Serrations...why?

[11HE9]

I carry two knives, one plain blade and one (smaller) combo blade. I really do not like the combo blades, but I do understand their purpose.

[hermosabeach]

Cutting requires pressure and movement.

You can grab a blade and have someone shake the handle a lot without getting cut

You hand moved with the blade.


Pull the handle away and now the blade can cut as you have pressure and movement.



Serrations act as movement as when pressure goes down, the points make the object move in two directions. One on already side of each serration tooth



Serrations are VERY difficult to home sharpen.


Many of the better companies will re sharpen your knife for a nominal fee
$5 + shipping



For a slick surface, serration is great (tomatoes as example)
For a soft surface where pressure will crush the object, serrations are great (bread)


For tough items- rope- seat belts- serrations are great.

[BayAreaShooter]

Cutting requires pressure and movement.

You can grab a blade and have someone shake the handle a lot without getting cut

You hand moved with the blade.


Pull the handle away and now the blade can cut as you have pressure and movement.



Serrations act as movement as when pressure goes down, the points make the object move in two directions. One on already side of each serration tooth



Serrations are VERY difficult to home sharpen.


Many of the better companies will re sharpen your knife for a nominal fee
$5 + shipping



For a slick surface, serration is great (tomatoes as example)
For a soft surface where pressure will crush the object, serrations are great (bread)


For tough items- rope- seat belts- serrations are great.

I wouldn't agree with the statement in bold. Your right if your knife is not very sharp, but I could easily cut my hand with any Spyderco from vertical pressure alone. Not substantial vertical pressure either. Saying you could grab a blade and have someone "shake the handle a lot" without being cut is just crazy.

I would also not say serrations are "VERY" hard to sharpen at home. All you need is the proper setup with a triangular or round stone/sharpener. Quite easy once you do it a few times.

[MrSam]

To cut branches, wire, etc. I used full blade knives now (no serrations). I've found that a "half" serrated knife is inadequate, and renders the plain edge useless as well.

[NastyNate]

I use my serrations to cut branches when hanging a game cam, to prevent wind pics.

NastyNate

[SimonBirch]

if u have a good top quality blade, u don't need no stinken serrations!

[CSACANNONEER]

All cutting edges are serrated. Some serrations are just bigger than others. Just look at any cutting edge under a microscope.

[wolfy]

I like the ease of sharpening a plain blade with sharpening stone. I need a plain blade to skin wire and cut rope cleanly.

[bsg]

for most applications, i prefer a knife that is not profusely serrated.

[GW]

I use the serrations for cutting rope and fibrous material.

[Blademan21]

I don't have a ccw permit and work in Oakland so a blade is better than nothing and at work I cut cardboard and heavy bags of dextrose and citric acid. Which brings up another question, won't citric acid eat away even the best stainless steel over time? I need to change the blade in the b.s utility knives they give us about twice a month.

You would have to soak the blade for a long time in citric acid for it to eat away the stainless steel found in most good blades.

Cardboard is the worse thing you can cut with a non-box cutting blade. It will dull the non-box cutter in a heart beat. Thats why you need to change the blades in your utility knife often. Serrations are just a tiny step above the utility blade for cutting cardboard. Not cutting cardboard,serrations can rock. My 2 cents.

[Nor Cal Scot]

if u have a good top quality blade, u don't need no stinken serrations!

Utter BS.

[19hugeracks57]

at work i carry a kershaw seratted for cutting everything,from insulation ,rope ,ceiling tiles and anything it will cut .to sharpen i use my SPYDERCO sharpening kit....HUNTING myself and my hunting partner (for40 years) use everything from serrated to plain blades for skinning and gutting because every animal is different,hogs,elk,and deer are all differnet meats .
find a knife that u like and carry it,backpack(for hunting )a varity of knives . we use everything from spyderco,chicago culery,to the $2.50 knife u find at garage sales and swapmeets

[MongooseV8]

I use the serrations on my knives to cut copper wires and rope, and my finger every now and then.

[tomah]

heres a quote from an Ernie Emerson article...

"One last word on blades. Always, repeat always, get a serrated blade. They always cut, even when dull and they blow through a seat belt like something vulgar through a goose."