Serrated or Straight Edge, How to Choose??

N

Nalapombu

Joined
Oct 26, 2001
Messages
303
Hey all,

I have been thinking of getting a new folder or 2. Right now I have 3 Spydies, 1 has the Spydie edge and the other 2 have the plain edge. I like them all, but I have been thinking of getting a Police model and I cannot decide whether to get a Spydie edge or go with a plain edge.
What criteria do you all use when deciding on what type of edge to get on your carry knives? Is one better than the other? I know that the plain edge is easier to sharpen and maintain, but is that the only advantage that they have over the serrated edges?
What do you think? Any advice you can give?
Thanks for the help.

Nala
 
We have a section here all about these kinds of topics with articles and write ups. I'm sorry, but I have trouble posting links, but It's accessable from the home page. I think the link is "Knowledge" or something.

Edit:

I was reading Larry's link and I found this:

"We also found that a serration can be used to make a very poor quality steel appear to be much more effective."

Hehe. Interesting....
 
Form follows function. Currently, which knife do you get more use out of? That will propably give you a good idea about which one you should lean towards (unless you have a specific task in mind.) I for one feel that the Police is large enough to accomodate a 'combo edge.' I usually do not like them because it leaves one with to little serration; but with that knife there would be no problem at all.
-KC
 
I carry fully serrated Spyderco along with whatever plain edge I'm in the mood for, so obviously, I agree that there's use for both. Like Knifeclerk, I don't really like partially serrated because there's usually not enough room for each to be as useful as they should be. But, like he said, the Police is a sizable knife, and Spyderco does give serrations the room they need (as they should, the practically re-invented the dang things :p ), unlike some other companies.
 
imho some knives look best serrated, some look best plain edge, imho the spyderco police looks best SE, along with the endura, civilian, delica and ayoob. give me plain edge on the military, ATR, and most others.

SE is harder to sharpen, but ya dont need to sharpen as much imho. both the SE and PE will cut fine, for really fine stuff a PE is better, for a mostly hard use utility knife SE is hard to beat imho.

for me its mostly aesthetics, the plain edge police model looks funky to me..........

just depends on what ya like
 
I suppose that every member on the forum has went through the serrated vs plain-edge dilemma at some time.

What I've learned that works for me is to determine how I plan to use the knife.
I only use a serrated blade when I need to cut/rip through something that would easily dull a plain-edge (like dirty carpet or plastic zip-ties).

But for my everyday cutting, or cutting that needs more precision, I'll choose a plain-edge.

So I always have a plain-edge in my pocket for my EDC and I keep a serrated blade in both cars and in the garage inside my tool-box.

Good luck,
Allen
 
I like the fact that my EDC has a partially serrated blade. Unlike some gus, I carry only one knife, and it suits me to have both. It seems that serrations stay wicked sharp for longer sometimes, compared to the rest of the blade. Good luck!
 
I have one serrated knife. It's a fully serrated Spyderco Delica that I keep in the console of my car in case I ever need to cut someone out of their seatbelt. Otherwise, I don't use the knife.

I could have gotten a dedicated "rescue" knife (I do have a BM hook), but the Delica should do the job and it was inexpensive. YMMV

Other than that I belong with the plain edge crowd. If I need a toothy blade, I have a course stone and can add micro-serrations to any blade I own.
 
this discussion had been done a 1000 times all over the internet's knifeforums.

it depends on what you do most with it. if you cut a lot of hard plastic everyday a serrated edge might be indicated.

but overall, personally i don't like serrations at all. they can't do anything a plain edge can, apart from being able to keep cutting longer because of the teeth. a serrated edge suc** as* with many tasks, such as precision straight cutting, whitling, peeling fruit,.....

imo, a serrated edge is for specialized chores. a plain-edge is an allround do-it-all. go plain.
 
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