Serrated blades

[Fingers]

I always thought a serrated blade was primarily a bread knife or for cutting rough items, such as rope lines on a boat. However, since acquiring the serrated Moki Silver Feather and finding how frighteningly sharp it is I have to question my beliefs. My question is: other than my examples, what are the uses for a serrated blade?

[Mumbleypeg]

Slicing tomatoes.

Ken

[Fingers]

Slicing tomatoes.

Ken

One BLT coming up!

[Sharpnshinyknives]

I always thought a serrated blade was primarily a bread knife or for cutting rough items, such as rope lines on a boat. However, since acquiring the serrated Moki Silver Feather and finding how frighteningly sharp it is I have to question my beliefs. My question is: other than my examples, what are the uses for a serrated blade?

I bought my first partially serrated blade last summer. I found that cutting through thick weed stalks was impossible with a plain straight edge. I use mine in the yard with the neighbors fence. Wild roses grow like crazy in the fence row and I couldn’t cut anything with a plain straight edge. Burdock grows there too along with some other nasty weeds. So if you are cutting things like that, then use a serrated blade.

[Railsplitter]

I’ll bet it would eat zip ties for breakfast.

[Mumbleypeg]

Maybe so. But I learned the hard way (trip to the ER) not to use a knife to cut zip ties. Diagonal pliers only for me after that. Sharing that in hopes of saving someone else from the same fate.

Ken

[Modern Slip Joints]

I always thought a serrated blade was primarily a bread knife or for cutting rough items, such as rope lines on a boat. My question is: other than my examples, what are the uses for a serrated blade?

The fiber reinforced plastic straps used to bind heavy objects to pallets are difficult to cut with a plain edge. So is carpet. To get rid of a rolled carpet that was full of mud I had to cut the roll into 4 lengths to feed it into my garbage can one piece per garbage pick up. I bought a Forever Sharp 8 in. carving knife with small serrations at a thrift store for $1. It sawed right through the roll three times only dulling slightly. I was so impressed that I went back to the thrift store to buy the second one they had with a $2 price tag. It was gone.

However, I'd only want a serrated edge on a daily carry as one of the blades on a multi-blade knife. Serrations on folders are usually near the tang were they interfere with ordinary whittling. Also the serrations are usually unnecessarily or cartoonishly large.

"such as rope lines on a boat" As an x-sailor I find this frequently repeated internet myth annoying. Four inch diameter nylon mooring lines were easily cut with my sharp Case Folding Hunter. The tale of sailors battening large sheep's foot blades through rope are internet nonsense. Those blades without points were to make accidents less likely while the ship was rolling and pitching so bad that standing without holding on to something could be a challenge. One calm day while cutting the small line strapping a piece of gear to the side of a rubber Zodiac inflatable the Ensign in charge accidentally deflated one side of the boat. The next time we docked he went straight to a hardware store and bought a yachtsman style folder.

[Fingers]

I always thought a serrated blade was primarily a bread knife or for cutting rough items, such as rope lines on a boat. My question is: other than my examples, what are the uses for a serrated blade?

The fiber reinforced plastic straps used to bind heavy objects to pallets are difficult to cut with a plain edge. So is carpet. To get rid of a rolled carpet that was full of mud I had to cut the roll into 4 lengths to feed it into my garbage can one piece per garbage pick up. I bought a Forever Sharp 8 in. carving knife with small serrations at a thrift store for $1. It sawed right through the roll three times only dulling slightly. I was so impressed that I went back to the thrift store to buy the second one they had with a $2 price tag. It was gone.

However, I'd only want a serrated edge on a daily carry as one of the blades on a multi-blade knife. Serrations on folders are usually near the tang were they interfere with ordinary whittling. Also the serrations are usually unnecessarily or cartoonishly large.

"such as rope lines on a boat" As an x-sailor I find this frequently repeated internet myth annoying. Four inch diameter nylon mooring lines were easily cut with my sharp Case Folding Hunter. The tale of sailors battening large sheep's foot blades through rope are internet nonsense. Those blades without points were to make accidents less likely while the ship was rolling and pitching so bad that standing without holding on to something could be a challenge. One calm day while cutting the small line strapping a piece of gear to the side of a rubber Zodiac inflatable the Ensign in charge accidentally deflated one side of the boat. The next time we docked he went straight to a hardware store and bought a yachtsman style folder.

Good practical info. Thanks. I never thought I’d carry a fully serrated knife on a daily basis. But, as you can see the Moki is a different beast.

[Dinadan]

I always thought a serrated blade was primarily a bread knife or for cutting rough items, such as rope lines on a boat.

I do have a serrated blade bread knife. And a couple of smaller serrated knives that I have never figured out a use for: I use them for spreading mayo or cutting smaller loaves of bread. I have suspected that serrated blades might appeal to folks who do not like sharpening knives, but that is just a thought.

Regarding rope, When I was in the Navy everyone carried a Buck 110. The 110 cut through 5" lines just fine. I do not recall seeing a serrated knife during my enlistment.

[Modern Slip Joints]

[...] the Moki [...]

I like the smaller serrations on your Moki. They look to be the same size as the serrations in a paring knife I use. I'd consider carrying it as a second knife but it would be like most of the tools in a multi-tool, rarely used.

[...] I have suspected that serrated blades might appeal to folks who do not like sharpening knives, [...]

That is 90% of it. Honing, stropping, or a few strokes on a fine Arkansas stone are quicker and easier than most people realize.

Regarding bread knives, one I inherited that has very tiny serrations slices bread easier and cleaner than modern bread knives that have larger serrations. I do not think ones like my mother's have been made for a long time but they pass through thrift stores.

[QTCut5]

I have suspected that serrated blades might appeal to folks who do not like sharpening knives, but that is just a thought.

Nailed it

[Steve Warden]

Not a fan of serrated blades on pocket knives.
Bread knives, yes. Pocket knives, no.
But that's me.

[Jeepergeo]

Maybe so. But I learned the hard way (trip to the ER) not to use a knife to cut zip ties. Diagonal pliers only for me after that. Sharing that in hopes of saving someone else from the same fate.

Ken

Ouch! It's amazing what one learns when blood flows unexpectantly.

[Fingers]

Look at those serrations

[CutleryCollector-com]

The "reverse" serrations on most Kershaw and Z T brand knives are incredibly efficient. However are nearly impossible to bring back to original sharpness.

[CutleryCollector-com]

The "reverse" serrations on most Kershaw and Z T brand knives are incredibly efficient. However are nearly impossible to bring back to original sharpness.

[Quick Steel]

AJ Russell offered a fine quality nautical pocket knife with serrations placed near the tip rather than back towards the tang.

[stumpstalker]

Contrary opinion here:

Ordinarily I collect and carry only carbon steel-bladed, i.e.,1095, pocketknives (folders) and kitchen knives (chef’s, butcher, and slicers).

But if cutting synthetic fibered rope I want the hardness of a serrated stainless steel-blade, not only for far greater facility in cutting through such as a nylon or dacron mooring line, hawser, or halyard, but also to save the edge of my carbon steel knives from rapid dulling. (Natural-fibered rope is cut wonderfully by a carbon steel blade, as also is a piece for the whittler of "sugar pine".)

There is a recorded instance of a whaling ship captain who mustered the entire crew on deck during a long voyage and had each crewman’s knife blade tip snapped off.

The captain figured that when tempers flared slashing could still take place, but it would be less lethal than stabbing.