I am also a lefty and the darned things aren't right for me either.

I would say like most everyone else has, straight is the better choice unless you are a lefty or plan on cutting seat belts, rope, plastics (softer LDPE type) a bunch. My swisstool has both a serrated and non-serrated blade and the only time I seem to use the serrated blade is when I cut into the plastic catch bins at work for new pipe placement or jury-rig "reconstruction". It slices through it so much better and is still relatively "easy" to resharpen as it is the older style scalloped edge and not the newer micro grooved edge that spyderco made so popular.

-Bill Liptak

I've got a couple of these, listed as #761 on Ragnar's site. They are nice knives. I prefer the laminated high-carbon blade, but I bought these because of the bright orange handle. Tough to lose if you drop it.

If I could get it with in carbon with a straight edge, I'd buy it too. But that's not saying much. I have an problem with buying knives, I always want more of them.

I only use plain blades. Most of my blade use falls between the first 2 inches from the handle and 1-1/2 inch from the point. I seem to cut ropes and fibers quickly without serrations.

I have never needed to cut a seat belt. A first responder might find more use with blade serration, then again they might use some type of seat belt cutter that is safer. Serrations cut and rip fiber faster, do seconds matter to you?

Just like any thing in life it sort of falls on what your intended use is, maintenance, personal preference and aesthetics.


-JRJ

I find the serrated blade on my CRKT M-16 is horrible. The teeth are too small to sharpen and just snag on things. Nice round scallops like on a bread knife are easy to sharpen (easiER anyhow) and effective. I have a couple of so called combo knives but I find I don't use them very much. I tend to always go for straight edges and save the serrated blades for backup emergency boxes like in the car where sharpeners are scarce.

For the knives that I use often I've got 1 fully serrated edge knife, 1 combo edge knife, and about 9 plain edge knives. So, you get the idea what I prefer.

With that said, the two knives I do have serrated edges on are a Spyderco Atlantic Salt and a Benchmade 530S. These two often come in handy for use in, and around, water. When I'm cutting a lot of heavy line those serrations do come in handy.

The numerous small contact points found on a serrated blade significantly increase the cutting force for each point of contact, since any given applied force is distributed across a much smaller surface area.

While serrated blades are somewhat more difficult to sharpen, the curvature of the individual scallops found on a serrated blade also provides additional strength/support at the blade edge, allowing it to remain sharp longer than a straight blade.

I can think of way too many survival scenarios off the top of my head that require a sawing action to ever consider going into the woods without a combo blade. There's a reason saws don't feature straight blades, no matter how sharp they are.

Jim

Thats why I take an actual SAW with me instead of a serrated knife. A folding saw and a good plain edge knife is combo enough for my needs.

I agree, a regular knife and a saw works well.

I enjoy discussions about which knife to choose. But reading the post of BobS and bigmothertrucker makes me realize that I don't choose.

I work in an office in a tie and brought at least three knives to work with me today; a multitool; an SAK Farmer and a cheap folder with a combo blade. I should do something else with the last folder.

When going into the woods, I have at least three blades: 1. A Mora #S-1 or a Cold Steel Kukri; 2. a multitool; and 3. a folder with a serrated edge. Whether I bring the Mora or the Kukri depends on who else is there.

This kind of goes right with what benjammin said in another post. Having more gear is better.

The issues come when you do have to choose. When you cannot fit anymore gear in your pack, bag or vehicle. When you cannot carry more. When you cannot afford more. Seems like a lot of the enjoyment and learning I get on this forum comes from such discussions.