Titanium Blade

J

jcoyote

Joined
May 28, 2008
Messages
12
A few years ago my wife got me a Boker folder with a titanium blade that is one of the finest looking knives I have ever owned. I love it in all respects except one. I can't keep it sharp. It won't hold an edge worth a damn, especially at the tip where it gets the most use. I sharpen it like I do all of my other knives on my diamond "stone" using about the same angle, etc. Is there a secret to putting a more durable edge on this knife? Anything you can tell me would be very helpful.:confused:
 
Titanium is not steel. It will not hold an edge like a good steel. Mission Knives uses a "beta titanium" alloy that works better than most, but even that can't really compete.
 
Is this a truely Ti blade? Most blades are a blend or a Ti coating over stainless. Only knives that I have seen that were truely Ti were dive knives. Knives that strength, corrosion resistance, weight and non-reflective finish are more important than sharpness. Yes Ti does not hone very well. What model (I am assuming it's) Boker do you have?
 
on a side note, instead of putting it on a diamond hone, try using an old belt or scrap leather (even cardboard works) to strop the blade (like you would a straight razor -blade trailing about aprox the same angle you sharpen on the stone with). Beleive it or not you will get a sharper edge ... stropping on leather is about like sharpenning on a 1500 -3000 grit water-stone. Which I bet is A LOT finer than that diamond hone you are using.
 
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Bro. You need to contact Boker OR Mission Knives and ask them your question. I own a Mission MPF, and it shaves! Ti must be sharpened a certain way then buffed! Go to the source. :)
 
well I managed to sharpen a polymer blade using leather, sharp enough to cut cardboard (for a few seconds atleast - till the blade rolled over). I think Ti has to be a tad easier to manage.
 
Yup! But you have to do it the right way. To many folks bad-mouth Titanium because they want it to perform like steel. You can't compare the two metals. Beta Titanium, done right, is an excellent performer.
 
Lycosa said:
Yup! But you have to do it the right way. To many folks bad-mouth Titanium because they want it to perform like steel. You can't compare the two metals. Beta Titanium, done right, is an excellent performer.
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Beta-Ti from Mission Knives is good stuff. A lot better than the standard 6-4 titanium alloy. Its edge holding still cannot compare to the decent steels out there. I have also gotten beta-ti sharp enough to shave. Edge holding is about the same as the cheapy stainless steel.
 
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