Serrated or Not?

[Nativedude]

I don't like serrated blades and IMHO they are useless, especially for survival. I have been given many serrated fixed and folders as gifts. I have taken them out into the field and tried to do with them (serrated) that which I do with my no-serrated blades. There is no comparison. The serrated failed miserably! One example; you can not whittle or make notches with the serrations.

Serrated blades do not saw limbs or wood, oh they will make a gash in the wood, but none of them will cut completely thru. And they suck terribly if you try to baton the blade thru the wood, they just get bound up. As far as sharpening, they can be sharpened, but you need a sharpening stick/rod of the same dia. as the curve of the scalloped serrations. Some knives have various sizes serrations, so then you need a tapered sharpening stick/rod.

The one good place that serrated knives are handy to have is if you work on a boat, or a job where you have to cut a lot of rope. They are very handy for cutting rope. But for survival, I wouldn't waste my time with them!

[crashdive123]

The one good place that serrated knives are handy to have is if you work on a boat, or a job where you have to cut a lot of rope. They are very handy for cutting rope. But for survival, I wouldn't waste my time with them!

Serrated knives are also great for cutting steak...makes it taste like chicken.

[canid]

why would you even say that? seriously. maybe it's just my preference but steak > chicken. now if it was a really good serrated knife and made tent stakes taste like chicken...

but in all seriousness: if you regularly use the serrations on a knife then of course they are practical. otherwise, i wouldn't recommend them, if for nothing else than because it's one more surface to have an accident with [a potentialy nasty accident leaving a jagged wound, especialy if you're not used to using a knife enough to know if you prefer serrations or not] and in my experience-in the case of blade back serrations-can cause undue wear on a sheath.

[trax]

serrated=bread knife, that's it.

[hermitman]

I think the knives with both serrated and no not combo are the best. You can use both parts use the serrated when gutting game or any other time you can so you won't dull out the blade as fast.

[Kemperor]

It just depends upon the task. From my experience, serrated knives are more apt to make a grand ol' mess of things. When they dull, they are too difficult to resharpen, and require a serrated edge specific sharpener to do so. What it all comes down to, however, is entirely personal preference. I like my cuts to be as clean and neat as possible. When it comes to a combat situation, the blade may rip the skin and leave a nasty wound, but you shouldn't be looking to inflict pain in combat, you should be looking to end the combat. A plain edge will do that without the added unnecessary pain. You'll also find that in combat, the point is the more beneficial tool. As it's easier to get out a quick jab and back into a defensive position than to slash. When it comes to a snap cut, it virtually makes no difference whether the blade is serrated or not, as you are basically snapping the opponent with the edge and coming back to stance. If I am cutting meat, I want the neatness of a plain knife so that the meat is not mangled, and that goes for skinning even more so. As far as edge retention in plain blades, you should look into what steel is being used for the blade. I tend to stay as far as possible from most stainless. There is some good stainless steels out there, but if you take good enough care of your blade, then the stainless quality is ultimately obsolete. I like my carbon steel. The cheaper the knife, usually the worse the knife. I won't buy a blade under $20. That all being said, serrated edges do have their place, it's just a very dark, lonely, and limited place.

[Rob]

I have been carrying a air force surrvival knife for about 20 years. Very tough easy to sharpen and holds a good edge. However I still have never used the jagged seration on top of the knife. Maybe one of you military guys can tell me what is for? I find it hard to believe the military would put it there for no reason. I have heard fish scaler but i usually just hold the regular edge 90 degrees and scrape them that way. Also to cut a sapling down just bent and cut at the greatest bend in the tree. Thanks for your answers in advance.

[canid]

scalers are even more usless to me than serrations on a knife i use mostly in the woods. flat blade does a better job the way i scale fish.

[Rick]

Cutting cordage.

[Sourdough]

My understanding is that in the event of a crash, it is for cutting Thin aluminum on small aircraft like the "BIRDDOG". And also the plastic windshield of small aircraft, and Hellocopters.

[Rick]

Hopeak is on the ball and I've learned something else today. Thanks!!

"The serrations often seen on more recent survival knives are intended to allow aircrewmen to cut their way free through the relatively thin metal skin of a crashed helicopter or airplane. They do not function well as woodsaws nor are they intended as such. Those knives that do include functional saw-teeth still suffer from lack of blade length limiting the thickness of what can be cut when used as a saw." Wiki.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survival_knife

[Kemperor]

Very interesting. This also makes me think of another good use for serration, Seatbelts.

[Rick]

If I had something like a Kershaw boat or rope knife, I might consider using it for seatbelts. It would cut through them pretty quickly, I think.

[canid]

i've had a non-serrated leek and a vapor and i've cut climb line and heavy webbing with the leek. worked well enough for me.

[Rick]

I've actually read where some boaters would take a file to a straight blade to rough it up. Sort of like a mini serrated knife. It is supposed to cut through rope much quicker because of the small imperfections the file causes.

The leek is a nice knife. I have no idea why Kershaw went with all those "garden" names, though.

[hermitman]

I heard that serrated knives are used also for opening the chest cavity on animals and cutting though bone. For sharponing the edge you just get one of those thin dimond sharpeners they are also round so they are perfect for serrated knives

[Beo]

I prefer not serrated, I think this is an individual choice.

[Rob]

Thanks for the explanation. No wonder I never had a use for the serations.

[tracks]

No use for serated blades. To hard to sharpen in the field, when I said I bought them by the dozen I was'nt kiding, I have a six inch sharade I keep on my belt because it looks cooool.But I use cheap steak knives for skinning they hold a good edge. When you skin dozens of critters a weak,from hogs to squrriles not to mention what taxadermy work I do, A good knife is one you can sharpen in a second and keep skinnin.I have skinned and butchered deer and hogs with a 50 cent knife and not left enough scrap on the bones to intrest the buzzards.check them out you wont be sorry

[CTracker]

To some a serrated blade has a 'coolness' factor. As mentioned above, the Rambo effect. If that's an angle that gives you a physiological advantage, but all means go for it. I have many of both but my line of thought is 'if it holds an edge' yea, I want one of each.