titanium frame locks, what's the big deal?

Neomentat

Neomentat

Joined
Jun 18, 2006
Messages
534
I dont understand the popularity and high prices of titanium frame lock folders. Its not the strongest lock, have the potential to develop more problems, premium priced, slippery, accidentally disengage some times. Why are they so popular these days? And makers charge ludicrous prices for these when titanium is not very expensive. Has these become a knife snob status symbol? Is that the true reason for their popularity?
 
A well designed titanium frame lock SHOULD NOT be prone to lock slip, disengaging, failure. Titanium is lighter than stainless steel and depending on the stainless steel titanium is more corrosion resistant. When combined with a steel lock bar insert the life of the titanium is significantly increased. I agree some prices they sell for are outrageous but hey I'm not paying that ridiculous amount of money.

So a few big reasons:
1.corrosion resistance
2. Weight to strength ratio
3. Simplicity equals longevity ( usually)
4.sounds cool lol

Sure we could call carry knives that are identical but where's the fun in that? I like variety and choices. And IMO the framelock is a nice option.


Neomentat said:
I dont understand the popularity and high prices of titanium frame lock folders. Its not the strongest lock, have the potential to develop more problems, premium priced, slippery, accidentally disengage some times. Why are they so popular these days? And makers charge ludicrous prices for these when titanium is not very expensive. Has these become a knife snob status symbol? Is that the true reason for their popularity?
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It's magic... I hear they use it on space shuttles.
[video=youtube;mKFKRuWwgjg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKFKRuWwgjg[/video]

Jokes aside I don't get it either.
 
While I do think to framelocks are a bit over represented they can be nice. I only have one and I will say I love it...the only thing I'd change about it to s the lock...lol

I do think the fact that Reeve/strider other high end companies use them has made.them a bit inflated, but what we buy is up to us to weigh the materials, quality and cost.
 
I dont understand the popularity and high prices of titanium frame lock folders. Its not the strongest lock, have the potential to develop more problems, premium priced, slippery, accidentally disengage some times. Why are they so popular these days? And makers charge ludicrous prices for these when titanium is not very expensive. Has these become a knife snob status symbol? Is that the true reason for their popularity?
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Sounds like you have done more reading than owning and carrying/using them. It isn't my favorite lock style either but I sure can see what people like about the nice ones. A good one is art.

BTW, you sound as if you feel superior to "knife snobs". who might they be? Ones that buy and carry knives you don't care for? Who are these "knife snobs"? What does it take to qualify? I might want to give it a go. :rolleyes:

joe
 
I prefer liner locks. Most uses of folding knives don't need any more lock strength than a slipjoint does anyhow. I'd rather have something where my hands don't contact the lock directly - gripping these knives can accelerate wear due to pushing in the lock face farther across the tang. Replacement and repair is also more involved and expensive with a frame lock where the entire lockside needs to be replaced. Framelocks are also more unsightly than liner/bolster locks in my opinion. I'd rather not constantly be looking at the lock cutout, overtravel stop and exposed Ti.
 
Replaceable lock bar insert... replaces only the insert. And I disagree on griping the knife accelerates lock wear on a carbodized titanium framelock or framelock with a replaceable lock bar insert. But your entitled to your opinion.
asdf12345 said:
I prefer liner locks. Most uses of folding knives don't need any more lock strength than a slipjoint does anyhow. I'd rather have something where my hands don't contact the lock directly - gripping these knives can accelerate wear due to pushing in the lock face farther across the tang. Replacement and repair is also more involved and expensive with a frame lock where the entire lockside needs to be replaced. Framelocks are also more unsightly than liner/bolster locks in my opinion. I'd rather not constantly be looking at the lock cutout, overtravel stop and exposed Ti.
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shinyedges said:
Replaceable lock bar insert... replaces only the insert. And I disagree on griping the knife accelerates lock wear on a carbodized titanium framelock or framelock with a replaceable lock bar insert. But your entitled to your opinion.
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Since most of those inserts are press fit and not user adjustable/replaceable I don't see them as having an advantage in that regard. I'll have to send it back to the factory if something goes bad one way or another. I suppose they do keep costs down for the manufacturer.

Wear or not, it's not a nice feeling when you grip your knife tightly and you can feel creaking and additional tension build up as that lock moves across. This is worse with framelocks with lockbar inserts as in my experience they are more prone to sliding across the tang. Often, the lock sticks considerably due to this, and two hands are required to disengage the lock.
 
^ my experience has been a little different, I've never had my 0561 with lock bar insert stick..ever. Nor have i felt creaking. As far as I can tell its a screw holding the insert on the frame but who knows. If your liner lock wears out or gets damaged don't you have to send it in for replacement? This is a matter of personal preference, personally liner locks don't inspire confidence with me I've had several liners slip off the tang with very minimal use. Liner locks have significantly less material in contact with the tang of the blade and in my experience are more prone to lock slip. YMMV
 
Neomentat said:
I dont understand the popularity and high prices of titanium frame lock folders. Its not the strongest lock, have the potential to develop more problems, premium priced, slippery, accidentally disengage some times. Why are they so popular these days? And makers charge ludicrous prices for these when titanium is not very expensive. Has these become a knife snob status symbol? Is that the true reason for their popularity?
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Here are some great YouTube videos of the 2014 Blade Magazine and Show Knife of the Year as chosen by the magazine staff and visitors to the National Show. Somebody obviously likes this style of folding knife. I know I do. Are we all just titanium junkies?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS8o5A-zqpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DIsCJgckkI
 
Because this is a titanium frame lock and after 16 years of use its still going strong.

750mod.jpg
 
The framelock isn't my favorite lock. Any locking mechanism that puts my fingers in harm's way and has the potential to make the knife more difficult to deploy isn't my favorite. I vastly prefer button locks, Axis locks and the like. And lock strength is a nice thing but it isn't the be-all and end-all of the lock equation in my mind. A lock is there to prevent me from suffering the consequences of doing something with my knife that I probably shouldn't be doing. If it actually worked to PREVENT me from doing something stupid with my knife, traditional folders would have gone the way of the dinosaur long ago. But the fact is that the RIL is a favorite among the buying public and as a result, among knife manufacturers as well . . . some of whom are the finest manufacturers on the planet. And that's why I buy them.

As far as titanium is concerned, I think shinyedges summed it up pretty well . . .

shinyedges said:
So a few big reasons:
1.corrosion resistance
2. Weight to strength ratio
3. Simplicity equals longevity ( usually)
4.sounds cool lol
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Neomentat said:
I dont understand the popularity and high prices of titanium frame lock folders. Its not the strongest lock, have the potential to develop more problems, premium priced, slippery, accidentally disengage some times. Why are they so popular these days? And makers charge ludicrous prices for these when titanium is not very expensive. Has these become a knife snob status symbol? Is that the true reason for their popularity?
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All locks have the potential to develop problems. When done right, you will not have any of these problems. There are many reasons to their popularity; weight reduction, Ti has very high tensile strength, increased revenue, simplicity, the list goes on. One of the major reasons I like them is that they are very pocket friendly, no sharp edges or texturing to tear up your pants.
 
My 2 cents. I like many kinds of knives and locks but strongly prefer knives which can be opened and closed with one hand. Any "cool" factor aside, titanium framelocks are just right for me. The benefits of titanium were already mentioned and I have to think that many deteractors of this style of knife have little experience with one done right. A properly executed framelock should not stick when unlocking or have the lock engage further while gripping tight. Carbidizing the lockbar face will dramatically improve the longevity and I have never seen one which was well made wear out. If one was to judge the strength of the lock under real world usage and not destruction testing with bench vises and enormous amounts of weight I think any well made framelock would easily pass muster.

The problem is that there are many poorly made mass produced framelocks (and even more so with linerlocks) and many people have experience solely with those so I understand their reservations. If framelock stying is not your cup of tea I have no problem with that at all but I think it prematurely judgemental to dismiss the mechanics entirely. Another issue is that it does cost more to the end user to get their hands on a good framelock because probably no other lock takes as much fitting by hand.

Mark
 
My favorite knives have titanium framelocks. I think they look the best, other than a nice slip joint. I also like the loud *thwack* you can get when they open. I can cut with any kind of knife, so the only reason I have more than one knife at all is really just cool factor/pocket jewelry/hobby.
I like how titanium wears, and I like its properties; just like all my favorite flashlights have nichia HICRI LEDs, all my favorite knives have titanium framelocks.
I guess I am snobby, if by snobby you mean picky, but no one in my family or workplace cares about knives so I am not getting their approval, and I like lots of things about knives, so I am not snobby about other peoples' preferences.
 
You forgot no fun to grab of when it's really hot or cold out :) Set one down in the sun for a couple minutes in the desert at 115 degrees and pick it back up, you'll only do it once. I have some Ti handle knives I really like and carry/use frequently in the office or the house, but when I'm out in the elements doing field work etc. I gravitate back towards a knife with a textured handle on it that actually provides some grip. Very very few Ti handles provide good grip, especially when wet or with sweaty hands over extended use. Most people use a folding pocket knife very little, they might use it once or twice a day to cut one thing. So for them things like grip, comfort in extended use, etc. don't matter. Knives are becoming like watches, more fashion than function and the knife industry is responding to that.

There's a few advantages to Ti, it's light, and very durable. Also it's efficient in manufacturing, you can build the handle and lock out of one slab, less screws, no scales, no liners etc. etc. I don't know if that offsets the higher cost of the material but it's certainly more efficient, and there's something to be said for less moving parts etc. I'm sure it allows "cleaner" looking designs with less parts.

I think the real popularity of Ti is that customers have a notion that it equals high quality and exclusivity, call it the unobtanium factor. Carbon fiber is exactly the same, no real advantages over G10 (and some significant disadvantages) but it's all the rage because of aesthetics and fashion.

Also Ti handle knives typically mean it's a frame lock, and while it's a perfectly good lock if properly done, it's very hard to do right and even harder to do right mass production. We can barely get by a day here without seeing a new post about a bad frame lock from even the most respected manufacturers.
 
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