I know a lot of people don't like serrations on their folders, myself included, because they are a huge pain to sharpen. However, i'm curious as to how many of you prefer serrations on your fixed blades, specifically outdoor knives. I'm thinking the serrations might be useful for sawing through thicker branches that you can't hack with a khurki. Thoughts?
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Serrations on fixed blades?
- Thread starter ayz
- Start date
Not to be rude, or OT, but if you can't hack it through with a Khuk, you either need an axe or a real saw. I would think that serrations would be hard to sharpen in the field, and on the spine they would only limit your ability to baton through material. Just my thoughts.
Sincerely,
Anthony C. Paulin
Sincerely,
Anthony C. Paulin
I am gonna have to agree with the previous posters. If you can't hack through it with any large fixed blade serrations won't do you much good. Especially if you conisder that you really won't be getting much serrated to work with on a combo edged blade.
That doesn't necessarily mean that serrations can't be useful on a larger fixed blade. I suppse that they might offer an advantage if you don't have any means of sharpening in the field. I just generally don't like them though.
That doesn't necessarily mean that serrations can't be useful on a larger fixed blade. I suppse that they might offer an advantage if you don't have any means of sharpening in the field. I just generally don't like them though.
i don't like serrations. not on a folder and certainly not on a fixed. fixed blades are all about raw chopping power. no person in his right mind will try and "saw" with his serrations on his 7" fixed blade. it's just too slow and tiring and it doesn't do much good. chopping and hacking is what it's all about.
just as a side-note i'd like to examine the "serrations-are-a-pain-to-sharpen"-statement which is often mentioned. i have only one knife with serrations, a spyderco delica, and i find it's a actually very easy to sharpen, i think even easier than plain blades. just use one of those triangular thingys and give a few rubs on each serration at approx. the right angle and you're done.....right? i sharpened my fully serrated delica a couple of days ago with a lansky triceps, or whatever that thing is called, and got it razor-sharp within 5 minutes. it was real easy actually.......
just as a side-note i'd like to examine the "serrations-are-a-pain-to-sharpen"-statement which is often mentioned. i have only one knife with serrations, a spyderco delica, and i find it's a actually very easy to sharpen, i think even easier than plain blades. just use one of those triangular thingys and give a few rubs on each serration at approx. the right angle and you're done.....right? i sharpened my fully serrated delica a couple of days ago with a lansky triceps, or whatever that thing is called, and got it razor-sharp within 5 minutes. it was real easy actually.......
I actually prefer not to have serrations on a fixed blade, especially one I use for camping, hiking, etc.
However I do have a next gen. kabar in D2, it has the serrations, but I have to say I have never used the serrations before. Its a good knife, the serrations have not gotten to much in the way, but I would prefer it without them.
However I do have a next gen. kabar in D2, it has the serrations, but I have to say I have never used the serrations before. Its a good knife, the serrations have not gotten to much in the way, but I would prefer it without them.
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- Mar 26, 2004
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Combo edge serrations are a real PITA in the field. They get in the way of push cutting and fine work, as well as chopping. The back of the knife is the place to put serrations, if you must have them. You aren't going to get a hell of a lot of use out of them though.
dennis75 said:
Ahh, true. Well sort of anyway, ever try sharpening those serrations on a flat benchstone? Wouldn't think it was that easy then I bet! I mainly use a Sharpmaker to shapren my knives, and from what I understand it makes easy quick work of serrations (I don't own any serrated knives so I wouldn't know). If I were to be going out hiking or camping I would probably choose to carry something like a DMT folding diamond stone. Small, light and no worries about it breaking if dropped or knocked around.
As for serrations on the back, I have heard that a poorly made and designed saw bakc can weaken the knife, and actually cause it to break if used to chop. I guess serrations wouldn't be that bad in those terms, but sure would be more of a pain than a help in my mind.
ErikD said:
Serrations arent that hard to sharpen, with the right tools (i.e. sharpmaker or triangular stones.)
I think the point is that in terms of effectiveness:
1. If a Khuk cannot chop through it, it is big!
2. A saw (longer the better) will outperform serrations every time on large pieces of wood.
It's not that serrations are hard to sharpen, but that a saw will do far better than serrations for the situation mentioned (i.e. chunk of wood too big for a chop).
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To add to what others have said:
1. If you can't chop it up with a khukri, it's too big to cut with a knife. Get a bow saw or carry a portable folding saw like the Sawvivor.
2. Most sawbacks on knives are designed to cut soft metal (e.g. airplane skin), not wood. The teeth don't have any offset and clog readily, from what I understand. That being said, there are some sawback knives that are designed to cut wood. Placeknives has posted pics of very nice custom knives with sawbacks designed for woodcutting.
Jeremy
1. If you can't chop it up with a khukri, it's too big to cut with a knife. Get a bow saw or carry a portable folding saw like the Sawvivor.
2. Most sawbacks on knives are designed to cut soft metal (e.g. airplane skin), not wood. The teeth don't have any offset and clog readily, from what I understand. That being said, there are some sawback knives that are designed to cut wood. Placeknives has posted pics of very nice custom knives with sawbacks designed for woodcutting.
Jeremy
I don´t like serrations in any knife though I can see they may be useful at times or for specific use, perhaps in a diving knife it may a good idea to have double edge serrated and plain or some serrations on the spine.
For thick branches I don´t see the serrations useful, if you don´t have a good chopper or saw, make a couple of "V" cuts on opposite sides of the branch (or around it, sort of like a beaver cuts trees) with you plain edged knife and break the branch off.
Luis
For thick branches I don´t see the serrations useful, if you don´t have a good chopper or saw, make a couple of "V" cuts on opposite sides of the branch (or around it, sort of like a beaver cuts trees) with you plain edged knife and break the branch off.
Luis