Question on the Ti Frame-lock

[ferider]

So I got an XM-24 Skinny (no insert) for Christmas, and it had lock stick. Applied what I learned from my first Brous Blades that came with instructions, apply sharpie multiple times, exercise the knife, and after a few flicks (< 100), the stick disappears (also when the Sharpie is complete removed), now the knife is very smooth.

The question is this though: clearly the tang wears, not the Ti lock (new marks are visible on the blade tang after wear-in; I've seen this on other Hinderers before as well). The above is an S35VN blade, HRC ~60 (?), so it should be harder than even hardened Ti (HRC low 50s (?)). How does the maker do that ? Soften the blade tang after heat-treatment ?

Just wondering .... Thanks,

Roland.

 

[marthinus]

Layer of carbide is applied. Process is called carbidizing.

 

[ferider]

Is the carbide > 60 HRC ?

 

[marthinus]

It is normally tungsten carbide so around 85 HRC

 

[dirc]

depending on what exactly they are using, yes, it can be significantly higher:

TiC - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanium_carbide - can have 9 on moh's scale
TiN - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanium_nitride - can also have really high values

there are a few other formulations, it really depends on what exactly they use, but I expect the above are common

 

[marthinus]

Heres what most makers recommend:

Google: Travers Carbidizer (dont want to post a direct link due to forum rules)