I am brand new here. I have been looking for the perfect knife for several years and I have a question for all you knife experts. There seems to be a lot of serrated knives on the market these days. I have yet to find any real use for a serrated knife. I even prefer to cut a steak with a paring knife. Besides the usual day to day things I use my EDC for I use a knife for processing game, chopping wood and whittling small bushcraft items. Am I missing something here? What do you use a serrated knife for and do you feel there is any real use for them or are they a fad - marketing tool, or specialty tool?
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What is witth all these serrated knives.
- Thread starter nakadnu
- Start date
They provide more cutting edge length than a non-serrated blade of the same length, by a pretty large margin.
They are more likely to present an acute edge angle or even multiple edge contact points on any given contact of a cut.
This is why they were invented and used.
However, depending on the serration type, they may snag in some types of applications, and may not be perfectly suited to every job. Particularly not as great for thin cutting, like paper.
But if you want to cut deep, with some motion in a draw-cut or a push-cut, they work real well.
The serrated edge requires a special sharpening stick, and so this different sharpening requirement will put-off some users.
Not for everybody.
I love 'em. But I'll still use the plain edge for cutting paper or thin gaskets or something like that.
They are more likely to present an acute edge angle or even multiple edge contact points on any given contact of a cut.
This is why they were invented and used.
However, depending on the serration type, they may snag in some types of applications, and may not be perfectly suited to every job. Particularly not as great for thin cutting, like paper.
But if you want to cut deep, with some motion in a draw-cut or a push-cut, they work real well.
The serrated edge requires a special sharpening stick, and so this different sharpening requirement will put-off some users.
Not for everybody.
I love 'em. But I'll still use the plain edge for cutting paper or thin gaskets or something like that.
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For fibrous things like rope or cord, serrated blades make it easier. Also, serrated blades stay sharp longer due to the teeth coming into contact with hard stuff (say a cutting board or plate), while the scallops are protected and are only dulled by cutting. They also make the blade have more cutting edge as a zig zag is longer than a straight line.
Not all serrations are created equal, though. With anything look into reviews and different brands. I prefer my plain edged blades, but there are times when a serrated blade is the way to go.
Not all serrations are created equal, though. With anything look into reviews and different brands. I prefer my plain edged blades, but there are times when a serrated blade is the way to go.
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I'm sorry but I disagree that they're popular because of the specialty cutting they were invented for. They're poplur IMHO because the vast majority of people out there either can't or won't sharpen their knives. Serrated edges only present the tips to the cutting surface(like ceramic dishes) so the tips dull faster but leave the main part of the cutting edge intact whereas the same abuse on a plain edge would make it unuseable over time. This gives people the false sense that serrated knives are "sharper." Also serrated edges can take a lot more abuse then a plain edge and still cut. How many of you guys have seen the edges on knives of non-knife knuts? My buddy carried a plain edge knife that had huge rolls and dings in the blade and didn't realise that a knife edge is never supposed to look like that.
I also think that serrated edges are usually poo poo'd on this site because people sharpen their knives and care for their edges so the serrations don't offer any benefit. Unless you're doing a specialty cutting job like mentioned.
I also think that serrated edges are usually poo poo'd on this site because people sharpen their knives and care for their edges so the serrations don't offer any benefit. Unless you're doing a specialty cutting job like mentioned.
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which is exactly why i prefer serrated blades...when i do edc a folder, usually it's a combo edge.
and i don't have a hobby or big love of sharpening knives; i have more interesting and pressing things to do with my life than to spend hours hand sharpening my knives...i do it when i have to, but it isn't a fun time for me...a serrated blade last a LONG time before i take the time to pass it thru a sharpmaker for honing.
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Like I said. People who can't or won't sharpen their knives. I agree, sharpening a dull knife by hand is PITA. The trick is to never let it get dull.
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I begrudgingly use them nowadays. I used to work on docks and with that lots of rope so It was handy to have a knife that's SE. but now that I'm in more white collar work the benefits aren't as prevalent anymore. Plus sharpening them wears down the edges of my stones. The only knives I have them on now are my rescue style knives and my LM wave
...and where did i ever imply that i WON'T do any sharpening? i do; i just don't take great pleasure in doing so.
i have plenty of blades that i take the time sharpen to a working edge, including a well used ZT100 and ZT500, and a HEST. knife sharpening isn't my obssession, which clearly puts me in the minority here; but i definately know the skill.
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Or for people who don't like to sharpen knives often. Satisfied now?
I love sharpening serrations, just as much as I do my PE blades. If some of the people around here only gave sharpening their serrated knives as much attention to detail as their plain edge blades they would realize what amazing performance they are actually capable of. In my experience a hair whittling sharp full SE blade can be extraordinarily versatile (dependent on blade shape and grind),both easily capable of push cutting and unparalleled in slicing abilities.
Like previously mentioned there are huge performance differences in serrations between manufacturers, personally I wouldn't even look at any other brand but Spyderco when talking serrations. Even after saying that Spyderco's serrations vary between factories and also grind angles have varied over the years too. From what I've encountered Japanese ground SE's are very aggressive, great at cutting hard materials but lack some general versatility. U.S.A Golden ground SE's are less aggressive and excel at cutting a much wider matter of materials.
Bo
P.s Anybody who says serrations are only for bread knives and sawing, usually don't have a freaking clue what they are talking about.
Like previously mentioned there are huge performance differences in serrations between manufacturers, personally I wouldn't even look at any other brand but Spyderco when talking serrations. Even after saying that Spyderco's serrations vary between factories and also grind angles have varied over the years too. From what I've encountered Japanese ground SE's are very aggressive, great at cutting hard materials but lack some general versatility. U.S.A Golden ground SE's are less aggressive and excel at cutting a much wider matter of materials.
Bo
P.s Anybody who says serrations are only for bread knives and sawing, usually don't have a freaking clue what they are talking about.
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I have no idea what "all these serrated knives" are you are referring to are. Some companies are discontinuing their serrated versions all together. As far as not finding a real use for a serrated edge knife, that is soley up to the individual. I carried and used a SE Spyderco Paramilitary for over a year and had no problems with it. It did everything a regular PE knife could do and then some. Everything from sharpening pencils, scoring and sawing through drywall, stripping all kinds of cable and wire, food prep, breaking down cardboard, opening clam packs, on and on. I have never chopped wood with a folder though, serrated or otherwise. For that task, I own a small hatchet, and some heavier fixed blades that were designed for that task. I'm sure that an experienced skinner could portion out a deer or skin said deer with a SE knife (provided the technique is there). That is my opinion thou, nothing more.
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Haters gonna hate...
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I think this post nailed it. Very well said. :thumbup:
Pretty sure what he was meaning to ask about were partially serrated (combo edge) knives rather than fully serrated ones.
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My Serrated knives have always been folders, and most are retired now, just easier for me to sharpen a non serrated blade on the fly.
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I like fully serrated, and full plain edge blades, but I don't care much for combo edge. I just don't like the way they look. Gimme all or none of either style. That said, I have a few in each configuration, and they all see a bit of use from time to time.
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I completely agree. Sharpening a serrated blade is exactly the same for me as a plain edge, sans how many passes per side. I admit I have a Sharpmaker, but it's just as simple to reach the hair whittling point on an SE as it is a PE.
There's no right or wrong answer here, and I think RevDevil nailed it. If you can't find a use for an SE blade then that's ok. But I can, and I really appreciate how well it works. I love my plain edges and I love my serrated ones. Variety is the spice of life.
What he said.
Ed Ricketts
Gold Member
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Rope, cord, fibrous materials...for example, cutting little saplings mixed with the weeds in gardening. I strongly prefer plain edge for almost everything else.