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Aquatec Solid Titanium Scuba/Kayaking Knife

Uath

Uath

Joined
Oct 25, 2003
Messages
703
s-l1600.jpg
I've been an active ocean kayaker for all of my adult life. This solid titanium knife is just the trick. It's small, at just under 8 inches, but packs a lot of features for its size. Designed for untangling, it has a cord cutter on the back and a partially serrated blade that is sharp as a razor.
The handle inserts are plastic and molded into the frame. It's very hand filling and protective. The guard will definitely keep your hand from sliding onto the blade and the thumb-groove is well placed. This knife works with any grip.
It's a water knife for sure. It even looks like a shark.

Solid titanium is the trick for me. Salt water has no effect ever. There is nothing to rust. Titanium is 30-40% stronger than tempered steel and more flexible. The spin on this knife is that it will never need sharpening. I don't know about that... we'll see. The knife is light as a feather.

The sheath is plastic with a release. A lot of reviewers didn't like the sheath because the knife has to lock in with a click and it was hard to tell under water if it was secure. Several mentioned that they thought they had put the knife back, but it fell out.
I agree. The knife is very secure once it's locked in, but it can take a little effort to click it in place. I think as a kayaker, that's not as concerning, because I can hear it click and have the time to check it to make sure it's secure. I don't want to lose it..

The knife comes with several attachment options. I put on the belt clip (Stainless) for my usual front-and-center horizontal carry, but it also comes with arm/leg straps. It also comes with some sort of scuba attachment that I don't understand. The belt clip can be attached for either horizontal, or vertical, carry.
I've rusted a lot of knives. This one is the thing to have in a tangle.
 
Somebody please explain how ti is superior to h1. I had an h1 knife and it sucked big time.
 
I don't know what h1 is, but if it's a type of steel, it has no relation to titanium. I've heard H1 is rust-proof, but if it's steel, it has iron. Titanium is a different metal altogether, apples and oranges. This knife works great and holds its edge well.
Now that I think about it, I've heard that there are "stainless steels" with no iron. I have trouble wrapping my head around that. What are they, zink?
Sounds to me like H1 is a super high chromium stainless. I have no doubt it's useless and brittle. All stainless is useless and brittle. best used for folders, not real knives. Might as well go for old 440 if you want stainless. Al least it's cheap
 
Uath said:
I don't know what h1 is, but if it's a type of steel, it has no relation to titanium. I've heard H1 is rust-proof, but if it's steel, it has iron. Titanium is a different metal altogether, apples and oranges. This knife works great and holds its edge well.
Now that I think about it, I've heard that there are "stainless steels" with no iron. I have trouble wrapping my head around that. What are they, zink?
Sounds to me like H1 is a super high chromium stainless. I have no doubt it's useless and brittle. All stainless is useless and brittle. best used for folders, not real knives. Might as well go for old 440 if you want stainless. Al least it's cheap
Click to expand...
o_O
 
Uath said:
I don't know what h1 is, but if it's a type of steel, it has no relation to titanium. I've heard H1 is rust-proof, but if it's steel, it has iron. Titanium is a different metal altogether, apples and oranges. This knife works great and holds its edge well.
Now that I think about it, I've heard that there are "stainless steels" with no iron. I have trouble wrapping my head around that. What are they, zink?
Sounds to me like H1 is a super high chromium stainless. I have no doubt it's useless and brittle. All stainless is useless and brittle. best used for folders, not real knives. Might as well go for old 440 if you want stainless. Al least it's cheap
Click to expand...
h1 isnt brittle and i wouldnt call it useless myself. i own a couple knives in it. it rolls rather easily, doesnt chip. ill let the metal experts chime in on its composition. it holds an edge okay for what it is.
 
The only h1 knife I’ve owned was serrated. And it rolled like Chinese mystery stainless.
 
Yeah. I’m slamming my head in the wall figuring why I don’t own TI blades. Let me know
 
I didn't mean to diss H1. Obviously, I have no experience with it. I just don't like stainless. I don't know why. I don't like the way it feels, or sharpens. Recently, I bought my first ever stainless revolver to walk in the heat with. I like it, but it doesn't have the magic of blue steel.

I know that every kayaking knife I've ever had has rusted badly (I do buy stainless kayaking knives). Some rusted so badly they stuck in the sheath. I always use serrated knives on the water and the serrations seem especially prone to rust damage.
I used to keep a couple of very-cheap folders around as back-up. Folders are always crap. They rust closed where you can't open them, or they rust where they won't lock.... They're guaranteed to fail, especially if you need them..

Salt water is a killer, even if you rinse the knife afterward, clean it and sleep with it on your pillow, it's going to rust. Let alone keep it in your lfe vest or kayaking bag
 
Uath said:
I didn't mean to diss H1. Obviously, I have no experience with it. I just don't like stainless. I don't know why. I don't like the way it feels, or sharpens. Recently, I bought my first ever stainless revolver to walk in the heat with. I like it, but it doesn't have the magic of blue steel.

I know that every kayaking knife I've ever had has rusted badly (I do buy stainless kayaking knives). Some rusted so badly they stuck in the sheath. I always use serrated knives on the water and the serrations seem especially prone to rust damage.
I used to keep a couple of very-cheap folders around as back-up. Folders are always crap. They rust closed where you can't open them, or they rust where they won't lock.... They're guaranteed to fail, especially if you need them..

Salt water is a killer, even if you rinse the knife afterward, clean it and sleep with it on your pillow, it's going to rust. Let alone keep it in your lfe vest or kayaking bag
Click to expand...
Look for the Spyderco Native Salt with LC200N coming later this year.
 
Let me just go ahead and say to anyone but including Sosa Sosa and Uath Uath trying to claim titanium fixed to H1 folding...you have your work cut out for you trying to convince people around here that the titanium option is going to beat an h1 serrated folder as a cutting tool around and in salt water. I could see a fixed titanium blade taking the win if prying things and general toughness is more important to you for your salty activities. But for cutting purposes I'd say serrated h1 is king in the salt.

I'm a huge fan of carrying two blades for most activities :) Chef/paring knife, camp knife/ chopper, Small and large Sebenza, Delica Endura and so on and so on.
Perhaps have a big bad piece of titanium and pair it up with a serrated h1 folder? I don't know, but the only time I carry just one knife is when I'm in pajamas :p
 
Korean Hog said:
Let me just go ahead and say to anyone but including Sosa Sosa and Uath Uath trying to claim titanium fixed to H1 folding...you have your work cut out for you trying to convince people around here that the titanium option is going to beat an h1 serrated folder as a cutting tool around and in salt water. I could see a fixed titanium blade taking the win if prying things and general toughness is more important to you for your salty activities. But for cutting purposes I'd say serrated h1 is king in the salt.

I'm a huge fan of carrying two blades for most activities :) Chef/paring knife, camp knife/ chopper, Small and large Sebenza, Delica Endura and so on and so on.
Perhaps have a big bad piece of titanium and pair it up with a serrated h1 folder? I don't know, but the only time I carry just one knife is when I'm in pajamas :p
Click to expand...
 
I’ll stick with 440a. Cheap, proven and serves its purpose after all these years.
 
Uath said:
I didn't mean to diss H1. Obviously, I have no experience with it. I just don't like stainless. I don't know why. I don't like the way it feels, or sharpens. Recently, I bought my first ever stainless revolver to walk in the heat with. I like it, but it doesn't have the magic of blue steel.

I know that every kayaking knife I've ever had has rusted badly (I do buy stainless kayaking knives). Some rusted so badly they stuck in the sheath. I always use serrated knives on the water and the serrations seem especially prone to rust damage.
I used to keep a couple of very-cheap folders around as back-up. Folders are always crap. They rust closed where you can't open them, or they rust where they won't lock.... They're guaranteed to fail, especially if you need them..

Salt water is a killer, even if you rinse the knife afterward, clean it and sleep with it on your pillow, it's going to rust. Let alone keep it in your lfe vest or kayaking bag
Click to expand...
I think we are about to blow your mind with a world of exotic steels you have yet to imagine.

You should look at lc200n and VANAX steel.
It will cut circles around titanium. H1 would probably do that too though haha.

You should research more about Nitrogen stainless alloys and how that works before you knock it.

Take it easy and safe swimming.
 
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