serrations on combat/military knives

[thepatriotsoutherner]

i was wondering what peoples opinions on having serrations on a combat/military knife are. bad? good? if not please explain why if so please explain why. every answer is welcomed.

 

[cbxer55]

On a double edged knife, I would be perfectly happy with one edge being serrated and one being plain edge. The top edge or spine serrated, the normal cutting edge plain.
Otherwise, no serrations thank you very much. Serrated knives are a PITA to sharpen, whilst plain are not. Rather have something I can easily sharpen, over something I have to pick at.

 

[CDKJudoka]

Myself, I am not a fan of serrations on any blade. I just feel that a plain edge does everything I need it to. If I am in a situation where I need to defend myself, it is easier to do a follow up shot with a plain edge as the serrations could cause the blade to hang up a little bit.

 

[richard thurman]

if you are in a combat place you want the serrations on your knife because if you have to cut rope or something like that you knife with serrations will do it a lot faster than one with out.

 

[Alnamvet68]

There's a reason why the overwhelming number of knife offerings in the military exchanges are those that are combo blades, or fully serrated.

 

[bdmicarta]

I have owned knives with combo edges and I don't ever recall using the combo edge to cut something. I do believe that if a knife gets dull and you have to cut something, a dull serrated edge will work better than a dull plain edge so there might be some use to serrations on a survival knife. And if it is a larger fixed blade so that the serrations only replace a small percentage of the plain edge then there isn't so much down side. For my use these days I only buy plain edge.

 

[P_Meticulous]

I dislike combo-edges on any knife, takes away from the slice-ability IMO. Spine-serrations (e.g., BM 375) I really appreciate because it gives you two cutting options when done properly. You can effectively cut without sacrificing blade-edge length, and when you need to saw through some bone/ligaments, the spine serrations do wonders.

 

[Hawkings]

There's a reason why the overwhelming number of knife offerings in the military exchanges are those that are combo blades, or fully serrated.

And thats because most of them could not sharpen a knife if their life depended on it.

 

[SlippyShayne]

The question wasn't whether or not you like combo blades but why are they common on military knives if the norm seems to prefer plain edge. I to prefer plain edge, but I could see the use for them in a military knife as it rips through things like clothes, nylon, seatbelts and rope. Also, as someone has mentioned, it won't dull as fast.

 

[P_Meticulous]

The question wasn't whether or not you like combo blades but why are they common on military knives if the norm seems to prefer plain edge. I to prefer plain edge, but I could see the use for them in a military knife as it rips through things like clothes, nylon, seatbelts and rope. Also, as someone has mentioned, it won't dull as fast.

CE's are used bc of the lack of maintenance actually required keeping the blade sharp. Many say that CE's are good at cutting rope, seat-belts, etc.. (Which they are) But then again so are PE (IF you can keep yours sharp), and that's the catch - or selling point. I personally like clean cuts.

 

[jonnyt16]

And thats because most of them could not sharpen a knife if their life depended on it.

LOL, whenever a thread on serrations pops up its always funny to read the asinine comments. Now we just need to wait for the "serrations are useless" or the "serrations are only for those who can't sharpen" comments.

 

[P_Meticulous]

LOL, whenever a thread on serrations pops up its always funny to read the asinine comments. Now we just need to wait for the "serrations are useless" or the "serrations are only for those who can't sharpen" comments.

Serrations are useless, unless they are on the spine! :foot:

 

[goodeyesniper]

because most military are just as clueless about knives as the average guy who buys a s&w knife from big five...

serrations really shine in one area, cutting while dull. and if there's one thing that people are good at, it's carrying dull knives.

that, plus marketing, means combo edges are king in the military world.

there's nothing inherently wrong with combo edges, they have their uses. but how they are marketed often leads to people without a clue purchasing them.

 

[SlippyShayne]

Of course a well sharpened plain edge will handle rope and seat belts, it's just a sharp serrated edge will ripe through it a lot quicker.

 

[P_Meticulous]

I smell another CE vs. PE battle a brewin' I say we settle this one with a rumble in the streets lol

 

[Torlagh]

If I am not terribly mistaken, the Geneva Convention says that knives with a serrated edge are not to be used. Personally, if I was captured and became a POW, I wouldn't want to bet on being able to explain that my knife was not meant to be used on people, and having my captors believe me. It could potentially lead to your being treated much worse, even to the point of being declared a war criminal. I personally never had a problem cutting whatever I needed to with a plain edge.

 

[thepatriotsoutherner]

ok every one for a kabar that i want to buy souly for self defence.... should i buy it with combo edge or plain
it sounds like serrations are good for slashing but what about stabbing????

 

[Demosthenes]

That only applies to bayonets with serrations on the spine.

 

[marcinek]

ok every one for a kabar that i want to buy souly for self defence.... should i buy it with combo edge or plain
it sounds like serrations are good for slashing but what about stabbing????

You headed off to combat withthis combat/military? If so, thanks for your service! :thumbup:

I would imagine you have been trained in using knives for self defense, then. Are you trained in a style that uses slashing or one that uses stabbing?

If I've jumped to conclusions and you are just a civilian looking for dedicated SD, serrations/no serrations doesn't matter. Any knife will be equally effective (or ineffective). I'd say serrations...most grocery store steak knives are serrated, and they are among the more preferred knives used by people who use knives in that way often.

Though, the Shrade Sharpfinger is another perennial favorite among that set, and it's not serrated.

 

[aquaman67]

Try cutting a plastic clothes hanger in two with the sharpest plain edged knife you own.