Serrated vs. Plain edge

M

MaineEdge

Joined
Dec 12, 2006
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10
I was just curious what people prefer in there mid sized fixed blades - partial serration or just fine edge? I am planning on buying an Ontario Knives RAT 7, or a RAT 5 (or perhaps some other brand in a similar size) for use as a basic survival/camping knife. I will bring th knife when I go for long hikes, deep woods canoe trips, and camping. Thanks in advance.

(Also, is there a way to upload images to the forum? Or do you need to have the image hosted somewhere and just link to it?)
 
I don't like serrations on fixed bladed field knives. Serrations take longer to dull completely, but they also defy simple resharpening. Another problem is that the serrations are usually near the handle, where they are actually the least useful to employ efficiently.

Lastly, they theoretically weaken the knife, providing a spot that will possibly chip out easier during batoning or other tough use.

My serrations are on a Leatherman Wave blade if I really need that capability.
 
MainEdge--

Welcome to BFC!

Check out the Search function: serrations are a frequently-discussed topic here and in most discussion groups here at BFC.
 
Watchful said:
MainEdge--

Welcome to BFC!

Check out the Search function: serrations are a frequently-discussed topic here and in most discussion groups here at BFC.
Click to expand...


Ditto:thumbup: Serrations are a pain in the a$$. Welcome to BF. The search tool is yoru friend;) :D
 
I Don't Like Serrated Blades. If You Know How To Sharpen And Maintain An Edge On Your Knife, A Serrated Blade Is Not Needed. If You Find Yourself In The Need To Cut Something With A Serrated Edge Then You Probably Need A Hacksaw To Do The Job. Just My .02.
Randy
 
for a general use knife i have some serrated blades my spin on them is that they are good for cutting fibrous type of material like rope, a dive knife would be an example of a knife i would like to be serrated as you might get fouled in a net and have to cut your way out.

for outdoors and hunting activities the serrations seem to be more of a hindrance than a help. you will have a hard time skinning game, or quartering a deer with a serrated blade. i dont like them for these chores.

i choose my tools for the tasks anticipated.

alex
 
I like fine edge blades, full length, all the way. I've messed with some serrated blades, but when they get dull, well...I do like a long serrated kitchen bread knife.
 
Straight blade for me, But I have to say, thouse little fully serrated knives that cost like 3 dollars from victorinox are great little tools. And their fairly easy to sharpen, just run a stone over the back side of them.
 
Fonly said:
Straight blade for me, But I have to say, thouse little fully serrated knives that cost like 3 dollars from victorinox are great little tools. And their fairly easy to sharpen, just run a stone over the back side of them.
Click to expand...

Are you talking about those Vic paring knives? Those are incredible cutters, and very cheap, too.
 
Hey Guys...

Maine...

Stay away from serrations unless your planning on cutting Alot of rope!

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
Yeah, the reason I mention the Vic paring knife is because while in nova scotia a fisherman friend of mine had hand fulls of thouse thing lying around the ship.
 
I have serrations on the knife that resides in my car. I like the versatility of the design and the ease of cutting hoses or belts that may need to be removed or trimed.
 
Smooth edge for a large outdoor knife. I have a partial serations on my edc and a serrated blade on my rescue gear, but for camp chores and bush craft straight edge is the way to go
 
Since there different cutting techiques depending on the task at hand I use both types of blades. For tasks requiring push cutting I find the plain edge works the best. For cuts that must be very fine and precise it again is the plain edge. For aggressive slice cutting I like the serrated edge. A 3.5 inch serrated edges has about the same cutting edge as a 4.4 inch plain edge. It has infinite bevel angles and approaches the material to be cut from many different angles. Combo edges are a good happy medium and that's what I frequently carry. I don't think either one is better than the other. It just depends on the task they are being asked to carry out as to which works easiest.
 
A friend and I have a running feud on which is better. He says when you have to dive into 45F water to cut the rope out of your prop, you want serrated. I say that a serrated knife is only useful when it is quite sharp, and most people do not sharpen their serrated knives frequently. I have both but prefer the fine edge. I bought a couple Vic paring knives, 1 of each, to play with. For my money, I will take the fine edge. The only caveat being, many boat people keep a serrated knife that never gets used on their bibs, the premise being that if they get caught in the anchor rope or long line, it will always be there and be sharp.
 
After putting a particularly keen edge on my Ka-bar (uh...marine style combat knife?) I am forever sold on the uselessness of serrations. Rope that took 3-4 full swipes on my hald serrated 3.5" folder was nothing for the Ka-Bar (you'd think its the 7" blade, but it didn't even use half a swipe!).

If you plan on cutting fiberous material, it would seem the best bet is to do final sharpening with a courser grit on a fine edged knife to get those wonderful microserrations.
 
Definetly a fan of plain edge blades, especially for small to mid-sized fixed blades.
 
I find my self NOT choosing a knife that has a partial serrated edge (as in leaving it in the sock drawer). When I need a serrated edge outside the kitchen, I have a separate knife. The large SAK with a separate serrated edge is not a bad idea; then you have a useable blade in either configuration rather than some hybrid that works poorly for either.

I have a number of those Vic paring knives. Pick them up when I go to Smokey Mt Knife Works. Always keep new spares available.
 
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