Titanium framelocks - are they used to much in todays knifeindustry?

Ti frame lock. I didn’t buy this as my first Ti frame lock though I coveted the heck out of the thing and thought it was so cool and modern that I simply had to have it . . . someday
because
I couldn’t bring my self, intellectually, to buy a knife with Ti handles that I was arguing to be the ultimately strong handles for a work knife and at the same time buy one with a “vulnerable” ceramic blade that was more oriented toward gentleman’s EDC
or
a master of knife handling :
“Grasshopper, when you can cut your way out of this gauntlet of imprisonment and death with this Zircon bladed pocket knife . . . THEN . . . it will be time for you to leave the temple and go back into the world”.

New “nonEDC”. I need to make that perfectly clear due to a conflict of interest in another thread.

First off remember the DLC blade coating that I was all excited about because it was supposed to reduce friction in the cut ? Then running the end of my thumb nail hard against the side I could feel very significant drag; more than what a regular uncoated blade has.

Eureka ! The polished Zircon ? ? ? ? (says Zr02 on blade) near the spine of this blade is like running my thumb nail hard against greeezzzed ice ! Oh YAH ! (there is drag in the hollow ground area but only on non rigid stuff like when cutting lettuce etc.)

The edge is polished from the maker as well and is decently sharp. The last ceramic knife I bought, a white bladed neck knife was a joke in the sharpness department though billed as “Ten Times Sharper” than something or other.

I realize this knife may have its vulnerable, questionable . . . even flawed areas . . .
but
It REALY does it for me in MANY respects. Blade thickness 0.1 inch (2.5mm) (I won’t have to grind it thinner). Interesting the “weak” blade has a thinner blade than the super steel blades of similar ilk. There are many things in this world I don’t understand. Cripe it even has a low ride Ti pocket clip.

I finally couldn’t help my self . . . the temptation is strong and the flesh is weak.

Gives me a another “project” : get a paper wheel(s) for my grinder and learn to sharpen ceramic right. I can’t wait !

PS: the online review said the should loose the lanyard hole so it could be shorter and lighter and that the handle was a bit large for the blade. I totally disagree; see how it fits in my palm; I don’t need the lanyard hole but I WANT the handle length. Perfection there and part of the reason I bought this knife; the ratio of blade length 3-1/4 inch to full size handle length. I wouldn’t change this.









 
wowbagger: I think that perhaps you have a ceramic blade. And that IS a liner lock, NOT a frame lock.
 
Dear, dear T.K.C.,

wowbagger: I think that perhaps you have a ceramic blade.
Click to expand...

Yeeeeeessssss . . . a zirconium ceramic blade.

Zirconium oxide (ZrO2)[edit]
Very hard and strong, but expensive. Used by Böker

wowbagger : . . . And that IS a liner lock, NOT a frame lock.
Click to expand...

Oh really O'Reilly. Well you guys have certainly educated me right. If only I can remember it all and keep it straight. I think in this case I got it right . . . unless the manufacturer got it wrong as well but as WE understand it if the spring / lock is part of the scale an not an extra metal liner under the scale then I think what we have spotted here is a frame lock. Since . . . this was the tip off for me . . . there is no liner.

The handle is made of lightweight, durable, corrosion resistant titanium, and features an integral frame lock mechanism.
Click to expand...

Thanks for watching over me though; I do tend to get all excited and make mistakes.
 
I've never been a big fan of G10/TiFramelocks because one side you usually have a soulless looking hunk of metal and the other being a cheap looking/feeling plastic. Unfortunately, when the lockbar is worn out, you have to replace a substantial part of the knife. That said, I like how Microtech does their sub frame locks.
 
I wouldn't say the TI frame lock is overused as much as it is just really, really popular.

Myself, I love them. While the ZT 909 may be my favorite ZT, I find the G10 scales great for hard use but a pain to fish in and out of my pocket as it grips so well.

My 454, 630, and 450 are easier on the draw as the smooth TI is slick against my pocket seam.

While not the most artistic or bold material to build a knife out of, TI is a logical choice. Using a steel insert at the lock up makes sense. It wears better than TI and it's more cost effective to replace should you ever manage to wear it out.
 
My buddy's Benchmade Pinnacle began my interest in the framelock several years ago. I now have an XM18 flipper spanto, a Bradley Alias 1 and two CRK Umnums. But still no Pinnacle. I have never had an issue with the locks sticking, break in period, lock rock, etc. To be fair though, only the XM18 was bought new, so maybe the previous owners of the other knives took care of the problems before selling them to me. After 4 years of daily carry/use, the XM18's lock has wore approximately 1/32" using my calibrated eyeball. Seriously though it hasn't moved much at all, and everyone who has looked at it in the last 4 years has to flip it about 100 times before they give it back. The flipping action isn't anything super, but it does what it is supposed to do. I can easily open it with gloves on, right or left handed, with no problem.

I have read several threads about lock rock, lock stick etc. and would definitely be upset to spend that kind of money and then have a problem when my Buck 110 has been solid as a rock for 10 years and countless field dressings. I shouldn't spend $300+ dollars on a knife and then almost expect that I will have to send it right back to the manufacturer for some type of special tune up. That is one of the reasons, among others, I can't make myself buy a certain brand of knife.

So anyway, I like framelocks. But I still use my Old Timer and Leatherman Wave more than all of my other knives combined. Seriously.
 
I like framelocks too. I usually have a triad in the back pocket though.
 
Framelock--easy to make, no patent infringement, works well enough, works well with flippers, no need to design, develop, and patent a new lock.

Sent via pony express
 
Sooooo, I put the trusty XM in pocket this morning and find one of the screws has fallen out of the pocket clip. Nothing really to do with the framelock design but since I had spoken, less than 24 hours ago, about how trouble free it has been, I would be remiss in not posting this new development. I e-mailed Hinderer and simply stated "One of the pocket clip screws has fallen out of my 3.5" XM18. What do I need to do to get another one?"

I didn't state anything about what I do for a living, how old the knife is, or that I was writing about it on a knife forum. I'll post back with the results and how long it takes. I suspect it won't be any problem getting a replacement given the reputation and price of the knife but you never know.
 
Update, before 9AM Rob had returned my email, I gave him my address and he said they would have some spairs en route. Everything's on them. Granted, they probably have a bin full of screws and shipping can't be much but it's nice they took care of it so quick. I'm not a fan boy or anything, I just wanted to post about how they handled a minor, real world problem.
 
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