How long will each knife last?

I expect my triad CS Recon 1 to still be able to punch holes through super alloyed spacecraft panels 200 years from now.
 
Seeing as there are many knives still around from the Civil War era, which was 150 years ago, I'd say that any well made knife will last indefinately as long as it's not overly abused. What I see when looking at really really old knives is significant material loss on the blade from sharpening. Today's steels and sharpening methods should make this less of a problem, so some of TODAY'S knives could possibly last 300 years or longer.
 
Chris Pierce
SO, it begs the question. When at what point are we going to have too many knives? If all these knives will last generations, at what point can we tell the knife companies to knock it off?
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Please never. Debating the latest carbide formation of the newest super steel and over the top hard use blades/chisels versus gent folders is just too fun. :D
 
I mean up-to-our-eye-balls-can't-escape-them too many knives. If knives last forever, and we keep making knives, then some day eventually there will just be TOO many knives.
 
For me, a knife will last until you damage the blade enough that you don't want to use it anymore or you loose it. My Dad had a habit of sharpening his Case slip joints on a grinding wheel.... in that case, probably 10 years if you use a knife much.
 
Chris Pierce said:
SO, it begs the question. When at what point are we going to have too many knives? If all these knives will last generations, at what point can we tell the knife companies to knock it off?
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That is just evil crazy talk!haha. Although I am running out of logical reasons that I need more knives.
 
I suspect that most knives will be worn out by knifeturbators like us over sharpening them rather than actual work. ;)
 
I have a Spydero Endura 1 I got in 1993, it saw 18 years of continuous carry until I got into collecting knives. I finally broke the tip last year (using it improperly to pry on a wooden dowel). I reprofiled it and while a 1/4" shorter than it was it still works great.
 
Just look at the old knives that are kicking around from pics on the net. Gives you a good idea. Modern knives with corrosion resistant stainless and polymer handles , micarta, G-10 and such will probably fare even better , so I'm guessing unless the blade broke or it got sharpened too much , well over another generation or two...probably longer.
 
A recent post of mine

marthinus said:
I really enjoy the field I am working in with people having incredible tools and just as interesting life stories.

One such story is about this knife. Bought in 1972, ordered through a Sears Roebuck and Co. mail catalog and friends visiting America this one found its way here.

It has spent many years working in the field, opening tins and plenty of other day to day chores for a field geologist. As one can see, it still has a lot of life left :smile:

For those interested in the history of Sears Roebuck and Co. can have a look here: http://www.searsarchives.com/history/index.htm or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sears

Some history of the 110

The Model 110

On April 18, 1963, just two years after their incorporation, the Buck board of directors voted to authorize development of a new folding utility and hunting knife. The new design featured a sturdy locking mechanism and a substantial clip point blade suitable for butchering and skinning game. This would become the world-famous Buck Model 110 Folding Hunter.

The Buck Model 110 has a 3¾–inch blade, a high-tension lock and a low-pressure release, the handles are typically wood and the bolsters are made of heavy-gauge brass. Introduced in 1964, the Buck Folding Hunter was one of the first lockback folding knives considered strong enough to do the work of a fixed-blade knife. Its debut revolutionized hunting knives, rapidly becoming one of the most popular knives ever made, with some 15 million Model 110 knives produced since 1964. Before 1981, the specially heat treated stainless steel used was 440C, from 1981 to 1992 it was 425M, and after 1993 Buck has used 420HC stainless steel. Its design is one of the most imitated knife patterns in the world (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck_Knives).

Onto the pictures.

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Hope you guys like it.
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The knives with springs in them (eg. Mini-Grip and ZT 0350 from your list) are likely to fail first. I'm not sure how many times the Omega springs are designed to be actuated, but I recall someone from KAI said the torsion bars were rated for ~20,000 openings. The torsion bar on my 4-year old Kershaw Leek snapped not long ago (was replaced promptly and for free by their excellent warranty department). I've yet to break an Omega spring, but I've only had my oldest Benchmade for less than a year. There are several accounts of Omega springs breaking, torsion bars snapping or becoming deformed all over this forum.

As for locks failing, I've had the liner lock on a couple of old knives wear down such that it developed vertical blade play, and the lockbar itself went all the way over to the opposite liner. These were on a Leatherman Crater and a S&W SWAT knife, and it happened after maybe 6-8 years of use. Even then, they still locked the blade open, but there was significant blade play. I haven't had this happen to any of my back locks or frame locks (yet), but I also haven't had those in use for nearly as long. I would think they would last longer on account of the thicker lock bar and larger contact surface.

Washers are another potential failure point (due to wear). If you get lots of abrasive stuff (eg. sand) in there, they could chew up the washers. Kept clean, they should last a long time. I've not had to replace a washer yet due to failure from normal wear. The only ones I've replaced were due to damage from improper maintenance or manufacturing defect.

The blade itself, provided it isn't damaged by rust or abuse, or excessively worn through overzealous sharpening, should last much longer than any of the moving parts.
 
Hey jaspr

I got my first locking folder when I was 10-11ish. A Buck 110, that was my edc until about 16, then took over as just my hunting/feild knife. IMO one of the best lockback designs.When I was about 20 I sent it back to Buck to have the poor widdled down blade replaced, As far as I know the blade is all they replaced.I'm 28 now and the lock still locks just as it did when I got it for x-mas when I was a kid.Considering how much I have used it over the past 18 years,its a great knife. When that Buck went to feild work only I carrird a ColdSteel Voyager. I carried that CS as edc for two years, eventualy replaced it with a fixed blade Ontario, and the CS went off to a buddy. I remember he EDC'd that blade another good two years before he started EDC'n a fixed blade. Now keeps it in his tool box at work, Blade is beat up, but the lock still CLICKS just as laoud and strong as it did 12 years ago. I have had a few liner locks, nothing fancy, but the locks have worn out way before the blade, thats not exceptable for me. I have made up my mind, I am only going to carry lockback folders, Just got a ColdSteel Recon1, I totaly expect this knife to last atleast a good 3years or so before I need to have the blade replaced. I use the holy heck out of my knives, and only carry one until its worn out. It may last you much longer depending on how hard you use it, and how many EDC's you rotate. I have no rotation.

Just to be clear the problems I have had with liner locks are the same as the post above mine, the last one being a S&W HRT dagger folder. It did take a good 1 n a half-2 years to wear out. When open the lock clears the blade and wedges between the blade and the othe side linner, cant get the darn thing closed once open, and there is blade play in all 4 directions. Some of the higher end CRKT M16 series are cool. Thier "Auto Lawks" system, best liner design I have used.I have a cheaper one and the handles are a bit of a joke, but it was $20 so. The more exspensive ones are much better put together
 
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While you are correct on the life time of torsion bars, you can still use at least the 350 with out a torsion bar, or you can get a new one for free from kershaw
 
KB3UBW said:
While you are correct on the life time of torsion bars, you can still use at least the 350 with out a torsion bar, or you can get a new one for free from kershaw
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Kershaw sent me 5 free with a free pocket clip kit.

Each torsion bar lasts ~20,000 opens.
~10 opens a day
20k/10 = 2000
2000/365 = 3.479
3.479 x 5 = 27 years of torsion bar goodness. :)
Although, I'm not even sure if I like it. I took it out the other day and found it quite enjoyable, although I don't like the fact it's not a guaranteed open.
 
jasperjb said:
Each torsion bar lasts ~20,000 opens.
~10 opens a day
20k/10 = 2000
2000/365 = 3.479
3.479 x 5 = 27 years of torsion bar goodness. :)
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If you're a chronic flipper (like me and some others around here), you could easily do 10x that... while watching TV... per show. :D Anyway, it's not a big problem, as Kershaw/ZT's excellent CS team is more than happy to send you replacement torsion bars if you ask.
 
flarp said:
If you're a chronic flipper (like me and some others around here), you could easily do 10x that... while watching TV... per show. :D Anyway, it's not a big problem, as Kershaw/ZT's excellent CS team is more than happy to send you replacement torsion bars if you ask.
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I know what you mean, but lets say 10 is the average for actual day-to-day tasks.
I'm a chronic flipper too. Can't wait for my 560. KVT!
 
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