If you were told today that you had to pick two knives to last you for the rest of your life, one fixed blade and one folding knife, would one of them have serrations? What are your opinions on this and why?
Serrations yes or no
- Thread starter Mistwalker
- Start date
-
Hey Guest, Early bird pricing on the Summer Moot (29th July - 10th August) available until April 6th, we'd love you to come. PLEASE CLICK HERE to early bird price and get more information.
I like to have serrations on one of my blades and prefer them on my folding knife.
Not a big fan of serrations. They are a swine to sharpen (even if they do hold an edge well) and if you have a good sharp knife I dont think serrations prove that much more effective in cutting many things.
I’ve never understood the practice of putting serrations on a blade. They are weak spot when it comes to sharpening and they get in the way when you need to cut something. I understand they, the serrations, increase the cutting surface of the blade and that when cutting rope this makes it easier to cut, but why not put them on the back of the blade out of the way of everyday normal use.
The only blade I have with serrations is a bread knife, and it take all day to get it sharp (not literally ‘all day’ but twice as long as a proper knife)
The only blade I have with serrations is a bread knife, and it take all day to get it sharp (not literally ‘all day’ but twice as long as a proper knife)
Not for me,can't see any real advantage and imagine sharpening in the field to be easier without!?
Some folk say they are better at cutting rope but I can't see a properly sharpened flat edge having any probs! Mine certainly don't!
Cheers.
C da C.
Some folk say they are better at cutting rope but I can't see a properly sharpened flat edge having any probs! Mine certainly don't!
Cheers.
C da C.
I voted no, because I think they're rubbish for cutting anything BUT rope/webbing and like Chris said, my knives are sharp enough for that as it is!
Also, if it's going to last for the rest of your life, you're gonna have a reeeal fun time sharpening those teeth
Also, if it's going to last for the rest of your life, you're gonna have a reeeal fun time sharpening those teeth
It's a very interesting question & poll. I don't think that the answer is as dichotomous as it first appears.
My first reaction was "serrations :tongue-ti ", but then I thought more about it.
Essentially, I believe that as long as you keep your knife sharp, you shouldn't need serrations. But, that said, there are times that your knife may be blunted by an unexpected use, or circumstance, and you may still need to cut something quickly, in an emergency, a serrated knife will cut better in this situation than a plain edge.
there are also, people who's field sharpening abilities mean that they may often find themselves with a dull blade.
I'm not sure of the answer
My first reaction was "serrations :tongue-ti ", but then I thought more about it.
Essentially, I believe that as long as you keep your knife sharp, you shouldn't need serrations. But, that said, there are times that your knife may be blunted by an unexpected use, or circumstance, and you may still need to cut something quickly, in an emergency, a serrated knife will cut better in this situation than a plain edge.
there are also, people who's field sharpening abilities mean that they may often find themselves with a dull blade.
I'm not sure of the answer
I voted "no".
I don't cut much rope or cardboard, so serrations don't give me any advantages.
If I'd been diving, I could imagine that serrations would be just the thing to have on my diving knife.
/ Karl
I don't cut much rope or cardboard, so serrations don't give me any advantages.
If I'd been diving, I could imagine that serrations would be just the thing to have on my diving knife.
/ Karl
How long is the "rest of my life" going to be? If I live as long as I hope to then any blade will be sharpened away to nothing long before I'm gone.
However to answer your question, probably one of my leuko's and my Doug Ritter RSK Mk 1, hopefully I won't have to spend the rest of my life with just these tools so I'll take a lifetimes supply of bush saw blades, all of my axes and an anvil and smithy to make replacement knives when these two wear out
And no, I wouldn't have serrations on a blade, it just seems so pointless, I can carry a buck saw blade, a knife and a pocket saw with little effort, all will do their jobs admirably whereas combining the three into one tool makes for a less efficient (and probably more dangerous) setup.
I'm sure the idea didn't originate with Jimmy Lile but ever since he produced the 'First Blood' movie knives the market for over sized half knife/half axe/half saw survival tools has expanded exponentially, convincing many that by having just this one tool on their hip they'd be able survive whatever the world can throw at them, I will stick to selection of tools rather than one big one.
I actually own a Jimmy Lile knife, his Grey Ghost, no serrations
I have voted NO to serrations - great on a bread knife but try cutting a loaf with a serrated penknife and you'll know about it.
Magentus
Magentus
serations?! :aargh4: Nasty dagerous (and ugly) things! Serations should be reserved for rescue knives that do nothing but cut rope and webbing fast and roughly. On a real knife they just cause problems when using the knife and if you get cut by them they make a nasty wound that is slow to heal.
just my opinion of course
just my opinion of course
Good Poll
I have a selection of knives but the one folding survival/rescue knife i have I use for a range of activities.
My folding knife does have serations along half of the blade but for the following reasons-
I am a qualified climbing instructor and if you are on the edge of a vertical cliff and need to act fast a serated blade is much better for the job.
I am also a qualified sailing instructor and and need a knife to be able to do the jobs for this.
On top of that if you need to cut someone's rucksack from them in an emergency or seat belt anything that is rope related or emergency related i would use a serated blade everytime.
General duties/use the a fixed straight blade is ideal and is what has proven to work time and time again for generations.
I have a selection of knives but the one folding survival/rescue knife i have I use for a range of activities.
My folding knife does have serations along half of the blade but for the following reasons-
I am a qualified climbing instructor and if you are on the edge of a vertical cliff and need to act fast a serated blade is much better for the job.
I am also a qualified sailing instructor and and need a knife to be able to do the jobs for this.
On top of that if you need to cut someone's rucksack from them in an emergency or seat belt anything that is rope related or emergency related i would use a serated blade everytime.
General duties/use the a fixed straight blade is ideal and is what has proven to work time and time again for generations.
Your question Mistwalker was "for the rest of your life" so assuming the future could always bring unexpected change, I would definitely go the 'belt and braces' route. I would have one serrated knife and one plain..
I have to cut rope on many occasions and quite honestly anything thicker than about 12mm, especially polypropolene (commonly the blue stuff) then a serrated blade does the business in half the time. Modern synthetic material like webbing, safety harness and bloomin' fishing nets which foul vessels propellors, have a nasty habit of "fusing" together under strain which produces heat and almost welds the fibres together. So serrated is the answer there. For 95% of normal usage though, I would go for a plain blade.
I have to cut rope on many occasions and quite honestly anything thicker than about 12mm, especially polypropolene (commonly the blue stuff) then a serrated blade does the business in half the time. Modern synthetic material like webbing, safety harness and bloomin' fishing nets which foul vessels propellors, have a nasty habit of "fusing" together under strain which produces heat and almost welds the fibres together. So serrated is the answer there. For 95% of normal usage though, I would go for a plain blade.
Shambling Shaman
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
I would normally be in the "No" camp on this, how ever since I moved jobs I have found my self cut lots of rope (mostly wet) so yes for now, horses for course as they say.
As my EDC is a Surge, technically a folder, and it has both types of blade I'd stick with that and a fixed blade for heavy duty work.
As for a blade with both styles combined.. that would be a serious no! IMHO.
As for a blade with both styles combined.. that would be a serious no! IMHO.
I've enjoyed reading all the replies and while I am in the camp of right tool for the right job I would never be without my Sl1 pocket knife which I keep as part serrated, I'd rather have it as a just in case in an emergency. And I've never had any problems using it as my prefered blade for feathering etc.
PP
PP
Similar threads
