Serrations vs. plain edge?

[Marthor]

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

A samurai sword is not comparable to a knife. You cannot use stainless steel or serrations on any functional sword.

stainless steel and serrations can be significant advantages on a knife though.

[ojisan]

I used to be a plain edge guy, but my current EDC is a combo and it has worked well.
It's nice to have both options on one blade.

[glockman19]

I carry both a straight edge and partially serrated knives.
Right now it's a Buck 55 and Gerber Paraframe II.

[bruss01]

Sorry, I appreciate the "purist" viewpoint that a properly sharp straight edge should cut anything that needs to be cut

BUT....

A lifetime of experience has taught me that serrated blades are exceptional for cutting tough, fibrous materials where a straight edge takes a lot more work. If you have ultra high dollar premium knives ($100 and up) or sharpen your knives daily to paper slicing fineness, good for you. Those aren't one tenth of one percent of the knives in general circulation. A decent but inexpensive serrated knife will do a lot with less intensive maintenance.

My EDC is a combo blade - a Benchmade Griptillian D2 steel. It holds a decent edge. But my experience that fibrous packing tape is quicker to cut with the serrated section. You may argue "that's not cutting, that's tearing" SO WHAT? It gets the job done. I'm not performing cataract surgery, I'm opening a box. That's 90% of my cutting chores, opening boxes. Or cutting twine. If I ever need to cut a seatbelt to escape a mangled wreck about to catch fire, it won't matter much to me if the blade is cutting or tearing the seatbelt, as long as it does it fast with the blade I have on me at the time. Most jobs do not require a razor edge to accomplish. And a razor's edge is frequently quickly dulled by hitting a staple or some other unforseen obstacle.

A grab it and go knife in the affordable category is a good tool. And what has proven to work best (from that variety) in my experience is a combo edge.

[NapalmCheese]

Plain edge for most things. Dive knives might benefit from serrated edges, bread knives certainly do.

I hate combo edges with a passion, the serrated portion of the blade is right where I want the plain blade portion for a fair amount of detail work, the plain portion of the blade is appropriately situated.

I don't mind having a folder with both blades.

Spyderco serrations are a slight exception in that, their combo edge Endura was my first choice in stripping the sheath off of Cat 5 when making cables back in the day.

[Jimmybacon43]

Plain edge for most things. Dive knives might benefit from serrated edges, bread knives certainly do.

I hate combo edges with a passion, the serrated portion of the blade is right where I want the plain blade portion for a fair amount of detail work, the plain portion of the blade is appropriately situated.

I don't mind having a folder with both blades.

Spyderco serrations are a slight exception in that, their combo edge Endura was my first choice in stripping the sheath off of Cat 5 when making cables back in the day.

What kind of detail work are you doing with the flat edge of the knife that's closest to the handle? When I think about detail work I think about the tip of a knife.


Sent from a cardboard box behind Arby's

[sdkevin]

What kind of detail work are you doing with the flat edge of the knife that's closest to the handle?

I think that is one of the best points I've heard, good on you.

[NapalmCheese]

What kind of detail work are you doing with the flat edge of the knife that's closest to the handle? When I think about detail work I think about the tip of a knife.


Sent from a cardboard box behind Arby's

Carving notches (noses, chins, random marks), paring down bits of whatever to fit wherever I need it to fit while working in a confined space. The sort of thing that requires precision and leverage, not uncommon while whittling. I end up using the heel of the blade pretty often for anything where I want a lot of control and I have the space to use it. Also smoothing out previous tool marks, bark, knots, etc.

[GW]

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

And bone
Combo for me.

[BigPimping]

I love serrated edges on any knife. However, when it goes dull, It is a pain to sharpen. I just throw it in a box.

[gblacksmith]

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

Recently I was cutting open some packages, some of which included items that were bound by zip ties to the card board. For the life of me I couldn't get a plain edge through that zip tie, so I got one of my partially serrated blades (that I only had because it was on sale and they didn't have the plain edge version) and I snapped the zip ties like nothing.

I was intrigued, so I got some rope, and cut that up a little bit, found that serrations were like WAYYYYY better for that too. Now I'm thinking that all of my EDC knives, as in knives I'm actually gonna carry need to have serrations on 'em. For example, what if someone robbed a store you were in and they zip tied you? You could pull your serrated edge knife out and snap the tie easily, while if you were sawing away at it with a plain edge blade you'd be in a tough spot. (assuming the bad guys didn't search you, that is). I know that example is way out there, and unlikely to ever occur but it had me thinking. What if I needed to cut my or someone elses seatbelt off in a car wreck? I don't think a plain edge blade could do that as effectively as a serrated knife.

What do you guys think? Serrations yay or nay? Partial serrations, full plain edge, or full serrated, what's your preference?

Plain edge....I sharpen serrated edges on knives and have found that most folks wear the serrations down quickly on resistant media. They then take the knives to "professional sharpeners" who use power driven buffers that wear the crowns of the gullets. Sadly, most people don'yt know how to sharpen ANY knife properly and settle for a slightly longer cutting life of the serrated edge. I use a plain, hand-sharpened edge for everything from field-dressing to shaving my face.

[BayAreaShooter]

I love serrated edges on any knife. However, when it goes dull, It is a pain to sharpen. I just throw it in a box.

When you dull them out just pack em up and send them to me.

[Steponmytoes]

a lot of people that are really into knives look down on serrated but IMO they forget that a knife is a tool and serrated edges definitely have their place (most effective for man made stuff like rope and zip ties). Best way to keep serrated edges sharp is a knife sharpening system like the spyderco sharpmaker... works great for all my knives, plain edge and serrated. Its worth the 50 bucks or so on eBay if you use your knife a lot

[spddrcr]

I prefer Plain.

After carrying Spydies,Kershaws,Benmchmades and Cold Steel.

Plain for the win.

But I am considering Veff serrations as a partial.

I generally carry a combo with the veff serrations and the only thing I can tell you is watch your thumb when closing the knife. I was shooting trap and opened a box of shells that had been taped, next thing I know I am bleeding everywhere. since I was on the line I figured when the round was over i would take care of it but every time I took a shot more blood would fly.

The serrations are sharp and although the cut looked small it was deep. still use the knife to this day as it is a great knife.

[drifts1]

Been carrying for over 30 years, I know how to sharpen both plain edge and serrations. I have and carry both plain edge and combo edge knives. I would say my combo edges get carried most often.Against some materials even the sharpest plain edge cant compete with sharp serrations. But when it comes to looks I give the plain edge the nod