Plain or partially serrated blade question

E

E.W.

Joined
Sep 28, 2010
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Up until now I have only ever owned folders for everyday carry. I have always bought knives with the combo (partially serrated) blade because I like the versatility for everyday cutting.

I am in the market for a larger fixed blade "survival" style knife. Lets use the ESEE 5 or 6 as a reference point for this discussion.

In my reading of this style knife it seems to me that the vast majority of people prefer the plain blade over the combo. I would like to know why. Any pros or cons to one over the other?

Being new here I understand that this topic has probably come up before. If you have any links you could provide to previous discussions I would appreciate it. All opinons are welcomed. Thanks all.
 
My opinion is there isnt anything that I can cut with serrations that I couldnt cut with a sharp, plain edge.
 
I don't care for serrations, therefore my preference is for plain edge knives.
 
The serrations are good if you plan on needing to cut a lot of rope or fibrous materials. In a survival situation I like the plain edge because I've found it easier to work with on shaping points and preparing food. The plain edge has less resistance.
 
chogue1980 said:
My opinion is there isnt anything that I can cut with serrations that I couldnt cut with a sharp, plain edge.
Click to expand...


Agreed. And if you reverse that, there are quite a few things you can do with a plain edge that cannot be done well with serrations.

The placement of the serrations is typically at the base of the blade, right under where your thumb would be placed when shaving wood, or even your palm when choking down on the blade and really digging in. It's also the cutting surface you use when drawing or reverse cutting. Serrations reduce the effectiveness of all these, by a lot.
 
Serrated edge is more usable than plain edge at the same level of dullness because it tears. As such it's good for quick, rough cutting on a knife that's rarely, if ever, sharpened. However, it's a royal pain to sharpen serrations.

The general consensus is there are more disadvantages to serrated edge than advantages on a survival / bushcraft knife, except when the serration has a very specific and irreplaceable purpose (like tearing the aluminum skin of a downed airplane).
 
I have both. My cheaper knives are serrated because when I am rough cutting items, the knife is going to get beat up so I tend to let my beater knives take more abuse than my high dollar blades if I can help it. I also can sharpen a plain blade easier than serrated.
 
I am just not a fan of serrations. I will admit that serrations can handle a few tasks better than a plain edge, but I just don't care for them is all. :) Plain edge works fine and I just think it looks better. Along with being easier to sharpen in my opinion.
 
You will find that folks on this forum are real knife afficianados and thus they go for the plain edge. They can sharpen well, they may use their knives more that some. I think the "maintenance free" aspect of serrated knives was popular with some good reason. I think if I were scuba diving (which I don't) I would carry serrated because despite the TV image of fighting off sharks, you carry a knife diving to disentangle yourself. A good hard-steel serrated knife would cut through nets and even small wires and stuff.

I have since pretty much divested of serrations. I have a Spyderco Endura that is full length serrated and I'll keep that but I won't be investing in any more serrated knives (unless I take up scuba diving).

You can do everything with a plain edge (including scuba dive by the way) that you would with a serrated but the reverse is seldom true.
 
Hoosier sums it up very well. I don't care for serrations at all either. I think that I only have one knife that is partially serrated, a Buck Extract. It's ok, but it usually rides in the bag as an extra.
 
Thanks all, this gives me some things to consider before I purchase. Never really thought of the sharpening difficulties on a serrated section of the blade. Good stuff, thanks again.
 
chogue1980 said:
My opinion is there isnt anything that I can cut with serrations that I couldnt cut with a sharp, plain edge.
Click to expand...

Couldn't have said it better.:thumbup:

I don't mind them in some very specific cases, but generally they're just not useful. I many cases, the part of the blade closest to the handle is the portion which I would ideally use to make a cut (say, for example, sharpening a stick into a tent peg), as it offers the best leverage. If you stick a bunch of serrations there, I can no longer accomplish that kind of cut.
 
Plain edge. Spyderco serrations have served me well in some specific situations, mostly with rope and straps.

I do have a Victorinox one-handed Sentinel, with the serration toward the tip of the blade, and it really opens up a lot of uses, especially in food prep in the kitchen.

Links:
Earlier debate: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=728807&highlight=serrated+vs+plain
(same topic): http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=719978&highlight=serrated+vs+plain
Haters: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=733806&highlight=serrated+vs+plain
Serration types: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=769470&highlight=serrated+vs+plain
Front Serrations: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=770837&highlight=serrated

~Chris
 
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Plain edge all the time for me. I usually find combo edges have too little plain edge and too few serrations to do either job well.
 
Give me a plain edge or fully serrated (preferably one of each). Both have their uses. But I hate partially serrated edges. Not enough serrations to make it worthwhile, and meanwhile your plain edge is neutered as well.
 
1. Go with a plain edge.
2. Buy good sharpening gear.
3. Learn to sharpen well.
4. Keep your plain edges VERY sharp.

Follow the steps above and you'll be fine without serrations. Even tough rope can be cut easily enough by a plain edge blade if it is nice and sharp. But it is hard work with a blunt knife, as are many knife tasks.
 
chogue1980 said:
My opinion is there isnt anything that I can cut with serrations that I couldnt cut with a sharp, plain edge.
Click to expand...

There is: hard plastics. Try to cut a roll-on deodorant with a plain blade...




I understand why people usually prefer plain blades. They use their knives, come home and can resharpen them. If you are a hunter or just use your knife for carving wood then you never need a serrated edge. But serrations, despite all their inconvenient properties (harder to sharpen, worse for fine works) offer versatility in a survival situation. They're going to dull slower and still be useful when dull. They're going to cut into some things like plastics that plain blades have difficulties to go trough (urban survival).

I have both plain and serrated blades (fully serrated - for diving - and half-serrated) and all of them have their place in life :D
 
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