Hate for serrations?

B

bubblewhip

Joined
Dec 18, 2009
Messages
248
I think serrations especially comboedges suck. I don't think any high end production high quality knife should come with any serrations. A blade made out of VG-10 or S30V does not deserve serrations. Serrations in my opinion is for knife steels that can't hold an edge like the super steels. That's why you see late night TV knives on QVC are always serrated, and saying "We took this knife to concrete and it's still razor sharp!" It's not sharp it just rips, serrations in my opinion don't cut they rip, and therefore don't need super edge holding steels. A dull serrated blade will usually still work forever as long as those teeth are still there.

High end steels don't deserve serrations, if you want a serrated blade you don't need VG-10 or S30V as it wont really do anything for it that a 420HC blade won't do.
 
I keep a Combo Edge CS Gunsite in the car just in case. ;)

Other than that and the Gunsite II all my other knives are plain edge.
 
I have a few knives that are serrated and they cut really good. The main reason why I don't like serrations is because they are hard to sharpen.
 
bubblewhip said:
serrations in my opinion don't cut they rip, and therefore don't need super edge holding steels. A dull serrated blade will usually still work forever as long as those teeth are still there.
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Serrations on shit steel suck too. The tips of the teeth dent or break. Properly designed serrations arent meant to rip and a lot of knife makers dont have properly designed serrations. IMO they add them to either make the knife look more aggressive or to add a variation to the model.

Two of my favorite knives are my vg-10 combo edge delica4 and serrated tasman salt. Spyderco knows how to do serrations. I can catch a scallop on whatever I'm cutting and cut it as clean as a plain edge knife of the same model. I can also easily sharpen my spyderedge knives vs. some crap that looks like this VVVvVVvvWxUUUxxX>
 
in a long knife over 6" long a couple of inches of serrations can be more useful than an additional plain edge. furthermore for a survival or combat knife the fact that serrated edges don't need to be made from super steel means that when they are made from good steel with a good HT then they stay "sharp" for much longer.
 
My fully Serrated Delica 4 is a frequent traveler in my pocket.

I don't understand the hate. The knife works damn well.
 
Serrations have their advantages and disadvantages just like plain edges. No I don't hate serrations.
 
twid said:
Serrations on shit steel suck too. The tips of the teeth dent or break. Properly designed serrations arent meant to rip and a lot of knife makers dont have properly designed serrations. IMO they add them to either make the knife look more aggressive or to add a variation to the model.

Two of my favorite knives are my vg-10 combo edge delica4 and serrated tasman salt. Spyderco knows how to do serrations. I can catch a scallop on whatever I'm cutting and cut it as clean as a plain edge knife of the same model. I can also easily sharpen my spyderedge knives vs. some crap that looks like this VVVvVVvvWxUUUxxX>
Click to expand...

I would second TWIDS love for the Spyderco serrations. They will cut and will do so with finesse. As far as high end steels and serrations you might want to check out MTs Crosshair in S30V that company has a pretty good following for their knives. Granted I would probably consider most Microtechs as weapons more than edged tools.
 
While serrations are not my primary choice for folders, I think it's silly to completely dismiss them.

There are benefits for serrations in certain applications, and when done well serrations work, even on 'good steels'.
 
Combo edges on folders, yes they SUCK and in a big way

Fully serrated folders done well, do not suck and have their place among tools

A combo edge done on large fixed blade with good to decent steel and heat treat very useful for serious outdoor work, play or military and law enforcement applications

That said have had a spyderco fully serrated 93mm rescue in VG-10 that thing cut up cardboard boxes like a champion and begged for more all the while holding its original edge.

I just finished cutting up some boxes today for the recycling bin with a buck mayo tnt that was shaving sharp when I started it did good for a while but after a while I could noticably tell it was dulling, thought to myself man I need to get another spyderco in H1 for box cutting. Don't get me wrong I'm a plain edge fanatic and if given the choice will taken a plain edge every time but for cutting up cardboard boxes even a Paul Bos shaving sharp S30V mayo design and buck manufactured cannot keep up with the fully serrated spyderco. It just can't, I've done the side by side. Wish it wasn't so, but it is.

Gotta go hit flea bay and scoop up a H1 spdyie fully serrated.
 
They have their place. They're good for cutting rope, carboard, or tearing up a nice steak, but aren't so good for clean cuts.

Partial serrations do suck though, there's not enough of them to be useful and they take too much away from the straight edge and make cutting a pain. With serrations, for me, it all or none.
 
Serrations cut much better (more aggressively) than PEs, but:

1. They're a pain in the ass to sharpen (I got a burr on mine and I absolutely cannot get it off)
2. They're always on the wrong side
3. They're not double-beveled. I don't like making a microbevel on the other side.
 
I don't hate them so much as I find them unhelpful for my normal cutting needs.
 
I don't hate serrations, but I really don't care for them and have no use for them.
 
I don't like them either. The only knife that has them is my bread knife. I find they interfere with common tasks so much that their usefulness for cutting fibrous materials doesn't outweigh plain edge utility. Plain edges cut everything;no compromise.
 
I won't say that I hate serrations, but I have had a few bad experiences with them.

There was that time at the grocery store when a bunch of serrations were in front of me in line. It was the "12 items or Less" line and they had full carts of stuff. It really was rude.

Some serrations bought a house next to my parents a few years ago and although they seem nice, they just don't take care of the place like the previous owners.

I do know some pretty nice serrations though. I did date one once, but with me being a plain edge guy, I didn't see much of a future for us. Her Dad was very serrated and I don't think he liked me very much.

Oh well, to each his own.
 
I don't hate serrations. When executed correctly the are very effective. Kershaw comes to mind here. Their serrations are rounded instead of pointed as a result they make a pretty clean cut. And with the edges of my Sharpmaker stones they are easy to touch up.:thumbup:
 
One thing that serrations do not do as well as plain edges is sharpen pencils.

There are uses and preferences for both, kind of like different types of any tool (pliers, screwdrivers, and so on).
 
I think that serrations are quite useful in some situations. I don't like my utility knife with serrations and I think that a 4 inch or less folder is rendered less useful with a combo edge. I also rather have two knives, one SE and one PE, rather than one combo edge.
 
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