Strength of BM's aircraft aluminum handles?

[Caffeinepirate]

If I am trying to cut something with one of Benchmade's folders that have aluminum handles, and I use both hands to lean into and push hard on the handle to make the cut, is it possible that the handle will crack?

I've done this with my H&K 14205 with no problems, but that thing has G10 and relatively thick stainless steel liners. I'm not sure I would want to do the same thing with my recently acquired Benchmade Switchback.

 

[FlaMtnBkr]

Aluminum is very strong. Yeah it is not as strong as stainless steel but you aren't going to crack or bend it with your hands. Maybe if you put some sort of cheater bar on it you might be able to damage it, but you would have to be trying to damage it. Use it as hard as you want.

I don't like aluminum because it scratches and dents easily and it is cold and 'life less' feeling, but it is not because of lack of strength.

 

[knarfeng]

I greatly doubt it will break.

If you are using sufficient force that a handle breaks, you should be using a fixed blade instead of a folder.

 

[dangreco]

It's strong enough for purty much anything.

 

[TLR]

The pins, pivot or lock will likely break first. My BM 5000 is a tank. If you can break those handles you're a monster

 

[Scott Free]

A few years back, Thombrogan heavily abused a BM Switchback. He's still active here, so he may chime in. In any case, aluminum makes more sense to me than titanium for a knife. Titanium is cool, and I have more than a few titanium toys, but aluminum is lighter and certainly tough enough for anything you're going to throw at it.

 

[Dorito Monk]

I'd say if you manage to break aluminum handles, you're doing something extremely wrong.

 

[miro44]

As others said the Pivot Pin/Lock/Blade/whatever will break long beofre the handle.

 

[Blop]

The Switchback has steel liners too. You can´t consider only the aluminium scales.

The whole knife is lighter buildt compared to the 14205 or the 5000. That is the main difference.

I remember Thombrogans abuse, that he sat a 6° edge with an edgepro or something on the blade and made it break. Do i remember right?

 

[safetyman]

I'd say if you have to push hard enough to break aluminum handles, you need to sharpen your knife.

 

[bearcut]

Or use a fixed blade...

 

[Scott Free]

I remember Thombrogans abuse, that he sat a 6° edge with an edgepro or something on the blade and made it break. Do i remember right?

I don't remember that. I remember him using it to tear down a shed. It's been at least a couple years ago.