Serrations vs. plain edge?

[BayAreaShooter]

I am a plain edge guy, but on a multitool I like having both a plain edge blade as well as a full serrated blade. I would not be against a full serrated folder. No combo edges for me though.

[johnthomas]

If I am doing a lot of cutting, I just us my pocket knife style razor knife with replaceable blades. I have a Leatherman with both blades for once in a while cutting.

[db42]

Plain edge.
Serrations keep getting caught in people's ribs and then everything is all messy. . . I mean . . . it's easier to sharpen . . . yeah . . . sharpen.

[jeffrice6]

Plain all the way

[Meety Peety]

There is no one knife that will do it all. When it comes down to what will cut what material, blade steel, edge angle, thickness of the blade and blade design all play a role in how it will cut and through what materials. I have had very sharp narrow slicers that certainly will go right through a seat belt with ease (plain egde) and I have had thick heavy duty blades that slide through thick cardboard like a hot knife through butter, mostly due to blade design and a good edge.

This is why (as with any tool) you need to identify the purpose that it will serve and what material it will need to cut and then pick a knife accordingly. For my needs, I have ultimately moved all the way from a Benchmade 470 to a ZT 0300. There is a big difference between them and what they can do. Both are plain edge.

I am not a fan of serrations because they are a pain to sharpen and I do not find myself ever struggling to cut anything to which serrations would aid. If i was trying to cut through thick rope or wood on a regular basis, I might pick up a serrated blade. For now, I use my knife every day, usually multiple times a day and yet I never find myself wishing I had serrations.

I would also say that owning a plain edge EDC, you really need to have a good quality knife that you know how to keep sharp. A dull plain edge is no good for anything. My 0300 stays sharp enough to shave my arm pretty much 100% of the time with only a few passes on the sharpmaker once or twice a month depending on use. If you buy a cheap blade and/or don't know how to sharpen a knife properly, you would probably benefit from a combo blade.

[Marthor]

A combo blade is twice as useful. The serrations are vastly superior for cutting rope and string.

[MrSam]

In shorter blades, plain edge. In longer blades, either would be fine.

[taloft]

My edc blade is a combo. I work on the water front and I'm always having to cut rope, line, zip ties, rubber hose, etc. A plain blade works just fine if you are willing to sharpen it on a regular basis but, I'm lazy. Manila mooring lines will dull even a good blade in short order.

That is why I purchased two Buck Knives, both the Protege FX model. When one needs to be sharpened, I just send it off to Buck Knives and use the other until it returns. I like this model because it also has a rubber coated handle that doesn't slip when my hands are wet, and a back lock. I purchased them just as Buck was discontinuing them. I got each one for $12.00. They are the best utility knives I've found for working on the barges.

Prior to that I carried a Buck 110 for years and still have it.

[Tasty]

I hate serrations. My edc is either one of my benchmades or my zero tolerance, all of which are plain edges. Those blades are kept sharp enough that they can, and do, cut zip ties or anything else I need to cut with ease.

[JustaBlokeAnywhere]

Go combo, use the straight edge for everyday use, save the serrated edge for the necessary times you need some serious cutting done

[the0thermrt]

hawkbills and kerambits are perfect for fibrous materials. thats what they were designed for. yes as others have stated plain edges don't get caught on bones, fascia, or connective tissue on the way out...for reasons...

[Rotgut]

I carry two folders. The smaller one is plain edge. The larger is half/half. I find uses for both and wouldn't change it.

[dk94044]

Who said serrations are difficult to sharpen, depends on purpose? Get the right tool, easy sharpening with a few pulls of an ultra fine needle file. I like my EDC spyderco Delica4 combo blade over straight edge for large boxes with the plastic bands around them. Letter opening or flesh cutting the Dragonfly FRN straight edge, why not have both?

[Marthor]

So for a long time I subscribed to the nutnfancy philosophy that serrations were bad because they're hard to sharpen or whatever.

If you watch nutnfancy's new video Shotshow 2015 interview with Spyderco Roundtable, you'll see they have him converted to serrations, but he won't quite admit it yet.

It's OK to change your mind. My overall idea of EDC has changed significantly. I used to prefer to carry a cheap knife because if I lost it, it wouldn't matter. Well, after carrying cheap for half my life, I've recently opened up to carry something nicer now. I also have learned more about steel types and recognize the value of better steels. The cheapos got it done, but I now enjoy higher quality.

From everything I've learned about serrations and the counter arguements, I think combo edge is the most useful. I think nutnfancy will get there too ...and admit it.

[Ronin2]

If the blade is sharp, it will cut. You don't see no serrations on no samurai sword, do ya boy?

As a student of ken jitsu (Toyama Rui Batto jitsu) I would say "it depends on what you want to cut"