So the new folder from wilson combat has caught my eye. The delta wave I think it is. Have a couple questions. First is the stainless steel liners. I have quite a few higher end folders with titanium liners and notice that the majority of the "higher end" manufacturers use titanium liners. What is the reason behind this? I know it's lighter or whatever and doesn't rust but do you think there's a distinct advantage? It says that it uses "hardened" steel parts in this area but I thought titanium was softer most of the time than steel. So why do all the other guys use the relatively "softer" titanium and they use steel "hardened" steel even. The next question would be the blade steel. N690c I know that extrema ratio and some other companies use this steel and it seems I keep seeing it more and more. The most I can gather is that it's comparable to 440c which isn't a bad steel but also not a wonder steel either.440 also isn't "typical" for knives in this genre ( expensive super high speed tactical killer ninja knife) It would seem like you'd expect to see S30v and titanium liners on a knife like this. Maybe it is to keep production costs down. All that being said I'm probly reading to far into it. Still it looks like a pretty cool knife good handle ergos like the blade profile LOVE the wave feature and would be nice to have a waved knife that wasn't an emerson to try. It's also only 200ish I know it's still alot but I'm comparing with chris reeves,strider, extrema, emerson ect. but then again should I be? Well just figured I'd get the opinions from the experts. Thanks alot guys
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stainless steel liners and N690?
- Thread starter joebobx
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Last I heard someone comment was that it was more comparable to ATS-34 than 440c
It's a good steel that's I believe austrian made. Which is why it's used mostly by european companies.
It's a good steel that's I believe austrian made. Which is why it's used mostly by european companies.
Austrian Böhler N690 is a cobalt stainless steel, with great edge retention. (E.g. Fox Italy and Extrema Ratio works with N690.)
IMO comparable to ATS34 and VG10. I have two custom N690 fix knife, I love them.
I say try the cheap red class BM Monochrome to test the N690's edge holding capability, before buying something expensive stuff... :thumbup:
IMO comparable to ATS34 and VG10. I have two custom N690 fix knife, I love them.
I say try the cheap red class BM Monochrome to test the N690's edge holding capability, before buying something expensive stuff... :thumbup:
- Joined
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N690 is some pretty tough stuff also. It's use in fixed blade chopper types like the Dayhiker ( Spyderco) attest to this. It's a well balanced, clean steel.
Steel liners are very strong and will do the job as well as Titanium in most cases if engineered and produced well. Fox( Italy) makes knives with this steel, and steel liners/Frame locks and are tough and well built.
If you like the knife don't hesitate. BTW, I'm no 440C fan but I like N690.
Steel liners are very strong and will do the job as well as Titanium in most cases if engineered and produced well. Fox( Italy) makes knives with this steel, and steel liners/Frame locks and are tough and well built.
If you like the knife don't hesitate. BTW, I'm no 440C fan but I like N690.
Titanium has a "memory". This allows the spring to snap out to the exact same spot/distance each and everytime you open the knife. It is lighter, and rustproof, as you say. It is also nonmagnetic. Titanium is softer than steel and will wear faster than steel. Of course the thicker the liners the less it should wear, at least that makes sense to me. While steel does not have the same memory as titanium, it does have a memory. Hardened steel liners are not going to wear much at all.
The N690 steel I have used has done great, and I have no problem with it.
The N690 steel I have used has done great, and I have no problem with it.
Titanium also binds more ("sticky") than regular stainless which is more slippery and slides more easily when put under stress. This means that with a stainless liner lock attention to detail is even more important during manufacture (liner locks are harder to get right.)
Because of the above titanium is great material for making liner locks and frame locks. The old large Gerber Applegate Combat Folder utilized the best of both worlds by inserting a titanium tip on it's stainless steel liner lock where it makes contact with the blade.
Titanium is also expensive and a PITA to work with but it is premium liner/frame lock material. Emerson now only uses titanium for the liner lock side on their knives (a great decision in my opinion) so you have stronger stainless on one side and sticky binding tough titanium (it's not that much weaker than stainless) on the lock side.
Titanium does not rust while any steel will rust (except for H1 is H1 even steel ?) I suppose the rust point is moot if the blade is made out of high carbon stainless in the first place (stainless especially high carbon stainless does not equate to rustproof.)
Because of the above titanium is great material for making liner locks and frame locks. The old large Gerber Applegate Combat Folder utilized the best of both worlds by inserting a titanium tip on it's stainless steel liner lock where it makes contact with the blade.
Titanium is also expensive and a PITA to work with but it is premium liner/frame lock material. Emerson now only uses titanium for the liner lock side on their knives (a great decision in my opinion) so you have stronger stainless on one side and sticky binding tough titanium (it's not that much weaker than stainless) on the lock side.
Titanium does not rust while any steel will rust (except for H1 is H1 even steel ?) I suppose the rust point is moot if the blade is made out of high carbon stainless in the first place (stainless especially high carbon stainless does not equate to rustproof.)
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