Plain or Serrated and why?
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Matt Franklin
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Plain or Serrated and why?
I realize that the plain and serrated blades have different uses, but I was curious to find out the personal opinions of the Spyderco fans on this forum. The question is: What type of blade do you like to use the most and how does it come in handy for you? Thanks for your input. This will help me with my future Spyderco knife buying decisions. Matt
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sam the man..
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I prefer the plain edge for several reasons. It is the unfortunate reality that serrated blades (especially fully serrated) scare non-knife people. Plain edges make nice, smooth cuts which is generally what I need. For a dedicated fighting knife, I'd choose serrations, but for general purpose use plain edge is preferred. Serrated edges don't have to be sharpened as often, but sharpening isn't a difficulty since I have both a Lansky and DMT sharpening system. I'll probably end up with a syperco sharpmaker also.
I'd also prefer to avoid the 50/50 or partial serrated edges. This reduces the usefulness of the knife rather than increase it IMHO.
Slayer
I'd also prefer to avoid the 50/50 or partial serrated edges. This reduces the usefulness of the knife rather than increase it IMHO.
Slayer
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Windwalker
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Hi Matt,
Out of 18 Spydercos, only two are serrated. An aluminium cricket, and a civilian. I wish I had the plain blade on the cricket, it would be more useful to me...
I find that the normal things I do, open letters, peel apples, etc. are easier with the plain blade. I guess for a last defense knife like the civilian, serrations are best, but for the rest, I carry only plain blades, with one exception.. the large dyad. Having both blades is a great feature... the plain for general use, and the serrated in reserve for whatever! :-)
Windwalker
Out of 18 Spydercos, only two are serrated. An aluminium cricket, and a civilian. I wish I had the plain blade on the cricket, it would be more useful to me...
I find that the normal things I do, open letters, peel apples, etc. are easier with the plain blade. I guess for a last defense knife like the civilian, serrations are best, but for the rest, I carry only plain blades, with one exception.. the large dyad. Having both blades is a great feature... the plain for general use, and the serrated in reserve for whatever! :-)
Windwalker
Hi Matt. Recently, there was the same discussion on the Benchmade forum. I would say tha maybe 70% of the crew preferred the plain edge. And that goes for me too. Now, although the serrated edge sometimes has it´s preferences, the most of the time I only need a clean cut and nothing more. The combo is either nor. The serrated section is too short and so is the plain one. Avoid it. And I still believe that if you are in that need of a serration, then get a saw <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle> However, if you are a policeman or a fireman...
Hi Matt:
Recently I was educated about serrated edges
thru Spyderco and Sal Glesser. I prefer serrated for utility and have some combination knives. attached is a copy of an article on serrated blades by Sal Glesser which provides some knowledge.
reference when it comes to discuss serrations than Mr. Sal Glesser. Listed below is a copy of an article I saved about modern serrations.
Sal - "Our interest in serrations developed during the 1970's when we learned that a serrated edge cuts more effectively. Investigation at that time revealed that they cut more effectively for a variety of reasons.
1. You have more linear inches of cutting surface.
2. You have single point penetration at the tip of each serration. The concentration of force at the tip provides much better penetration than just sliding a sharp plain edge across almost any type of material.
3. The center of effort rotates around the serration as you are cutting with it. This permits a more efficient separation of the material being cut.
In experimenting, we also learned that the shape of the serration , size of serration, and angle of the grind within the serration has significant effects.
We have also found a few things that serrations don't do nearly as well as plain edges. That would include carving, whittling, some skinning applications, the cutting of certain foods, and scraping.
Some of the advantages of the serrated edges would be on a cutting board for example. The tip of the tooth is the only part that hits the cutting board. The recessed edge is hitting only the softer food and is likely to stay sharper 5 - 10 times longer than the same knife in a plain edge used on the same cutting board.
We also found that if you have a very good steel (by good I mean hard and tough), the serrated edge can be used to cut materials that are much more difficult. For example, a number of our customers have actually used the serrated edge to saw through steel cable. The serration allowed the actual cutting of the cable through the stepping of the serration. That would not have been possible with a plain edged knife. Naturally the steel in the blade has to be extraordinary and considerably harder than the cable that was cut. In each case, it did ruin the knife but it does give an example for the potential of a serration. We also found that a serration can be used to make a very poor quality steel appear to be much more effective.
Some people refer to serration as a saw tooth. This is not entirely true. A saw tooth does not have a sharp edge between the edge, you have a sharpened edge between the tip of the teeth so that constant cutting occurs.
The combination edge seems to be very popular with many customers. The attitude is that it has the best of both worlds. I'm still not sure if that would work for me as I personally prefer more teeth and less plain edge. I like only enough edge to do that scraping or fine cutting that would be necessary, but this is a matter of preference."
Recently I was educated about serrated edges
thru Spyderco and Sal Glesser. I prefer serrated for utility and have some combination knives. attached is a copy of an article on serrated blades by Sal Glesser which provides some knowledge.
reference when it comes to discuss serrations than Mr. Sal Glesser. Listed below is a copy of an article I saved about modern serrations.
Sal - "Our interest in serrations developed during the 1970's when we learned that a serrated edge cuts more effectively. Investigation at that time revealed that they cut more effectively for a variety of reasons.
1. You have more linear inches of cutting surface.
2. You have single point penetration at the tip of each serration. The concentration of force at the tip provides much better penetration than just sliding a sharp plain edge across almost any type of material.
3. The center of effort rotates around the serration as you are cutting with it. This permits a more efficient separation of the material being cut.
In experimenting, we also learned that the shape of the serration , size of serration, and angle of the grind within the serration has significant effects.
We have also found a few things that serrations don't do nearly as well as plain edges. That would include carving, whittling, some skinning applications, the cutting of certain foods, and scraping.
Some of the advantages of the serrated edges would be on a cutting board for example. The tip of the tooth is the only part that hits the cutting board. The recessed edge is hitting only the softer food and is likely to stay sharper 5 - 10 times longer than the same knife in a plain edge used on the same cutting board.
We also found that if you have a very good steel (by good I mean hard and tough), the serrated edge can be used to cut materials that are much more difficult. For example, a number of our customers have actually used the serrated edge to saw through steel cable. The serration allowed the actual cutting of the cable through the stepping of the serration. That would not have been possible with a plain edged knife. Naturally the steel in the blade has to be extraordinary and considerably harder than the cable that was cut. In each case, it did ruin the knife but it does give an example for the potential of a serration. We also found that a serration can be used to make a very poor quality steel appear to be much more effective.
Some people refer to serration as a saw tooth. This is not entirely true. A saw tooth does not have a sharp edge between the edge, you have a sharpened edge between the tip of the teeth so that constant cutting occurs.
The combination edge seems to be very popular with many customers. The attitude is that it has the best of both worlds. I'm still not sure if that would work for me as I personally prefer more teeth and less plain edge. I like only enough edge to do that scraping or fine cutting that would be necessary, but this is a matter of preference."
Prior to being a knife dealer I owned several different knives, some with serrations, some without, I soon came to the conclusion that serrations provided very little benifit for the hassle.
Now I own 5 Spyderco's, 6 Benchmades, 6 Microtech's and one CRKT... And not a single one of them has a serration anywhere. So that sums up my preference, but here is why:
If a plain-edge is sharpend properly, it will ALMOST cut anything as fast/easy as a serrated blade will.
Serrated blades ALWAYS have the serrations on the wrong side of the blade (for looks I suppose)... and this causes them to cut crooked.... assuming your right handed.
The tips on each serration are subject to easy chipping... dont believe me? Just run one through the washer and dryer once, the plain edge portion will be fine, but the serrations will be chipped up real good :-/
(side note: Having a knife in with your jeans will shred several pairs of Levie's in a hurry)
Serrations are simply a pain to sharpen, and they are even worse to sharpen and keep looking good with a nice flat profile.
Just my $.02
www.rsbsales.com
Edited by - Dashunde on 8/8/00 5:39:58 AM
Now I own 5 Spyderco's, 6 Benchmades, 6 Microtech's and one CRKT... And not a single one of them has a serration anywhere. So that sums up my preference, but here is why:
If a plain-edge is sharpend properly, it will ALMOST cut anything as fast/easy as a serrated blade will.
Serrated blades ALWAYS have the serrations on the wrong side of the blade (for looks I suppose)... and this causes them to cut crooked.... assuming your right handed.
The tips on each serration are subject to easy chipping... dont believe me? Just run one through the washer and dryer once, the plain edge portion will be fine, but the serrations will be chipped up real good :-/
(side note: Having a knife in with your jeans will shred several pairs of Levie's in a hurry)
Serrations are simply a pain to sharpen, and they are even worse to sharpen and keep looking good with a nice flat profile.
Just my $.02
www.rsbsales.com
Edited by - Dashunde on 8/8/00 5:39:58 AM
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Matt Franklin
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- Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:33 am
Aesthetically speaking, I like plain edge knives better and they do most of the chores I have to do on a daily basis (I am also including my non-Spyderco knives). So far, I own four serrated folders (all Spydercos), and I have found that my EDC of choice (Calypso Jr. Lwt. SE) cuts through mostly anything w/o a problem (rope, cardboard, plastic packaging, and also bread). I prefer to use my plain edged ones for opening envelopes of any size and for cutting my daily dose of fruit (I am a fruitoholic, so this is my most common use). I am currently considering a fruit knife, and the one in the A.G. Russell catalog is really catching my eye. It would be nice if Spyderco made a fruit knife like that one as well. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>
Kahz
Kahz
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Sword and Shield
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- Location: USA
Hi Matt Franklin, Dashunde, Slayer and Munky_v2! Welcome to Spyderland, all! <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>
As for serrations, I prefer plain, if it is possible. Plainedge works best for what I cut, and most of my knives are only available in plain. Plain is also far easier to field-sharpen, on those occasions when I am 204-less. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>
Keepin' it real...real sharp, that is.
As for serrations, I prefer plain, if it is possible. Plainedge works best for what I cut, and most of my knives are only available in plain. Plain is also far easier to field-sharpen, on those occasions when I am 204-less. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>
Keepin' it real...real sharp, that is.
PE is my prefrence.I know that ser will cut thourgh heavy items better but I keep my PEs sharp enough that I can't tell a big differance.They are easier for me to sharpen well.They get you the smooth clean cuts that is hard to get with a ser edge.Smooth and delicate cutting is what I use a knife for the most.
Jeff
Jeff
I own two serrated knives, a Native 35/65 and a fully serrated Rescue Jr. (is it even possible to get a non-serrated sheepsfoot blade in the Rescue's size?). I also have a plainedge Calypso Jr.
I like the serrations for the very reason Spyderco makes them: they work. Not for precision cuts, but serrations are excellent for cutting rope, or any other tough cord or cloth, sawing (not necessarily wood, but plastic or the like), and simply an easier time making long cuts in tough material. Just cut in down to the first large serration, then pull. The curved surface means that the blade will still dig in where a plainedge knife will slip out and ride over the material you're trying to cut. Using a plainedge knife for the same job might require a more perpendicular angle to the knife as you cut in, which means more blade length beyond the layer you're cutting. Not to mention their intimidation factor. Let's face it, serrations are scarier-looking. Makes the knife a ripping weapon; just looks more painful.
I have one plainedge knife, my Calypso Jr. lightweight. It's a relatively small knife, not aggressive-looking by most standards (it's a slightly overgrown version of your everyday lockback, and the leaf-shaped blade takes away from any aggressive upswept or downswept point looks), but the plainedge makes good precision cuts possible (The factory edge easily shaves hair. Just be careful trying). It's now my knife of choice for EDC, right alongside my Native, which I use for tough jobs where precision cuts aren't as necessary.
So, as a short answer, I like both. My native, with a small nonserrated edge at the tip, is the best of both worlds.
I like the serrations for the very reason Spyderco makes them: they work. Not for precision cuts, but serrations are excellent for cutting rope, or any other tough cord or cloth, sawing (not necessarily wood, but plastic or the like), and simply an easier time making long cuts in tough material. Just cut in down to the first large serration, then pull. The curved surface means that the blade will still dig in where a plainedge knife will slip out and ride over the material you're trying to cut. Using a plainedge knife for the same job might require a more perpendicular angle to the knife as you cut in, which means more blade length beyond the layer you're cutting. Not to mention their intimidation factor. Let's face it, serrations are scarier-looking. Makes the knife a ripping weapon; just looks more painful.
I have one plainedge knife, my Calypso Jr. lightweight. It's a relatively small knife, not aggressive-looking by most standards (it's a slightly overgrown version of your everyday lockback, and the leaf-shaped blade takes away from any aggressive upswept or downswept point looks), but the plainedge makes good precision cuts possible (The factory edge easily shaves hair. Just be careful trying). It's now my knife of choice for EDC, right alongside my Native, which I use for tough jobs where precision cuts aren't as necessary.
So, as a short answer, I like both. My native, with a small nonserrated edge at the tip, is the best of both worlds.
I have one serrated knife (Endura) for the intimidation factor. Having done some experimenting of opening plain edge knife then serrated knifes in front of people the majority were much more frighten with serrated then plain edge.
Knifes used:
Endura serrated
Police plain edge
Massad Ayoob plain edge
Calypso plain edge
Benchmade BM42 plain edge
I also feel that when slicing through assailant’s cloths that a plain edge is better no snagging.
Kevin S. Gallagher
Knifes used:
Endura serrated
Police plain edge
Massad Ayoob plain edge
Calypso plain edge
Benchmade BM42 plain edge
I also feel that when slicing through assailant’s cloths that a plain edge is better no snagging.
Kevin S. Gallagher