Do you prefer serrated or plain blades?

[Knife Dude]

I was wondering what all of you prefer, serrated, or plain blades. Please tell me why too if you could, I'm trying to convince my dad that Serrated blades are just as good as plain blades.

[Weiser 878]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=1 face=arial>quote:<hr height=1 noshade><b>Serrated blades are just as good as plain blades. </b> <hr height=1 noshade></BLOCKQUOTE></font><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2>

Depends, what's the intended purpose of the knife. I used to like serrations, until i discovered how much better a really sharp edge is. I prefer the clean cuts a razor edge produces for the uses of my knives.

--Weis

[Zoro]

I think your Dad wins!!!

[vampyrewolf]

for general use: plain
for heavy use(cardboard, rope...): serrated

general use overall: 50/50

My ladybug gets the most use, as it's:
1&gt; sheeple frindly
2&gt; small
3&gt; 50/50
4&gt; easy as hell to sharpen

I have both a plain(delica) and a serrated(cricket), and the ladybug is used the most. I'm getting a 2nd ladybug, to have one sharp and one to get sharpened at all times.

I would recomend 50/50, but just get a plain edge, properly sharpened(micro-serrations) you can cut rope with it too, just not as easy as serrated.

We all start with 10 fingers. Those with Spydies have 9 to spare, Still need a thumb. Good thing I still have 8 to spare...

[copilotboy]

for general use and chores, nothing beats 60-40 or 50-50.

[ftkinney]

i agree with copilet boy i use a tim wegner for most of my daly use and it has a 60/40, the only chatch is that the blade must be a petty good lenght 3.5' or better.

FTK

Edited by - ftkinney on 6/5/2001 6:13:27 PM

[sam the man..]

I carry both. A plain edged Spyderco for camping chores and a serrated one in case of emergencies <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

Sam

have spydies will travel

[ramlanrafie]

I prefer plain edge, cause i like a &quot;clean&quot; fine cut.

But serrated also do have it advantages.

[Michael G73]

I personally prefer serrated- and I carry mine for everyday use. I have yet to find a chore it isn't up to- except perhaps a letter opener- tears the envelope top to pieces. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

That said, I do believe plain edges are better suited as EDC knives, even though I don't usually carry one. They're less threatening in appearance, and produce cleaner cuts. I just carry a serrated blade so I don't have to sharpen it as often. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle> Call me lazy.

BUT, I did just get a FRN Cricket plain edge to replace my Spyder Edge Dragonfly. I'm moving into a new job- more of a professional office situation- and wanted a friendlier looking knife.

-Michael

[dePaul]

Copilotboy:
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=1 face=arial>quote:<hr height=1 noshade>for general use and chores, nothing beats 60-40 or 50-50 <hr height=1 noshade></BLOCKQUOTE></font><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2>
-----------
My exp. is quite the opposite. Nothing is worse than 50/50 or 60/40.

Let me explain: If the length of the blade isn&#180;t to be greater than let&#180;s say 3&quot; (90 % of all Spydies), the serrated part of the blade is 1,5&quot; and the plain one is also 1,5&quot;.

IMHO, those sections are far too short to be useful. The serrated section is too short, and so is the plain one.

So, one will have to compromize. Tried to cut a slice of a bread with this knife? Or cut off a tree branch? I think you get my point.

This will leave us to the plain <b>VS </b> serrated blade issue.

The serrated blade is IMHO far too specialized (sorry Sal). This one will cut hard plastic, hard rubber, polypropylene, nylon rope and segmented fabric slightley swifter than a plain edge blade.

<b>BUT HONESTLY </b> , how often do you cut stuff like this?? As for me: Almost never!!

Therefore, my choice is: <b>PLAIN EDGE </b> , all the way!!

Regards!

Edited by - dePaul on 6/5/2001 12:08:03 PM

[copilotboy]

okay.I said for everyday chores. we're not talking about cutting down trees or anything. besides, in this discussion, we're not limiting the blade size. on a 10&quot; blade, you have whopping 5&quot; for each type. it all depends on prospective.

[Jazzman]

I prefer fully serrated. Most of the time, my chores consist of opening and cutting up boxes. Serrations make short work of cardboard. 60/40's are alright, but as everyone else has said, it depends on the knife.
MAtt

[Jeff/1911]

If I happen to be carrying a plain edged knife I usually run into something that would be far better served with a serrated blade. The days when I have only a serrated blade along at some point I invariably think &quot;Man, I wish I'd brought a plain edge...&quot; So, clearly they are both useful and we should all carry one of each with us at all times. So there.

My latest thought is that I will carry one of each, with one being somewhat smaller and less threatening looking than the other, then if I find myself in a crowd of sheeple (shudder) and have to cut something I'll drag out the little guy; whatever the blade style is.

Jeff/1911.

[ftkinney]

i think jeff /1911 has a good piont i like to carry a chinese folder in my pocket and a harpy in my bag. if i am not carring my 60/40 wenger. i've never worried about or had a probblem with &quot;sheeple&quot; with any knife but if i thought their would be i could use the chinese folder.

FTK

Edited by - ftkinney on 6/6/2001 11:46:58 PM

Edited by - ftkinney on 6/6/2001 11:47:52 PM

[Jeff/1911]

ftkinney - I don't believe in spending a lot of time worrying about the sheeple reaction either. Gotta' get me a Harpy... Is yours a serrated version? Jeff/1911.

[ftkinney]

jeff/1911--mine is serrated with stainless steal handles and it is a great knife. i bought it partily out of curiosity. and get more use out of it than i ever thought. i know you are a fan of the military for some of your great posts, i was wondering: i own a two wengers that i love but was thinking i might get a mili to check it out do you think these knives are to much a like: larger liner lock etc? a am i wasting money ? or is it diffent (flat grind pointy blade steel) owning both is worth it.

FTK

[ftkinney]

jeff/1911--not worring about the sheeple best policy always works for me.


FTK

Edited by - ftkinney on 6/7/2001 12:04:27 AM

[sal]

The &quot;Plain vs serrated vs combination&quot; argument is a perfect example of &quot;different strokes for different folks&quot;.

Purpose, function, ability to resharpen, what to cut, all play into the preferences.

It demontrates that people can disagree and all be correct.

sal

[Jeff/1911]

ftkinney,

Hmmmmmmm. Good question about the Military.

I haven't actually handled a Wegner, but from the looks and description on the products page it would seem that the Military has a longer blade and is a fair bit lighter. Do your Wegners have different blade styles? Is one serrated and one a plain edge, by any chance? If not, you could buy the other blade style in the Military...

I've got the plain edge and it's fantastic, but I would really like to see how the serrated edged version performs. I've heard it called a &quot;pocket chansaw&quot;.

All that is required here is for you to come up with a reason to buy a Military. I'm quite sure if you do, that you won't be sorry. The weight and blade length issue I mentioned should help.

The Military in my opinion, is as close to the perfect knife design that I have seen. What is most amazing to me about it is how easy it is to carry inside the waistband. For a big knife it simply disappears, at least that is how it feels. By virtue of it's thin and flat handle profile and light weight design, it amazes me every day. It's a &quot;must have&quot; knife for any self respecting Spyderco enthusiast.

Let me know when you get yours. Glad to help if I can.

Jeff/1911.

Edited by - Jeff/1911 on 6/8/2001 10:43:22 AM

[formula44]

Hello knife boy,

I prefer a plain edge. Mostly for the ease of resharpening. I enjoy the motion of resharpening a plain edge better than serrated. So much so I resharpened my ladybug until it was a plain edge.

Serrated can cause problems if there's a dull spot, like if you hit a staple in a cardboard box by accident. If you have a dull spot on a plain edge, whatever you are cutting just slides over to a sharp spot. If you have a dull spot on a serrated, it hangs up on what you are cutting and nothing happens.

[formula44]

Hello knife boy,

I prefer a plain edge. Mostly for the ease of resharpening. I enjoy the motion of resharpening a plain edge better than serrated. So much so I resharpened my ladybug until it was a plain edge.

Serrated can cause problems if there's a dull spot, like if you hit a staple in a cardboard box by accident. If you have a dull spot on a plain edge, whatever you are cutting just slides over to a sharp spot. If you have a dull spot on a serrated, it hangs up on what you are cutting and nothing happens.

[formula44]

Hello knife boy,

I prefer a plain edge. Mostly for the ease of resharpening. I enjoy the motion of resharpening a plain edge better than serrated. So much so I resharpened my ladybug until it was a plain edge.

Serrated can cause problems if there's a dull spot, like if you hit a staple in a cardboard box by accident. If you have a dull spot on a plain edge, whatever you are cutting just slides over to a sharp spot. If you have a dull spot on a serrated, it hangs up on what you are cutting and nothing happens.

[formula44]

P.S.
No, I do not stutter. I had some sort of error that made me think the message hadn't been posted.

[ftkinney]

thanks jeff/1911 ihave a 60/40 wenger so i could get get etheir i like both the serated and non all upon the task at hand if ther was a 50/50 mili i still might get that so i always have one large if the other needs to be sharpened (ops i forgot i have two wengers oh well) that seem like an good enphof excusee for me. i would like to get a &quot;tradional&quot; spyderco design endura, delica, police or mili.

FTK

[Jeff/1911]

ftkinney,

If it's a traditional Spyderco design you want, you can't go wrong with an Endura, Delica...and they're not so expensive. I sure do like the Police, and have one on order right now. A real classic &quot;stainless steel, serrated model. The Military is destined to become the next real classic Spyderco design I believe, although there are so many good ones. If you want a Military, buy one. I did and I haven't looked back. It's a wonderful knife.

Jeff/1911.

[ftkinney]

jeff/1911 -- i think i will, thanks for helping me &quot;justify&quot; my up coming purchcase purchase. i would go with the Military over
the other tradional spydercos mainly because of the liner lock. i love the one on my wegner and chinese folder.

FTK

[Jeff/1911]

Justification is just one of the valuable services that we forumites provide for each other. Cheers, Jeff/1911.

[earthworm]

I thought combo edges were a gimmick until I used a Delica,which is now my EDC knife.Camillus made a small lockback with 1 plain &amp; 1 serrated blade:an excellent idea but the steel was too soft.?Maybe a Dryad for this'best of both worlds'principle?

[earthworm]

P.S.(altho this may not be strictly on the subject):IMHO for sheer intimadation value nothing beats a fully serrated hawkbill(the Harpy,etc.).?Can you say&quot;attitude adjustment&quot;*BEG*?