Has anyone tried out a ceramic folder?

SSonnentag

SSonnentag

Stay Sharp!
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Feb 25, 2009
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I was browsing around for kitchen knives and ran across a ceramic folding knife. It's made by Zayka. Has anyone seen one of these in person or bought one? $49 isn't bad if it turns out to be a decent knife. Their website doesn't give much info. It doesn't even show the other side of the knife, so I don't know whether it has a clip or not.

"Ceramic folding knives are a perfect way to have the precision of Zirconium at your finger tips anywhere you go. Great for the outdoors, you will quickly find this knife an essential tool during any adventure. Steel body with a traditional wood insert means style AND durability. Folded the knife measures 5"; unfolded 8"; Matte Black finish."​

NOTE: It also comes in a white ceramic blade.

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Yes I have tried one.
I bought a Meyerco ceramic for about $25 a while back.
It is still very sharp. I use it around the house in any pure slicing application. It has replaced the small razor knife that I kept for those apps. The price has really come down on these things, enough that I won't cry if I ever chip it.
 
I think the general opinion is they are fine for light cutting tasks and very nice for novelty-i think ill get that very knife you posted-but aren't the best for constant harder use. I've heard from many users that they are extremely hard to sharpen.
 
I have a few ceramic lockbacks from Puma (98-99?). They are very sharp but I'm still kinda afraid to carry one as an EDC.
Dropping one pavement or concrete wouldn't be good. ;)

The one you posted a picture of looks like something from MTech or the Boker Magnum line.
That handle/wood combo is something they do quite often.
 
I have a small Boker ceramic folder. I would not do anything with it except slice. It is not only hard to sharpen but nearly impossible at home. Boker will sharpen them for a small fee and they are scalpel sharp upon return. Titanium/ceramic makes mine a safe queen now.
 
As a rule, ceramic blades exhibit outstanding edge-retention, but have zero impact-resistance, and are very tough to sharpen because they're so hard.
So they tend to make great slicers, but they break quite easily compared to even an entry-level knife steel. For that reason they are NOT great tools for the outdoors, but assuming you're a good sharpener they make great everyday carry knives.
 
I have a Boker folding ceramic knife. Its blade is made of Zirconium Carbide. The only thing harder is diamond. I use it for a finishing steel. I have several ceramic straight knives that I use in the kitchen. They are great for edge holding.
 
I think they're cool, for coolness sake, but wouldn't carry one for EDC. If you have a back-up steel blade, they might survive on light duty. I have one from Puma that I damaged the blade the first time I used it. It was in the kitchen slicing up some chicken. I ran it down a tine of the fork I was using. Dumb move on my part, but that kept me from trusting it for anything close to real work.

Sure, they look good, and can keep an edge, but what you sacrifice is cutting efficiency, as the edge is fairly obtuse. If you're used to that, then one might be ideal for the kitchen. Otherwise, you get better performance out of a steel blade.

Here's a guy selling some pretty cool ones. I'm really tempted to try his out. They look a little better than the one you posted. Well, that's my opinion.;)

http://www.ceramicknife.org/catalog1.html
 
I have a boker ceramic. there is a lot i like about it such as it wont rust, and its great for slicing. my biggest issues with it is that im terrified of breaking it and after a while it did get a little dull and it is impossible to sharpen. overall good knife though.
 
Here's a little Ceramic story for you before you buy one. I have a Boker ceramic bought for me by my ex. The first day I carried it, I went to a theater and it caught on the seat somehow. It fell a whole 10" before it hit the floor (while remaining closed.) I died a little on the inside when I opened it to find that the blade had slapped the inside of the handle and chipped from that small impact. It has since been a desk baby, to be used for opening mail only.
 
I have a little Boker ceramic with Ti scales. It is a "gentleman's folder" and is only carried and used for for the most genteel of cutting tasks.
It has an amazingly sharp edge that glides through most common cutting jobs and being ceramic has never needed to be sharpened.
Its greatest advantage is that it weighs next to nothing, is only 5mm thick and can be easily carried in a fob pocket.
Cool factor among knife nuts is off the scale.
 
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