What do you think about 'the Titanium' as material for knife?

raidops · Jun 24, 2006

Hi everyone. I'm new here so glad to meet you . And enjoy you and me a good hobby life here at bladeforum.

I'm knifemaker, So over the short haul I plan to register as knifemaker this forum.
I'd like to know your opinions about the titanium as material for making knife. As I know the material is non stain, very light the weight and as for alloy(Ti-6AL-4V) It deserves some hardness. but I think it's too soft to maintenance the edge and somewhat expensive

What I want know is like these;

1) is it suitable for material of knife?
2) Then why isn't the titunium knife plenty?
3) What is the factor filled up as a knife material to titanium?

I have some titunium stuffs (rings, batons for defense). and they finished for heat-treatment to HRC 47. I personally think the HRC should not be less than HRC 50 to be a knife. what's your opinion?
Thank you!

T.K.C. · Jun 24, 2006

I happen to be a huge titanium fan!! I have several knives that utilize Titanium, and I used too have an ALL titaium knife as well. It is great stuff. I have 2 Rick Hinderer knives that are titanium framelocks (my favorite.), 2 Chris Reeves Sebenzas, a Mnandi, and Umfaan. I LOVE titanium. I like very much that it is being used too by knife makers.

Nimravus Nut · Jun 24, 2006

Titanium is really too soft for making daily use knives. People who is not an mine dismantler will not have much use with it. The metal is highly corrosion resistant but I think 420J2 will beat it's hardness for salt water use, not to mention 420 steel is cheap. I really think that the majority of the knife users will still opt for the traditional steel.

T.K.C. · Jun 24, 2006

I think titanium will beat most anything for corrosion resistance in a salt water environment. If my memory serves me correctly.

Cobalt · Jun 24, 2006

6al-4v is ok but not for serious use. You want Beta Ti blade for that. The composition will be - 13V-11Cr-3AI and can be HT'd to about an Rc of 47. For Ti that is about as hard as it gets. Extremely tough stuff. If I am not mistaken, Mission knives is the only company using this stuff.

Death's Head · Jun 24, 2006

Awesome as handles. Not so much for blades. It is my favorite handle material.

robertmegar · Jun 24, 2006

I have yet to see a Titanium blade with edge retention similar to regular production knives. However, I have not used MISSION Beta Titanium... can someone explain the edge retention of Beta Ti?

Walking Man · Jun 24, 2006

Titanium, and possible talonite may be obsolete due to new steel like the ones spyderco and Boker are using.

Joshua J. · Jun 24, 2006

Since you can get good edge retention with H-1 steel there isnt much reason for a Ti bladed knife anymore.

GarageBoy · Jun 24, 2006

Ti handled Salt, anyone?
Ti makes great magnetic mine probes..how about H1?

Cliff Stamp · Jun 24, 2006

Joshua J. said:
Since you can get good edge retention with H-1 steel there isnt much reason for a Ti bladed knife anymore.

Impact toughness and ductility are extremely high for Beta-Ti. You can actually cold work it with a hammer, and you basically have to tear it apart.

-Cliff

Cobalt · Jun 24, 2006

Actually, from my recollection of using Mission Titanium knives aout 7 years ago, I remember their Ti blade being able to hold an edge about as good as 440A from Sog. Considering the toughness of Ti, that is not bad. It was actually wierd because it would almost get sharper after a little use.

My only complaint was that it was too light for chopping.

stevekt · Jun 24, 2006

What are titanium's advantages over steel (or other metals, aluminum, brass etc.) for things such as liners, bolsters, handles, framelocks, pocket clips, and screws?

Simon Yu · Jun 24, 2006

Cobalt said:
My only complaint was that it was too light for chopping.

Not an insignificant complaint. The mass of a blade plays a role in tasks involving chopping and slashing and there the lighter mass of Ti can be a disadvantage. Which is why the titanium sword seen in the Blade movies would be a pretty poor weapon in RL.

What are titanium's advantages over steel (or other metals, aluminum, brass etc.) for things such as liners, bolsters, handles, framelocks, pocket clips, and screws?

Weight, weight, weight, weight, weight, and weight respectively. It's a durable material, but so are a lot of other materials used in knives. And there's also the important aesthetic reasons. The gray color Ti often has is attractive to a lot of people, especially when placed in contrast with a darker material like carbon fiber. Plus, it can be annodized to achieve colors you don't get with other metals. Metallic blue handles can be very eye catching.

Cliff Stamp · Jun 24, 2006

Cobalt said:
My only complaint was that it was too light for chopping.

I think this could be an advantage with the right geometry, just don't make it like a steel knife. Consider for example having a ten inch blade with the handling ability of a seven inch blade but more reach.

-Cliff

Walking Man · Jun 24, 2006

stevekt said:
What are titanium's advantages over steel (or other metals, aluminum, brass etc.) for things such as liners, bolsters, handles, framelocks, pocket clips, and screws?

One of the biggest advantages (I'm not expert, so back me up, someone!) is that it has an excellent spring memory, meaning that you can bend it and it will bend back time after time making it ideal for framelocks, linerlocks, and even eyeglass frames.

Cliff Stamp · Jun 24, 2006

robertmegar said:
can someone explain the edge retention of Beta Ti?

http://www.physics.mun.ca/~sstamp/knives/blade_materials.html#betati

The biggest problems I saw with it was that it didn't tend to have the same slicing aggression with coarse finishes and it really gums up ceramic hones. Mission however does an excellent job on the serrations and they both slice well and for an exceptionally long time. However watch using them around very hard materials. I did some cuts into steel reinforced rubber and it basically filed the serrations right off the blade.

-Cliff

Cobalt · Jun 24, 2006

Walking Man said:
One of the biggest advantages (I'm not expert, so back me up, someone!) is that it has an excellent spring memory, meaning that you can bend it and it will bend back time after time making it ideal for framelocks, linerlocks, and even eyeglass frames.

Well, it does spring back to some extent, more so than steel, but is not considerable. Scratches also seem to dissapear over time on the surface if it is bead blasted. But it isn't until you start adding Nickel to it, that it becomes a real memory alloy. But then it looses it's cutting edge and lateral strength.

raidops · Jun 25, 2006

Oh! What you explained are very useful to me and the knowledge levels are so high for me not to understand all of them. Thank a lot. They would be a very valuable knowledge. Beta Ti... I will pursue it, and at the same time H-1 steel.

Cobalt · Jun 25, 2006

raidops said:
Oh! What you explained are very useful to me and the knowledge levels are so high for me not to understand all of them. Thank a lot. They would be a very valuable knowledge. Beta Ti... I will pursue it, and at the same time H-1 steel.

also, there is no reason to differentially heat treat Beta Ti. Whn HT'd they can thru HT it to 47 and it will be very stiff. Any company that provides hi-tec mtrls will provide this stuff and it is costly.