age old question

[fredswartz]

In my lifetime, I have never found a use for a serrated edge. First, but not formost, it is more difficult for me to sharpen. Can you use it as a wood carving knife? Is it good at sliting envelopes? Is it as good as a plain edge when gutting a deer? Is it better when stripping insulation from a wire? Will it filet a fish more easily? Can't remember any time in my life when I needed a blade to saw something. I think that EMT's and other people in specialized trades may need a serrated blade but not me.

I must be missing something since lots of Spyderco's have serrations. I want to buy a discontinued Spyderco but it has serrations and am looking for an excuse to buy it.

Jerry

[delicrazy]

im the kind of kid who goes into the woods and beats the **** out of sticks and trees. to do stuff like that i prefure serrations. they are very difficult to sharpen though so i have moved to plain blades. id imagine that they wouldnt be terribly good at fillaying and keeping it neat but i know that when fishing the serrations are perfect for cutting up bait. you will find a use for it if you buy it but i prefer plain blade

[thorin hammer]

I don't go for serrations all the time but I'm glad I have them on some of my knives. The serrations "cut down" the amount of work that you must do in order to complete the job. Also they are sharper that a plain edge. Try cutting rope, cardboard, small branches on trees, ect. You will find that the plain edge takes more force and time. After you get used to them you will start to cut just as strait as if it were a plain edge. When it comes to sharpening and you have a Spyderco Sharpmaker, Sharpening is easy. (Say that 5 time really fast.) Yes is slits envelopes better that a plain edge. Though you have to be careful I do think it is easer to strip wire.

Anyone else please feel free to add and/or correct me if I’m wrong about anything I’ve said.


Edited by - Thorin Hammer on 10/31/2002 3:24:48 PM

[Blade Santa Cruz]

Don't forget self-defense! I wouldn't have a Civilian in plain edge, other than to complete a collection. Other work-oriented hawkbills that cut cord, line, seatbelts, and the like can also benefit from a serated edge.

[mac_heath]

I prefer specialized blade designs, like the hook or sheepsfoot, serrated. I cut cardboard, open boxes, rip through rope, use them for stripping off small branches, etc. The serrations are great in those environments because the tiny points start the cut for you. This is particularly noticeable when cutting packing tape: serrations cut faster than PE because the points start your cut.

Try this: pull a piece of paper apart (don't tear it) just using force on the ends of the paper. Then do the same thing with a small tear in the middle of the page.
That's what serrations do: they cut. PE blades slice. They separate matter in a much more precise manner. I carry an SE and PE, so I'm prepared for either situation.

Get a sharpmaker, it sharpens serrations easily.

Praise not the day before evening has come, a sword before it is tried, ice before it has been crossed, and before until it is drunk.

[transistor]

I used to work in a place where I had to cut lots of very tough rope, quickly and safely. Sometimes I'd have to cut foot thick tangles of tightly wound rope from equipment, and do it as fast as possible. Serrations make cutting rope much easier, especially when you need to make lots of cuts without re-sharpening.

For an easy, quick way to touch up serrated blades, the little Normark fillet knife sharpener with four tiny ceramic rods mounted in a plastic fixture is hard to beat, and cheap too. When it's time to do a full sharpening job the Sharpmaker is the gold standard, no doubt about it.

Edited by - transistor on 10/31/2002 4:47:15 PM

[chinook]

I had to divide one of those pig's ear chew things for my two small dogs. They have a hard smooth surface and the difference between the two edge types was immediately apparent. My plainedged large Calypso skidded on the surface and I had to bear down so hard that the material cracked as much as cut. I then tried my Calypso Jr Spyderedge and its fine teeth broke the crust nicely and sawed down thru the petrified ear with 'much' less effort.
When a plainedge is sharpened with a semi-rough texture it might have handled this task better, butt not with the ease of the serrations. Another case where my serrated edges win is garden or radiator hose or plastic pipe.
I find they both have their strengths and weaknesses. I carry both.

Disguised as a responsible adult.

[sc_rebel1957]

Well i probably buy more SE or CE Spydies than the PE models.

I love the way they look, they work much better on cutting rope, boxes, seat belt material in a car crash (and i sure hope i never have to use mine for that purpose) but in a panic situation like that, i want fast cutting ability.
I read a story once of this chap who was hunting in his tree stand 25 ft above ground and for some reason the stand broke, being a smart hunter he did have on his saftey harness.
But the strap slipped up around his upper chest wall and was slowly choking the guy.
Another wise choice this guy made was to have a SE Delica clipped to his hunting pants, after cutting the strap the guy did fall, but i'd prefer that to having my hunting partner laugh at me dangling there turning blue.
I now make a habit of clipping the Snap it EMT to a d ring on my harness, now you,re absolutely right about it not being the best choice for skinning game.
But hey it's just another reason to justify buying more Spydies to your Wife/Boss.
And besides just gaze at this sweet lil sexy Spydie and say it's not love at 1st site. Ron

[sc_rebel1957]

Oh i 2nd the self defense comment also, if nothing else for the pure intimidation factor of this mean lookin sucker i got today, yea guys i'm playin with the cam again. Ron

[sc_rebel1957]

ok 2nd shot

[Knife Knut]

fredswartz, which knife is it?


Knife Knut on a shoestring budget.

[radioflyer]

I would have to agree with mac_heath about the points on the blade starting the cut. For example, if you were cutting some tape on a box with a plain edge knife, normally you would use the tip of the blade to actually do the cutting. With a serrated blade, there are more opportunities to get the cut done in one swipe without bearing down as hard. Also, a serrated blade gives you more cutting surface; It's kind of like having a longer blade!

[fredswartz]

Knife Knut:
Found a dealer who has some Wegner Jr. PS models left. Want a Mouse also. Decisions, Decisions!
Jerry

Edited by - fredswartz on 11/1/2002 8:53:40 AM

[Sword and Shield]

I don't much care for serrations, unless there is rope to be cut. Then, the SE edge really comes into its own. You can whittle somewhat with an SE, I've made fuzz sticks with them, but the precision simply isn't there.

Never underestimate the impossible.

[Pachucko]

sc_rebel1957,

All I see is a box with a red X in it?

Pachucks

[sc_rebel1957]

I,m having a helluva time sizing pics correctly to post, try this. Ron

[sc_rebel1957]

Gives up! grrrr

[AllenETreat]

Howz 'bout this : Get a combo ( plain and
serrated <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>) The best of both worlds! <img src="tongue.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>
Did that with my Mili <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

ATE <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

[koolstof]

serrations look nice

->koolstof from Belgium<-