Serrations yes or no

[Barney]

it could be the most beautiful knife in the world, but if it has serrations it is not a knife for me.

 

[moab]

I purchased a spyderco with a half serrated blade as a stand by knife and was faced with cutting away a rucksack when stuck in sinking sand that was 4 feet underwater. Fortunately me and SWMBO got out of this situation without having to cut away but I was glad of the no-nonsense ability of the serrations to deal with the situation.

Having said that, a fixed blade should never have serrations near it

 

[Tye Possum]

I said no because if I was in the woods which is where most folks carry a knife, how much rope would I really have that I'd need to be cutting it all day. I carry a belt knife and a swiss army knife and neither have serrations. I do own a serrated swiss army knife by wenger and I haven't used it at all. Maybe if I had a job where I'd need to cut alot of rope quickly then sure but I just don't think that cutting rope in half the time is worth not being able to cut much else and I like to have a pocket knife for carving and such which serretions are useless for.

 

[pwb]

Voted no.
Could happily live without serrations.
I think that their occasional usefulness is out weighed by them mostly just being an encumbrance during the majority of tasks.

Although I could cheat and say that if the folder had more than one blade....

Pete.

 

[trail2]

I have a two blade folder. One is serrated blade and one plain. But I absolutely abhor half and half blades.
Jon R.

 

[NatG]

it also depends what sort of serrations? are we talking a wavy serration or lots of little jagged edged teeth? or wr we talking a microserrated straight edge for aexample an edge finished only to 40 grit

 

[Mistwalker]

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

Those thoughts are why I want them on one of my blades, thank you for bringing that up.

 

[demographic]

Wouldn't buy a knife with serrations unless it was for cutting bread.

 

[Tiley]

Serrations are great for slicing tomatoes - and that's about it. A plain edge is easier to sharpen and, if kept as it should be, will do just as well with tomatoes as its wrinkly-edged cousin. To my mind, there's no real use for serrated blades in your bushcraft equipment. Keep 'em in the cutlery drawer in the kitchen at home.

 

[BorderReiver]

Serrations are great for slicing tomatoes - and that's about it. A plain edge is easier to sharpen and, if kept as it should be, will do just as well with tomatoes as its wrinkly-edged cousin. To my mind, there's no real use for serrated blades in your bushcraft equipment. Keep 'em in the cutlery drawer in the kitchen at home.

Even then a good sharp plain edge does the job perfectly well.

If you do a lot of rope work then serrations are handy but that's it IMO.

Serrations are easy to sharpen with a Spyderco Sharpmaker btw, so if you have dull serrated knives, find a mate with one.

 

[Tadpole]

Even then a good sharp plain edge does the job perfectly well.

If you do a lot of rope work then serrations are handy but that's it IMO.

Serrations are easy to sharpen with a Spyderco Sharpmaker btw, so if you have dull serrated knives, find a mate with one.

"Take two sharpening tools in to the bush", No I take a flat bladed knife, I sharpen with "Strop and go"

 

[JDO330]

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.

Totally agree...

 

[Oblio13]

Serrations are not only difficult to sharpen, but they make fine, detailed work impossible. They're always near the hilt, which is where such work is done.

 

[John Fenna]

"Take two sharpening tools in to the bush", No I take a flat bladed knife, I sharpen with "Strop and go"

That is a bit like " Take shampoo into the woods - no I use the real thing, no sham about it!"

 

[Hoodoo]

I keep a serrated knife in my vehicle just for the express purpose of cutting my seatbelt although a plain edge will work just as well if specifically sharpened for that purpose. Otherwise, I have no use for serrations and in general, find them annoying and useless in the field. The only other major outdoor use I know of them is for whitewater canoeing and rafting, where you might have to quickly cut a rope. As for sharpening, people who carry knives outdoors and don't know how to sharpen them should learn. Surely that has to be one of the very fundamental skills of bushcraft.

 

[korvin karbon]

are serrations not good for marking bone and horn? Make a weak point and then flex. I would not want to try and cut my way through either with just a normal blade (ok if you had a big chopper that could do)

either way, when i eventually get the money together to get my own blade made i want serrations on the back, just 2.5cm worth really, if i never use them fine but i always like having options

 

[rancid badger]

I voted yes, one would have serialnations
The folder would have serrations and it would be mostly used for cutting cordage, rope etc.
They are a pita to sharpen but the ease with which a serrated blade cuts the likes of hemp rope, bailing twine, seat belts or parachute shrouds, out weighs the inconvenience of sharpening for me.
cheers
Steve

 

[rancid badger]

it also depends what sort of serrations? are we talking a wavy serration or lots of little jagged edged teeth? or wr we talking a microserrated straight edge for aexample an edge finished only to 40 grit

mine would be the the wavy ones:Thinkingo
cheers again
Steve

 

[Shambling Shaman]

Does a knife need Serrations = No (if sharp and well maintained)

Can Serration's be helpful = Yes

Is a knife a tool = Yes

If your tool needs serrations is it less of a knife = No

omo

 

[SkogKniv]

I am glad to see so many do not like serrations like myself. It seems with the Bushcrafters a plain edge trumps all but the more "tacticool" crowd likes seeing them.

Of course I might not know what the hell I am talking about haha.