why par. serrated

C

chazz

Joined
Mar 15, 2005
Messages
189
i dont see the purpose of a par serrated, i know lots of people like them especiely for edc use. i think it takes up a little of the belly of the knife. some people have told me well it is good for cutting rope. i can cut rope faster with any of my plain blades because they are mighty sharp.

so to my question why par. serrated?

any opinions you have
 
Cuz-

1. It looks cool?

2. Easier to slice tomatoes with?

3. Can be used to cut wire and fishing line if you get tangled up in it while scuba diving?
 
Partially serrated is a compromise between fully serrated and non-serrated. The serrations generally are harder to sharpen but cut better when not sharp - they act a bit like a saw. They also increase the cutting length of the blade.

Serrations are less good for precision cutting. Arguably they should be taking up the tip of the blade, not the belly, because it's easiest to cut precisely with the part of the blade nearest the handle. I am coming to quite fancy the Vic Spirit blade - a blunt sheepsfoot with serrations at the end.
 
The purpose of serrations originally was to keep part of the blade of a kitchen knife from contacting the cutting board. Cutting boards dull blades faster than food. With this design only the high parts of the blade get in touch with the board so the low parts could remain sharper and cut food.

The other characteristic of serrations is that they cut somewhat better when they are dull than plain blades do. They work something like a saw. But your observation is good. A sharp plain blade will do anything a serrated blade will do and do most things better except cut when dull.

I could be wrong, but I think Spyderco was the first to put serrations on a sporting knife. At least it is the first one I remember. It has gradually grown to become quite popular. I have to say I don't understand the popularity but I certainly do recognize it. About half the "tactical" knives we sell have serrations.
 
I think partially serrated blades are available because different people have different needs and desires and want different tools.

I prefer a partially serrated blade - as long is the blade is long enough to accommodate a goodly length of plain edge as well.

No matter how sharp your plain-edge is, I find there are some situations where serrations work better.

I find serrations handy for cutting berry vines and other small fibrous branches. I also prefer serrations for stripping wires - especially for the outer jacket on multi-conductor cables.

Serrations also seem to work oddly well for trimming fingernails.

It all depends on what you usually cut. Plain edge works just fine for the majority of items.

--SAK
 
Knife Outlet said:
The other characteristic of serrations is that they cut somewhat better when they are dull than plain blades do.
Click to expand...
Yes, the cutting lift times is many times over longer, and they are *way* less prone to extensive blunting on hard impacts such as cutting a staple, which can completely blunt the entire section of a plain edge knife, but a serrated blade will actually hook and cut through the staple.

-Cliff
 
I don't use serrated blades much either, and stay away from them where possible. But I find combo blades are great when cutting rope. I like my edges razor shaving sharp, so they could slide a little on wet rope and twine. A razor sharp edge should easily "crunch" through rope (ergo - all the how-much-hemp-rope-can-that-steel-cut-tests...) but sometimes you can't apply pressure in the right direction. Most rope cutting in real life in NOT push cutting but a slashing motion. The serrations help by "starting" the cut by ripping and allowing momentum to get the rest of the non-serrated blade through.

An engineer friend also believes that in a ballistic cut on rope, the serrations help by acting like tiny blade points and penetrate into the rope and catch, allowing the blade to follow through without bouncing off the edge. Probbaly just a different interpretation of the same idea.

Jason.
 
you are right in saying that serrations hold an edge much longer than plain edge. they do act like a saw but like i said before i think a plain edge can handle any sawing that you would need to do with that small serrated part of the knife, and if you really want to saw then wip out a full serrated blade.

and it might just be me and the serrated blades i have got handed to me when cutting rope were not of good quility but i still think that a plain edge can cut through rope much faster.
 
I have a BM710HSSR which is part serrated. If I was buying it again I'd go with a plain edge. Once I learned how to sharpen and kept a razor edge on my BM710 I noticed the plain edge sliced through rope, almost with explosive results if the rope was under tension.
 
SAK said:
I think partially serrated blades are available because different people have different needs and desires and want different tools.

I prefer a partially serrated blade - as long is the blade is long enough to accommodate a goodly length of plain edge as well.

No matter how sharp your plain-edge is, I find there are some situations where serrations work better.

I find serrations handy for cutting berry vines and other small fibrous branches. I also prefer serrations for stripping wires - especially for the outer jacket on multi-conductor cables.

Serrations also seem to work oddly well for trimming fingernails.

It all depends on what you usually cut. Plain edge works just fine for the majority of items.

--SAK
Click to expand...

I'm with SAK on a few points. I have a partially serrated Endura that I use as a duty knife around the yard. The serrations are great for cutting through vines or other fibrous plant material and rope.

I also noticed that the serrations are perfect for trimming fingernails :)
 
chazz said:
i still think that a plain edge can cut through rope much faster.
Click to expand...
It can if optimally sharpened, there are some things that serrations still cut much better though like harder plastics and woody weeds. Even really coarse edges can not slice through these while a decent serration will easily saw through them. A partially serrated blades allows you to handle that cutting while still have a section of blade for precision carving work.

-Cliff
 
Hi All-

This comparison of serrated vs. non-serrated has been discussed for years. I believe that Cliff Stamp hit the nail on the head with regard to how encountering a single obstruction (like a metal staple or particularly fibrous material) can completely dull a plain knife in seconds...forcing one to resharpen at an inconvenient time or simply "putting up" with the dulled blade until later.

I own everything from full-serrated, to partially-serrated, to plain edge and found that the partially-serrated blade does the trick most frequently. Ever have to pop those incredibly strong bands off a box of copier paper? The serrated blade does it easier than even the most scary sharp of plain edges. I consider myself a very accomplished sharpener, so it isn't a matter of sharpening technique. These kind of everyday items are encountered at such an unpredictable rate that it seems easier to have the most flexible tool possible at your side.

~ Blue Jays ~
 
My main problem with a serrated blade is that I am left handed and most of the serrations are cut for right handed use. Sure I can still get the knife to cut, but it is bothersome to me.

Any other lefties have that opinion?

Seikan1
 
Blue Jays said:
Hi All-
Ever have to pop those incredibly strong bands off a box of copier paper? The serrated blade does it easier than even the most scary sharp of plain edges.

~ Blue Jays ~
Click to expand...

I cut plastic bands off of boxes of paper several times a day with my Calypso Jr PE and it goes through them as quickly as I can move my hand (when its sharp). I've owned a SE Endura (don't have it anymore so I can't test it) and I know how great that thing was at cutting, but for this particular application, I really don't see it being better than PE.

My 2 cents...

Mark
 
i have recognized that serrated edges cut through semi-thick branches and thick zip-ties better but i think that the amount of serrations is not enough to do the job easily and that is why i dont have alot of them. serrated edges are prefered for alot of things but if you need a serrated edge get one dont go 1/3 of the way and only have a small amount of serrations

does anyone else share this thought with me?
 
I buy mostly PE now. But I do like 50/50 for work,not every firefighter likes serrations but this one does. :) My reason is this. I may dull up my knife say cutting out a burned section of carpet,and cutting tar paper while doing overhaul. Then I may catch a job right after where I have to cut myself or another free from an entanglement. The serrations will work better a little dull then a dull PE.

In a nutshell I keep mine sharp also,yet when they go dull I don't have the chance to sharpen them on the spot,but the serrations keep on going.

Today I used a PE to dress a turkey,and now I have a pE Manix in my pocket,tomorrow at work a 50/50 710. :cool:
 
chazz said:
the amount of serrations is not enough to do the job easily
Click to expand...
On many materials you only need to start a cut, on the ones you need to saw all the way through you just use a back and forth motion. Yes it can be easier on some materials if the blade is fully serrated, and those blades have their place, partially serrated just allows you to retain some plain edge for precision carving and other push cuts.

-Cliff
 
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