Serrations ?

L

Longstrider

Joined
May 18, 2005
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230
I wonder if you guys see these the way I do ? Only a few of my knives have any serrations on the blade, and under most circumstances I'm glad of it. I find that in my normal, everyday, cutting jobs the serrations are far too aggressive and simply "grab" at the material to be cut rather than actually cutting it. The only exception to this is the serrated blade on my Swisstool. This has a far less "toothy" look to it, more like a scalloped edge than truly serrated, and this cuts like the devil. Ordinarily I find that a properly sharpened plain edge is the best tool for the job. I realise that serrations can be of an advantage for tasks such as cutting relatively loose fibrous stuff like thick rope, but the teeth of the serrations are all too often just too pointed to do anything but grab when I try to use them. In fact, about the only time I use the serratons is to cut packing case banding with a direct pressure cut rather than a slicing action.

How many of you find that you use the serrations on your blades in preference to the plain edge, and what do you use them for ?
 
Longstrider said:
How many of you find that you use the serrations on your blades in preference to the plain edge, and what do you use them for ?
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I like serrated blades and have come to the opinion that it is an either/or kind of thing.

Spyderco makes what I think are the best serrated blades, and I no longer have any need for partially serrated blades.

Almost all of my pocket knives now, just like in my kitchet, are plain edged blades in different sizes and shapes. But serrated knives are essential.

The only thing I have really needed to cut that absolutely could not be cut without serrations was a large hanging palm frond.

Chris
 
I came to the same conclusion and retired my two spyderco,s. I still carry the handy Ladybug but, once you find a really sharp straight blade the serrations become kind of obsolete.
 
I agree that plain blades can accomplish most tasks, especially with the micro-serrations many of us leave behind with our sharpening technique, but you don't necessarily chose serrated with a specialized purpose in mind...like those huge hanging Manilla ropes in the Cold Steel pitch...I never have to cut huge ropes, I don't live on the docks.

I just bought an Endura with serrated edge to add to the rotation. It's a boatload of fun & slashing potential. Not majorly better or worse than plain edge in any particular task. I'm interested in seeing how sharp it stays over time. It's a different cut...you're pressing down and pulling the teeth across the object at the same time...on some materials cutting is surprisingly rapid. Aesthetically, serrated blades can look scarier, look at the Vaquero Grande, or try to imagine a Civilian without the serrations.

I'm rambling. Sorry. Just color me Mr. Pro-Serration tonight. :p
 
I have no problem with serrated blades as such, I just dislike PART serrated blades. As far as I'm concerned you're just getting the worst of both worlds. I only have one such knife and I never use it. It sits in the truck as a sort of "just in case" tool but I haven't touched it in 12 months.
 
My carry knives are both plain-edged. And I prefer the look of plain edges, with the exception of the Spyderco serration pattern.

-Bob
 
I have little use for serrations. Like you've noted, I too find the teeth just grab into what you're trying to cut and hang there mostly. That's my experience with small blades, partially serrated, Like the Cold Steel ReadyEdge. Don't know why I bought that one. It was on sale and looked cute. Pretty worthless for actually cutting anything however - the serrations latch onto anything you try to cut like a crazed pit bull.

On the other hand, I have a long serrated kitchen knife that I love. The serrations are wide and not agressive at all. Slices tomatoes paper thin. Even thought it's a cheap knife, it's the "go to" knife for 90% of our kitchen cutting.
 
I prefer a combo edge. BUT I like the plain edge longer than the serrated, so just incase of a situation/worst-case scenario, the serrated edge is there whenever you might "need" it. Just my opinion.
 
I really dont like serrated knives- In my opinoin, they have ceased to be knives altogether, and become more like saws. A light scallop along an edge might cut ropes better, but the added sharpening difficulty makes it not worth my time.
 
Rat Finkenstein said:
...the added sharpening difficulty makes it not worth my time.
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They sharpen just as easily on any v-rod, most patterns anyway. Some like Cold Steel's are dificult, some like the chisel ground tipped ones sharpen right along with the plain edge section.

They cut some things well, they cut others poorly, they are very durable in some respects, fairly fragile in others. Depending on what you cut they can be of benefit or a drawback.

Choose according to your needs.

-Cliff
 
I don't like serrated edges on EDC's at all. I particularly dislike the "Combo" Edge as there isn't enough of either and I have given away several BM Grips with the Combo.

That being said, I absolutley would not part with the 11" Wusthof Kitchen Knife that is fully serrated. Its the best thing ever for slicing bread, rolls, tomatos, etc.
 
The Last Confederate said:
Hate'em...worst thing to ever happen to a knife.
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I agree completely. That is why I carry a plain edge and a fully serration whenever I go out. Best of both worlds and no compromises.
 
This is how I made peace with serrations. I used a Dremel Grinder to cut serrations one inch FROM THE TIP of the blade of a hawkbill knife (Klein Bros.). This way I can still use the plain portion near the hinge of the blade for trimming and cutting towards the thumb (sharpening pencils, etc.). It works great for cutting rope and other fiberous stuff. I have never seen a production knife with this kind of serration location. It does work better with a curved blade like a hawkbill. If the serrations are cut about 1/8" apart it is easy to sharpen the blade with a stone the same way as with a plain blade. I got the idea for the wide spacing from looking at a Boker Applegate-Fairbarin Combat Knife. It Works!!!
 
When I first discovered serrated blades a long time ago (and before I was really into knives) I bought one (spyderco) because it looked so cool.

However, I soon discovered that the serrated blade didn't seem to possess any special advantages over a plain blade, in fact I was disappointed in its cutting ability to produce a clean cut over a plain edge in evey day use (I gave it to my wife.)

Ultimately, after finding the "equipped to survive" website there was a lot of info on the superior ability of plain edged blades over serrated versions to utilize in survival situations.

Now I own many spydercos and benchmades and a few other brands but I'll never consider a serrated version because for me it's just not a very usefull feature.

Just my 2 centavos.
 
I have quite a few serrated folders, and a couple of combo-edge folders, but these days I prefer a plainedge folder.

I have'nt bought a serrated folder in quite a while.

I think for 90% of my cutting needs, a plain-edge does an excellent job.

Allen.
 
Off topic crap deleted. See new thread.

------------

Sorry, didn't mean to put this crap in this thread, the wife was complaining about something and I got distracted. I'll move it to it's own thread. :(
 
digdeep said:
after finding the "equipped to survive" website there was a lot of info on the superior ability of plain edged blades over serrated versions to utilize in survival situations.
Click to expand...
The opposite is true as well. I would in general prefer plain edges, but smooth serrations will cut a lot of vegetation well. The better ones will still push cut well, Spyderco's can even out carve many plain edged folders I have seen, and the saw nature can come in handy making straight cuts on notches. That being said I would personally prefer a straight edge and a decent stone, but I can certainly appreciate someone taking a partial blade, or even fully serrated if their sharpenign skills were low.

-Cliff
 
I think the best serrattions come and go with each new production. Right now Bench Made makes the best serrattions I think with Spyderco a second runner. Bench Mades cut softer materials better by far.
 
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