Serrated or non-serrated in a defensive folder?

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chaim

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I'm just looking for everyone's preferences and why. What are the advantages of a partially serrated blade? What are the disadvantages (any other than it being harder to sharpen)?

I have several knives now. I mostly carry a Kershaw Scallion which does not have a serrated blade. I occasionally carry a Kershaw Vapor II which does have a serrated blade. I am considering buying the Vapor without a serrated blade. However, I am more interested from an "academic" perspective. Is there any reason for a serrated or non-serrated blade beyond whichever you prefer for cosmetic reasons (or are cosmetics the only real difference)?

Note: I have other knives other than those mentioned, but some (like my Boker "Original Bowie") aren't carried at all, and others (like my, no longer owned but soon to own again, Swiss Army Knife or my Coast blade/money clip combo) are carried as utility knives and not as defensive folders.
 
I carry the Kershaw Whirlwind which has a serrated section. That's because I only carry one knife and it has to do all the daily chores. I know that's a compromise. I imagine the best defensive slashing of the big-belly blades I like would be with no serrations.
 
My defensive knives don't have any serrations. Work knives, yes.

This depends somewhat on the type of serrations, but some will hang up in even light cloth when used in a slashing mode.
 
Non.

I asked this question a long time ago. The more experienced/trained members suggested Non. Of course they also posted valid reasons, and pics which caused me to drool onto my keyboard. :)

Defence: Non
Serrated is good for seat belts, rope, utility...
Its that tool for a specific job deal, some tools do double duty/cross over, better than others...there is no Holy Grail in anything I've learned.
 
My vote goes to non-serrated. Reasons are as follows:

1)I find serrated blades are of limited use in most situations.

2)A plain edge is more versitile.

3)For me, a SHARP plain edge will do everything a serrated one will plus some.

4)My style of knifework calls for more thrusts than cuts. Depending on the type of serrations, this could be a problem.

5)Half-Half blades are the worst of both worlds in my opinion. YMMV, as it depends on how you use it.

All of this is based on my experiences with both, and a personal bias that goes beyond experience. I think serrated knives are ugly, and not as functional as plain edge blades.

Every few hundred years or so in Europe, back when people used blades to fight with much more often (they also used them more often at home, but that is another matter) it would become fashionable to have a "flamebredge" style blade. These were pretty much serrated blades. It was believed that their wounding capacity would surpass standard blades. Guess what? They did not. They would be discarded, and the rediscovered every generation or so.

Fast forward 400 years. It has become fashionable to have "mean" looking knives. I think the reasons are threefold.

One, mass marketing.

Two, laziness, as serrated knives are "rippers" and do not necessitate (sp?) as much sharpening, wittness Ginsu (tm).

Three, all things tactical follow law enforcement. When cops started carrying Spydercos (great knives by the way) for cutting seatbelts, the masses flocked to them.

The above is not intended as a slam on anyone or their carry piece. Carry what works for you. Just be sure that you do not get caught up in marketing hype, and clearly define what your piece is to be used for.

Flame away if you must.

:neener: :D
 
I have gone the way of 50/50 combo for my EDC knife (Benchmade Osborne). Simple reason is that, I'd probably reach for this knife in matters of SD or everyday chore work. Even though I have been known to carry additional knives on me which can be considered true 'combat' knives and have straight grinds, this Benchmade would probably still be the first deployed. Since the front half is non, I put my own grind on it.

Seems to me that the front half is good for all thrusts and slashes, but the serrated back might even be more useful for FMA-style deep rips and comma-cuts. Wouldn't serrations work better against leather, denim, gristle, muscle after penetration?
 
The biggest advantage to serrations is that they make your blade more dangerous and painful.

A straight edge will not inflict the sudden ripping pain that serrations can cause. Pain is what will cause an attacker react to your immediate defense, and that is what you want if you are defending yourself.

Straight edges are easier to maintain, though.

Also, legality. I have heard that serrations can change a knife's "lethality" in courts. I don't know if that is accurate or not.

I know that here in Georgia, ANY knife made for the purpose of offense or defense is illegal to carry.
 
The Tengu, I am going to have to disagree (respectfully, of course) with you on the "dangerous and painful" point. I have been cut with everything from a piece of paper to a ryoba (not ryobi) hand saw and most everything in between. Serrations do not cause more pain, at least in my experience.

Also, reliance on pain as a "fight stopper" is not always a good idea. This is just my opinion though.

CWL, again, this is just my opinion, but if there is heavy clothing in the way, I am going to stab, not cut. Cuts often do not go deep enough. As to cutting after penetration, I don't see how a serrated edge would surpass a truly SHARP plain edge.

As always, YMMV.

:)
 
Tengu,

Where can the laws for knife carry be found for GA? It's amazing a state would have laws that forbid you from carrying something to protect your life...

Steve
 
It is on the back of my firearms license.

16-11-127.

(a) Except as provided in Code Section 16-11-127.1, a person is guilty of a misdemeanor when he carries to or while at a public gathering any explosive compound, firearm, or knife designed for the purpose of offense and defense.
Click to expand...

So I guess this doesn't apply to private gatherings. It also says "offense and defense", not "offense or defense".

Does that mean that a knife made just for defense is legal?

That's how I'm reading it...
 
Both

In general i prefer non-serrated because my knives in theory are inteaded for a quick and quiet kill (i'm in the army) and the teeth of a serrated knife don't work as well for that. I carry at least 2 knives on me when in uniform. One in my boot and one on my belt. My belt knife is a 7 1/2" blade Ka-bar. That has no serration in the blade. My boot knife is a 4" blade with a small serrated section on the top back of the blade (kind of like the rambos knife :) ) That works very well for cutting things and i can use the serrated part if i need it otherwise i use the straight blade and that lets me keep the Ka-Bar sharp in case i ever need to use it (not yet luckily)
 
Tengu,

I disagree with your reasoning. If one if using a knife defensively, you are, by definition, using lethal force. I do not expect my attacker to have time to react in pain before he is disabled. To expect that, is foolish and unrealistic. He may automatically jerk his weapon away, leaving his throat exposed. I will then press the attack.

When you evade a punch, and execute an uke uchi strike, you don't expect your attacker to withdraw in pain, do you? Why would you expect him to stop a deadly attack? Koshi-jutsu will cause intense pain, but one never expects that alone to prevail.

John
 
Any cut is a good cut in a fight and never stop with one. Attack like a Viper be like white on rice or maybe even like a hobo on ham sandwhich.:)
 
Serrated blades are useless for anything but cutting rope and bread. A folding knife for "defense" is much use either. Takes too long to get it working.
Mind you, if you're in a place where you need a knife, folder or not, to get out of, you've made a serious tactical error. Worse than if you have to defend yourself with a handgun. Knives, in combat, are for opening cans, cutting bacon, chopping wood, etc. Not fighting with.
 
I see some advantage to a section of serrations on a working knife...one with some length to it.

But I have no use on them for a folder length defensive knife
 
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