Serrated vs. Plain -- A. G. Russell Knives

Serrated vs. Plain -- A. G. Russell Knives: "Serrated vs. Plain

Author: Joe Talmadge
Source: rec.knives Newsgroup
December 1998

I. Introductions

There's been a jump in recent years in the popularity of serrated edges, and there's often confusion as to when a serrated edge is advantageous, versus when a plain edge is advantageous. The question comes up often in rec.knives.

For our discussion, we'll need to talk about what we're doing with the knife. Think about what you can do with a knife: you can shave, slice, slash, saw, hack, chop, etc. For our purposes, we'll divide all knife uses into two very broad categories:

Push cuts: The main cutting is done by pushing the edge through the thing-to-be-cut. For example, when you shave, you push the edge of the knife through your beard. When peeling an apple, you push the edge under the skin of the apple. When chopping wood, you try to push the edge into and through the wood.

Slicing cuts: The cutting action is substantially done by dragging the edge across the thing-to-be-cut. When you slice meat or a tomato, you drag the edge across the tomato as you cut through it. Slicing and sawing are examples of slicing cuts.

II. Plain vs. Serrated: The Conventional View

In general, the plain edge is better than the serrated when the application involv"

How to spot a Counterfeit Knife

Know the knife you are looking for:

A book on knife patterns and numbering systems used by manufacturers and distributors will come in very handy. Companies maintain well-documented production records, and deviations will be your first clue that a knife may not be genuine.

Do your homework before you make an offer or bid on a knife.

Inspect the knife closely, look for signs of mismatched blades and back springs, uneven wear and handle material that fails to match the model number.

Use a good magnifier with good lighting when inspecting the knife. Today repairs can be done with such precision that even an expert can be fooled.

Ask the seller if the knife has been altered, cleaned or repaired. Restoration reduces the value from a collector's point of view.

Realize that knives are tools, and styles have changed to meet demands as society has evolved. The style of knife should match the era from which it came.

Know what materials were commonly used when the knife in question was made. Remember, glue is a modern inventions, and old knives were assembled with pins.

Expect old knives to be worn and blades to have been sharpened. Knives were purchased by the original owners to be used, not collected. You will find some old knives in mint condition, but expect to pay a premium price for these rarities.

Remember that copies may look like the real thing, but the materials will be modern and the craftsmanship usually not as good.

Ask a knowledgeable collector or reputable dealer to look at a knife if you are not sure it is authentic most are glad to help.

There is a tendency to embellish the facts of the knifes history, buy the knife, not the story.

As with all sells online or off remember "If a deal sounds too good to be true, it most likely is." Proceed with caution when you find something that once in a lifetime deal.

Warnings: Fraud is difficult to enforce when buying collectibles, because the seller can always claim ignorance. Be sure that you have the right to return a knife if it is discovered to be something other than what was represented at the time of purchase.