knife collectors usually don't like them

by bj2, Sunday, June 01, 2014, 00:31 (3771 days ago) @ stonewalrus

When I first started buying more modern knives something like 20+years ago I thought the combo-edge was great, being the best of both worlds. I still have one of my early knives with combo edge, but I also recalled that in all the years I carried it I never cut anything with the serrated part. Nowadays I almost completely refuse to buy a knife with serrations. I like the plain edge part better and without serrations the plain edge part is longer. I think collectors like the plain edge without serrations because the serrations take away from the plain edge part, serrations are viewed as hard to sharpen, and some people think serrations take away from the looks of the blade.

Recently I traded for a Spyderco Ladybug with fully serrated blade. I was at a fast food restaurant with my daughter and showed her the knife. I had her pull out her Spyderco Tenacious and we did an informal test. I rolled up a paper napkin and stretched it between my hands while she cut it. Her plain edge Tenacious cut through the napkin faster than the serrated Ladybug. This might be a questionable test because most serrated knives have larger serrations than the Ladybug has. She ended up taking the Ladybug away from me anyway.

On the other hand I have some old normal dinner knives, not steak knives, with tiny serrations and they continue to cut well. I've also read that people were able to cut hard materials such as large zip ties easier with serrations than with a plain edge. I also have the theory that a dull serrated knife will still cut certain things while a dull plain edge won't. Also I think with proper equipment it is not difficult to sharpen a serrated edge.

I bought a cheap knife with fully serrated blade to carry and try out to see if I can find something that it works better for.