Serrated edge or not?....

G

Gonzzo

Joined
Nov 19, 2008
Messages
33
Hello:

I wonder if you could post your opinion on having a serrated edge as a outdoors, small survival knife. I am thinking of getting a esse 3mil, and am wondering about the pro's and con's. Care to educate me?.

Thanks.

Gonzzo.
 
Personally i would go without the serrations. Never been a big fan of them and for most tasks, a well sharpened plain edge blade will cut anything just as well as serrations. That is unless you're going to be cutting through rope all day.
I will say this, however, the serrations on ESEE knives are hands down my favorite due to the fact that they can be sharpened on a regular bench stone.
 
Unless it is a saw, I stay way from serration. Pain in the ass to sharpen, takes away most of the slicing edge of the knife, it goes on and on. Some people might like it for cutting rope, and etc., but not me. Serration is useful for rescue tools, i.e. cutting seat belts. I do not find it useful on a survival knife, and it just makes for a bad survival knife.
 
Just to echo a lot of what has been said, I used to tend towards partially serrated blades, thinking that they gave me some sort of versatility. I no longer think that--I don't really think there is anything that a plain edge can't do but a serrated one can do. Rather, it is just a matter of a serrated edge being quite a bit better for certain tasks (cuting rope, straps, synthetic materials, and some other stuff), but being much worse for a lot more tasks that are going to be a lot more commonplace for a hunting/camping/survival type knife. But a serrated edge is also a lot harder to sharpen, and (I think) a lot more prone to edge damage, chipping, etc., and you these are two major liabilities in any "survial" knife. I want something that I can sharpen on a rock if need be, and something that can take a strong, durable edge that can handle abusive tasks if need be.
 
There are times when I like serrations. But for me it is all or nothing. I hate partially serrated blades but I have a full serrated tenacious that has been getting a lot of pocket time lately. For the most part I like just a sharp plain edge but I cut a lot of 1/2 inch plastic banding that holds conduit together and the SE really shines at that. For hunting or camping though I think PE is much better.
 
Personally, I think serrations are great! Provided their on the spine of the knife. This way I still have the full cutting edge, but I can use the serrations whenever need be.
Also, I've seen several knives on which the serrations were not sharp. These, I think (I've never tried this on an actual knife, but I plan to on my knife I'm currently working on. I've done a few tests), are not overly difficult to make. While working on the knife in an annealed state you can take a file and basically you file them in using the edge. Don't do really big serrations because when you actually try and use it on a branch it'll get caught up. Make a lot of them and make them small. Also, you should make that the edges of the serrations are facing the point, otherwise it won't bite unless you're pulling towards yourself.
Hope this helps!
 
i would only ever consider a serrated blade as a pure Yachting knife. serrations are useful for cutting rope. even then, i'd probably use a boring old Mora Clipper 860 or similar with a plain edge.

for everything else, a plain edge knife is better in every way.

cleaner cuts, easier to keep sharp.
 
plain edge.
on a 3" blade going combo means you don't have enough of either to do a decent job.
OTOH, the ESEE serrations are perfectly sized for making sparks on a ferro rod.
 
I normally don't like serrations. However the ones on my vintage Cutco deer skinner is super sharp. It works great, really good fixed blade.Overall though A plain blade is better. imo

cutco.jpg
 
Looks like i have my answer, Plain edge it is!.

All arguments make sense and are logical, plain edge is the way to go. I kinda leaned that way but needed that push.

Now, how do you feel about clip point blades?....:D


Thanks.

Gonzzo.
 
This to me is a mixed bag depending on use. For my EDC I keep coming across plastic shipping straps that take more effort to cut even with my sharpest of plain edge blades, serration tear thru quick and with little effort. Also heavy rope...webbing...vines...saw thru sheet metal, double walled corrugated there are a lot of areas I like serration. But some companies make serration far better then others...Spyderco...awesome..will saw through everything with little effort. They have there place and I have found over time using a plain edge in more places then I expected.
 
I have a Cutco Hunter that is serrated. It is without a doubt the sharpest knife I have ever owned. I don't know how they do it, but the Cutco knives do hold an edge for a long time!
 
I prefer a plain edge blade. Last year I tried the Victorinox Soldier 09 as outdoor folding knife. Although the blade cuts well, I couldn't sharpen it in the field. So I changed to a knife without a serrated blade after the blade of the Soldier got dull. I've always used knives with plain edge blades and those blades can handle all tasks I use them for. Like others said, I think a serrated blade is particularly useful for cutting belts and ropes, so as part of an emergency/rescue kit or climbing equipment I'd recommend adding a serrated blade. But not for general use.
 
Here is a good link showing serrations can work. Another thing to note is that the serrations on the ESEE's can be sharpened as a plain edge, much the same as Chris Reeve's serrations.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=782139&highlight=serrations

Serrations have a purpose, I like them and have a fully serrated delica 4 that I have gotten back to shaving sharp...after years of screwing it up...but it has a certain place in my uses. It wont function as well as a plain edge (PE) in skinning. A well known maker (cant remember who) and I have found that serrations tend to bind on the fur of animals, a plain edge will do better at this task. Now if I have to open hundreds of feed bags, cutting zip ties for hours give me a serrated edge any day of the week over a PE.

Many people feel that a SE is so hard to sharpen. I did to, I never wanted another SE knife in my life. Then I started using buffing wheels and I can say that now I am considering getting a SE military and PE where previously I would have only gone for the PE.
 
the only real advantage to serrations is cutting rope. i've tried it in wood , meat , & cardboard & results were poor.--dennis
 
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