FOG HORN 2014

Twobirds Flying Publication

Copyright 2014, Towbirds Flying Publication. All Rights Reserved.
Spydercos Serrata A Stuart Ackerman Design

By: Sal Palma



I first laid eyes on Stuart Ackermans Serrata
back in January of 2014 at SHOT SHOW. My face
lit up and I remember thinking to myself, WOW
what a classic look. It wasnt a 2050 Robocop
looking knife; instead it reminded me of a
superb cutting tool like youd find in the well-
equipped kitchen of a small restaurant tucked
away in the Montparnasse. Spyderco advised
me that it was not yet in production and it
would be mid-year before they started shipping
the new Serrata. Damn, foiled again, and so we
wait!
But, the time is now at hand and it is my
greatest pleasure to tell you about a very classy
knife from Spyderco Serrata.

Spydercos Serrata A Stuart Ackerman Design

2014

Copyright 2014, Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved


Stuart Ackerman is known for his exceptional
fixed blade knives; he continues that tradition in
this Spyderco offering.
The Serrata is a fixed blade full tang design
featuring a leaf blade profile with a magnificent
full flat grind. At the tang, blade thickness is a
whopping 6mm (0.238) tapering to about
0.22 at the spine and continuing with a very
gradual tapper to the knife point. This is a very
conservative tried and true approach to
reducing some of the weight yet not
compromise blade strength.
The metallurgy used in the knife is described as
a Cast 440C stainless steel, which can be
accomplished using a couple of different
processes. Stuart Ackerman prefers the lost wax
process of casting 440C, which produces a
crystalline lattice that when ground and
polished results in a more aggressive edge.
Stuart refers to the property as a micro
serration hence greater cutting power and edge
durability.
Casting 440C stainless steel in the lost wax
process is costly and involved.



First a shell (casting mold) has to be baked so
that the wax is melted out.
Next the 440C stock has to be melted so that it
can be poured into the mold.



With the wax melted, the hot ceramic shell is
readied to accept the molten 440C.


Keep in mind that
throughout this process
temperatures and
sequence are critical to
ensure a good casting.
Spydercos Serrata A Stuart Ackerman Design

2014

Copyright 2014, Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved

Now the molten 440C steel is poured filling the
ceramic shell.



Once the ceramic shell is filled it is allowed to
cool.

You can see that this process is much more
involved than picking up bar stock and grinding
away, so with that I concluded Stuart
Ackermans pictorial expose of the lost wax
casting method and return to my review.
Ive learned over the years that much of the
charm in bladesmithing is that it embodies a bit
of art, alchemy and sorcery. There are skeptics
and there are believers of any process or
method; you are certainly free to choose your
path, but I am as objective as one can be and
still remain human and results speak for
themselves. Cast 440C as used in the Serrata
does produce a more aggressive and hard
cutting edge. Ill have to wait a bit longer to
assess edge retention.
The Serrata is balanced about one inch south of
the hilt making the tip very light and nimble.
Although I would not want to be on the
receiving end of a thrust, this knife is a slicer
from the ground up. Its massive leaf blade, full
flat grind and light point makes it one of the
best bush knives available at any price.



The handle consists of port and starboard G10
scales that are simply gorgeous; machined to
perfection, and ever so slightly textured to
enhance grip. Overall, Serratas handle can be
faithfully described as hand filling. The G10
scales provide a comfortable palm swell with
finger coils fore and aft. The pummel is slightly
rounded so a reverse grip or icepick works
brilliantly with this blade.
Conspicuously lacking is jimping, in any amount,
along the spine or index finger coil. In my view,
its Serratas only shortcoming. Perhaps its a
simple matter of personal preference cultivated
by my exposure to combat knives. Never the
less, a knife of this heft could benefit from
Jimping along the spine and/or finger coil -
maybe an addition in release two.

Spydercos Serrata A Stuart Ackerman Design

2014

Copyright 2014, Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved


The Serrata ships with a heavy Boltaron
1
sheath
configurable for left or right side carry. Unlike
some of the flimsy belt clips provided by other
knife manufacturers, Spyderco went out of their
way to deliver a robust and durable G-Clip
mounting option.

In closing, I find myself at a loss for words as I
struggle to convey just how much I like
Spydercos Serrata. It is a classic knife with no
frills or excesses; however, its basics are so
elegant and well implemented that Ill just have
to leave it at that.
The Serrata embodies old world knowledge
with old world craftsmanship and design to
produce a classic blade. It is everything that a
working knife should be, and now for the good
news, $249 M.S.R.P. Spydercos Serrata a
Stuart Ackerman design check it out!


-SP




1
Boltaron is harder to work with than Kydex. It is
thicker and more durable than Kydex and withstands
higher temperatures. The finish in Boltaron provides
a better look than Kydex.




Manufacturers Specification

Overall length 9.25" (235 mm)
Blade length 4.63" (118 mm)
Blade steel Cast 440C
Cutting edge 4.63" (118 mm)
Weight 7.9 oz (224 g)
Blade thickness 0.238" (6.0 mm)
Handle material G-10

For additional details and product information
visit:
http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?
product=854