In praise of serrations

[cmd]

Like most people here my prefference is for a very sharp blade of high quality steel that is not serrated.

A couple of months ago I got a Benchmade 806SD2. Serrated would not have been my first choice but it was a trade and I really wanted an Axis lock with D2 or M2 steel. There is also plenty of good usable plain cutting surface on the 806's 4" blade and it gets most of the use.

I have been carying it every day now since I got it, and to my delight the serrations have come in handy a few times, to the point that I if I were to get this knife again it would definitely be the same.

Here are the two examples:

* We were spending the afternoon in one of the parks in Savanna when my oldest daughter asked me about the interesting things hanging off of the palm trees. We went over and investigated them. They are the long triangular pointy bark pieces that eventually fall off as the tree grows. One was low enough to grab and was just barely attached so I pulled on it but it did not come off. I took the 806 out and tried cutting it with the PE section of the blade (I keep it sharp enough to easily shave with) but it did not make much if any of a cut. Then I used the serrations and it cut right through without any trouble. My daughter was happy and we got to inspect the piece up close for a while. She would have been frustrated if I had to have worked a long time at cutting it off with my fancy new pocket knife.

* I was sitting outside in my back yard on a bench and noticed a few small trees with limbs that had grown too close to the bench. I took the 806 to the branches, about 1" thick, but it did not go through as easily as I would have liked. A machete would glide right through them, at the right angle, but it was not until the serrations were used that the cutting became relatively easy.

I still prefer a plain edge because of the looks, but on a large EDC that will see plenty of use, some serrations do come in handy.

What knives do you like to be partially serrated?

If you do not like any serrations at all, is it only because of looks?

Chris

 

[Crayola]

When I got my first good quality knife (Benchmade AFCK), I got it in combo edge. After a while I really didn't liek the serrations. Right now my knife looks funny, because I ground off the serrations, have started to remove the black coating, am re-grinding the clip and I'll probably change the saber grind into a full flat grind. It sure looks funny!

Ignoring all those other changes, why did I get rid of the serrations? I found that after several sharpening sessions (Sharpmaker 203), the serration tips became rounded, and did lose some bite. Also, I wished I had a plain edge near the handle for heavy leverage cuts. The amount of rope or cardboard I had to cut all the time didn't make the serrations all that useful to me, and that left me with a 2"ish plain edge section to use most of the time, and I like my blades 3.5-4" long!

Essentially, I didn't get use out of the serrations. I can understand why you like the serrations: just in case. One suggestion though: it sounds liek in the 2 cases you mentioned, the serrations were used as a saw. If you are a one knife kind of guy, then having a combo edge or full serrated blade may make sense then. However, I bet you would have been even more pleased with the performance of the saw on a SAK. I used to carry a SAK along with my "tactical" folder all the time. I only no longer do so because I lost the knife So, I recommend checking out a SAK model with a saw in it and carry that with a plain edge folder.

I suspect, however, that if I were around rope alot, I would carry a serrated blade. Also, if I were a Police Officer or EMT, I would probably have a Spyderco Serrated rescue knife too, to power though fabrics. An SAK folding saw wouldn't so much good on an injured person's pants!

Oh, one other thing. I read a book by Mors Kochanski called Northern Bushcraft. In the book he shows a lot of things to do with cutting tools, including how to down saplings (much thicker than the branches you mentioned) using a Mora knife. To cut a branch as you told us about, I wouldn't try to slice the branch. Instead, I'd bend the branch a bit if possible and then rock the edge through the ebnd. A shaving sharp edge rocked through a branch liek this severs fibres in a push cutting motion. I don't know how well this would work on harder stuff like pointy bark, or bamboo though.

 

[cmd]

Oh, one other thing. I read a book by Mors Kochanski called Northern Bushcraft. In the book he shows a lot of things to do with cutting tools, including how to down saplings (much thicker than the branches you mentioned) using a Mora knife. To cut a branch as you told us about, I wouldn't try to slice the branch. Instead, I'd bend the branch a bit if possible and then rock the edge through the ebnd. A shaving sharp edge rocked through a branch liek this severs fibres in a push cutting motion. I don't know how well this would work on harder stuff like pointy bark, or bamboo though.

This sounds like a very good idea. I was surprised that the blade did not cut through the branch more easily. It was being held bent slightly but I did not rock the blade - pushed instead. I'll try that next time.

As far as a saw goes, that was not really what happened. In both cases it cut through with a push then a pull. I do not think a SAK saw blade would have been as efficient on either of those materials, with those fine teeth it has.

My Sharpmaker 204 has not rounded the points of this or my two fully serrated kitchen knives, but I go very slowly with just the corners.

Thanks again for the tip on rocking the blade, it really makes sense.

Chris

 

[GarageBoy]

Spydersaw! Or the leatherman saw. You could always use that DMT ice pick thing to sharpen serrations one by one

 

[Will P.]

cmd, the reason why the plainedge seems to work poorer that the serrations for some things is that you simply are not applying enough force. The knife acts as a lever, so the closer to the handle something is, the more easily it will be cut. Both of the cutting tasks you describe should have been easier with a PE. This is a good reason to avoid combo edges - the most useful part of the blade for most tasks is ruined for a lot of things.

D2 in particular is excellent as a PE, and seems to do better at tasks that I would normally use serrations for.

The belly of the blade also moves funny when you do misuse it. I tried flicking off some hairs from my forearm with my AFCK's belly this morning. The hairs came off, and so did a BIG patch of skin. This was right before my last exam - blood kept dripping off my hand while I was writing. The professor was a bit perturbed by this.

 

[billmcfa]

I had a Kershaw Blackout Combo Blade. I didn't like it and gave it to my #1 son. I replaced it with a PE Blackout. But I did see the need for a SE blade so eventually I got a Spyderco Meerkat Rev.S SE blade. I love it. It is one of my EDCs and has preformed well. In fact I liked the Meerkat so much I got it's SE brother to keep it company. I find its good to have both types of blades for different jobs.

Bill

 

[tarsier]

I don't currently own any combo edge blades, but I usually carry one plain and one serrated blade. The plain is often a multitool or SAK; the serrated is always a Spyderco. I find that the serrations work well for hard plastics and various semi-abusive uses.

I remember one thread where a gentleman said that serrations are a crutch for people who don't know how to sharpen their knives properly. Guess I'm gonna have to change my name to Ol' Gimpy, because I like 'em for certain tasks.

 

[Matt Shade]

I agree serrations are great. I use them all the time, and before anyone tells me about the virtues of a "properly sharpened plain edge" I do know how to sharpen, and I do carry plain edged knives.
Serrations aren't easy to sharpen, but they aren't impossible. I've never had trouble with them getting rounded off. I sharpen them by hand with a diamond rod.
A plain edge might do it if you push really hard and rock it back and forth but thats also a good way to get hurt. If you have to put that much force into the cut, there's a good chance of it breaking free leaving you swinging the knife wildly. Why take the chance when serrations will cut it in one pull

 

[sixfeetdeep]

My job has me cutting thin to thick pieces of plastic banding. Trying to cut the banding with a plain edged blade, even a brand new razor sharp one doesn't do it nearly as easily as my serrated knife does. The plain edge CAN do it, but I have to use alot more force to get the same results my Spyderco Blue 93mm Rescue knife can do with barely trying. I am aware that the serrations can & will wear out after alot of usage, but I have been using mine for over a year & it is still in the exact same shape as the day I bought it.
Even after sharpening it with my Spyderco 204 kit, it goes right back to being razor sharp without much effort. I prefer a part serrated blade becasue that's what I have always used. My brother hates them & won't ever use one....plus my Rescue knife bite him several times ....maybe that's why he hates serrations
But they work for me & that's all that matters. Some manufactures serations work well like Spyderco & Benchmade & Microtech, some really suck IMO like Masters Of Defense, & Kershaw.

But as all will agree.....different folks, different stroke. What works for one person may not work for another. It's all what you plan on using the knife for & what you need to cut.


GarageBoy....I'm with you on the Spyderco Spydersaw....that knife is one mean mother (shut your mouth)....but I was only talking about the Spydersaw That thing eats through trees like a hot knife through butter.

 

[Trout Tamer]

I, too, like serrations for some tasks, such as cutting tough, nylon-based materials or ropes. Basically, serrations work very well on fibrous material. For wilderness use, I prefer a plain edge balde; for in-town use, I'd like to have both with me. I hope to get one of Spyderco's rescue knives in the relatively near future.

 

[RH]

I use my combo edge EZ Out for "real work" (around the house, church missions trips, etc.) I've found the serrated part to be great for sharpening pencils, even carpenter's pencils. The pencil fits nice into the "U" shape serration, and makes a nice point.

 

[selfinflicted]

When it comes to serrations, I like full serrations. I have a Spyderco Police and Calypso Jr fully serrated and thay are fantastic cutters. Scarey sharp with Sharpmaker touch-ups. That being said, I love my plain edges too. The partials look good, but don't seem to perform as well in my experience.

 

[Flinx]

I've carried a 50/50 Delica for the better part of the last five years. I use the knife everyday at work. I'm with sixfootdeep on cutting thin plastic banding. If you're not carefull, a plain-edge will slip right off of it. And before anyone asks, yes I can sharpen, and I keep both parts of my blade very sharp. I use the Sharpmaker for my Delica and the serrations are still nice and pointy. No rounding off here! For me, the 50/50 Delica is perfect. I use the plain-edge portion for cutting tape on boxes, poking the tip through and cutting plastic "blister-packed" packages open and cutting and trimming signs. I have not once felt that I didn't have enough plain-edge to do the job. Maybe its because I grew up carrying the little Old timer 3 bladed knife #108t. Its biggest blade is only a little bit longer than the plain-edge portion of my Delica. My two cents.

Flinx

 

[Nemo]

Bonjour,

just falling in love with a Rescue Stainless Steel.
The knife is a monster of cutting power !!

I keep my La Griffe for whittling but the Rescue is doing everything.

It's tooks me 8 years to get hooks by the Spyderedge ...

Cheers

JM

 

[metallicat]

I carry a fully serrated police and a superknife. I was at a home improvement store to pick up some concrete backerboard. I had to cut through this really tough platic/nylon? packing strap. I first used my spydie and the strap literally popped apart. I went to cut the strap on the other end and decided to try my superknife. It was a real struggle. The strap did not pop apart. I had to saw at it before it finally came apart. BTW I honed that superknife blade since most utility knife blades are not very sharp. I have carried a fully serrated spydie as my edc for over 10 years and probably will carry it for another 10 years at least along with my Sebenza.