Who here has both a plain and a combo edge RC-3 and which one do you find yourself using more? I have a plain edge that I use at work for jobs a folder just can't do and at times wish I had some serrated edge to get through some hard to cut surfaces. Any of you guys dig having the serrations on the RC-3 or 4?
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RC-3 with Serrations
- Thread starter bobnery
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- Feb 28, 2007
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- 9,786
I have a plain RC-4 and serrated RC-3. I have to say that I came with a real bias against serrations. Don't get me wrong, I like them, but I think that optimally they should cover the whole blade.
In testing out the RC-3 with serrations though, I cannot find any downside to the presence of these things. The RC-serrations behave differently than other serrations do, such as spyderco's. They don't seem to catch like more aggressive serrations do and are really easy to tune up. In Jeff's words - just sharpen them like you would a plain edge knife. For these bigger 'teeth' this works great.
This weekend I tried shaving wood with both the serrated part and plain part. I was able to shave with both parts of the edge equally, whereas this isn't usually the case in more aggressive serrations. In fact, the shaving was better on the serrated part - but I suspect that is because of the greater power in my stroke being closer to the handle.
In doing the things that the serrations are designed for, like cutting rope and seatbelts, the serrations work very good. I don't think the RC's are quite as efficient as something like a fully serrated spyderco model, but the teeth do bite hard into rope. I was going through 1/2" anchor line with relatively little effort on this knife. A plain edge can be just as good, but it has to be razor sharp at the time of the cut for ropes.
So all in all - for the RC-3 I'd recommend the serrated version. I use my RC-3 for a greater diversity of applications since it is an EDC knife and the serrations come into play more often in these varied cutting applications. For the RC-4, my intended use is still primarily wood/bushcraft type applications so plain edge is still my preferred style in this sized knife.
If I had to replace my RC-3, I would probably go with the partially serrated version. I have to stress that I don't think I would have told you the same thing before I had the opportunity to try out the serrated version though. This product really did change my mind on the subject.
In testing out the RC-3 with serrations though, I cannot find any downside to the presence of these things. The RC-serrations behave differently than other serrations do, such as spyderco's. They don't seem to catch like more aggressive serrations do and are really easy to tune up. In Jeff's words - just sharpen them like you would a plain edge knife. For these bigger 'teeth' this works great.
This weekend I tried shaving wood with both the serrated part and plain part. I was able to shave with both parts of the edge equally, whereas this isn't usually the case in more aggressive serrations. In fact, the shaving was better on the serrated part - but I suspect that is because of the greater power in my stroke being closer to the handle.
In doing the things that the serrations are designed for, like cutting rope and seatbelts, the serrations work very good. I don't think the RC's are quite as efficient as something like a fully serrated spyderco model, but the teeth do bite hard into rope. I was going through 1/2" anchor line with relatively little effort on this knife. A plain edge can be just as good, but it has to be razor sharp at the time of the cut for ropes.
So all in all - for the RC-3 I'd recommend the serrated version. I use my RC-3 for a greater diversity of applications since it is an EDC knife and the serrations come into play more often in these varied cutting applications. For the RC-4, my intended use is still primarily wood/bushcraft type applications so plain edge is still my preferred style in this sized knife.
If I had to replace my RC-3, I would probably go with the partially serrated version. I have to stress that I don't think I would have told you the same thing before I had the opportunity to try out the serrated version though. This product really did change my mind on the subject.
- Joined
- May 25, 2007
- Messages
- 15,113
my son carries my RC4 w/serration and he use it as the firesteel striker...
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2008
- Messages
- 1,825
Would you mind explaining this to me? I haven't owned a serrated knife in a while because they are so damn hard to sharpen. How does the "serrated" part get sharpened?
On another note, I just purchased an RC-4 and its amazing. Now I need to get the whole set.
Here's an article that I found interesting and it might be useful in the decision making process. For a general purpose knife, I like the idea of giving a plain blade a rougher, less polished edge.
http://www.agrussell.com/Articles/a/108/
It would be interesting see see stats/demographics on plain vs. serrated.
http://www.agrussell.com/Articles/a/108/
It would be interesting see see stats/demographics on plain vs. serrated.
R.A.T.
Randall's Adventure & Training
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2004
- Messages
- 10,400
If you look at how our serrations are made, there is still part of the plain edge extending all the way through the serrations. So when you set up to sharpen the plain edge portion, just let your hone go all the way back and across the serrations. What this does is sharpen the point where the rounded part of the serration meets the flat part. That point is what does the cutting on our serrations.
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2003
- Messages
- 170
I'm taking this statement to heart, but I always have the serrated blade on my multi-tool to fall back on, and serrations seem to get in my way more than they don't.
I can appreciate how the RC serrations behave differently than "normal" serrations, but for me the ideal configuration would be about an inch of plain edge forward of the finger choil for detail work, then the RC serrations, then the rest of the edge plain.
Make me one in a 3/16ths RC-5 and I'll buy it.
PS: The serrations should be on the correct side of the blade, instead of wrong-sided, like they are now.
You know...Emerson-style... 
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