Serrated vs Straight

Z

Zeppelin

Joined
Oct 5, 2003
Messages
153
I still haven't ordered my new Delica yet, probably will tomorrow, but now I'm starting to think about what kind of blade. My old one was serrated, but I can remember many times when I would have preferred a straight, non-serrated blade. So this leads me to think maybe a half and half, but is there enough of either type of edge on the blade to get the good out of it? I might just go ahead and get the serrated one since I keep a very small Case peanut in my watch pocket almost all the time for light tasks and for sentimental reasons. I've had that knife since I was 8 years old. Anyway, I'd appreciate your opinions on edge types.
 
You should search on this one. This may be the most discussed knife subject ever. I think the general consenus is that If you know how to sharpen, plain edge is better for most everyday cutting jobs.
 
Zeppelin,

Welcome to the forums!

Is most of your cutting push-cuts or pull-cuts? For push cuts, I'd recommend plain-edged. For pull-cuts, I'd recommend serrated or plain-edged.

The plain-edged Delica is a very aggressive slicer, but if you normally used your older Delica to cut things like rope or plastic, the Spyder-edge serrations are a wonder to behold.
 
If you know how to sharpen get a plain edge. If you saw through a lot of rope or other fiber just use a medium grit hone instead of a fine hone. This will give you agressive slicing action.
 
OK, you wanted opinion and here it is. I think partial serrations (half and half) are the work of the devil. They're the worst of both worlds, with one edge type just getting in the way of the other in each of their respective elements. Whatever you do don't get anything partially serrated. I prefer a straight plain edge for EDC, because I very very rarely ever need a serrated edge. However, fully serrated blades have their place, and it's nice to have one as a backup. So in your case, having that Peanut for EDC tasks, fully serrated may be the way to go. I have a FS Delica and it's a great knife, except for the the currently jacked up clip. The blade is awesome though.
 
Out of 100+ knives, only three aren't plain edge

-LCC Manual action= Bought it b/c the price was outstanding
-Buck Crosslock= Same reason as above ($5 shipped :eek: )
-CRKT Grey Ghost= This was one of the first knives in my collection


I personally do not care for serrated or even part serrated blades. Plain Edge knives make nice clean cuts and are allot easier to sharpen. I would agree that its nice to have at least one for cutting rope, but thats as far as I will go with them. It's really a personal preference.
 
the following is just my opinion, and your mileage will certainly vary:

i've got a handful of knives. after my first two purchases, which were both combo-edge blades, i have now converted to plain edges. like some others have said before me, unless you're planning on doing a lot of "saw" cuts, you won't find many uses for the serrations. plain edges are obviously easier to sharpen, and i think the blade will wear more evenly than a combo-edge (unless you use the serrations as often as the plain edge).

i'm a big-time loser, and as such i find the combo-edge on knives enticing strictly in the aesthetic sense (as in, "woah, that blade looks vicious!"). heaven forbid i'd actually buy a blade based on it's usage! :rolleyes: (though i'm getting better at it!)

my suggestion would be: get a fully plain edge. you won't have any regrets, and keeping your edge even and sharp will be a snap (at least, for amateurs like me). perhaps above all, go with your gut on this one, and congrats on your latest acquisition, whichever you decide!

abe m.
 
I think plain edges look nicer, are easier to sharpen, and IMHO are better for SD. Also the sheeple factor, serrations scare the non-knife peoples. Only one of my MT's is 50/50, and it is not a user. everything else PE or FS.
 
I'd regardless whether you could sharpen it, go for the PE. PE is more versatile in comparison to the SE, and unless you're using it for SD only (which hope to god you won't use it much), the advantages of SE blades isn't worth it over the lost of versatility.
Combo edges are usually too short on both types that it isn't really worth it.
 
I knew you were going to get a lot of responses favoring plain edges, and at least a few that said don't ever get combo edges because they're "the worst of both worlds" or somesuch.

Me, I favor plain edges because
1) they give clean cuts
2) the cuts don't "push" toward the side opposite grind, since the grind is symmetrical (except on chisel-ground blades)
3) I do not want the hassle of sharpening serrations. That blows.
4) althought I don't really care what others think, serrations are more likely to scare people who see me using a knife

I DO like combo-edged knives, but I prefer those who have at least 50% plain edge. I like the fine control of cutting with a plain edge, but I don't want to have to carry an additional knife if I need the cutting toothiness of serrations. Since I don't sharpen serrations until and unless they really need it, I can content myself with having the plain portions maintained extremely sharp.

Since I'm quite good at sharpening, I generally get most of my knives in plain edge now. You really can't go wrong with plain edge if you know how to keep a great edge of a knife.

---Jeffrey
 
Try doing a search. This topic has been covered many, many times.

Personally, I feel that plain edge is more versatile, though serrations can sometimes be useful.

I will never buy a knive with a combo edge, which I consider to be the worst of both worlds.
 
I've taken to carrying a serrated edge knife as well. A while ago, I wouldn't have been caught dead with an SE, however, since I always carry a SAK, I use my serrated for all the hard cutting chores and the PE for the more delicate tasks.
 
Over the years, I've went back and forth on my opinions of plain-vs-serrated-vs-combo, and here is what I've come to believe:

After carrying a Spyderco Rescue for about a year, I decided that a fully serrated knife is just too limited. They cut tough material like crazy but they're not good at all for detail work.

A very sharp plain-edge is very good for nearly every type of cutting until it gets dull. A dull plain-edge will not cut material nearly as well as dull serrations.
Another problem with the plain-edge is that it sometimes slips off or slides across certain material (like slick plastic) instead of cutting the material. Serrations really bite into the material.

So with that in mind I have come to prefer the combo-edge.
The plain-edge portion allows for fine detail cutting and is very handy.
The serrated portion is great to have when it comes time to cut up really tough abrasive material (like carpet and fiber re-enforced tape).
Having the combo-edge is great when you don't want to carry two knives and you want an EDC that can tackle about any task that comes along.
I've never had to cut anything where the combo-edge prevented me from completing the task.
However, when I carried a 100% serrated blade I sometimes had to go and get a plain-edge to do the job, and the opposite was true also.

Keep in mind that I don't think the combo-edge is best for knives with rather small blades (like under 3").

Good luck,
Allen.
 
Another vote for "do a search", I´ve considered putting my opinion in a text file to cut and paste whenever the subject comes by.

By the way, I don´t like serrations, depending on use I can put a smooth edge or a coarse edge, my EDC is a three bladed stockman and I keep all blades with a smoooth edge, I put a coarse edge on some knives that I use in the kitchen and some that I use for rope.

I have a couple of partially serrated blades but can´t say I like them either.
 
I'd much rather be cut with a plain edge I'll tell you that much - the other day I sliced my finger with a spyderedge ...
MAN DID THAT HURT !!!!!!!
 
Straight edge or serrated edge, I do NOT understand why there are so many reports in Bladeforums of people cutting themselves accidentally.

Maybe I'm just "not enough of a knife knut" or something, and don't play "enough" with my blades to have gotten cut... but I rather think that it probably just comes down to attitude toward these tools, and the inherent safety (or lack thereof) in our practices.

I do not cut myself. Period. I don't put any part of my body in the path of my blades. I do not flip knives around, open or closed. I do not attempt to use dull blades. If I am doing something with a knife and I need to manipulate something else, I put the knife DOWN.

To me, these are probably the practices that keep me from injuring myself, and would keep others from injuring themselves if they also adopted these practices.

I think that people who put themselves at risk suffer the consequences, and those who don't suffer are not special, and are not "lucky," they are just responsible for keeping themselves out of harm's way. I likewise do not play with my guns in a reckless manner, and I don't tempt fate by pointing loaded guns at parts of my body, or put my hand or face in front of the muzzle. Common sense, people.

I don't mean to disparage or insult those who have had legitimate accidents involving knives, and I hope I don't sound like I'm gloating or condescending. Actually, I hope that many of you agree with me -- or can give good reasons why you don't, that perhaps I haven't thought of. But those who have caused their own injuries through actions that would objectively be called "risky," "stupid," "reckless," "immature," or "foolish"... you know who you are, and you should be ashamed.

---Jeffrey
 
Zepplin
Take the easy route and get one of each for your EDC. Serrations excel when used on tough fiberous materials such as ropes, seatbelts and the like, Plain edge are in their ellement for most other tasks. A partially serrated blade will drive you crazy and is last resort if you only want to carry one blade.
Good luck on your choice.
 
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