Talk me out of a serrated blade.

D

DoctorAutomatic

Joined
Aug 12, 2017
Messages
18
I'm somewhat of a newb (relative to the members of this brain trust) but I'd give myself more credit in the company of the average John Q Taxpayer (which says very little or maybe holds some weight depending on your outlook).

I get it that serrated or combo blades are not generally preferred 'round these parts. Hell, I only made that "mistake" once in my complete ignorance of some of the finer details of knives in my whole life.

But hear me out, because I've got this strange interest, of which I have know idea of its provenance, to buy a Dragonfly 2 with a serrated blade.

My reasoning is I want a purely utilitarian, dare I say "disposable", small knife that I can always Chuck in the pocket when I know I'm going to be somewhere or doing an activity that I simply would worry too much about my usual rotation of knives. Also, that there would be little worry of whether I sharpened it recently, that it may get lost, scuffed, etc... Basically something small, relatively cheap, low maintenance... Something you wouldn't think twice about tossing across the patio to a buddy who needed a blade for something real quick.

Honestly, I can't think of a single time ever where I've needed to make a "clean" cut with a pocket knife that a serrated blade just wouldn't do. In fact, most of the real world use I've encountered would have arguably been well suited for a serrated blade. 95% seems to involve boxes/packaging/tape/twine/food that simply would not matter which edge the knife had.

Yet somehow this feels wrong, and being a newb, I'm wondering if I'm just overlooking some key details. I would appreciate your comments on my line of thinking, whether positive or negative.
 
Serrated knives work in some scenarios but not others.
generalities-
If you like to keep your knives sharp then you will be better off for cutting most materials.
If your utlity knife might be a little dull then it will cut better with serrations.
Actually I'm not sure what materials are cut better with serrations. I have a fully serrated knife that I would like to figure a good way to test.
 
I hated serrated blades... until I got a DF2 Salt. It's like a tiny saw! It cuts most things just as well as a PE.

I can't help you, but I can enable you. Get. It. Now. You won't regret it!
 
Most of the time I don't need a serrated blade, that's OK because I don't like sharpening them.
I tried to cut a fuel line a couple months ago, the knife cut the out side wall then stopped.
I checked to see if it was sharp, and I tried again. Nothing. I could not push to hard because I did not want to crash the blade into the engine block.
Went and got the Leatherman Rebar and the serrated blade cut right thru with out a problem.

Still do not like serrated blades but sometimes the just work.
Give it a try.
 
IMG_2747.JPG Don't do it!!!
Get something a little bit larger!! :D
I use a rubber drainage line when I install humidifiers. It is pliable, but pretty hard also. When cutting with a very sharp plain edge it is hard for it to start the cut. Spydie serrations go through it like a laser!!
This is my main work knife and it is a pocket chain saw!! Pretty easy to sharpen on my sharp maker also.
Joe
 
A serrated edge is for the weak uneducated person. They are only made for people too dim to understand the true value of a well maintained fine edge & those so lazy or stupid to learn how to sharpen.


I only said the above because you asked to be talked out of it. Really the dragonfly is a fine, useful knife & you should get it if you want.
 
Most combo edge knives don't work for me. Give me a plain edge or an edge that is fully serrated. Not both. Excluding a bread knife, a multi-tool with a serrated blade meets all my needs for a serrated edge.

In your case, how about a serrated Spyderco Delica and a plain edge knife of your choice?
 
For robust hardy use the serrated will get seriously trashed. For an emergency last ditch blade the factory edge should rip through your troubles.
 
When cutting rubber hose or tubing serrations work. I also like serrations when cutting thick rope and pruning trees. Most of the rest of my cutting chores a plain edge ( sharpened correctly) works. If you like them get it. DM
 
Serrated blades are difficult to sharpen. Ever been to a steak house that gave you a serrated knife that could actually cut a steak? No? Me neither. That's one of the main reasons I carry a pocket knife. I good plain edge will zip through just about anything, and easily sharpen back to a razor edge. Need something more aggressive? Leave the finish a bit rough for a "toothy" edge.

If that is not enough, if you are ever in need of using a knife in public, serrated blades are inherently "scarier" as they appear much more aggressive. The lady next to you likely won't bat an eye at a 2 blade trapper or stockman (her dad may have carried one), but even the relatively diminutive dragonfly may give her pause...
 
^ This.

Sharpening serrations is a nightmare! Some companies willlet you send your knife to them to resharpen your serrations.

Some serration designs can resharpened on the sharpmaker, but i find its not easy. My Microtech Socom Delta has angular rather than radiused serration cuts.

I think the CRKT Veff serrations are wicked!
 
While the vast majority of my blades are plains edged, serrated blades do have their place. I say pick one up if it looks like a good match for your needs. Partially serrated is a different matter. Every one of those I've ever had I would have gladly traded for a blade that was all one or the other instead of being a mongrel.
 
I'm not a huge fan of serrations but I agree they do have their uses.
That said, I prefer shallow serrations over deep pointy ones. I just find the aggressive pointy serrations too "grabby" for most things I tend to use my knife for.
 
Lost this thing about a month ago. It's somewhere on my parents 4 acres, probably in the woods under a pile of tree limbs. Lol.

30433415595_4bb67b63b1_b.jpg


A couple of thoughts - Serrations are awesome, they're sharp as crap, easy to sharpen with the sharp maker, and the H1 knives can go right into the dishwasher.
I have a regular Dragonfly, and I wouldn't buy it again given how small it is and how infrequently I carry it. It mostly stays in my desk drawer to open mail and such.
A serrated Pacific Salt will likely replace my Tasman, as I gave my waved Endura to my brother recently. Without an Endura and SE H1 knife, the Pacific Salt seems like the perfect replacement for both.
 
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