Lets talk about the serrated edge

Surfingringo

Surfingringo

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May 25, 2013
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I sometimes see some debate on here about serrated vs. plain edge knives. Some like se and some do not. I thought it would be interesting to start a thread where we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the serrated edge. FWIW, I use both types of edge extensively and have some specific uses where I prefer one or the other. I have numerous examples in mind but I wanted to just open the thread first and let folks offer their thoughts before I put mine out there. So who's first?
 
I prefer the plain edge, but I have carried both extensively. I usually have a plain edge Manix2 in my right pocket and a serrated edge Tasman Salt in my left pocket. I own and operate a landscape company. The hawkbill excels at quick pull cutting through lighter palm fronds and other plant material. For almost everything else I use a plain edge. I tried for a while to use serrated edge exclusively and while I could, I felt I have more control when slicing through something with a plain edge rather than ripping through it with serrations.
 
My thought is that if you are using a knife all day every day out in the field, then a serrated might be the best choice. But as an EDC the way most people use an EDC, I think that a scary sharp plain edge is going to be easier to maintain and give you greater utility. One of my sisters is a paramedic, and I gave her a Byrd Cara Cara rescue knife and I think that's the first serrated knife I've bought in a long time. I don't know many people who prefer a SE for EDC so I'm curious to see the responses.
 
Overall, I prefer a plain edge. I really like Spyderco's serrations, though! If I carry a serrated Spyderco, I tend to carry one with a shallower scallop. For example, the Rescue 3, Lil Matriarch, and my all black Pac Salt has fairly shallow serration. They cut cardboard a lot smoother, and just don't seem to snag as badly in general.
 
I actually prefer the spyderedge over plain edge. In my own opinion, it seems to cut cardboard better, cut rope better, plus I'm always carrying a secondary smaller knife that has a plain edge if I need it.
 
I always carry both a serrated and plain edge knife. I like serrations and find them useful, though I wouldn't make a fully serrated blade my only knife. I like both.
 
Over the past twenty five or so years, I've carried SE, CE and PE, but carry plain edge pretty much exclusively these days. I prefer the look of plain edge and have found it works well for my uses, overall. Still have a CE strapped to my PFD for paddling and another in my bunker gear at work. I, like members have stated, have found SE or CE works well for ripping material open, but isn't great for controlled cutting. It's been my experience SE works best for quick and dirty cuts. I've found some more aggressive serrations are sometimes almost "too" aggressive to initiate some cuts if the material has some give(certain rope that isn't under tension, for example). The serrations catch rather than cut, if that makes sense? That's when I've found the plain edge portion on CE works well, as it more easily starts the cut, followed by the serrations having a bit of momentum to finish up.

The only time I've ever had a knife truly fail for me in a high stress situation, the blade happened to be serrated. There were a number of factors involved, but another crew member's plain edge completed the job.

I'd like to see Sal and Co. consider trying some serrations like are used on Boye knives.
 
I'm a huge fan of spyderco serrations. I've found that the advantages over plain edge significantly outweigh the cost. They cut very aggressively, even if it's completely dull I can still rip stuff apart with it. I'm working my way into the professional diving field and serrations are King. The common complaint against them is that they're hard to sharpen but the sharp maker makes it just as easy as sharpening a plain edge knife. The only thing I can think of that's better with plain edge is large fixed blades or bushcraft knives where your making pretty cute in wood. I think the aquasalt serrated is the ultimate all rounder do anything knife. If I could only have one that would be it.
 
A plain edge can do anything a serrated edge can do but the opposite isn't true. I like serrated edges and have used and carried them but in the end I always lean towards the do anything nature of a plain edge.
 
My first Spyderco was a Delica combo edge and it gave me great range of utility. I tend to carry mainly plain edge now but if I was to be honest with myself a combo edge was still the most useful.
 
I like to pick the right knife for the job, but I'f I'm somewhere where I'm not going to have acces to my plethora of knives, I'd rather have a SE and make it work.
 
The biggest difference I find between a sharp serrated edge and a sharp plain edge is that the serrations grab material much more aggressively. I find this to be particularly useful on materials that a plain edge may glance off of without applying significant force like hard plastic, rubber and some kinds of cordage. I find the tradeoff is that plain edges give me a bit more control during more precise cutting tasks, particularly when I want to be certain to cut, not tear. Examples would be small cuts made in fabric, slicing protein or cutting something to a relatively exact size. For more general tasks like cutting cardboard, opening boxes, cutting zip ties and such I don't have a strong preference either way, as I find both work well with serrations giving better edge retention, but a plain edge providing greater ease of sharpening.
 
The only serrated edges I have are on ladybugs; & they definitely punch above their weight.
 
Kwon Kwang said:
I always carry both a serrated and plain edge knife. I like serrations and find them useful, though I wouldn't make a fully serrated blade my only knife. I like both.
Click to expand...

This is me as well.

My Salt I is SE, however the tip of that blade is not serrated which I use all the time for opening packages and such.

My only draw back on the SE - is my own personal inability to sharpen myself. I'm still learning the SM and so this challenge should go away in time but trying to sharpen a SE bothers me.

I still carry one of each daily :-)
 
Prefer plain edge now if I only carry one (first two Enduras were fully serrated however).

I do have a Matriarch II and Lil Matriarch serrated, and when working (uniform patrol) I carry Endura FFG PE in right pocket and Mat II SE in left pocket.

I also have PE Delicas so I can do this pairing (serrated left hand-plain right hand) with Delica/Lil Mat combo too if I need to work on the clock in dress clothes.

I have decided that for the most part I always do this by "body side" as stated (serrated left side of body and plain on right side).
 
i'm not a big fan of serrations!but they have there place,i keep a native 2 with 3/4 serrated edge in my truck at all times,never no when you must rip that seat belt off your body !:rolleyes:
 
While I don't mind serrations, I prefer to carry a plain edge Military. I don't like combo edges at all. A little of each, not enough of neither. LOL!!

Sometimes I carry a serrated Endura in my left hip pocket. Not always. In any event, plain edge is easier to keep scary sharp. Serrations are a ROYAL PITA to sharpen. My Endura is a 2nd Generation, I've had it for years. Scarcely been used, never been sharpened. That's the way it will probably remain.
 
Not that long ago, I very much disliked serrated edges of any kind on my knives, although I did own a few. Could never keep 'em sharp.

Then some fish eating Costa Rican posted up the simplest sharpening instructions, evah. Nowadays, I use my SE Spydies a bunch, and find it very simple to keep 'em all sharp.

Thank you, Sir Gringo!

 
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I tend to carry both whenever possible. There are some applications where a SE is just a better cutter, for instance with fibrous materials like ropes or seat belts. For some things a PE is a better way to go, i.e. processing fish or game. I think a simple way to grossly over simplify it is to say that SE is a better cutter and PE is a better slicer.
 
Speaking of fibrous materials SE excels at...

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But for EDC I still prefer PE.
 
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