Return of the plain edge?

K

Knife Outlet

Joined
Jan 4, 1999
Messages
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In 1999 about 60% of the tactical knives we sold were plain edge and in 2000 about 70% were combo or serrated. Over the past month, though, the tide seems to have reversed seriously. We've sold nearly 85% plain edges over the past month and we've even sold more natural than black blades. Is this a trend?


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Fred
Knife Outlet
http://www.knifeoutlet.com
 
I'm not surprised. I think that serrations are not as popular because now that they are more common, people realize their limitations and understand that they can be a pain to sharpen.
 
I can only speculate (fortunately I love to speculate). Serrated and coated blades show their disadvantages with wear. How do you sharpen the serrations when they get dull and how do you restore your coating when it gets damaged? If you have a wave of buying serrated and coated knives, you are likely to see a wave of disillusionment to follow. With some increase in knife owning sophistication your customers may decide that they could resharpen a smooth edge and repolish a scratched uncoated blade.

If these theories are true, you will see that a lot of the plainer blades are being bought by customers who previously bought serrated and/or coated blades. You might see higher proportion of serrated and/or coated blades bought by first time customers.
 
Originally posted by Jeff Clark:
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Serrated and coated blades show their disadvantages with wear
Well, Coating will wear no matter serrated or not.

How do you sharpen the serrations when they get dull
Personally I use Spyderco 204 for kitchen knives & DMT diamond serrations sharpener on my other blades. So far so good
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and how do you restore your coating when it gets damaged?
Beats me
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Though for example Chris Reever offers to do that for you. & I really like their Kalagard coating, w/o that A2 would be more vulnerable.

you will see that a lot of the plainer blades are being bought by customers who previously bought serrated and/or coated blades
Done that too, most resent example would be getting Nimravus in plain after having Serrated, yet my working blade is the serrated one, though I rarely use serrated part.

IMHO serrations are quite useful addition to the utility knife. I am not trying to restart serrated vs. plain debate, it's not gonna change anyones mindset anyways
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Have Fun,
Alligator

[This message has been edited by Gator97 (edited 09-21-2000).]
 
Personally, I think this is a good thing. While serrations have their uses, they are the exception, not the rule. Besides being easier to sharpen, plain edges are far more useful. Serrations are also currently being viewed in a more aggressive, antagonistic light by lawmakers and the general public. I think you will also see a trend towards shorter blade lengths in the future.

Paul
 
I appreciate serrations for the quick work they make through fibrous material. And yes, if you have a serrated knife for the love of all things sharp get the Sharpmaker from Spyderco!!!!!! Sharpening problems solved.

But, I am tired of black black black half serrated black black and extra black knives!!!! Cool and all tactically looking, but red is the classic color for a sports car because when driving, say, a Viper, the red LOOK GOOD and so makes you feel good. Also, red isn't as threatening as black.

Take a tactical knife a year ago and it had to have black g-10 scales and a coated blade, which also had to be black. Now people wan't color because colorful knives are more enjoyable to use. That is why my second folder purchase was a Sentinel with an uncoated blade. Man that blue liner is sexy!! The last folder I was craving was the Benchmade 940 which again has an uncoated blade, GREEN handle maderial with a PURPLE liner!!! Looks good to me!!

Also, I have noticed on the shop talk forum over the last few months the question of whether brown, tan, and similar colors of Micarta look good has been asked a number of times. In addition, there is some rumblings about wanting more rag micarta, which I would love to see more of myself.

One further point I'd like to make is that (I believe) purchasers of tactical knives are realizing that they haven't the need for a tactical knife as perhaps a Seal, SWAT member, rescue person, etc. would need so compromises can be made. For example, red handled Sifus! You get the performance of a tactical knife with added flair.

Look at civilian swords versus military swords from the late 1600's to the 1800's and you will see that superbly constructed examples can be found from both categories but you can find many 100% functional civilian swords that are also awesomely adorned, jewelled, engraved, etc.

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"Come What May..."
 
Hey Fred..

I agree completely....

Combo blades in my opinion are a pain in the Arse...

The serrations are right where I do alot of my work...

When in the field,,you won't catch me dead with a serrated blade. Have absolutely no use for them out there..

At work I carry a Combo but rarely use the serrations except to cut string or sumptin like that....

Give me a plain uncoated blade Anyday....

ttyle Eric...

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On/Scene Tactical
Leading The Way In Quality Synthetic Sheathing
 
Fred - this doesn't surprise me either. I used to be into the 50/50 blade format but not anymore. I like 'em either plain or fully serrated, thought these days I am buying more plain that I am serrated. I think folks are tiring of the black blades as well (I know I am). I guess we've come full circle then!

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AKTI Member # A000005
NC Knife Knuts Member
Living life "on the edge"

In memory of James K. Mattis
 
I own and use full serrated hal serrated and plain bladed knives, with a sharp plain blade my favorite as far as the most utility.

Now (and this is Bill's idea if I remember from a while back) if something could be offered to fill in all the clip holes in knives that would fit flush against the handles.

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" The real art of living is too keep alive the longing in human beings to become greater versions of themselves." Laurens Van der Post.
In memory of James Mattis
 
SOG, Gerber and Junglee offer boot/boat knives with a plain edge on one side and a serrated on the other. I think that the Junglee is AUS-8. Boot/fighting knife aside, the design seems like a handy one for use around rope, fabric and such, while still offering the all around useful plain edge.
 
Frankly I'm getting tired of serrations because you can't shave your arm with them. 90% of what I do with my knives is sharpen them and shave the hell outta my forearm. Can't do that with serrations.
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But seriously, serrations just aren't as practical, nor are they very good-looking. At one time serrations might have been a sign of a good knife, but now they are more a sign of a cheap one.

I also find myself growing tired of plain black handles and drooling over 'traditional' styles. Wood, stag, horn...etc. I guess the knife community is ready for a change.

BTW, I NEVER liked black blades. Steel is meant to be shiny and forever more, in my pocket, it shall be.
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[This message has been edited by Disco Stu (edited 09-21-2000).]
 
What are we talking about here, serrated edge on knives? My favorite topic!
A topic that has bugged me forever and a year.

I have never had any problem cutting anything with a well sharpen, plain edge knife. Ropes of all kinds, leather, seat belts, skin (oops!), apples (ever try to peel an apple with your serrated edge knife and you know where they always put the serration don't ya? that's right, where it will get in your way).

I understand that there are uses for the serration and people who like to have them on their knives and that is fine with me but, give me a choice! Some company like Gerber, SOG and Kershaw would produce knives like the Gerber Applegate folder, SOG Navy Seal, SOG Jetedge, Kershaw Plier and would only offer them in the combo edge. Well, I love these knives but I will not, repeat, will not but them because I DO NOT like serration.
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What is the deal here? Anyone know how many type of serration there are? How come these companies that produced these things do not offer products that will sharpen their special style of serration? Will they offer special tool that will sharpen the serrated edge and plain edge on thier combo edge knife? Please don't make me carry two different type of sharpening tools through the woods when I already have to worry about the weight of my backpack. I am aware that spyderco produce tools to sharpen their product but, ever try to sharpen those fine tooth on your Cold Steel serration? Sure, you can always send it back to the factory to have it sharpen for you for free and get it back tomorrow.

I hope I have not offended anyone.
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Thanks for reading.

Shay

P.S. anyone want to talk about chisel ground blades?
 
I don't need or buy serrated knives.I do buy black coatings on blades for the added corrosion resistance they offer,real or imagined.I only buy stainless steel knives and I wonder if the various maker's coatings are helping me much.I do think they detract from the appearance of a knife in all instances.
 
Personlly, I think serrations do have a place and -- regardless of what some purists say -- can outperform even a well sharpened plain edge on SOME applications.

However, like Dexter Ewing, I now tend to avoid 50/50 and opt for either a plain edge or fully serrated.

As for serrated edges not being able to cut hair? Try a serrated Spyderco. Like butta'!
 
Really, serrated blades work better in some applications. For ex. cutting car seat belts with short (3" or less) blade I can cut it with single cut in any position with serrated blade. Using plain blade I need to "catch" belt edge first and then I can cut the rest with easy. On the other hand slicing in the belt plane without cutting the belt edge first requires much more strokes.

And now imagine yourself being heavily shocked (maybe even wounded) sitting in very uncomfortable position (maybe even upside down) in crushed car, which can burn up each moment (or already burns)...
This is the main reason why my SPYDERCO Dyad Jr. Lightweight is stuck to my old Ford Escort steering column in position to reach serrated blade first in any circumstance.
 
Sergiusz, I don't want to start a huge debate here, but try sharpening a plain edge knife to a very plain edge. My testing on car seatbelts has shown that an extremely coarse edge (locking SAK sharpened with the fine file of the Victorinox SwissTool) out-cut a Spyderco (don't know which one, but the blade was approximately the same length as the SAK's) serrated knife. The Spyderco was only partially serrated, so I only used the same length of the SAK's blade. The SAK cut more with the same stroke. Using the full blade length, it cut the seatbelt in one swipe. The Spyderco probably would have done the same, had it been fully-serrated. I still prefer the coarse plain edge, as it will not do as much damage to soft tissue, such as skin, so use in a rescue situation has less worry.

--JB

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e_utopia@hotmail.com
 
Serrated edges have been used for years on kitchen knives. The idea is to keep much of the edge away from the cutting board since the cutting board dulls an edge a lot faster than food. They've been called things like "never needs sharpening."
You know the drill.

Since few people sharpen knife blades, at least the serrated edges cut for a longer period of time since they are protected from the cutting board. The use of serrations on sporting knives is a more recent phenomenon. Wasn't Spyderco a pioneer in serrated sporting knife blades in the 70's?
Since sporting knives aren't usually used against a cutting board, I've always marvelled at how popular serrations have become.

I think it's probably stretching things to say that a serrated edge will outperform a properly honed plain edge on a sporting knife. But it will certainly outperform a dull plain edge in the kitchen or anywhere else. I guess serrated edges are a good choice for folks who can't or won't keep an edge sharp. I would think they would be inappropriate for the folks who frequent this forum. Perhaps that's being born out by our recent experiences. Take care.


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Fred
Knife Outlet
http://www.knifeoutlet.com
 
Knife O,

The serrations provide a longer cutting edge over a given blade length. Your 6" blade with serrations may have the same length of cutting edge as an 8" flat edge. I would rather go with the large flat edge knife. Non-the-less, serrations add performance, but at the expense of making sharpening that much harder, and making the cutting action irregular and harder to control.
 
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