Why do companies keep making these serrated edge when they clearly don't sell as well

[cotdt]

Why do companies keep cranking out these "combo serrated edge" blades when they clearly do not sell as well as the plain edge versions? One only needs to look at the 2nd hand market to see the serrated versions selling for 30% cheaper than the plain edge versions, which are typically harder to find for knives no longer in production. When the knife I want is out of stock in the PE version, the serrated edge version is ALWAYS in stock for whatever reason, but that's not what I want.

Why do these companies keep making serrated blades? Why?

 

[tomcrx]

I think you are looking at it from an AFI's perspective. Which is not reflective of the general public.

 

[Jake Bauer]

I think you are looking at it from an AFI's perspective. Which is not reflective of the general public.

+1. To those who are really involved with knives and use them a lot, PE blades are more popular. But most people see the serrations and believe that they have to cut better than a PE so they go with that.

 

[dano]

For most of the companies, partially serrated outsells plain edge. Especially with Benchmade, who releases combo-edge models before plain edge ones.

 

[Dekz]

Sometimes it's hard to remember that everything you see on BF is the exact opposite of the knife buying public.

 

[Frankki]

If combo edges didn't sell, no company would make them. I'm sure they have looked at their sales charts quite a bit and know what sells and what stays on the shelves. I too think that a plain edge is a nicer choice but it's not like the manufacturers are just trying to annoy knifeknuts.

 

[Tim-Gabz]

Interesting consideration. I battled to learn how to sharpen serrated edges and my guess it that this is a factor of people wanting to sell a knife that is now getting blunt and they can't sharpen?????

I have partially serrated blades and they irritate me. I don't mind an option on a multi tool or a Sog Pentagon for serrated or straight edge. That is really useful

 

[knerd]

I think it's the other way around, I see more "average joes" with combo edged knives than plain edged ones. Online sites might sell more PE than CE, but that's not the entire knife market.

Companies will continue to sell them as long as there's a market for them, if they "clearly do not sell as well" then why are they still being produced?

 

[Knife Outlet]

Sales between partially serrated and plain edges are almost equal. Fully serrated blades, however, normally sell poorly.

 

[tirod3]

Here in the the black hole of redneck culture, ordering a knife online is practically unknown. I still have customers who ask my storefront price on hotrod parts when it's pretty clear in the car community that Jeg's and Summit sell for my cost. So it's a matter of large number of consumers - typically knowing only that they are right, not that they know what they are right about - who are buying all the P(o)S blades. Usually from Walmart.

I'd say from a casual customer eyeball survey that 75% of the clipped knives I see are cheapies - chromed clips with phillips head screws - and from requests to use my knife as a screwdriver, most users aren't too keen on keeping them sharp.

 

[Ankerson]

So it's a matter of large number of consumers - typically knowing only that they are right, not that they know what they are right about - who are buying all the P(o)S blades. Usually from Walmart.

I'd say from a casual customer eyeball survey that 75% of the clipped knives I see are cheapies - chromed clips with phillips head screws - and from requests to use my knife as a screwdriver, most users aren't too keen on keeping them sharp.

That's what I normally see too.

 

[LorenzoL]

I was asking myself the same question when BM released the M4 AFCK, clearly an AFI model if there was ever any. Why the hell did they make 250 CEs? I mean, a PE is selling for around 300$, a CE barely catches MSRP (225$). Do they do this to annoy us or what? Besides, it is not that they save money by doing CEs, somebody has to grind those serrations on...

 

[Th232]

Because they still sell, and because different people want different things?

In a similar vein, why should a company, say, Spyderco, produce anything except Delicas and Enduras, since they sell the best? Same reasons.

As for a company selling PE and SE for different MSRPs, I can't say why, that'd be their choice. Aftermarket and clearance prices, however, are a different matter.

 

[Gates67]

I went with my father to the local gunshop to help him choose a new knife.
He decided that he like the delica and he refused to get the PE.His logic is that if he is doing something very tasking on his blade, once the edge is dull he can then use the serrated edge.

He is happy with it and thats all that really matters.

 

[dericdesmond]

It depends on how you use em but I like them (SE) more as a user. IMO, SE is more aggressive of a cutter, more cutting edge (straighten it out), stays sharper longer. I havnt seen but maybe 2 people sharpen them right but when maintained properly they
look better and last longer than my hard PE users, IMO.

What is seen on-line and what happens in a store front are 2 totally different things. As far as folders are concerned, My master chief sells just as much SE as he does PE. Im sure much of that is attributed to his constant support and in depth (logical) reasoning as to why it is such a great edge configuration.



SE Purchaser for life!!!!!!

BEST USER EVER!!!! SS SE CRICKET!!!! (I know its new here but believe me, it is no longer.)

 

[dericdesmond]

I went with my father to the local gunshop to help him choose a new knife.
He decided that he like the delica and he refused to get the PE.His logic is that if he is doing something very tasking on his blade, once the edge is dull he can then use the serrated edge.

He is happy with it and thats all that really matters.

He made a good choice, but just watch how that PE gets ate up faster, next time have him get a FULLY SERRATED Spydie, waved SE delica is awesome, but Im gonna reco a rescue (w/ persistence can be found for under $40) , many frown upon it but you gotta use it to appreciate it.

 

[pilote]

I'd say from a casual customer eyeball survey that 75% of the clipped knives I see are cheapies - chromed clips with phillips head screws - and from requests to use my knife as a screwdriver, most users aren't too keen on keeping them sharp.

yes, i definitely concur with that statement too

...in addition, my brother (who is a Fed) prefers, as well as most of the colleagues he works with, combo blades...in his words "they just do the job easier"...

 

[Gerberblades]

I only buy plain edge knives for the most part, but LEO, military and SAR use serrations for cutting through fabrics.

 

[SOLEIL]

I gave a friend of mine a Kershaw Scallion CE. She owns a large stable, over 40 horses. She uses the knife hard everyday. One day she asked why the serrations were there and how to use them. Once I explained how to use them she liked the knife even more and thought that the CE design was a great idea. Even asked why someone didn't come out with it sooner, it would have made her life easier. She used to always carry slippys. Now she will not carry anything that is not a 1 hand opener with a SE or CE blade for working. She has been owner of the stables for over 50 years. SE and CE blades do sell well and have many uses.:thumbup:

 

[Phillip Dobson]

I was asking myself the same question when BM released the M4 AFCK, clearly an AFI model if there was ever any. Why the hell did they make 250 CEs? I mean, a PE is selling for around 300$, a CE barely catches MSRP (225$). Do they do this to annoy us or what? Besides, it is not that they save money by doing CEs, somebody has to grind those serrations on...

Benchmade simply made a mistake on that run. The should have raised the PE/CE ratio to something like 3/1. They also should have charged much more. They pretty much just gave the people that bought the knives first an extra $100 cash. The low price, (that was immediately jacked up), benefited no one but the re-sellers. That was a dumb move by Benchmade.