I don't know why serrated edges are so popular. They're supposedly good for First Responders for cutting seat belts off accident victims, but I wouldn't know about that. I've never owned a serrated edge knife, except a bread knife.
Concealed carry is for protection, open carry is for attention.
I got one, my wife has one, and I gave one to each of my kids. Excellent SD knife that won't raise an eyebrow if you actually have to use it in public.
I keep a serrated blade as a utility knife for me. Cutting rope, fibrous plants, or other tough material wrapped around a prop or under other circumstances is a "probable" for me at work. A non-serrated blade will work, but can dull quickly and become frustrating.
I got one, my wife has one, and I gave one to each of my kids. Excellent SD knife that won't raise an eyebrow if you actually have to use it in public.
I have been carrying the same knife for about three years now. Small enough to carry everywhere, large enough to be useful, holds an edge, and doesn't break the bank if you need to replace it.
Logistics cannot win a war, but its absence or inadequacy can cause defeat. FM100-5
I gave a couple of those last year for graduation gifts, I got mine sub $40, I liked it, seemed like a useful pocket knife that could double as a weapon, very sharp and opened nice.
I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn away from their ways and live. Eze 33:11
As bream said serrated blades have there place, when I was still working cutting rope was a common thing and non serrated blades dulled quickly. I always carried a serrated blade then but not so much now.
We all have different needs and applications for our knives and mine is more of a tool to me than a defensive device. On any give day I might cut the twine or netting off of a hay bale, cut a branch that's smacking me in the face on the tractor, dig the grease off of a screw head so I can get a tool on it, and of course open boxes. I've come to favor the Gerber EVO with a half serrated blade. They're light, cheap, and durable. I seem to lose one about every six months and at 20 bucks or so, it doesn't hurt so much. I usually buy a couple at a time.
Yes they are certainly no pry bar but they will go through most everyday stuff like a hot knife through butter. And that slim super sharp tip is good enough to dig a splinter out if need be. I love mine because I can throw it in my pocket or hang it IWB even in a suit or dress slacks and it just disappears.
It's a fine knife, but with the issues I've seen on other coupled with the way I expect a knife to function, a K.O. Leek would be no bueno. I'm a man of contradictions...I like a thin knife, but demand a thick blade. The blade is everything...and I require it to take a beating and ask for more.
"Bipartisan" usually means that a bigger than normal deception is happening.
George Carlin
I keep a serrated blade as a utility knife for me. Cutting rope, fibrous plants, or other tough material wrapped around a prop or under other circumstances is a "probable" for me at work. A non-serrated blade will work, but can dull quickly and become frustrating.
When I was working on water wells, we used them a LOT to cut the decades old duct tape that held the wire to the pipe as you pulled the well. A horribly abused serrated knife worked a lot longer than a well cared for straight edge in that situation.
But everywhere else, they suck.
To make something simple is a thousand times more difficult than to make something complex.
-Mikhail Kalashnikov
When I was working on water wells, we used them a LOT to cut the decades old duct tape that held the wire to the pipe as you pulled the well. A horribly abused serrated knife worked a lot longer than a well cared for straight edge in that situation.
But everywhere else, they suck.
Agreed on all counts. We've got some plants around here that will wrap up a prop but you can't clear the prop. Using a straight edge, even super sharp, is slow and around a metal lower unit, they dull up quick. Serrated blades will cut through them right quick.
Learning to sharpen a serrated edge is not brain surgery and should be as common a knowledge/skill as sharpening a straight edge. It just requires a few ceramic rods and some basic skills on using them.
Yeah, I have been free-hand sharpening chain saws for decades, and it took 15 minutes to become competent at it. Same concept. But, I don't find many uses for serrated blades, especially sharp ones.
I've carried mostly CRKT and Kershaw in the past. Then last month Midway had a sale on the Ontario XM-1 for $60 with an original MSRP of around $260 so I had to do it. A bit thick for EDC but if you get used to it it sure is a beast and truly sharp enough to shave with out of the box, only bummer was that they only had the partially serrated left...
I bought a RAT5 a few years back and really liked it. I found these RAT1s on Amazon for like $24 with AUS8 steel and a really strong lockup, poking around the interwebs and they keep showing up on lists of the best EDC knives for under $100.
I EDC a Spyderco Caly 3 for the last 10 years, this knife is very seldom not in my pocket. For my fancy knives, I really like Fiddleback Forge custom knives
Replies
Yep.
I have been carrying the same knife for about three years now. Small enough to carry everywhere, large enough to be useful, holds an edge, and doesn't break the bank if you need to replace it.
http://www.knifecenter.com/item/BM530P/benchmade-530-pardue-axis-folder-satin-plain-blade-grivory-handles
Sako
I gave a couple of those last year for graduation gifts, I got mine sub $40, I liked it, seemed like a useful pocket knife that could double as a weapon, very sharp and opened nice.
A fella I worked with had several of those. Decent knife, thin in the pocket and kept an edge...but prone to tip breakage.
George Carlin
A good knife with a good edge will hold an edge for a very long time and will cut through ropes and seat belts a lot faster than a serrated blade.
It's a fine knife, but with the issues I've seen on other coupled with the way I expect a knife to function, a K.O. Leek would be no bueno. I'm a man of contradictions...I like a thin knife, but demand a thick blade. The blade is everything...and I require it to take a beating and ask for more.
George Carlin
When I was working on water wells, we used them a LOT to cut the decades old duct tape that held the wire to the pipe as you pulled the well. A horribly abused serrated knife worked a lot longer than a well cared for straight edge in that situation.
But everywhere else, they suck.
-Mikhail Kalashnikov
As you can tell, I like Kershaw, neck knives, and wharnecliff blade styles.
-Mikhail Kalashnikov
I like your moves.
I like your style.
(namethatmovie)
Yeah, I have been free-hand sharpening chain saws for decades, and it took 15 minutes to become competent at it. Same concept. But, I don't find many uses for serrated blades, especially sharp ones.
I got several of the "Needs Work" for a very reasonable price to give as graduation gifts, I kept one for myself.
I am impressed with the Needs Work. Beefy knife, Great action, and the clip is awesome.
-Mikhail Kalashnikov
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/896437/ontario-xm-1s-folding-tactical-knife-3375-partially-serrated-modified-spear-point-n690co-cobalt-enhanced-steel-blade-aluminum-handle-black?cm_vc=ProductFinding
http://www.amazon.com/Ontario-8848-Folding-Knife-Black/dp/B0013ASG3E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1444070605&sr=8-1&keywords=RAT1
I've carried mostly CRKT and Kershaw in the past. Then last month Midway had a sale on the Ontario XM-1 for $60 with an original MSRP of around $260 so I had to do it. A bit thick for EDC but if you get used to it it sure is a beast and truly sharp enough to shave with out of the box, only bummer was that they only had the partially serrated left...
I bought a RAT5 a few years back and really liked it. I found these RAT1s on Amazon for like $24 with AUS8 steel and a really strong lockup, poking around the interwebs and they keep showing up on lists of the best EDC knives for under $100.
I'm really a fan of the S.P.E.W.
I've used epoxy dipped paracord to turn the neck sheath into a belt sheath, it rides VERY flat on the belt.