Composite Blades: Pros and Cons?

[singularity35]

What are the advantages and disadvantages of composite blades? Am I right in thinking that composite blades are blades made up of more than one kind of metal?

 

[Vicarious Reality]

Pros: Will give you an edge of great hard material for less money, if i understand correctly.

Cons: Will separate the layers under extreme abuse.

 

[berserk87]

Pros: Will give you an edge of great hard material for less money, if i understand correctly.

Cons: Will separate the layers under extreme abuse.

Has anyone experienced the layers on a composite blade actually separate? Can anyone comment on this?

 

[singularity35]

Is a laminated blade also considered composite?

 

[bld522]

Has anyone experienced the layers on a composite blade actually separate? Can anyone comment on this?

Check this out:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=694304

 

[SPXTrader]

Is a laminated blade also considered composite?

Not in the sense of the Composite blades Kershaw came out with. A laminate is just that: laminated. The CB is like two pieces of a jig-saw puzzle. A spine of one steel and a cutting edge of another.

Cons: Will separate the layers under extreme abuse.

Since there are no layers in a Composite blade, this isn't true. See the jig-saw reference above.

And any welder worth his salt knows the weld is stronger than the sum of the two pieces.

 

[Hitthespot]

Has anyone experienced the layers on a composite blade actually separate? Can anyone comment on this?

I seen a test on Youtube of a Fallkniven layers separating under extreme abuse, but the knife kept going.

Bill

 

[Reorx]

I seen a test on Youtube of a Fallkniven layers separating under extreme abuse, but the knife kept going.
Bill

... See this page - delamination starts in part 5 and then extends and eventually fails in part 6...

 

[MORIMOTOM]

the composite blades offer the advantage of typcially having an edge with high edge retention and toughness (and normally a high rc rating) and a spine made from a different metal that has a lower rating to absorb shock.

warren thomas uses composite blades made from titanium with carbide edges, and carbon fiber with ti/carbide edges.

the only disadvantage i can see is the cost factor.

aesthetically, some people may not care for the composites. some kershaws have the metals welded together with a visible joint and a puzzle piece look. i think its kinda cool.

 

[bld522]

I decided to pick up a composite Leek blem from Dave (kershawguy) to check it out. It will be my first composite knife. At the price he's selling them for, I figured I couldn't go wrong.

 

[JNewell]

... See this page - delamination starts in part 5 and then extends and eventually fails in part 6...

I know you didn't mean it to be, but that almost sounds a little misleading if someone hasn't visited that site and read the whole report. The Fallkniven A1 tested passed with more than flying colors. If you see what it took to start the delamination, and more importantly see how the knife still continued to fuction, it's an amazing credit to the knife and Fallkniven.

The report is at the link above with all the related videos. The text of the report is here and I have linked it as an image below as well.

 

[GRS1959]

I decided to pick up a composite Leek blem from Dave (kershawguy) to check it out. It will be my first composite knife. At the price he's selling them for, I figured I couldn't go wrong.

You will not be disappointed. It finds it's way into my pocket more than any other knife.

 

[Broos]

Composite is a fancy way to say something is made of 2 or more materials.

 

[Jason B.]

Pros: Top quality edge steel for budget minded price.

Cons: none that I can think of.

The joint will not break so I wouldn't even be worried about that.