I don't like serrated edges, change my mind!

[jmr40]

I've had a few knives with partially serrated edges and they never really grew on me. Never owned a fully serrated edge. But reading through these threads.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...iscontinued-by-spyderco.874415/#post-11630469
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/spyderco-jumpmaster-2.874463/


has me thinking that I may be wrong and it is something I should reconsider. For what I tend to use a knife for I still don't think they are the best option. But maybe for some uses. Like the title says, change my mind. I'm open minded and willing to learn.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I've got a double-edged blade with one fully serrated edge.
It's my old diving knife.
Otherwise, I'm unlikely to carry a blade with a serrated edge.

 

[ilbob]

I don't like them either because I have a hard time sharpening them

 

[troy fairweather]

I don't like them, tho I do really like the style Kershaw uses on the leek. It's more of a mound then sharp points. I like it does not catch like normal serrated blades. I know it will cut 10ga 3 strand copper wire with one pull.
https://www.thekershawstore.com/kershaw-leek-serrated-edge-knife-1660ST/

 

[Fiv3r]

I find them abhorrent. A plain edge is so much easier to sharpen and can do anything a serrated edge does...until it can't.

I'm not a fan of combo edges...AT ALL. However, a good serrated edge can be maintained with nothing more than an $8 ceramic stick and a piece if leather loaded with jeweler's compound.

My EDC of choice has a plain edge. It currently bounces between a Chris Reeve Inkosi and Spyderco Manix. However, I just picked up a full serrated Spyderco ARK in H1. I did this because this knife has a very specific use in mind for me.

I plain on using this knife when nothing else is on my person. A serrated knife can saw through a lot before becoming useless. It makes for a great back up. Also, i think of this as a knife i would have on me in an emergency. Im really not going to pontificate over the virtues of a PE over a SE and how the PE can be made scary sharp when the SE is generally more of a saw when I am hanging upside-down in my car and need to free myself from my seat belt. Will I really care how hair popping my Manix is when all I need is a good, tough steak knife to get the hell out of my car?

Serrated edges are great for when the crap hits the fan. Its bad. There is a problem that requires something to be cut. It doesn't have to shave or be perfect, but it does need to be done...NOW.

For that, I like them.

 

[mcb]

I use to dislike serrated and partial serrated knives mostly due to the difficulty in sharpening. I got over that. Above is my EDC knife. It is on me almost always. It's a partially serrated knife that I sharpen by simply dragging it through a set of crock sticks. At this point the serrated part of the blade is more of a "wavy" blade than truly serrated. Still holds an excellent edge and still function close enough to a serrated blade on tough fiber materials that I like it and use it.

 

[Mk-211]

I find it amazing that most people don't know that a serrated blade is only sharp on one side.

Most aren't much of knife people and don't understand why a serrated blade was made in the first place.

I like the look of some serrated blades but its just the look. I prefer a plain edge on my knives.

 

[.38 Special]

I'm still somewhat unsure of what a serrated edge is supposed to accomplish. My feeling at the moment is that if the rest of the knife is dull then the serrations still might be able to accomplish something. For those folks who can't be bothered to keep their knives sharp that might be worthwhile. For the sort of fellow who posts on this subforum, though...

 

[duckyou]

Serrated edges are not for cutting flesh. I have work knives that are serrated but edc is always a sharp flat edge.

 

[Mk-211]

The tips of the serrated blade keep the rest of the blade from hitting whatever surface you're cutting on.

This is supposed to keep the blade sharper and cutting longer. I'm pretty sure that the design was made for butchers or the restaurant industry.

Just carried over to the public as I'm sure interest in them brought it to market.

 

[BreechFace]

Serrated knives are lame. That is all I came to this thread to post.

 

[jmr40]

It's my understanding that they can be a better option for cutting rope, or for emergency workers who may need to cut seatbelts in order to get an injured person out of a car. And they might possibly be a good option when used as a weapon. But none of those are things I'm likely to do, at least not regularly. In the past my feelings have largely been the same as most of the above posters. But after reading through the threads linked above I'm just wondering if they might be more useful than I thought.

 

[bikerdoc]

Old Sgt, insisted we carry a half serrated knife on our duty belt.
Useful , yes!

Necessary? Your choice.
Somewhere in Boston there is a 38 year old guy named after me cause I cut his momma out of a wreck with one.
So there is that.
Today, I'm an old geezer. I carry 4 clip knives of various sizes every day. One is partially serrated.
Just in case.

 

[edwardware]

Fresh sharp serrated is no-contest hands-down faster through synthetic fiber (webbing, seat belts, parachute rigging, etc) than any straight blade.

But, it's a pain to sharpen, and for us enthusiasts the sharpening of a blade is a big part of our enjoyment of it. I think of it as a parallel to tupperware handguns. . . far less soul and elegance that blued steel and walnut, but undoubtedly a better tool for some applications.

 

[ugaarguy]

For what I tend to use a knife for I still don't think they are the best option. But maybe for some uses. Like the title says, change my mind. I'm open minded and willing to learn.

This thread over on the Spyderco Forum might be of interest to you - https://forum.spyderco.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=85045&sid=7da1af9c8ac97730723ae0dd0837ebca

Serrated knives are lame. That is all I came to this thread to post.

If you read through thread I linked above, you might find a compelling alternate perspective.

But, it's a pain to sharpen,

They're quite easy to sharpen with a Spyderco Sharpmaker.

I find it amazing that most people don't know that a serrated blade is only sharp on one side.

So are grafting blades, and so are many Japanese sushi knives. Both are used when the cleanest cut possible is desired.

 

[jmr40]

Many years ago I picked up a couple of Benchmade knives cheap at a gun show. I paid $30-$35 each for these. They were discontinued knives made with 440C steel. I never used the one with the partially serrated blade and ended up giving it to my son who works as an electrician. He loves it and has obviously abused it. He isn't skilled at all sharpening a knife, but he says the serrations still cut wire and anything else he needs to cut.

 

[748]

They're easy to sharpen if you have the correct tools to do it.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Somewhere in Boston there is a 38 year old guy named after me cause I cut his momma out of a wreck with one.

She named him bikerdoc? That's super cool.

I don't have any real use for a serrated blade, but I acknowledge their capability. Rescue pros carry them for a reason.

I am not a rescue pro though. So I carry non-serrated knives.

 

[rust collector]

In my experience serrated blades work well on fibrous materials, but produce a ragged cut that I generally try to avoid. For cutting my way out of something, it would be useful. Otherwise, I prefer a plain edge or well designed saw.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I find serrated edges to be important for those that snorkel, scuba, kayak, or do anything that may involve getting tangled in cordage or fishing line while under water.
You find that your leverage is gone and your time is fleeting... .

 

[CapnMac]

As above, it depends upon the use.
If you are cutting through ropes, particularly natural fiber ones, a plain edge will dull quickly. And in away that rolls the burr under in a less-good way, too.
Also, if you are breaking down corrugated paper products, as the glue and the paper fibers will emulate rope.

The serrations dull as well, but there are more of them, and you can flat-strop the back edge to get the sharp back (some).

That being said, I prefer an edge to be one or the other, and not both. Ok, I have a Gerber EZ Out with a mixed edge, and I've beat that poor blade up. Which is ok, that was my intent for the blade.

 

[23tony]

For kitchen knives I hear all the time that serrated knives cut tomatoes better. But I rarely have any trouble with my chef's knife, and when I DO, it just tells me it's time to sharpen it.

 

[hso]

Where precision or tidyness isn't needed a serrated blade will rip through material like crazy and keep doing it. Kevlar or nylon straps and rope part as if they were made of nothing.

 

[Blade First]

Where precision or tidyness isn't needed a serrated blade will rip through material like crazy and keep doing it. Kevlar or nylon straps and rope part as if they were made of nothing.

Well...yes. The excuse of not being able to sharpen the blade, no matter the design, is nonsense. Do your homework or reduce your options. [sigh]

 

[bannockburn]

Most of my knives are plain edge but I have a few partially serrated blades because that's all I could find at the time with that particular knife or else I required a serrated blade for some specific use in cutting something.