What are your opinions on partially serrated blades?

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stark92

Joined
Apr 16, 2012
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It seems like the majoirty of the knives I see on this forum are plain edged while there are less serrated blades and even less are partially serrated. I know it's probably easier for most to sharpen a PE knife, but I just feel like you can get so much more utility out of a serrated blade (cutting hard boxes, plastics, rope). Is a partially serrated blade a good compromise between the two? Why would you avoid a partial blade type? I'm trying to figure out why I haven't seen many of them in pictures on here.

I currently own two Dragonflys, a Salt I, and a Manix2- the first three of those knives are fully serrated and the Manix is partially serrated. Those 4 cover a lot of ground but I would like to get a Spyderco knife in VG10 or SV30 steel with similar characterstics to the Salt I- I guess the closest I can get would be a Delica4 right? There are some minor things I dislike about the Delica, but I think it's going to be my next purchase- I like the look of the Black on Black of the 'tactical' model and it's a partially serrated blade. I'm also thinking about going full serrated, but part of me wants the partial style so I can put a ripping edge on the straight portion.

What are your opinions/philosophies on partially serrated Spyder blades? Should I go for partial or can you think of any reason for me to go full PE or SE?
 
I find partially serrated blades to be partially satisfying like most dual purpose designs tend to be. I like the H1 serrated blades from Spyderco and have many but I disliked the combo edge Delica I had and turned it into a beater/loaner knife. I'd rather carry a serrated blade and a plain edge blade and use one or the other when the situation calls for it and often carry a serrated H1 Hawkbill Ladybug for that reason. Just my $.02.
 
I don't like them. I like either full serrations or none. The exception would be the Spyderco Native. The Native with a "combo" edge is actually almost all serrated with only about 3/4" of the tip being plain edge. This is perfect, and what I want if I get "full serrations".
 
I really don't like partial serrations, especially on shorter blades. Not enough serrations or plain edge to go around, and they tend to not do either particularly well. I'd want either a full SE or PE knife instead.
 
i got my native 4 part serrated its in CPMS30V just to add to my collection, not in love with serrations! as this was my first time owning one,i think its a pain in the but to sharpen them and don't think i'll ever buy another! theres a reason why your not seeing alot of serrated knifes hear,no matter what' i can't get this knife to push cut paper no matter how hard i try to sharpen!some like them and some don't! ..
 
I like them. I also like fully serrated blades. It's a breeze to keep them razor sharp on the sharpmaker. Most of my knives are plain edge but serrated and combo edges definitely have their place in my collection and in my work. I would agree that combo edge doesn't make a lot of sense on a shorter blade. I would also agree with David Lowrey that a design like the old Native is very useful. Its essentially a fully serrated knife with enough plain edge towards the tip to be useful. I much prefer that to a 50/50 combo edge...or to a fully serrated knife for that matter.
 
My favorite Spyderco is the partially serrated Stretch lightweight VG-10 FFG. Inexpensive and does everything I need a knife to do without the worries of losing it or damage like my big $$ knives that admittedly I baby.
I'm looking forward to the Stretch 2 in this configuration.
 
Hate them, they try to best the best of both worlds and often end up being good at neither. Either go plain edge or fully serrated, or in the case of H1 go fully serrated.

I think a lot of the popularity of combo edges is because of the "tactical" look, especially with tantos, which is why you probably see a lot of them being sold in big box and sporting goods stores, where people often buy a knife for the look and nothing more.
 
I like serrations and I like plain edges. I find the combination of the two to be primarily frustrating as I never feel like I have enough of either to do what I want efficiently. That said, buy and use what works for you.
 
John_0917 said:
Hate them, they try to best the best of both worlds and often end up being good at neither. Either go plain edge or fully serrated, or in the case of H1 go fully serrated.

I think a lot of the popularity of combo edges is because of the "tactical" look, especially with tantos, which is why you probably see a lot of them being sold in big box and sporting goods stores, where people often buy a knife for the look and nothing more.
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Funny, I have often wondered if this wasn't the reason for their lack of popularity among aficionados. I have wondered if maybe guys dropping $100+ on a knife might have an aversion to buying something that has an edge that reminds them of a cheap gas station knife...even if they might find it quite functional in everyday use.

Whatever the reason, it is obvious that they are not immensely popular amongst higher end knife buyers. They sure can make great users though.
 
David Lowry said:
I don't like them. I like either full serrations or none. The exception would be the Spyderco Native. The Native with a "combo" edge is actually almost all serrated with only about 3/4" of the tip being plain edge. This is perfect, and what I want if I get "full serrations".
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Damn man, I can't believe I missed that knife as I was shopping through their stuff before I made this post. That thing looks like it would be perfect for me. I dislike the fact that Delicas do not have a finger choil underneath the blade, but the Native looks awesome and I like the combination blade as well- thank you so much for pointing it out.
 
Barman1 said:
My favorite Spyderco is the partially serrated Stretch lightweight VG-10 FFG. Inexpensive and does everything I need a knife to do without the worries of losing it or damage like my big $$ knives that admittedly I baby.
I'm looking forward to the Stretch 2 in this configuration.
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I was so excited when I saw the look of the Stretch, but it's too big for what I'm looking for unfortunately- it's about the same size as the Manix and I'm looking for the middle ground between that and a Dragonfly.
 
Surfingringo said:
I like them. I also like fully serrated blades. It's a breeze to keep them razor sharp on the sharpmaker. Most of my knives are plain edge but serrated and combo edges definitely have their place in my collection and in my work. I would agree that combo edge doesn't make a lot of sense on a shorter blade. I would also agree with David Lowrey that a design like the old Native is very useful. Its essentially a fully serrated knife with enough plain edge towards the tip to be useful. I much prefer that to a 50/50 combo edge...or to a fully serrated knife for that matter.
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Yeah that Native is definitely on my radar- gotta check out a few reviews of it first though!

Side note- following you on instagram sir. You've got some killer fish pics on there! My father, brother, and I went on a trip to Costa Rica last year- I was really hoping for a rooster fish but we did really well on sails and bottom fish
 
I like them on Endura and Millie size blades. My preference is a PE and a SE H1 LBHB. I agree with The Gringo that a nice PE tip make the knife SO much better. I no longer own Emerson knives but on their Commander (or any recurve) the serrations hit right in the sweet spot and really add to the utility
 
Surfingringo said:
Funny, I have often wondered if this wasn't the reason for their lack of popularity among aficionados. I have wondered if maybe guys dropping $100+ on a knife might have an aversion to buying something that has an edge that reminds them of a cheap gas station knife...even if they might find it quite functional in everyday use.

Whatever the reason, it is obvious that they are not immensely popular amongst higher end knife buyers. They sure can make great users though.
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I was unclear...this is what I think explains the popularity among non knife people, and the lack of popularity among people like us ...the knife Illuminati if you will.
 
I prefer plain edged blades without concave edge profiles over both fully and partially serrated ones. I've been sharpening knives for over sixty years using flat stones of one kind or another, and plain edges are easy to maintain with them while serrations require other tools. I also think that, from an esthetic standpoint, a plain edged knife has a cleaner and more attractive look. I do keep a serrated Spyderco Assist in my car, for emergencies, but I can't recall the last time I actually used a pocket knife for anything that made me think "Gee, I wish this knife had serrations". As for partial serrations, if I ever were to want them, I'd want the plain edge portion near the handle, so I could push things against the blade with my thumb without drawing blood.
 
IMO, one or the other. So both. :)
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I won't buy them, but unless I'm buying an Assist, I wouldn't buy a full-serrated either. My EDC blades don't see cordage much, if at all, so the added difficulty of sharpening them doesn't justify them. I need smooth cutting for utility tasks. Self-defense instructor Phil Legare took an Insights course and reported serrated edges in testing tended to bounce over clothing, or to snag. I respect him enough to know have to use a knife for self-defense, I'll take plain edged every day of the week.
 
I think I would like one with the serration at the tip end, and plain half way back.
 
As a side note, I quite like knives with two blades, one fully serrated one plain edge like the Spyderco Dyad or Cold Steel Lucky. It's always nice to have options.
 
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