When Is A Serrated Edge Really Sharp?

[Razor G43]

I know on a plainedge blade that when it will shave hairs it is usually sharp enough, but had do you know on a serrated edge is really sharp? I don't have much trouble sharpening a serrated edge on a sharpmaker. Does a serrated edge need sharpening? I really like a serrated edge when I am out and about and don't have sharpening stone.

[VashHash]

Serrated edges can be made "shaving" sharp but it's very likely to cut you while testing. I usually check that each Scallop can slice paper and I'm done.

[Evil D]

My serrated blades will shave your arm the same as plain edge, most of them will pluck hair off your arm without touching your skin. All you really need is a Sharpmaker and maybe a Sharpie marker.

As for "does a serrated edge need sharpening" my answer is absolutely yes, just as much so as any plain edge. Sharp is sharp and dull is dull doesn't matter what edge type.

[Wartstein]

My serrated blades will shave your arm the same as plain edge, most of them will pluck hair off your arm without touching your skin. All you really need is a Sharpmaker and maybe a Sharpie marker.

As for "does a serrated edge need sharpening" my answer is absolutely yes, just as much so as any plain edge. Sharp is sharp and dull is dull doesn't matter what edge type.
...

I actually kind of disagree...

To me a serrated edge absolutely should be sharpened just like a plain edge - but I don´t think it actually needs it to the same degree for still providing more or less decent cutting...

This is on the one hand a cool aspect of the spyderedge, on the other hand imo one reason why quite some people don´t really experience its in my book superiority over PE in an EDC folder. Let me explain:

1.) I know from experience that my serrated Spydies still do many "separating matter" jobs pretty well when in reality they are so dull already that a plain edge as dull would perform really poorly.
So not only does SE stay actually SHARP longer than PE, it also KEEPS CUTTING when technically already dull (though not on that level we as "knife people" like)

2.) BUT: Imho this also leads to people often comparing SHARP PE (cause when dull it would not cut at all any more) to DULL SE - cause dull SE will still cut somehow, and some might not even realize that the scallops are not actually sharp anymore.

[Evil D]

I think the majority of the complaints people have about serrations come from bad experiences when using them when they're dull. If you just need to rip stuff up and aren't worried about the neatness of the cut then yeah they do perform when more dull and will continue to cut well past what a dull plain edge would, but people also have access now to extreme kinds of steel where the edge retention advantages of serrations is less of an advantage IMO. I think the real advantage is more of a mechanical advantage where you're getting areas of increased pressure points during the cut from all of the "hawkbill shapes". One thing for me that I always seem to be doing with serrations are pull cuts where the shape of the serrations helps me to sort of grab the material from an angle that a plain edge would slide off of.

But anyway, I think for most people to enjoy using serrations, they need to experience them at a high level of sharpness. This goes hand in hand with the shape of the serrations and reduces or eliminates the snagging issue people complain about.

[Fastidiotus]

For me a serrated edge is sharp when it goes through the same tests as a plain edge as far as paper slicing or shaving. The shape of the serrations plays a large part in how that will play out though. Shallow more wavy serrations like the Caribbean, Endela, or Lil Temp LW will behave nearly identical to a plain edge. Pointy or more toothy serrations like the Native 5, DFly, or UKPK will inherently be more snaggy when it comes to those tests but that's not a reflection of how sharp the blade is. I don't think one is necessarily better than the other, they both have their uses.

I prefer combo edges on a work knife. In a steel like VG10 I touch up the straight edge portion a few times a week. The serrated edge portion once a week or once every 2 weeks despite using it for the more abusive tasks I encounter. Even then its not really necessary. I just find it much less hassle to touch up and maintain a serrated edge than to completely reset one after a few months of thrashing to the point you actually notice the performance severely dropping off.

For a lot of the general public I think serrated knives are just "forever sharp". They get bought, they get used for a year, or 2, or 3, and they get replaced once they're completely hogged out. My dad has had serrated Spyderco's since the 90's, bought a sharpmaker in the early 00's, and just this year had his mind blown when I used it to sharpen his Caribbean SE after I found out he's been using the factory edge for 18+ months. Even then he thought it was a silly endeavor as it was still "plenty sharp", rolled edges and all. I don't think most of the knife buying public know they can sharpen serrations, and not only that but with the right system SE is probably easier and quicker to sharpen than PE most of the time.

[jwbnyc]

My experience with serrations over more than 60 years has been that they will separate stuff whether sharp or not, and will continue to do so until worn away. It will be a much more pleasant experience if they are sharp, of course.

My experience with plain edge knives with high carbide steels leads me to believe that all that carbide has a cutting action similar to fine serrations.

I’m not sure that high carbide steels need to be serrated, although they would probably benefit from them as far as edge longevity goes.

I have some SE K390 that I’ve been investigating this with, along with how difficult they are to live with. Not so difficult so far, as long as you have the right medium to sharpen them with, it turns out. And I expect they will do quite well without sharpening at all.

I’ve seen complaints about serrations breaking off with different steels. I don’t see this as having much of an effect on function in practical terms. You’d have to destroy a lot of teeth to render serrations useless and even then, you’d have a plain edge knife, so..

Serrations are a win/win in my book.

But, if your main interest is in checking out different steels, PE is better for that imo.

[vivi]

I know on a plainedge blade that when it will shave hairs it is usually sharp enough, but had do you know on a serrated edge is really sharp? I don't have much trouble sharpening a serrated edge on a sharpmaker. Does a serrated edge need sharpening? I really like a serrated edge when I am out and about and don't have sharpening stone.

When they shave hairs.

If you're thinking, "well how am I gonna test that without cutting myself?" well my answer is really sharp knives can shave off arm hair without contacting the skin.

I test mine to see if they can push cut receipt paper when I sharpen them.

[z1r]

I know on a plainedge blade that when it will shave hairs it is usually sharp enough, but had do you know on a serrated edge is really sharp? I don't have much trouble sharpening a serrated edge on a sharpmaker. Does a serrated edge need sharpening? I really like a serrated edge when I am out and about and don't have sharpening stone.

I test mine to see if they can push cut receipt paper when I sharpen them.

My K390 SE Leafjumper arrived sharp enough to easily receipt paper. I can keep my other SE blades sharp enough to do the same and hope I can do the same with K390.

[benben]

For me, after five minutes on a Sharpmaker doing the ole thumb test and it literally sticks to my thumb, it’s sharp enough for me then. Pretty basic.

[Wartstein]

I think the majority of the complaints people have about serrations come from bad experiences when using them when they're dull. If you just need to rip stuff up and aren't worried about the neatness of the cut then yeah they do perform when more dull and will continue to cut well past what a dull plain edge would, but people also have access now to extreme kinds of steel where the edge retention advantages of serrations is less of an advantage IMO. I think the real advantage is more of a mechanical advantage where you're getting areas of increased pressure points during the cut from all of the "hawkbill shapes". One thing for me that I always seem to be doing with serrations are pull cuts where the shape of the serrations helps me to sort of grab the material from an angle that a plain edge would slide off of.

But anyway, I think for most people to enjoy using serrations, they need to experience them at a high level of sharpness. This goes hand in hand with the shape of the serrations and reduces or eliminates the snagging issue people complain about.

You put it better than I could in my previous post - and yes, exactly this!

I think quite often people compare a serrated knife that "cuts" with a plain edge knife that "cuts" and don´t even realize that the serrated knife might technically be pretty dull already, cause it still more or less works (while they would immediately realize if the plain edge knife would be dull).

All serrated Spydies I got so far came with a good level of sharpness though - so for those who want to compare to PE what SE can do, taking both right out of the box and with both factory sharpnesses should be a good start.

[Wartstein]

My experience with serrations over more than 60 years has been that they will separate stuff whether sharp or not, and will continue to do so until worn away. It will be a much more pleasant experience if they are sharp, of course.
....

This!

I do like to keep my serrated Spydies sharp (though, to be honest, these days I am satisfied when each scallop cleanly slices printer paper and don´t even really aim for more)

...but what makes SE Spydies such great outdoor and mountain folders: I know that I can beat on them and they might get "dull", but will still keep doing what I need to do, though - yes - it will be not work as nice and effortless as when sharp.
A plain edge can not offer me this (and will get dull sooner that SE in the first place)

[S-3 ranch]

I’m way too OCD on how sharp I keep my endela , I keep it razor sharp with a ceramic triangle
Sharpest I ever got it was 80 Bess test , but that’s not day to day

[Razor G43]

I have about quit buying plainedge spyderco because the serrated works so well. I may try a combo edge spyderco.

[Wartstein]

I have about quit buying plainedge spyderco because the serrated works so well. I may try a combo edge spyderco.

I would most likely buy any Spyderco folder in SE if I could - but some models I really like just don´t come with teeth - like the Manix 2 LW - and so I "have to live" (admittedly an exaggerated term ) with PE sometimes.

[jwbnyc]

Combo edge?

Spyderco Thin Red or Blue Line Endura if you can still find one. Did a quick search. They’re still out there at good prices.

[S-3 ranch]

I have about quit buying plainedge spyderco because the serrated works so well. I may try a combo edge spyderco.

Yeah my EDC is serrated, but if you’re a hunter and not a rope or box cutter guy or camper, then there’s no escaping a plain edge when skinning or gutting a animal, imo it’s unavoidable hunting and carrying a P.E

[Evil D]

I have about quit buying plainedge spyderco because the serrated works so well. I may try a combo edge spyderco.

Yeah my EDC is serrated, but if you’re a hunter and not a rope or box cutter guy or camper, then there’s no escaping a plain edge when skinning or gutting a animal, imo it’s unavoidable hunting and carrying a P.E

All the cavemen got by just fine skinning with serrations


Actually it's been a long time since I hunted but I would actually trying quartering with serrations but yeah skinning is a plain edge job unless you're really in a survival situation where you have no choice.

I have used my SE knives to cut the ribs off rib roasts just to see how it goes and it's honestly pretty terrifying how well they go through meat.

[S-3 ranch]

I have about quit buying plainedge spyderco because the serrated works so well. I may try a combo edge spyderco.

Yeah my EDC is serrated, but if you’re a hunter and not a rope or box cutter guy or camper, then there’s no escaping a plain edge when skinning or gutting a animal, imo it’s unavoidable hunting and carrying a P.E

All the cavemen got by just fine skinning with serrations


Actually it's been a long time since I hunted but I would actually trying quartering with serrations but yeah skinning is a plain edge job unless you're really in a survival situation where you have no choice.

I have used my SE knives to cut the ribs off rib roasts just to see how it goes and it's honestly pretty terrifying how well they go through meat.

Oh , no doubt a serrated will rip through a deer or elk with impunity
I watched two guys quarter up 3 elk with some cutco serrated fixed blades, in short order
But no skinning was involved because we were leaving the skin on to load into pack frames to get back to a good place to meet the truck.
So my first statement was factually incorrect .

[bdblue]

I always thought serrated blades were intended to cut things that a plain edge wouldn't cut, or keep cutting when they started getting dull. I've thought quite a bit about sharpening serrations, mostly because my uncle uses serrated blade electric knives for fishing and I've tried to figure out how to sharpen his old blades. Where I get hung up with sharpening serrations- which part of the serration do you sharpen? If you sharpen the bottom of the gullet as you would with a sharpmaker, then you are sharpening that part of the blade for push cutting just like the rest of the blade, but I didn't think that was the role of serrations and when using an electric knife to clean fish I don't think the bottom of the gullet does the cutting. It seems that the edges of the teeth away from the gullet are the cutting edges that do the work and those would need a different sharpening method.