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Plain Edge or Serrated - Which is the Best Choice?
A plain edge blade, serrated, or combination of both; which way should I go? This often asked question can be answered by a little examination of the cutting uses the knife is expected to see, as well as your own tastes in cutlery. A serrated blade or partially serrated blade is made so in order to bring an aggressive ripping action upon the material at hand. The assumption here being the material is sufficiently tough that such a blade is necessary. Therefore the first place to begin in answering this question of choosing a serrated blade, is to ask for what type of cutting will the knife be used? Heavier materials such as thick leather, carpet or even thick cardboard can be more easily cut with a serrated blade.

Another reason for a serrated blade is speed of cutting. For example, an EMT will carry a rescue hook or knife with a serrated blade for the purpose of quickly cleaving a seatbelt during extraction of a car accident victim. Time may be essential in this scenario and the ability to make a quick cut is an important requirement for this use. Do your cutting chores sometimes contain a time element?

A third consideration for a serrated blade, which is closely related to the first, is an examination of the volume of cutting to be done. While a sharp plain edge blade can usually cut through anything a serrated blade can, it may take slightly more effort. If a large amount of rugged cutting is to be done, the wearing effect of this on the hand may be a reason to opt for serrations.

Spyderco Civilian Tactical Knife, Model C12GS HK Knives 14210SBT Snody Tactical Knife If you have determined that your cutting needs do tend toward tougher materials such as rope, canvas or other thick and fibrous materials, then a serration option is probably right for you. The next question to resolve would be the frequency of this use. If you are picking a knife to handle this type of duty exclusively, then you may want to look at a fully serrated blade. Having the full length of your blade to use for these more rugged purposes is a distinct advantage. On the other hand, if your cutting chores only venture into this territory occasionally, then you may want to consider a partial serration and leave yourself some plain edge for other uses.

byrd Wings Pocket Knife, Model BY20GPS The partially serrated blade, or "combo edge", is a good option for many people as it brings the best of both worlds together in a single package and provides that ready-for-anything feeling. I have purchased a number of knives with partially serrated blades and have been happy at the flexibility this option provides. There have been times though when it seemed that I used the serrations a small percentage of the time and I began to regret having given over so much of my blade to an edge that saw limited use. I typically purchase only plain edged knives now, but will pull out one of the serrated or combo edge knives when the need arises. If you also tend this way, but are not prepared to abandon serrations completely, one option may be a two bladed knife containing a fully serrated blade and a plain edged blade.

In any discussion about serrations vs. plain edge the subject of sharpening must be addressed. A plain edged knife is easier to sharpen as a serrated edge must be done with a special sharpening steel that fits in each tooth, with one tooth being sharpened at a time. On the other hand, serrations tend to stay sharp longer than a plain edge and may not require sharpening as frequently, depending on use.

In deciding if a serrated blade is right for you, take stock of the cutting chores you historically have encountered as well as those you anticipate in the future. If you must cut materials such as thick rope, vines, leather, canvas type materials, heavy cardboard and the like, you probably should consider a knife blade with serrations. Next, consider the frequency and volume of this type of cutting to determine if you are looking for a combo edge or full serrations.

Answer these questions to see if serrations are the best option for you.
  1. I often use my knife in outdoor work.
  2. I occasionally have struggled cutting things with my plain edged knife.
  3. I will occasionally need to cut thick cardboard, leather, carpet or other heavy fiber material.
  4. I will occasionally need to cut up a large quantity of material.
  5. I only have one knife that needs to do everything.
  6. I must frequently resharpen my knife due to use.
  7. I work as a first responder or in the law enforcement or emergency personnel or maritime fields.
  8. The cutting I do does not often require finely detailed cuts.
 
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