Question regarding the titanium liner lock.

Cassull

Cassull

Joined
Mar 31, 2012
Messages
315
I've been getting mixed info on it and would like to clear it up once and for all.

Are both liners titanium or just the locking side liner?
 
Directly from the Emerson website.....

"We use Aerospace grade titanium on the spring/lock side liner. Titanium is the perfect material for that function and has all of the properties needed to perform the duties of a strong reliable locking liner system. The opposite side (non-lock side) is crafted from a 300 series stainless steel. This side of the knife functions as a handle frame stiffener and has a minimal mechanical function. The stainless steel is truly stainless. It will not rust and does not affect the overall performance, wear, or durability of the knife in any negative way."
 
Only one problems I have found... it can do color anodized only with a locking liner side!!
 
motts said:
Supposedly both liners in the new Desert Roadhouse are Titanium.
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Nope. According to Emerson, they are exactly the same as any other production Roadhouse.... Ti lock side, 300 series stainless steel for the other. The 300 series stainless isn't magnetic, so people get confused and think its Ti....
 
i did not know that. somehow im turned off on emersons now... why skimp out on that?
 
personally yes! titanium is great. although i dont see the need for that liner anyway, g10 is some serious material. if there must be a liner, it ought to be titanium throughout.
 
on another unrelated note, i would REALLY like to see an emerson in s30v. but i know it will never happen. 154cm i alright, but variety is the spice of life and to have an entire line of knives in the same steel for so many years gets old.
 
danroot said:
personally yes! titanium is great. although i dont see the need for that liner anyway, g10 is some serious material. if there must be a liner, it ought to be titanium throughout.
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I was just curious, because personally, I see no difference in functionality. I have two cqc-10's. One newer one with a stainless liner, and one older one with dual titanium liners. I haven't noticed any differences at all while using them.

I agree with you about g10, it's seriously strong stuff.

So you want a knife with an S30V blade and no liner on the non locking side? It sounds like you're in the market for a Strider :D
 
CaptinRedBeard said:
What do you find that a non locking side titanium liner can do that a stainless one can't? And are you willing to pay more to have titanium?
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Why didn't the price go down when they switched out to stainless?
Why can Zero Tolerance give giant slabs of titanium for the same price point, with American labour?
The price for that quantity of titanium is miniscule compared to labour costs anyway (I know, as I've bought some).

Emerson just got in league too much with the profit gnomes, simple as that.
 
danroot said:
i did not know that. somehow im turned off on emersons now... why skimp out on that?
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They're not really skimping out, they've nearly double the thickness of the locking liner. Non locking liner plays such a small roll, it really doesn't matter.

danroot said:
personally yes! titanium is great. although i dont see the need for that liner anyway, g10 is some serious material. if there must be a liner, it ought to be titanium throughout.
Click to expand...

Why? 300 series stainless will do the same thing. Again it's the non locking side.

danroot said:
on another unrelated note, i would REALLY like to see an emerson in s30v. but i know it will never happen. 154cm i alright, but variety is the spice of life and to have an entire line of knives in the same steel for so many years gets old.
Click to expand...

I can understand your points on this, BUT I understand Mr. Emerson's view as well. He doesn't get caught up in the 'steel of the month' trend we seem to have going now in the knife community. He just sticks to what works (in the role his knives are designed to fill), and 154cm in no slouch by any means.

Cassull said:
When did they start replacing ti with steel?
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2010/11 I believe, it coincided with them beefing up the Ti locking liner.


I have to honest, I used to hate on Emerson quite a bit; why only 154cm?, why not a harder heat-treat?, why not more widely available frame lock variants?, why the cost?, etc.
BUT then I bought one and started to understand the appeal of them. Simply put, they're knives that just plain work, no frills, just function, made 100% in the USA, with a man that stand behind his product 100%. I can support and respect that. I've bought more since, most recently a CQC-10. I don't consider myself a fanboy and still think the price is a little on the high side, but every time I slip one in my pocket at the beginning of each day, it's hard not to smile:thumbup:

-sh00ter
 
danroot said:
on another unrelated note, i would REALLY like to see an emerson in s30v. but i know it will never happen. 154cm i alright, but variety is the spice of life and to have an entire line of knives in the same steel for so many years gets old.
Click to expand...

There was a VERY limited run of S30V Commanders a few years ago......
 
The answers to material questions above are simple to answer. Titanium has a higher strength to weight ratio than 300 series stainless. You can reduce the weight of the part by 40% when you switch from steel to Ti. CM 154 has no Vanadium which forms very hard carbides (82 HRC). The presence of Hard carbides in the blade increases the wear resistance. Also CM 154 is not a powder steel, so it has a coarser grain structure. This means it is more prone to chipping at a given hardness than a powdered steel. The more expensive materials cost more to produce and perform at a higher level.
 
spyderco routinely produces knives with titanium handles and s30v for sub $200 prices. hell, even benchmade does too. i will still buy emerson because nothing comes close design wise, i just with they would have more options when it comes to materials. at least do special runs now and again.
 
stabman said:
Why didn't the price go down when they switched out to stainless?
Why can Zero Tolerance give giant slabs of titanium for the same price point, with American labour?
The price for that quantity of titanium is miniscule compared to labour costs anyway (I know, as I've bought some).

Emerson just got in league too much with the profit gnomes, simple as that.
Click to expand...

agreed 100%
 
stabman said:
Why didn't the price go down when they switched out to stainless?
Why can Zero Tolerance give giant slabs of titanium for the same price point, with American labour?
The price for that quantity of titanium is miniscule compared to labour costs anyway (I know, as I've bought some).

Emerson just got in league too much with the profit gnomes, simple as that.
Click to expand...

Sure, maybe the price didn't go down. But maybe it would have gone up more without the switch. Also, as has already been pointed out. They switched to thicker liners as well.

What point are you trying to make by bringing up "American labour"? Emersons are made in the USA (with the exception of the budget Japanese line). As is every single component on the knife, right down to the machine screws.

Zero tolerance makes very nice knives. I have owned many of them. I currently don't own a single one though. On the other hand, I own quite a few Emersons. I personally prefer them, and find them to be great knives made by an American owned company. With ergonomics that are unmatched by any knife manufacturer.
 
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