose I’ll stick with plain edge for EDC then.

Yes.

Spyderco seems to have very useful serrations. If I worked with ropes, straps, a lot of cardboard, etc, I'd grab a Spyderco seerrated!

 

[nephron]

I like/use both, depending on my needs for the day.