Recommendation? SERRATED VS PLAIN EDGE WHICH IS BETTER OVERALL EDC

I have an old Puma Bowie knife with the very fine serrations. No doubt useful for cutting rope. But I don't know how I would ever sharpen them. Ever so tiny teeth ... super fine. But I like it. I got it as a kid nearly 45 years ago as a kid for maybe $40. Nowadays add $200.

This one:

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Unless you need to cut fibrous materials, serrations seem to be more trouble than they're worth - however they go through rope and related materials much better than a PE in my opinion.

If you are generally not cutting fibrous materials, then a plain edge serves many purposes better than serrations and is easier to shapren.

Though you "lose" the bottom portion of the blade for whittling and other fine tasks, a partially serrated blade is a very good compromise.

The ideal of buying a pair of RATs does make sense.
 
I have 1 partially serrated knife. (Excluding kitchen knives).

I can sharpen serrations well.

As others have said, if you don't plan to learn to sharpen them, get plain.

Serrations like Spyderco uses are more use friendly(the points are less prone to break off, if you hit bone, wood, wire, or other hard material).

Serrations like Cold Steel uses are NASTY in cutting. Biting, shark snapping serrations. But, they have rather delicate points.

They grab, bite and tear excellently.

If I were going to use it in a fight against a heavily clothed individual, I might take the cold steel serrations.... on a fully serrated blade.

Rope, seatbelts, clothing and meat, are all good targets...

Many others use serrations that are a bit more utility friendly. Spyderco is one example. Still great cutters, still better in rope, webbing, etc. Little easier to maintain.

I have spent a long time not buying serrations. But I have a few and sometimes reach for them.


Normally, I have a handful of plain edges on me, and a full serrated blade on my Leatherman.
 
I carry a plain edge as an EDC but have rebuilt my multi-tools to only have serrated blades. That way I am covered no matter what.

I also have a combo edge Griptilian that I rarely carry or use.

It really depends upon how you use your knife. If I worked in the construction trades, I think a combo edge would be better. For me, and how I use a knife, a plain edge works better.

What do you normally use a pocket knife for?
 
I like plain edges more overall. Easier to touch up, and cuts everything I’ve ever had to just fine. On the particular model you’re looking at I’d go with a plain edge.

Combo edges are actually kind of handy, and I really used to like them. I’ve stripped a lot of wire with the serrations, plus it’s a quicker, maybe not so pretty cut when you need it. Lately I’d rather have a either a fully serrated blade or a plain edge, I haven’t bought a combo edged knife in a long time and I don’t think I would if I had the option.
 
For me, the plan edge wins hands down. If I want or need to use a saw, I'll grab a saw. :)
I've never seen a sharp serrated blade. They "cut" (or more accurately "rip") because they act like a saw. if carving/whittling wood, you cannot get a smooth finish with a serrated blade. I mainly whittle and carve wood (to include feather sticks) with my knives, if not doing food prep.
 
Serrations aren't something to be afraid of. When they're sharp, they can be very effective, even with normal everyday cutting duties. Also, there's generally no more sawing motion required than a plain edge. I've found one major benefit is that serrations grab the material being cut and they don't allow it to slide off the blade.

But, they're not for everyone. One thing to consider is the chisel ground edge -- the blade will want to cut to the side instead of in a straight line like a normal V-ground blade. It's easy to compensate for this and cut straight lines, but it's one thing to consider.


Here are a couple of my videos showing the use and sharpening of serrations. My channel has a few other videos showing a serrated blade in use. (Sorry, I'm new to YouTube and my videography is terrible :oops:)


 
I couldn't decide either. It really comes down to whether you want your knife to slice or shred.
How you start a cut makes a big difference in the follow through.
Even if you get the plain section razor sharp, the serrations still start the cut in a sawing/ shredding way.

Keep in mind, I haven't been able to answer this question for myself either. I find most knives shred with serrations and slice well as a plain edge.
I'm stating the obvious somewhat, but my point is that it's difficult to get the best of both worlds in every cutting task you come across; I assume this is the idea behind a combo edge.
I often get tired of my partially serrated PM2 because I get some of both worlds, not the best of both worlds.

Personally I carry both plain and fully serrated. I need both at different times of the day, and neither one will properly fill the other one's place.
I'm an HVAC tech and it's very easy for me to carry multiple knives with a work truck, tool pouch, and cargo pants.
If you can only carry one, I lean towards the plain edge. Generally a knife will shred or slice better but won't do both equally well.
 
Serrated knives are only for bread in my kitchen & and pro Chef’s as well. They mangle the food... People that cut other foods with a serrated knife are usally to dumb to get their knives sharpened.....Now, for use on a boat/Sailors etc any other use with fibrous materials a 50/50 or all serrated is fine .. I do fine with plain edge cause I know how to keep them sharp... Buy a knife or three & get back to use with how you find it to work!:thumbsup::)
 
I think the idea of buying two of the same inexpensive knives, one PE and one SE, is fantastic. Different companies do serrations differently though, as stated above, so it won't be completely scientific.
 
Two hands down for plain edge, especially for EDC.

I find the use for my serrated edge is few and far in between, and depending on the serration, it may snag on things which is rather annoying. Unless there's a specific need for the combo/serration edge, it just doesn't worth the hassle to use or sharpen.
 
FULL PLAIN EDGE OR FULL SERRATED. NO COMBO EDGE.

<____________________ <-- FULL PLAIN

<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ <-- FULL SERRATED

<__________^^^^^^^^ <-- NO COMBO!
 
AKnife said:
FULL PLAIN EDGE OR FULL SERRATED. NO COMBO EDGE.

<____________________ <-- FULL PLAIN

<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ <-- FULL SERRATED

<__________^^^^^^^^ <-- NO COMBO!
Click to expand...
Especially on a short blade , the combo can be very annoying .

When you really need those serrations , a longer length is necessary to have a slicing action that is useful .

I tend to carry one PE for most stuff and a full serrated blade for special needs .
 
I use serrated knives in the kitchen sometimes. If I'm serving sliced cinder block or braised brick, these babies will cut it.

I do have a couple Victorinox 4" serrated utility knives in the kitchen and they are very handy. The wife can beat them up but I can still cut a slice of tomato.

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They both have their uses certainly. Something like the Cold Steel Lucky is a concept which deserves more appreciation than it actually gets. I've been often tempted, I just wish I could try it out on food and see if that sabre grind gets in the way of slicing. Victorinox have made some SFO's with a full and serrated main blade but it's never been mainstream. A serrated main blade and plain small blade in a SAK does make a lot of sense actually for EDC use. Unless you're a snob like me. :)

Personally I'm a fan of the Victorinox kitchen knife serrations and they are really easy to sharpen using a Spyderco Sharpmaker. There are certain things where a plain edge will slide off regardless of sharpness. Garlic and onion skins for example. A razor sharp plain edge paring knife is a wonderful tool but doesn't hold an edge too long in a kitchen used by the entire family and when it's dull it's frankly dangerous, it will slide even off regular stuff.
 
It depends on what is your every day tasks.

in general plain edge is better.
It is easy to use and to maintain, and it fits most tasks a knife can be put through

mon the other hand serrations are great if you cut through ropes, paracorde or other specific materials on a regular basis
If you don’t then may be not that useful or even being annoying on some occasions

the only “serrations” I have in my rotation is a saw on a SAK that I slip in my backpack when I go hiking

But as I said, at the end it is all about what you will have to do with your tool
 
Since you mentioned EDC, I would go with a plain edged knife since the continuous cutting edge makes them more versatile, with different blade shapes to choose from. Since your main cutting action is to apply steady pressure to perform cuts, a long, unbroken edge lets you perform general cutting tasks cleanly and with minimal resistance.

A combo knife gives you both a plain edge and serrations, but you get less cutting length to work with on each.

Advantages:
  1. The best of both worlds of utility
  2. Saves you from having to carry two knives
Disadvantages:
  1. You lose length for both types of edges, which may hamper cutting action
If you don't want to commit to either edge and want to cover all your bases, then a combo edge would be best for you. In exchange for a slightly shorter cutting length you get to have both precision and bite in a single knife.
 
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