Serrated knives, why do you need them?

Well, some facts....

1. I did a fair amount of time in our nation's Navy.

2. "Rope" is rope, until you put it on a boat, when it then becomes "Line".

3. I've cut lots of rope and line in my Naval service.

4. When I got out, I went to work on the docks, where you cut rope, line, net, cargo strap, zip ties and the like daily, and voluminously.

5. And now I play around with net fishermen who cut net, line, rope, lead line, cork line, and such on a daily basis.

6. Serrated blades have their place in knife-dom. This is a fact, and it is irrefutable.

7. If the OP doesn't want a serrated knife, he/she doesn't have to get one.

8. The OP obviously has a narrower frame of reference than some of us other folk.

9. And apparently that's alot of folk.... 'cuz they sell a buttload of serrated blades out here in the real world.

Just here to spout some facts.
 
I have spent the last 24+ years in the US Navy, serving on ships, small boats and land based units, and have found serrated knives work beautifully on rope (line), seat belts, straps and webbing.

Bread knives are typically serrated because they cut cleaner on soft bread without crushing it (usually).

I find they are less effective cutting meat, foam, paper sheets, laminate.

In the end, personal choice and the right tool for the job.
 
Velitrius said:
Well, some facts....

1. I did a fair amount of time in our nation's Navy.

2. "Rope" is rope, until you put it on a boat, when it then becomes "Line".

3. I've cut lots of rope and line in my Naval service.

4. When I got out, I went to work on the docks, where you cut rope, line, net, cargo strap, zip ties and the like daily, and voluminously.

5. And now I play around with net fishermen who cut net, line, rope, lead line, cork line, and such on a daily basis.

6. Serrated blades have their place in knife-dom. This is a fact, and it is irrefutable.

7. If the OP doesn't want a serrated knife, he/she doesn't have to get one.

8. The OP obviously has a narrower frame of reference than some of us other folk.

9. And apparently that's alot of folk.... 'cuz they sell a buttload of serrated blades out here in the real world.

Just here to spout some facts.
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Hey that's fine, this is what I wanted to hear, what people use them for in the real world, I haven't found I needed one for my personal knife use. So yes I'm asking for people to tell me why they use them.
Also just because something exists it doesn't mean it's useful because people buy it, there's a lot of Justin Bieber Albums in peoples houses too. Also a lot of gas station knives with questionable designs, it doesn't mean they are needed just because people own them.
I'm not saying there is 100% no use for a serrated blade, I'm saying I haven't found them essential knives that I have had to go and buy, or felt compelled to add to my collection for functional use. So I wanted people to list tons of practical uses for everybody to read. This doesn't have to be a serration hate thread, if you are a fan of serrations then this can turn into a serration appreciation thread, where I get schooled into learning the real ways of the serrated blade.
Lots of people seem to be listing some very practical sounding uses for them, from Navy rope cutting (which I kind of guessed would be one hence my joke about CS rope cuts in the OP, also cutting meshing is an interesting one.
Take it easy, points 7. / 8. / 9. could kind of been condensed into 1 bullet point, you padded those out a little.
 
Velitrius said:
Well, some facts....

1. I did a fair amount of time in our nation's Navy.

2. "Rope" is rope, until you put it on a boat, when it then becomes "Line".

3. I've cut lots of rope and line in my Naval service.

4. When I got out, I went to work on the docks, where you cut rope, line, net, cargo strap, zip ties and the like daily, and voluminously.

5. And now I play around with net fishermen who cut net, line, rope, lead line, cork line, and such on a daily basis.

6. Serrated blades have their place in knife-dom. This is a fact, and it is irrefutable.

7. If the OP doesn't want a serrated knife, he/she doesn't have to get one.

8. The OP obviously has a narrower frame of reference than some of us other folk.

9. And apparently that's alot of folk.... 'cuz they sell a buttload of serrated blades out here in the real world.

Just here to spout some facts.
Click to expand...

No Naval experience, but I've spent a lot of time around sailboats, including as an instructor. The distinction I'd always heard was that it's "rope" when it's "unemployed" (coiled in storage) and becomes "line" when you assign work to it (e.g., dock line, spring line, etc.). It may be that the Navy uses the same distinction, but doesn't put any rope onto its vessels that isn't pre-assigned a job/purpose.
 
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OrangeBlueOrangeBlue said:
No Naval experience, but I've spent a lot of time around sailboats, including as an instructor. The distinction I'd always heard was that it's "rope" when it's "unemployed" (coiled in storage) and becomes "line" when you assign work to it (e.g., dock line, spring line, etc.). It may be that the Navy uses the same distinction, but doesn't put any rope onto its vessels that isn't pre-assigned a job/purpose.
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Hmm. No recreational boating experience really, but when we said "rope" in the Navy we meant the metal stuff, wire-rope. Cable, some folks call it.

Basic marlinspike seamanship is all I really tackled, and never really delved deep into the hows and whys of the nomenclature when I was in. Now when I got out and worked on the docks, I do recall running into a "rope locker" once. So I suppose it really was rope while it was in the box and became line when you got it our and put it to work. That was a commercial fishing vessel, and I don't know if there really is such a thing as a rope locker or if that's just what the owner of the boat called it.

Really wanted to get into sailing boats when I was stationed in Cali, but I never did. It looks like a blast.

On topic, I bet serrated blades would make short work of sail cloth as well. Don't know how much ever needs cut though.
 
yard work that involves thicker branches, rope or that stupid weed whacker line....that's when I'll use a serrated blade
 
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Velitrius said:
I bet serrated blades would make short work of sail cloth as well. Don't know how much ever needs cut though.
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They definitely do, which is why I have a Spyderco Atlantic Salt Spyderedge on my life jacket. It's pretty shallow and muddy where we sail, and I've seen boats capsize and get their masts stuck in the mud. Luckily I don't know of anybody having been trapped under a sail when it's happened, but I wouldn't want to be the first. I'm probably going to switch to the Swick 6 when that becomes available, since it's a fixed blade and has the retention ring.
 
I worked with heavy equipment for years and did a lot of tree work. For 20 years or so I carried a Spyderco Large Dyad. I used the serrated blade far more than the straight edge blade. It ripped right through all manner of things from rubber hoses to torn mudflaps, broken conveyor belting and zip ties, reinforced nylon canvas, ropes, anything that needed to be cut now. Even though I used it all the time the serrated blade rarely needed to be sharpened either, even after cutting open numerous old half empty sandbags and mudflaps covered with dirt.
 
in addition to what has been mentioned, serrated knives tear flesh & viscera differently (more haphazardly - less likely to be repaired) than non serrated, which is why you will see some self defense knives promote serrated edges.
 
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It’s a super simple answer for me:

-wet things
-fabric
-bread

oh also it makes H1 worth owning!
 
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I can see a need for serrated blades but not as my main folder.

When I was growing up we had something called a cold-cut knife to slice bread. It had very fine serrations and worked better to slice bread than most bread knives.
 
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DMG said:
Sorry to bring this back on topic.


As a mechanic, I have found that serrated or partially serrated is best for my work knife. Lots of zip ties, plastic, cardboard, and sometimes wire.


I am still looking forward to my first knife fight. I’ll be the guy with the Glock.
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Oh yea which glock the 78 or 81 im assuming the 81 since its got a saw or serrated back
 
Goose 7279 said:
Oh yea which glock the 78 or 81 im assuming the 81 since its got a saw or serrated back
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I think he was being sarcastic about all the 'knife fighters' and meant that at any knife fight (or self defense eventuality) he'd be the guy with a pistol, not a knife. :thumbsup:
 
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bigfish said:
I’m a linesman, work in off-shore and on tug/supply vessels. Nothing beats a serrated knife in emergency cutting a line.
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Silent H said:
They definitely do, which is why I have a Spyderco Atlantic Salt Spyderedge on my life jacket.
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I'm another Navy vet. I carry a Spyderco Pacific Salt H1 folder in my canoe/kayak/powerboat life vests. Nothing cuts a line quicker and easier in an emergency (except for an axe...).
 
I prefer fully serrated knives for EDC, the only problem is.......there's not a ton to choose from, Spyderco and Cold Steel

Might just get my mid-techs and higher end knives sent away and done in fully serrated.
 
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