Knife: Plain edge or serrated?
- Thread starter Mags
- Start date
RedneckFur
New member
I prefer straight edges all the time. I've got no use for a serated edge.
reality is that these are tools and one simply selects what is best for a particular
task. if, for the most part, your need is straight edge, that's what you select....
or vice versa.
as I assess my knives, I see that I have some of each, as well as combo blades.
when I'm working with nylon webbing when mountaineering, having the serrated
edge makes fast work of the rope/webbing. even in urban setting, I like to keep
at least half a blade with this design....after I've had occasion to cut someone
free from their seat belt. most of the time, the straight edge will suffice.
my primary carry is the Balisong, AFCK ATS-34, half straight...half serrated
task. if, for the most part, your need is straight edge, that's what you select....
or vice versa.
as I assess my knives, I see that I have some of each, as well as combo blades.
when I'm working with nylon webbing when mountaineering, having the serrated
edge makes fast work of the rope/webbing. even in urban setting, I like to keep
at least half a blade with this design....after I've had occasion to cut someone
free from their seat belt. most of the time, the straight edge will suffice.
my primary carry is the Balisong, AFCK ATS-34, half straight...half serrated
I've only got one partially-serrated knife, a cheap Maxam that is great for opening cardboard boxes and not much else. All of the better-quality knives I have are plain blades. Yes, the plain blades will open cardboard boxes as well, but why use a $200 knife for that when the $10 one works fine, and if I ruin it, I'm not going to care much. Serrated blades, even partially-serrated ones, and a pain in the rear to sharpen and clean the gunk out of the teeth. I've never had a full-serrated blade, but can only imagine that's even worse.
Martyn4802
New member
Personally, I have no use for a blade with a serrated edge. Others may like them however.
You can do anything you need a knife to do with a non-serrated edge blade.
As said above, serrated edges are extremely difficult to sharpen, compared to a straight edge blade. I think the serrated edge blade look terrible too, again, when compared to a straight edge knife. The only serrated edge blades I have are bread knives in the kitchen.
Martyn
You can do anything you need a knife to do with a non-serrated edge blade.
As said above, serrated edges are extremely difficult to sharpen, compared to a straight edge blade. I think the serrated edge blade look terrible too, again, when compared to a straight edge knife. The only serrated edge blades I have are bread knives in the kitchen.
Martyn
DWARREN123
New member
Plain edge most uses. If I have to cut plastic tubing or rubber hose I like serrated.
Jim Watson
New member
Every once in a while a serrated blade comes in handy.
I wish somebody made a two-bladed pocket knife with one blade plain, one serrated. It would be more useful than the usual run of half-serrated knives.
The Spyderco Dyad is close, but their blade shape makes handling a two-bladed knife uncomfortable, the closed blade is so high above the handle.
I visualize something like a modernized and somewhat enlarged Muskrat.
I wish somebody made a two-bladed pocket knife with one blade plain, one serrated. It would be more useful than the usual run of half-serrated knives.
The Spyderco Dyad is close, but their blade shape makes handling a two-bladed knife uncomfortable, the closed blade is so high above the handle.
I visualize something like a modernized and somewhat enlarged Muskrat.
The Tourist
Moderator
On most of the "combo" edged knives I sharpen, the serrated part hasn't been used. And the answer is quite simple.
Most guys want to "save the edge" for a real or imagined emergency. And most folks know that when a serrated edge degrades, it's hard to bring them back.
I've seen the 'effects' of using those rat-tail files in sharpening the serrations from the front side. It's almost impossible to hold your hand straight and level at the identical angle for +dozen serrations. Most of these repairs simply ruin the knife.
The serrations should be repaired from the back side. Using a finer grit stone, the sharpener should make several down-strokes--like he was trying to straighten out the little "fingers" of the serrations. When his stone passes begin to quiet, he can use up and down strokes. Then he should polish this repair using the same procedure.
As for this "which is better" routine, you have to ask yourself if you need serrations. And the fact is, most of you don't.
If you are an over-the-road trucker, a sailor or a working cowboy, you probably will need to cut something slippery or wet on your job.
(Sharp knives cut seatbelts, so I'm 50/50 on first-responders.)
The real problem with serrations is neglect. Dull knives don't cut, but dull serrations can rip. A guy outfitted with a combo knife, or a knife that is fully serrated tends to leave his knife in a poor state of repair.
It always baffles me why a hunter pays +$1K for a rifle, almost as much for a scope and then uses a 5-dollar knife. Same here.
If your job (or life) depends on the emergency ripping power of serrations, then for pete's sake, learn how to sharpen the plain portion of the blade.
If the serrations are part of your job, you might think about carrying a fully serrated knife (in pristine condition) and keeping a fully plain, sharp knife as your EDC. Knives don't take up much room, and most of us TFL members have pockets full of toys.
Letting a serrated knife go dull--or carrying one so you can let the plain portion go for longer periods of neglect--is like leaving an engine in need of a tune-up, but then strapping in a turbocharger to make up for the loss of performance.
BTW, I don't own a serrated knife, and as a distributor, I can buy any knife I want for next to nothing.
Most guys want to "save the edge" for a real or imagined emergency. And most folks know that when a serrated edge degrades, it's hard to bring them back.
I've seen the 'effects' of using those rat-tail files in sharpening the serrations from the front side. It's almost impossible to hold your hand straight and level at the identical angle for +dozen serrations. Most of these repairs simply ruin the knife.
The serrations should be repaired from the back side. Using a finer grit stone, the sharpener should make several down-strokes--like he was trying to straighten out the little "fingers" of the serrations. When his stone passes begin to quiet, he can use up and down strokes. Then he should polish this repair using the same procedure.
As for this "which is better" routine, you have to ask yourself if you need serrations. And the fact is, most of you don't.
If you are an over-the-road trucker, a sailor or a working cowboy, you probably will need to cut something slippery or wet on your job.
(Sharp knives cut seatbelts, so I'm 50/50 on first-responders.)
The real problem with serrations is neglect. Dull knives don't cut, but dull serrations can rip. A guy outfitted with a combo knife, or a knife that is fully serrated tends to leave his knife in a poor state of repair.
It always baffles me why a hunter pays +$1K for a rifle, almost as much for a scope and then uses a 5-dollar knife. Same here.
If your job (or life) depends on the emergency ripping power of serrations, then for pete's sake, learn how to sharpen the plain portion of the blade.
If the serrations are part of your job, you might think about carrying a fully serrated knife (in pristine condition) and keeping a fully plain, sharp knife as your EDC. Knives don't take up much room, and most of us TFL members have pockets full of toys.
Letting a serrated knife go dull--or carrying one so you can let the plain portion go for longer periods of neglect--is like leaving an engine in need of a tune-up, but then strapping in a turbocharger to make up for the loss of performance.
BTW, I don't own a serrated knife, and as a distributor, I can buy any knife I want for next to nothing.
I had little use for serrated blades. Until last year.
I have a half and half-bladed Voyager that I have carried on and off for years. Used the serrated edge once....to cut a woman from her seat belt who was stuck upside down in her car that was on fire.
That serrated edge went through the seat belt like it wasn't there.
I have a half and half-bladed Voyager that I have carried on and off for years. Used the serrated edge once....to cut a woman from her seat belt who was stuck upside down in her car that was on fire.
That serrated edge went through the seat belt like it wasn't there.
The Tourist
Moderator
Creature said:
But that's my point. You are comparing the performance you got with serrations against the use you received from a plain edge.
My plain edge EDC will easily out-cut your serrated knife--and do it time after time, even against rough weave rope.
And this is the problem as I see it. You can take a new knife out of a package, and the bevel is dull and crooked. My concern is that these knives can wind up in the hands of first responders.
To guard against this condition, the user simply buys a serrated knife and feels exaclty like Creature. To him, that knife is superior, it saved a life and he's glad he had it.
However, the serrated portion of that knife is made from the same material as the plain portion (obviously, it's on the same knife.)
And the manner in which the plain edge degrades is the same as the serrated portion will.
My guess is that there was also plenty of adrenaline in your arm.
I have probably 4 dozen knives and (I just looked) only one has a serrated edge. The two knives I carry most often are a Kershaw Chive, auto open with a 2-inch blade, and a Spyderco Raven with a 3 1/2 inch blade. Both are plain edge. The benefit, as many have mentioned, is that sharpening a serrated edge is a major production, where you can sharpen a plain edge in a minute or two. Serrated edges have benefits in cutting some materials, like maybe a seatbelt if you're stuck in a car, but I've never found anything I needed to cut that didn't give up to a plain edge.
stephen426
New member
To me a knife is primarily a tool which can be used as a weapon. Some people will not use a "defensive knife" for anything in order to preserve the edge. I have carried a knife for over 14 years and have never had to pull it or use it on anyone (Thank God!). I do pull out my knife and use it at least 10 times a day. Based on that mentality, I have to make compromises.
Most of my knives are partially serrated. While serrated knives are generally harder to sharpen, it also depends on the type of serration the knife has. Benchmade uses the typical scalloped edges that a rod type sharpened can easily touch up. Cold Steel has scallops as well, but has needle like serrations as well. Those fine serrations are nearly impossible to sharpen yourself.
One good thing about serrated edges is that they stay sharp longer. While the cut is not clean like a plain edge, you can still saw through objects like cardboard or rope. A dull plain edge has limited usefulness though. While I try to maintain the edge on my knives, I try not to sharpen too often as it decreases the "life" of the knife. For me, partially serrated knives are ideal.
This is my daily carry: Benchmade 710
I own probably over a dozen knives but this is the one I have been carrying for the last 5 or 6 years. This one just fits my hand perfectly and I love the Axis lock.
Most of my knives are partially serrated. While serrated knives are generally harder to sharpen, it also depends on the type of serration the knife has. Benchmade uses the typical scalloped edges that a rod type sharpened can easily touch up. Cold Steel has scallops as well, but has needle like serrations as well. Those fine serrations are nearly impossible to sharpen yourself.
One good thing about serrated edges is that they stay sharp longer. While the cut is not clean like a plain edge, you can still saw through objects like cardboard or rope. A dull plain edge has limited usefulness though. While I try to maintain the edge on my knives, I try not to sharpen too often as it decreases the "life" of the knife. For me, partially serrated knives are ideal.
This is my daily carry: Benchmade 710
I own probably over a dozen knives but this is the one I have been carrying for the last 5 or 6 years. This one just fits my hand perfectly and I love the Axis lock.
The Tourist
Moderator
stephen426 said:
No, they don't. They simply seem to work better in a state of dis-repair.
Think about the comparison of a Ferrari to a diesel lawn tractor.
Spyderco just about wrote the book on serrated pocketkinves. In fact, many of the same knives (in the same alloy) come in three renditions.
For example, one of the hardest working modern steels is VG-10. It shows up in pocketknives and also high-end Japanese laminate kitchen knives, like Shun, for example.
My opinion is that, like most people, you make more cuts with the front, plain edge part of the knife. It is now more dull.
So along comes an emergency and voila, the serrated parts "cuts better."
stephen426
New member
Okay... .lets not argue semantics here. A serrated blade can still rip through what your are trying to cut through better than a plain edge of the same sharpness. A dull knife won't cut. Besides, for the same length of blade, the serrate blade has more cutting surface. Furthermore, the little scalloped edges often "hide" usuable parts of the blade when the plain edge is already dulled beyond noremal cutting tasks.
Like I said, I treat my knives a tools first and then weapons. I sharpen them when I can, but I then again, I don't count on them to save my life. There is a balance to everything.
I guess one solution is that I could always carry 2 knives and reserve one for defensive purposes but then again... don't bring a knife to a gun fight!
