titanium vs. steel liners?

[shootist16]

I have read several posts that say titanium liners are superior to stainless liners. Why is this so? Is it truth or perception? I believe a lot of this comes from the belief that titanium is stronger than steel. Correct me if I am wrong but isn't that statement based on strength in direct relation to weight? In other words a piece of titanium is stronger than a piece of steel that weighs the same amount. Also what about wear resistance? I have seen several people say they wish the Benchmade 710 had titanium liners instead of steel. Doesn't the steel provide better wear for the axis lock? Isn't the heavier steel really stronger than the lighter titanium? The only advantage I can see in using titanium is the reduced weight and I have also heard that titanium seems to "stick" better when used as a liner lock.

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Dennis Bible

 

[knifenerd]

Everything I've ever read indicates that Ti tends to "gall" or "stick" better than steel. Its lighter weight makes it desirable in many situations also. Other than that I don't think it makes a bunch of difference. A custom knife designer in my area who has worked with Derrick Monroe says that proper constuction and tolerances are the key and that either material is acceptable.

 

[tw]

In my opinion, the primary advantage to the
use of titanium in knife construction is the
substantial corrosion and chemical resistance
of titanium alloys. Second is the significant
strength-to-weight advantage over stainless -
not a "belief" but quite factual.

The "gall" effect with Ti linerlocks annoys
me more than anything. Proper tolerances and
lock design are the key, and I dislike having
to forcibly dislodge the liner on my BM 875
when closing it...

I personally find a few of the Axis models a
little leaden due to the stainless liners, on
the other hand, I'm quite picky about weight.

T.

 

[shootist16]

I know that a piece of titanium is stronger than a piece of steel that weighs the same, but isn't a piece of steel the same width as a piece of titanium stronger?

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Dennis Bible

 

[Arthur Washburn]

Well being a maker that has used both steel and titanium as liners for liner locking type knives, I will take the Ti any day.
Not due to a strength factor but due to the ease of working the Ti over the steel. Ti used in knifemaking needs no heat treat and can be drilled and tapped as is. It has pleanty of springyness and holds the shape when bent.

Steel on the other hand when in a spring temper state isnt easily drilled and its even harder to tap. I had to spot anneal everwhere I needed a hole so I could dril and tap it. If you work with it soft then you have to heat treat it and deal with scale, warpage ect.

Either material is susuptable to deofromation when abusing the knife as evidenced by my Kershaws (that has steal liners) bent lock from me cutting something improperly.

Titanium is my choice for this reason.

Arthur D. Washburn
ADW Custom Knives
www.adwcustomknives.com

 

[Joe Talmadge]

The biggest complaint I've seen about titanium used as liners is that it's soft and wears quickly. Titanium liners can sometimes march across the blade tang and end up on the far side very quickly.

Steel liners don't have this problem, but they're heavier.

Joe

 

[Roger Blake]

Shootist, Titanium and Steel are roughly equivalent in strength. Steel is stiffer, harder and heavier. The fact that a titanium liner galls is an advantage in that it makes it stickier and thus less prone to slip. It also makes it wear faster as Joe pointed out and harder to disengage.



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Roger Blake