Experiments on Knife Sharpening
"The ability of a knife to easily cut a material is altered significantly if the cutting action is changed from a simple pushing action, as employed in shaving, to a back-and- forth sawing action, as employed with serrated knives. The bur formed by grinding stones does produce a rough edge on the microscale and may reduce the required cutting force for some sawing type cutting operations. However, the bur produces a substantial increase in the edge width and for cutting action involving a minimum of sawing motion the bur well be detrimental. The author is not aware of any study that has addressed this question of when, or if ever, a burred edge might be superior for cutting. This study has been directed at the best way to remove as-ground burs."
http://www.scribd.com/doc/10044505/Experiments-on-Knife-Sharpening-John-Verhoeven