I agree I just wanted to try the ESEE serrations. I am looking forward to trying them out. However as they point out here: http://www.knife-depot.com/knife-information-70.html you can achieve a serrated like edge even on a plain edge with different sharpening. I have never done that but it does seem to make sense. Have any of you ever done this " rough up one part of the edge on a file, to get a knife that will excel at push cuts at one point of the blade, and excel at slicing cuts at another " as they described?
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Serrated or Non-Serrated... that is the question!
- Thread starter Dishonor39
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I agree I just wanted to try the ESEE serrations. I am looking forward to trying them out. However as they point out here: http://www.knife-depot.com/knife-information-70.html you can achieve a serrated like edge even on a plain edge with different sharpening. I have never done that but it does seem to make sense. Have any of you ever done this " rough up one part of the edge on a file, to get a knife that will excel at push cuts at one point of the blade, and excel at slicing cuts at another " as they described?
the 3mil is probably the only one in the lineup i'd consider with serrations. that knife was made for urban/tactical environments and it just seems to fit. personally, i edc a folder with serrations, so i wouldn't want or need another blade on me with them.
EricV
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I'm not a big serration guy but I'll throw my .02 in.
A Plain edge is great and perfect if its sharp, they really do do things better than a partial SE (coming from a guy who cuts a ton of thick rope)
The selling point on serrations though is that they will cut when dull, and a PE simply won't. I've dulled the heck out of my rc3 cutting concrete bags open, well, mostly stabbing through them once it got dull. But the SE section still cut the utility rope I needed to cut after, where as the PE section wouldn't cut paper. In an extreme survival situation, I'd prefer a combo edge, just for the added ability to cut when the PE part is dull.
For a city carry I'd go PE though.
A Plain edge is great and perfect if its sharp, they really do do things better than a partial SE (coming from a guy who cuts a ton of thick rope)
The selling point on serrations though is that they will cut when dull, and a PE simply won't. I've dulled the heck out of my rc3 cutting concrete bags open, well, mostly stabbing through them once it got dull. But the SE section still cut the utility rope I needed to cut after, where as the PE section wouldn't cut paper. In an extreme survival situation, I'd prefer a combo edge, just for the added ability to cut when the PE part is dull.
For a city carry I'd go PE though.
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+1
If you are the sort of person that will keep your knife sharp then I'd go with plain edge - I don't personally believe that there is any gain in serrations compared to a SHARP plain edge.
I live in a city and in 10 years of carrying a plain edge & a serrated edge on my Leatherman Wave I haven't needed the serrated edge blade yet! My plain edge blade is VERY sharp and will cut paracord very easily, I don't need a serrated edge for cutting synthetic fibres. I don't think that living in a city = cutting rope for several hours every day, so I'd say that for the random cutting chores that the plain edge can handle everything that you need it to.
im reading and i still dont see very much concerning Pros Vs Cons of either ? the only thing ive found is that a plane edge is easier to sharpen but you can cut easier w/ a dull serrated someone mind making a Pro Vs Con list ? im kinda new to knives and i was wondering the same about getting the esee 5
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Plain edge will always be easier to sharpen than serrated. That said, my understanding is by design, ESEE's serrated blades are a little easier to sharpen than most.
In the end though, a plain edge can still do everything a serrated blade can. It may do it somewhat slower in some respects, but it can still do the job for sure.
I fall in the plain edge camp with all my knives. Just never had a need for a serrated blade. I like my plain edge 3-MIL a lot.
In the end though, a plain edge can still do everything a serrated blade can. It may do it somewhat slower in some respects, but it can still do the job for sure.
I fall in the plain edge camp with all my knives. Just never had a need for a serrated blade. I like my plain edge 3-MIL a lot.
Mistwalker
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Serrations will do things like saw through PVC pipe and thin metals a lot quicker than a plain edge and for things like that I prefer a 50/50 edge on a knife I carry in an urban environment.
Yes, I have to have some serrated knife on my for an EDC. I'll carry a plain edge as long as I have a serrated folder backup.
All of 80% of my folders have serrations.
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I prefer the saw on my LM Wave - since I carry the Wave everyday I always have that saw with me. The file can also be used to cut metal, I'd much rather use that than a knife. No saw? That's easily fixed - buy a Victorinox Farmer.
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I generally didn't care for serrations, not because they didn't perform, but because I found them tricky to sharpen properly in the field. However, I won a serrated RC-3 here on the forum and I have grown really fond of the ESEE style serrations. They can be sharpened using the same methods as a straight edge and they really zip right through fibrous stuff like rope. I have also found that they seem to make certain tasks like making fuzz sticks easier which may be because the serrations are ground very thin.
For general use, I think that I still prefer a plain edge, but well executed serrations like the ones that ESEE uses can really be handy.
For general use, I think that I still prefer a plain edge, but well executed serrations like the ones that ESEE uses can really be handy.
Would you mind sharing your method for sharpening ESEE style serrations? I was going to buy some DMT Diafolds (or try my sharpmaker) to use for sharpening them but would love to hear what you use.
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I like non serrated knives better.
Mistwalker
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Oh, I have Vic and Wenger Swiss Army issue knives, Soldier and Ranger respectively. I love the saws on both but I like the one on the Ranger more because it's bigger, and both of them have 50/50 edges on the primary blade. I have a SOG power-lock also, but having dealt with interesting situations in urban environments before I still prefer my edc fixed blade to be 50/50 too. I have had occasions where expediting the solution meant sharing my tools.
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The beauty of them is that you don't need a specific method. I use whatever I have on hand - sandpaper, Spyderco Sharpmaker, a DMT Dia-Fold, regular stones, etc.
I'm always one of the exceptions in these threads, the guy that likes a partially serrated blade for some things. Many of my knives have them (if they were available). I like it because it gives you options. I learned this dressing deer. Splitting the pelvic bone and ribs are easier with serrations, acting a bit like a saw, rather than a plain edge. I also like it for rope, cord, and some other materials.
Will a sharp PE do the job for most things (maybe even everything)? Sure it will. I like PE blades and plenty of those too. Will some jobs be easier with serrations for some things? I think so. My 3-MIL is the one knife I will absolutely take for my walk in the woods. I may have another knife or saw, I may not, but the 3 is going. So I need it to do everything.
SP
Will a sharp PE do the job for most things (maybe even everything)? Sure it will. I like PE blades and plenty of those too. Will some jobs be easier with serrations for some things? I think so. My 3-MIL is the one knife I will absolutely take for my walk in the woods. I may have another knife or saw, I may not, but the 3 is going. So I need it to do everything.
SP
Yeah man I'm with you brother! We are the darkside.....where serrated blades rule the land and the plain edge blades get scoffed at. My 3mil-s is my current EDC along with the Izula II or BK11/ESKabar. I have to have a serrated blade on me........I just think it increases options and I sometimes have another smaller fixed plain edge somewhere with me. It allows me to carry multiple knives and have a reasonable explanation for doing so as well.
Agreed... I carry a pocket survivor saw if I need to cut through wood and the like, so a plain edge is what I go for most of the time. :thumbup: