Titanium vs. aluminium

[CWL]

The same is true of aluminum, though, so those attributes are really more of a factor if one is comparing titanium to steel (although even there, I think titanium's lighter weight is the main reason it's preferred over steel for large parts like handles/scales).

Hold on, aluminum does and will oxidize, it just doesn't "rust" like steel nor as quickly.

 

[me2]

Hold on, aluminum does and will oxidize, it just doesn't "rust" like steel nor as quickly.

Yep, pretty much any metal will corrode if given the chance. Some take a lot of effort, but it can be done. Titanium will corrode, if you give it the opportunity.

On the "feel" of the different metals, I don't like the feel of titanium. I have a wedding band and had a couple ti handled knives and cant stand the way they feel. I traded for a different band, and sold the ti handled knives. Now, granted I don't have any Al handled ones either.

 

[ibute21]

My Kershaw RAM feels real nice and light. Lighter than titanium for sure, though bead blasted titanium just feels nicer than hard anodized aluminum. I suppose there's also something nice about feeling the bare metal itself under your fingers rather than an oxide coating. Other than that, I see no practical reason why aluminum shouldn't be used in knives. I feel the Benchmade 943 and Hogue folders are the best example of this.

Try working with metal handles in the cold I prefer G10 handles but I have a variety of different handled knives.

 

[Joshua J.]

The difference between Steel and Aluminum is that Iron oxide is really big and allows more oxygen to pass through and keep eating the material underneath. Aluminum oxide is too small and the layer of Aluminum "rust" protects the metal underneath. Titanium is the same way. With "stainless" steel you stuff it so full of chromium that the chromium oxidizes before the iron can, giving you a similar protective layer.

 

[OrdnanceBubbaUSMC]

The most common alloy of titanium is 6Al4V. 6% aluminum, 4% vanadium. The inclusion of aluminum is not a cost-reducing measure, but rather it makes in much stronger than pure titanium. No titanium is cheap because the process of extracting/refining it from natural ores is expensive.

Has to make you wonder though with the average ti frame-lock being $200 on up, how Boker can have folders with titanium handles selling for $40...and I know at least 10 years ago you could find custom makers selling titanium neck knives for $50-80. Is it just "If they are willing to pay it then we'll sure as hell charge it..."

 

[rangerover_95]

My Rockstead has Duraluminum handles, a copper/aluminum alloy which is reportedly extremely tough.... Does anyone here know the difference?

 

[me2]

As with steels, alloying makes all the difference. Some aluminum alloys are stronger than many steels, not just for weight, but overall. Aluminum has other issues though. It depends on how much of each is present whether its an Al alloy with copper or a Cu alloy with aluminum.

 

[P1GEONPOO]

Correct me if I'm wrong I believe Lion steel makes a version of their STR Frame lock in aluminum but I think the tip of the lock bar, the contact surface is replaceable should it wear, oh and D2 steel or equivalent.

So not a bad choice if you want an aluminum framelock. I think those lion steels are beautiful, I prefer the alias in for it's finer tip, but man do those LS have belly on them for slicing.

Both SR1's (ti&al) have a replaceable steel insert on their lockbars.

 

[Cynic2701]

Has to make you wonder though with the average ti frame-lock being $200 on up, how Boker can have folders with titanium handles selling for $40...and I know at least 10 years ago you could find custom makers selling titanium neck knives for $50-80. Is it just "If they are willing to pay it then we'll sure as hell charge it..."

Titanium as a raw material is expensive, but not so much that it becomes a significant percentage of $200+ knives. Benchmade's Nagara could be had for ~$40 a couple of years back, and that had titanium slabs but not a titanium lock. Even Boker's titanium framelock has a fairly high MSRP.

Kind of like S30V. It's cost isn't that much higher than other steels like 154CM or D2, but the cost to machine and manufacturer it is significantly higher.

 

[evert67]

Wow, thanks to all the helpful and detailed replies. I love this forum! Someone mentioned anodising in their reply. What benefits (if any) are conferred upon the metals from anodising? If anodising is useful, why is it that the handles are not anodised in every instance? Is it a question of cost?

Nearly any metal can oxidize. So can titanium, aluminium and, yes, even stainless steel. Anodizing is simply the (electrolytic) process that increases the natural oxide layer on the surface. As Joshua wrote, aluminium oxide actually protects the underlying metal, since it doesn't allow oxygen to pass through and reach that metal. It acts as a film. This is not true for most steels, which is why we don't like rust.

So anodising aluminium and titanium (and some other metals) actually increases their corrosion resistance. It also increases wear restance. Aluminium is sometimes anodized in order to allow it to be painted more easily (the paint holds much better). And you can buy pans where the anodised aluminium serves as a non-stick layer. You can clean these pans with a steel brush, something you shouldn't try on Teflon.

And if you've ever seen a Chris Reeve Sebenza with colorful graphics: that's been done by anodizing titanium. No paint involved.

 

[crom]

Kershaw is now producing an Aluminum framelock with a removeable steel locking bar. Best of both worlds. I can't tell a difference between Al and Ti in hand, that's kind of ridiculous. They both mark up pretty easily, I haven't found that Ti resists dings any better than aluminum, maybe a bit better.

edit: the Kershaw knife is called the Knockout

 

[tiguy7]

I have anodized and plain Ti and Al handles. The anodized handles are much more resistant to scratching. I have some Benchmade 943s in Ti, Al, and Carbon fiber. They weigh 92gm, 82gm, and 72gm respectively. The Ti versions would weigh more, but they have an open frame.