Protection: Serrated or not?

J

Johnnyjohn

Joined
Nov 24, 2002
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I have owned for many years a Delica that I carry for protection.

I am considering the Paramilitary, but am wondering which blade I should choose. My question is: What does popular thought say regarding a blade for protection? Should it be serrated edge or not?

I had heard that serrated edge will cut clothing but have never heard anything else.

Thanks in advance.
 
I have the serrated(Spyder edge) Paramilitary.The edge seems even sharper than that of my plain edge Chinook or Kershaw Boa.Cuts paper with no problem.Great knife..I recommend it highly.
 
It's just a matter of how do you use your knife.

For defense, both SE and PE are good, BUT, only if you keep your PE shap !

The SE will last much longer without maintance, so, it's better if you don't like, or don't know how to keep you PE sharp.

Now, if you care and maintain the proper edge, PE is a goal. I think most of us here in BF prefers PE over SE.

That's my opinion,

Regards,

Andre Tiba - Brazil
 
There was a thread like this once before, and while I cannot remember the arguements, the general consensus was that plain edges were better on a defensive knife.

I would just say look at the knives and daggers specifically designed for fighting. Maybe they exist, but I don't remember having ever seen a fighting knife with a serrated edge. I've seen combat/utility knives with partially serrated edges, but not pure fighting knives.
 
The Spyderco Civilian has a serrated edge. It's purely a "slash your way out of trouble" knife.
 
I think the consensus was that serrated edges are undesirable for a fighter because they tend to catch on clothing etc. An obvious exception is the kriss, but that is rather different than the usual serrations you find on most knives. Another exception are serrations designed for trapping like the spines on the Rekat hobbit. Using typical serrations is like fighting with a saw. Probably someone has evolved saw fighting techniques, but i don't know who :)

Generally, I'd agree with Chris [ :eek: ]. Plain edge is easier to use, and keep it SHARP! :D
 
I prefer PE...mainly because it's much easier to maintain than a SpyderEdged blade. The PlainEdge is also much more versatile for everyday cutting chores, IMO.

Echoing from the previous posts.....KEEP IT SHARP!!! I carry a DMT Diafold for quick touchups. ;)
 
But check out the Busse Flying Tiger. I understand the serrations are on the front of the blade to cut through clothing and what not. Makes sense to me and its a great looking knife.
 
whoa this joint has CHANGED since i've been gone!

i'm no expert, but as much as i like PE, i sure can cut through more & tougher materials with my serrated delica. given this fact, i'd rather be cut with a PE, cuz SE seems like it would simply do more damage. the spyderedge is way better for rough utility; i don't even bother with my PE knives when it comes to cutting boxes & carpet. when i try to imagine what that SE would do to an attacker, it ain't pretty.

serrated all the way for me, if it really came down to "that situation".

that said, my duncan aftershock has a guard that i'd trust above all other folders for stickin'.
 
I think that PE is the way to go for a SD blade because a SE will bind up in some materials. A PE will not have this problem. If the attacker were wearing a thick jacket, I think the SE would have some problems.
 
i think either one would work just fine.

i prefer PE except on a very few knives were the SE looks better (ie spyderco civilian and police models for sure, they look funky PE to me)

but imho all things considered i dont think either one is better or worse, as long as its sharp.

get a combo edge and get the best of both worlds lol.

greg
 
If it's a "slash-and-dash" type of knife, I would think a serrated edge may be better. Many times people will not register getting cut until well after the fact because of adrenaline, alcohol/drugs, etc. A serrated blade (applied vigorously perhaps to the hands/fingers, face, etc., etc.) is more likely to not only cause extreme damage will little effort, but the wounds would probably be more immediately painful, not to mention the wounds would be harder to close.
Jim
 
just watch "Hannibal" and the effect of the Spyderco serrated edge on flesh...

But it's only a movie....
 
Michael Janich has tested this and demonstrated this arguement on some meat models he hade. He wrapped the meat in various layers of clothing and proceeded to slash with plain and serrated blades. Evertime, the plain edge cut through the clothing and down the models "bone". The serrated edge didn't cut as deep and did on occassion snag in the clothing. I believe there was a quick post about this over on Syderco's own MBC forum.
 
Thanks for the informative post, Dirk. It is nice to get some info based on a test rather than speculation. But I am still curious as to why Spyderco chose the serrated edge for the Civilian knife. Maybe it was the best choice given the shape of that particular blade?
 
When everything goes well I would expect a serrated blade to make a wound that bleeds more than a plain edge. If the serrations are reasonably shallow and sharp I would only expect snagging if you hit something like buckles or other equipment, not on cloth. When your SE is dull or the teeth are deep it can snag on clothing. A dull SE will cut better than a dull PE, but it is more subject to snagging, so this advantage comes at a price.

When things get harry you may only get to connect with weak slashes. These are likely to be most effective if you have a very sharp SE. So I would keep my SE sharp or not carry it. On the other hand I use a coarsely sharpened PE in actuality. I find it more generally useful and easier to maintain.
 
Don't pay attention to the self appointed experts here, go with the advice of experts that are recognized in their field.

If you know a martial art that uses knives, use the knife recommended by your instructor.

If you don't have any training, use what the FBI etc. suggest, which is Civilian/Matriarch type of blade. This type of blade was developed by Spyderco in concert with law enforcement to be a "last ditch" self defense weapon that needs little if no training to be effective in subdoing/removing the threat. The Civialian/Matriarch has a serrated edge that should be kept sharp by only using for defense.
 
Well, here is yet another thread I should have never read. I've found out I need a Spyderco Civilian!
 
As was stated, the Civilian is truly a self defense tool. It was meant as slash and dash, as has been mentioned. It can be deadly, but realistically the average untrained person would have a hard time making a lethal cut with one. It will provide a painful cut. That is the entire point. Get the BG off you so you can beat feet. Law enforcement lessens their exposure by using a Civilian as a last ditch SD tool.

As with anything you do for self defense. You have to determine the right tool for you, based on what your needs are. You need to get a some level of training and practice to stay familiar with what you select.
 
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