Serated versus plain edge

I'm strongly with David Rock (and ultimately with Sal) here. I find partially-serrated to often be the worst of both worlds. I'm carrying around a big blade, but it acts like two separate itty bitty blades! I'd much rather carry around two knives, one fully plain and one fully serrated. Now *that* is the best of both worlds! The Dyad is a pretty cool little knife, and solves the problems elegantly, IMO.

Joe
jat@cup.hp.com
 
I strongly plead the 5th....because I don't believe you all....doesn't matter anyway, cause what works for some just won't work for some!!!But yes, the Dyad is cool..but then so is a Socom part serrated, hey, but so is a Sebenza...I'm so tired I haven't slept a wink..I'm so tired my mind is on the blink
biggrin.gif
 
When I first saw the mini Dyad in a mag. I had to see it in person. I must admit, Both blades are about the perfect shape, size and everything. What disappointed me about the knife was how gigantically thick it was. I would have bought it that second if it were'nt for that and the weight.

Sal, I think you are right that this knife solved the question between serrated ,straight blade, or combo edge. Are you ready for my not so humble oppinion on what would fix it???? Well, here it is anyway!

The Dyad would be the perfect knife if it were two knives. What I mean is sold in a matching set or something. I personally would also prefer liner locks, screw construction, and at least ATS-55 (or is it already 55????)

My favorite of the two blades is the serrated. Does anyone else think it looks like an alligator? It took me a few minuets to figure out that the reason it gets thin and then thicker again was to allow access to the hole in the other blade.

Sorry for being so picky but I guess that's what this forum is for? To air out our oppinions.

Ps. I don't think making this knife into two defeats the original purpose of it. I'd love to have a classy matched set of folders. Especially if they were serial numberd.

------------------
Brent

Playing with sharp toys for sharp boys... uh, and girls I guess?
 
Snickersnee,
You have been a longterm Project I user, and have occasionally found the serrations useful. If you were getting another Project I and had a choice, would you get it with or without the serrations? If you would keep the serrations, would they be in the same place?

I like the part about the way they can be sharpened as if a plain edge.

Sal, what several hours have gone by and no comment?...must be getting ready for the Blade show. Wish I was going. now how do you do that green with envy "smiley"??? I know I have seen one....

I did think the Dyad a great idea, I only briefly saw one in a display case, and it did seem rather thick. I believe it was the junior model, if I understand Sal's post there is now a full sized model.
 
Sal, is the full sized Dyad out already? I have been waiting to replace my old Rescue with the it as my car knife. Let us know. Thanks.

------------------
James
 
Thanx for the input. The Mini Dyad (now called the Dyad Jr.) was too thick. It was the pilot for the new version, which should be out just before Christmas. The new version is an FRN version, no clip. Lighter, larger holes, easy to drop in the pocket and have 4" of edge (plain and serrated) and politically correct. I have flown into and out of most countries with the Dyad Jr. with no problems. It doesn't say "dangerous", but does provide a good deal of cutting power per weight.

The full size Dyad should be out late fall. two blades (3.4" plain with choil and very fine tip, 3.75" serrated sheepsfoot. Lotsa cuttin' power in a package not much larger than the Native. We're also curious to see response. It is a departure design, but it makes sense.
sal
 
Sal

I thought the Syderco Dyad was the best of both worlds and was going to buy one, but now I think I will wait for the new model. I am a newbie here and do not understand some of the terminology you used. Is there a Faq or something to explain?
Thanks,
Mikal
 
Does FRN mean Zytel? The new jr. version sounds like a great new high-tech version of a traditional "Congress" pattern pocketknife. And if it's thinner, it looks like one is in my future. Dang it! Now Spyderco's got me wanting something else!:O
wink.gif

Jim
 
I have a Victorinox Hunter which has both plain edge and serrated edge. Although the serrated knife on Hunter is curved, I tried slicing paper with it, and it was even sharper than the plain edged one and ran smoothly. I've realised that, although the wavery edge of Victorinox serrated knives are not as aggressive, they are sharp enough to be used like plain edged ones, and they saw smoothly instead of like an aggressive serrated blade. I am actually quite happy with the way Victorinox makes their serrated. However I never had an idea of how to sharpen the serrated with Victorinox sharpening stones... That's why I tend to use serrated only when it's necessary. However I usually protect my knife blades and keep them sharp for as long as possible and handle them with care.

------------------
Unseen
 
Sal most excellent my friend! This is why Spyderco is so successful, you listen and get the job done!(helps to have the resources too)
biggrin.gif
JamesY is right, now lets see:
1)The Starmate
2)New Lg. Dyad
3)Cadet?(sm. Military)
4)New fixed blade Spydie???
5)oh yes The Worker2000

wonder what else Spydie has in store???

[This message has been edited by Bartman (edited 06 June 1999).]

[This message has been edited by Bartman (edited 06 June 1999).]
 
Gentlemen, IMO a combo-edge is neither the "best" or the "worst" of two worlds. It is a compromise and like any compromise it has its' place in the world. A person that feels it is the "best of two worlds" is probably doing a variety of cutting and in that case the knife is fulfilling its intended role. A person that thinks it's the "worst of two worlds" would either tend to do one kind of cutting or carry both fully-serrated or plain edges or doesn't like the limitations that a compromise invariably has.
In any case, whether you like serrations or combo-edges or whether you are a diehard 'antiserrationist' - just be glad we have all the choices we now have.

------------------
Bill
"Walk softly and carry a big folder... and a small folder... and a SAK... and a multi-tool..."
 
Donald;

To answer your question, if the serrations on my Project 1 were not able to be sharpened on a falt stone, my answer to the question of keeping the serrations would be a resounding "NO!", the advantage just isn't that great to offset the difficulty of resharpening for me. As I have said before, I'm not anal about edge retention, I can bring a knife's edge back to razor sharp pretty quick. Likewise, I wouldn't want serrations on any more of the blade than they already cover(I wanted to say "infect", but that's too harsh
smile.gif
!).

That said, I have found them to be of some small utility, mostly in starting a cut on some resiliant material, hide or otherwise. I think I would definately get another Project should this one get lost/worn out/broken. And yeah, I think I'd keep the serrations as is. I'm not really a serration fan, but to my eye, these are serrations done right.
 
About four-five years ago I purchased dozens of Benchmade folders as I was going to a major gun/knife show is SoCal. I purchased only a few knives with partially serrated blades. These sold quickly, the plain edges moved slowly. I have some humble opinions about serrations. (1) Many blades with tiny notches are impossible to sharpen at home or in your shop. Even with triangular sharpeners. Because the stones will NOT fit into the tiny notches. (2) Most users are right handed and the serrations are on the left side of the blade. (3) Most of us cut with the knife at an angle to the wood or whatever it is we are cutting, using the inner part of the blade close to the bolster or guard. Thus, these serrations cannot dig into the material easily. We seldom use the forward part of the blade with its plain edge when cutting in this manner. Were the serrations cut into the right side of the blade, they would perform better. Ditto makers who sharpen edges on only one side; They usually sharpen the left side of the blade, and when right-handers use the knife, cutting at an angle away from themselves, the edge won't dig in. But, these are MHO.
 
Snickersnee, thanks for the info. I guess I'll have to save for a Project I, and won't need to ask if it can be had without the serrations. [Of course like any good forumite, I might ASK anyway in the CRK forum!] I love that spear point if my smaller Shadow III is any indicator. It is ground just right.

I was at home so I could have gotten any tool, but I used my CRK Shadow IV to cut a large palm frond to allow it to be bent or cut into pieces small enough for the trashman to take. It was relatively soft, but fibrous. I think those serrations might have come in handy...of course with a knife that size I might have chopped instead of sliced.
smile.gif


(CRK tip of the month: you can get a Sebenza with a ambidexterous titanium opening stud, i.e. on both sides of the blade. I wish I had known before,
frown.gif
so I'll repeat it a few places.)
 
Mark,
You like, strike that, LOVE combo blades. Do most knives have them in the right place for you? Why or why not?

I received a new credit card and thought I would perform a mini-knife test on the old one that needed to be disposed of....yes strong scissors/clippers would have been more pratical, but hey see the thread defining knifeknuts!
wink.gif


I used a Small Sebenza and sliced through it with some effort. I then took a small serrated knife from a manufacturer that we all know and love. It worked too, but I did not find that it was any better. I also had more control problem in cutting.

In other words, both knives required a fairly hard slice in this relatively hard material and the serrations grabbing did not help. Perhaps a serrations fan would feel differently. The small size and proximity of my hand made a difference too. On something larger where a sawing motion could be used, serrations might have been useful.
 
That's the dirty secret of serrations. They work better on some things, worse on others, and no different on yet others. They're a little better when just slicing through large amounts of soft material or sawing through rope. A little worse with precision and chopping. Just about the same for opening mail. Net result:

Take'em or leave'em, unless you find them personaly anoying or are going to be using it in circumstances that accentuate their strong points. For general use, I'll take plain edge ever time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top