Anodized 6061-t6 aluminum handles for benchmade 940 and model 470 emissary

[tuckerone1]

Would like feedback on how well this material will hold up. Does it chip,peel or degrade over time w/consistent use?

 

[amg137]

It holds up reasonably well, but it will chip and scratch over time - especially if you don't keep it in a pocket by itself. At first this tends to look kinda crappy, but once the scratches get distributed over the whole thing it takes on a sort of "battle-scarred" look that ends up being pretty cool.

 

[brownshoe]

I have an auto stryker that is at least ten yo. The finish gets smoother, but not slippery. You can wear it down and off with constant use, but it takes a lot, i've seen it on older ones. It does ding and scratch when it hits concrete, but not otherwise.

 

[Danketch]

I only have 1 aluminum handled knife (Thank you, Mr. Wilkens), and I don't use it, but I can say after 10 years as an aerospace machinist, 6061 t6 will dent, chip, impress into harder materials,pert easy. Even hard anodized, it is not a really durable material, but we use it in the aerospace field because it is relatively tough, and much cheaper than other lightweight, mo tougher materials.

For a knife scale, should be fine, just don't expect it to remain unblemished, not even after hard anodizing, unless you make it a safe queen, and aluminum handles aren't nice enough IMHO to make a Benchmade a safe queen.