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strait,serrated,or combi?
- Thread starter poopdot
- Start date
Straight.
I've found *very* few cases where serrated edges are more useful than straight edges, especially a very sharp straight edge. I tend to consider serrations a specialized edge best used for specific situations.
For example, it's often thrown out that serrated edges do better with cutting rope, and I won't deny that they do, but for *most* rope cutting, the difference is negligible. Personally, I've never had problem cutting rope with my non-serrated blade. However, I am aware that some types of rope, especially certain "high tech" poly ropes, can be difficult to cut with a straight edge, especially when they're wet. Since I don't deal with those on a regular basis, I consider that a special case.
At the same time, however, I've found a number of cases where serrated edges fair worse than straight edges. Add in the significantly greater ease of sharpening and maintenance you have with a straight edge, and I rarely bother with serrated blades. The same goes, to a slightly lesser extent, for combo edges. I generally don't have much use for them. There are a few situations where they might come in useful, but not nearly enough to get me to carry them regularly.
I've found *very* few cases where serrated edges are more useful than straight edges, especially a very sharp straight edge. I tend to consider serrations a specialized edge best used for specific situations.
For example, it's often thrown out that serrated edges do better with cutting rope, and I won't deny that they do, but for *most* rope cutting, the difference is negligible. Personally, I've never had problem cutting rope with my non-serrated blade. However, I am aware that some types of rope, especially certain "high tech" poly ropes, can be difficult to cut with a straight edge, especially when they're wet. Since I don't deal with those on a regular basis, I consider that a special case.
At the same time, however, I've found a number of cases where serrated edges fair worse than straight edges. Add in the significantly greater ease of sharpening and maintenance you have with a straight edge, and I rarely bother with serrated blades. The same goes, to a slightly lesser extent, for combo edges. I generally don't have much use for them. There are a few situations where they might come in useful, but not nearly enough to get me to carry them regularly.
Carry whatever works for you.
I find that serrations are very easy to sharpen on the spyderco sharpmaker.
It is true that serrated knives have limited uses, but they should never be carried alone.
Use a combo edge, or have a second knife in plain edge.
Keep in mind that there are many styles of serrations, based on the maker or model.
I find that serrations are very easy to sharpen on the spyderco sharpmaker.
It is true that serrated knives have limited uses, but they should never be carried alone.
Use a combo edge, or have a second knife in plain edge.
Keep in mind that there are many styles of serrations, based on the maker or model.
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2007
- Messages
- 906
Straight. The serrations tend to catch on the cutting medium IME, paticulary the very toothy variety. Scalloped serrations are my preference of serrated edges.
I prefer combo blades, as long as the serrated portion has a profile a like, and doesn't take too much surface area away from the plain blade. That's the way I roll for tactical folders anyways. I prefer plain blades on my fixed blades, though the partial serrations on my RAT-3 are pretty nifty looking (I wouldn't mind supplementing it with a plain later. I have some hesitations about the partial serrations on my BM Pika, and I may replace it with a plain blade model. My cheap-ass stash Winchester multi-tool from Wal-Mart that resides in my Carhart (JIC I need a multi and don't have one with me or in case I accidentally happen to be knifeless at a given time) is a bit of a blassing- it has both plain abnd fully serrated blades. I only have 2 knives or tools with fully serrated blades that aren't kitchen knives. The saws on some of my SAK's can and have made up for the lack of a serrated blade in the past- I don't really think the serrations on the Vic OHT are really worthwhile- they are so not worthwhile that they don't impinge on using the blade like a plain edge. 
