Serrations or not serrations

g23.40sw

g23.40sw

Joined
Jul 2, 2009
Messages
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I am thinking of getting an ESEE 3 or 3MIL. I'm having a hard time deciding on whether or not to get serrations. This will probably be my edc knife. Will the serrations affect batoning? Are the new serrations easy to sharpen? For the last questions is the usual reason I go with plain edge, but like what serrations can do for you. Any thoughts, suggestions and reasons appreciated.

Thanks
 
ESEE serrations are a lot easier to sharpen than most, you can pretty much sharpen it the same as the rest of the blade, I don't see them affecting your batoning much if at all. If you feel like they really give you an advantage or you know you will use them frequently, I say get 'em. Otherwise plain edge works for everything I use my knives for, even rope, webbing a cordage. IMO
 
+1 with what Spenceds said.
I've seen where some folks use the serrations for making fuzz sticks and also for their fire steel, but for the most part I find plain edges more useful.
 
I'd go with the plain edge, but that's a personal preference. If you have experience with sharpening serrations and find they come in handy for the tasks you do frequently, then by all means get them. Most of my knife use is in wood and food, both areas in which I feel serrations are not very useful. It's all up to personal preference.
 
Plain edge. Serrations don't really add anything to a blade in terms of performance.

And now for a "Let's Be Real" moment: Everyone who says serrations makes cutting rope and cordage easier? Uhhh, my plain edge rips through rope just fine; and I've cut plenty of rope.

In my opinion, serrations are just for looks. Justification? I can do everything with a plain edge that you can do with serrations.
 
ans7812 said:
Plain edge. Serrations don't really add anything to a blade in terms of performance.

And now for a "Let's Be Real" moment: Everyone who says serrations makes cutting rope and cordage easier? Uhhh, my plain edge rips through rope just fine; and I've cut plenty of rope.

In my opinion, serrations are just for looks. Justification? I can do everything with a plain edge that you can do with serrations.
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Serrations are for people who don't or can't sharpen a knife plain and simple IMO. The only application I use serrated knives for is kitchen and steak knives where you're cutting into hard crust bread or are cutting on ceramic plates.
 
Shotgun said:
Serrations are for people who don't or can't sharpen a knife plain and simple IMO. The only application I use serrated knives for is kitchen and steak knives where you're cutting into hard crust bread or are cutting on ceramic plates.
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Agreed. I wasn't even thinking about the kitchen. Now that I am, that is the only time I use serrations also. Otherwise they're useless.
 
I knew I could count on the wisdom of you all. This just confirms my thoughts. Thanks for the help.
 
I do not care for them, and other than my steak knives I do not own a single knife with them.
 
I've owned a couple of knives with serrations. Probably never buy another serrated knife. As Ans7812 says, plain edge will do anything a serrated edge will.
 
Serration vs. plain edge ,
Plain edge wins out more often then not because it is much simpler to deal with.... no matter what task lays before you.
but SE takes some thinking for most to understand their positive use as well.
SE I have ESEE3 I use outdoors to make notches and simple things as such but my main pro for the SE is to use as a firesteel/Ferro rod striker, no damage to the PE portion of the knife edge or no removal of paint on the spine.... with the serrations you can use them on the fire steel without worry of damage ,use the SE to make fuzz sticks etc and still have plenty of PE left over.
 
texastonydobbs said:
Serration vs. plain edge ,
Plain edge wins out more often then not because it is much simpler to deal with.... no matter what task lays before you.
but SE takes some thinking for most to understand their positive use as well.
SE I have ESEE3 I use outdoors to make notches and simple things as such but my main pro for the SE is to use as a firesteel/Ferro rod striker, no damage to the PE portion of the knife edge or no removal of paint on the spine.... with the serrations you can use them on the fire steel without worry of damage ,use the SE to make fuzz sticks etc and still have plenty of PE left over.
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I can make fuzz sticks no problem with a plain edge. Also, (I guess this comes down to preference) I strike my fire steel with the spine of the knife. If not scratching the spine of a knife (that is meant to be used anyway) is the only advantage of using 1/4 - 1/2 of a blade for serrations, I will still take a plain edge any day.
 
Plain edge wins every time, in my book. The PE does anything a SE can do, if maintained properly. Maybe not as good with somethings, but it can do everything.
 
I did not say SE was the all time best ,I have 90% PE ESEE knives but I do have a 3 & 4 that have SE and I do like them as well.
I do not own a SE folder.... all folders are PE
 
My general rules of thumb are that it depends on where I will be using or expecting to use the knife more and how many knives I'll be carrying. I see very little advantage to serrations when with organic materials materials... though I do think they come in handy for making some things with bamboo....so I think a "woods" knife is likely better without them.But... I do see a lot of good uses for them when working with synthetic materials in an urbanized environment, so on a knife I intend to be used primarily in an urban environment I definitely like serrations. If I have multiple knives on me one will always have serrations.
 
I really dislike serrated blades in general, however RATESSE are the best in the business IMO. I had a RC6 w/serrs and I ended up removing them, shown in a thread last year. I just like to use the blade nearest the grip and do not like serrs in that spot. If only RATESSE would make a blade with serrs tip forward, I would buy that in a heartbeat!

RATESSE is growing on me....humm
 
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