lionsteel sr1 aluminum?

M

MikeyD

Joined
Mar 13, 2011
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Does anybody have any experience with the sr1 aluminum version? Wondering how they are holding up. I must say im a LITTLE concerned that the aluminum frame wont hold up well? Again i have no experience/knowledge behind this! lol. i am contemplating trying one and wanted to hear some feedback on them...thanks in advance!
 
It's a tank, don't worry about it.


BTW, pound for pound aluminum is a third stronger then steel.




Big Mike
 
My sole experience with the aluminum one is handling it at Blade, side by side with the titanium one which I bought. The difference in weight is significant, and it still has a rock-solid "feel" to it. My thought is that if the titanium one didn't exist, the aluminum would still make us all as happy as a dead pig in the sunshine.*

Not all aluminum alloys are created equal. They use the stuff in the frames of lightweight firearms, after all.

*An old South Alabama saying which doesn't make sense to me, either, but there you are.
 
Well, my name isn't Mike, but it does start with a "M".

Anyway, I picked up an aluminum Lion Steel at Blade. It seems to be hold up but I haven't batoned with it or did anything stupid..........yet.

It came very smooth, but I took out the washers and gave them a little coating of slip 2000 and it took some of the stiffness out.

The factory edge was very sharp.

My 1 complaint, it doesn't come with the wrench for the pocket clip. Or the pocket clip itself. It's a sharp little thing and "cuts" into you a bit, or for me at least.

Here's a review from BF on the aluminum:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/855415-Lion-steel-SR-1A-1st-Impressions
 
My concern isn't with strength exactly, it's with the repeated flexing of the lock bar. Aluminum isn't exactly known for being a metal that likes to be repeatedly bent. I worry that the lock bar cutout would eventually develop a stress fracture at the point of maximum flex.

Of course, aircraft wings are made of aluminum and they seem awfully bendy when I'm looking out the window at them, so what do I know?
 
As long as there isn't plastic deformation, which is bending until it stays bent, the repeated flexing shouldn't create stress fractures. It's when aluminum is repeatedly bent that it will crack. Flexing should be ok.
 
I have absolutely nothing productive to add to this thread, but my middle name is Michael. ;)
 
I was curious about the handle finish. How does it seem to hold up? Is it like a Maglite type easy to scratch finish or something more durable.

And strange but true, my middle name is also Michael. weird.........
 
elkins45 said:
Of course, aircraft wings are made of aluminum and they seem awfully bendy when I'm looking out the window at them, so what do I know?
Click to expand...

Of course, they get stress fractures from repeated bending...
No aluminum frame-locks for me.
 
I know somebody named Mike, does that count?

Nope, Aluminum framelocks are something I don't wanna mess with.
 
stabman said:
Of course, they get stress fractures from repeated bending...
No aluminum frame-locks for me.
Click to expand...

Get an aluminum can and cut yourself a strip from it. Hold one end and bend the other end back and forth about a half inch. Enough to flex it but not put a permanent bend in it. Start counting then come back and let us know when it breaks in half. Don't hold your breath. If the metal doesn't take plastic deformation, a permanent bend, it will flex for many tens of thousands of cycles without breaking. Now if you put a permanent bend in it and do that a couple times it will break, but so will steel and titanium. In this manner aluminum will break faster than other materials but they will all break in fairly short order. Non permanent flexing is why leaf springs last for many hundreds of thousands of miles and still work long after a car wears out and no longer runs. Aluminum is not a very glamorous knife handle material, but it should hold up fine. There have also been prototypes around for over a year and I'm sure Lionsteel would not make a knife that would end in problems, even though they would stand behind every one.

And my name isn't Mike. Hope I'm still allowed to post.
 
I've had one for over a month, after many hundreds of openings the lockbar has shifted across the tang a little but the tension is unchanged. The rotoblock on the lockbar prevents overextending and permenent bending, so I don't see it being an issue. The ti version may stand up to batoning and pounding slightly better, but I bet I could destroy both with a ball pien.
The coating is holding up well to everyday carry except a bit of a scuff on the high points of the ridges when I stuffed my keys in the same pocket. Like all anodizing it will wear off eventually. I find mine to be a little slick and have thought about a heavy bead blast and reanodizing as I've had other aluminium handles that were much better grip wise.
Overall though it is a fantastic knife, well engineerewd with great fit and finish
 
elasmonut said:
I've had one for over a month, after many hundreds of openings the lockbar has shifted across the tang a little but the tension is unchanged. The rotoblock on the lockbar prevents overextending and permenent bending, so I don't see it being an issue. The ti version may stand up to batoning and pounding slightly better, but I bet I could destroy both with a ball pien.
The coating is holding up well to everyday carry except a bit of a scuff on the high points of the ridges when I stuffed my keys in the same pocket. Like all anodizing it will wear off eventually. I find mine to be a little slick and have thought about a heavy bead blast and reanodizing as I've had other aluminium handles that were much better grip wise.
Overall though it is a fantastic knife, well engineerewd with great fit and finish
Click to expand...

Ummm, yes to the above. My lockbar hasn't shifted though (I haven't noticed). It may be aluminum, but it is one stout knife.

Besides, doesn't Lion Steel have a lifetime warranty or did I imagine it?
 
I remember reading about it, and I read that the owner of Lion Steel, or someone at Lion Steel at least, EDCed the aluminum version for one year to test before releasing it. But after all, I did read this on the internet so I don't rightly know.
 
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