What is so great about titanium frame locks?

The 7075 that CS uses scratches and mars way too easily. Titanium will not do this.
On my CS knives using this metal, I take them apart and uses scotchbrite to dull take the luster off the aluminum. It does not show scratches as handily once done.

Speaking of cool things made of titanium, way back in the early 90's I bought two pairs of Oakley E-Wire sunglasses. One made of aluminum, the other titanium. I still have these shades to this day and both are in excellent shape. Who'da thunk it, sunglasses with titanium frames. Below are some pictures courtesy of a vintage sunglass site. Though not mine, they are identical. I did not pay $325 for them in 93, think it was around $240. It's nice to see a company keeping old sunglasses alive and well.

http://www.vintagesunglassesshop.com/item_vs1015.html
 
Last edited:
cbxer55 said:
The 7075 that CS uses scratches and mars way too easily. Titanium will not do this.
On my CS knives using this metal, I take them apart and uses scotchbrite to dull take the lusted off the aluminum. It does not show scratches as handily once done.

Speaking of cool things made of titanium, way back in the early 90's I bought two pairs of Oakley E-Wire sunglasses. One made of aluminum, the other titanium. I still have these shades to this day and both are in excellent shape. Who'da thunk it, sunglasses with titanium frames. Below are some pictures courtesy of a vintage sunglass site. Though not mine, they are identical. I did not pay $325 for them in 93, think it was around $240. It's nice to see a company keeping old sunglasses alive and well.

http://www.vintagesunglassesshop.com/item_vs1015.html
Click to expand...

I don't mind the scratches on my Espada, I think it makes it look cooler. That's a personal preference thing, I suppose.
 
cbxer55 said:
Speaking of cool things made of titanium, way back in the early 90's I bought two pairs of Oakley E-Wire sunglasses. One made of aluminum, the other titanium. I still have these shades to this day and both are in excellent shape. Who'da thunk it, sunglasses with titanium frames. Below are some pictures courtesy of a vintage sunglass site. Though not mine, they are identical. I did not pay $325 for them in 93, think it was around $240. It's nice to see a company keeping old sunglasses alive and well.
Click to expand...

Ti is cool stuff, and the neatness factor of the material adds something to a nice knife, but to my mind, I won't go out of my way to buy a knife with it. I'm kind of indifferent about the whole "Titanium materials in knives" thing. It's anti-corrosion properties make it ideal for some applications, and it's anti-magnetic properties serve well in applications where magnetism would be bad - like some EOD jobs. It has other uses, for sure: I've read where it actually makes a pretty good material for hammers, but I'm not dropping $80-$200. on a hammer any time soon.

About twenty years ago, I contacted Teledyne-Wah Chang in Oregon, and asked for samples for a friend of mine studying materials for medical uses. They sent me a box of various metal chips and samples (Niobium, Zirconium, Unobtainium . . . okay, just kidding on that last one) and the samples were some of the coolest things I'd seen. Some of these things anodize and heat-treat to some amazing color tones & patterns, even more interesting than Ti anodizing. I've still got some of what my friend didn't need.

That being said, I'm surprised there aren't a lot of other more exotic materials used in knives these days. Ti is cool, but in my experience, it hasn't performed any better in regular use than similar knives with the same components in steel.

~Chris
 
Oh yeah, and titanium is the bacon of the knife world.
It makes everything better. :)
 
Kwon Kwang said:
How does titanium feel better?
Click to expand...

Grab a titanium handled knife, and then grab an aluminum handled knife.
Then grab a steel handled knife.
Each metal has a different feel in the hand to it, including how it transmits heat or cold.
I like titanium best.
 
stabman said:
Oh yeah, and titanium is the bacon of the knife world.
It makes everything better. :)
Click to expand...

I concur. I may just have to put that in my sig line:thumbup:

Titanium just makes everything better. Ti is still not as soft as Al, so it takes light scratches, not deep gouges. Also, Al oxidizes quickly, whereas Ti does not. I will avoid buying Al knives at all costs. It sucks, because some knives I really want (like microtech's) are Al. If the production models were made from Ti, I would be an avid collector.
 
onespdfrk said:
I will avoid buying Al knives at all costs.
Click to expand...

I generally do as well.
But I just really wanted that damn Espada for some reason.
The aluminum still irks me a tad though. I like just about everything else about it though.
 
stabman said:
Grab a titanium handled knife, and then grab an aluminum handled knife.
Then grab a steel handled knife.
Each metal has a different feel in the hand to it, including how it transmits heat or cold.
I like titanium best.
Click to expand...

I've never handled a knife with a Ti grip, although I have steel and aluminum handled knives. I think it's a personal preference thing. I really love the way my Espada feels, but I also love the way my Mackinac Hunter feels. They're just different, and I'll carry the one I feel like when I get up in the morning.
 
stabman said:
Oh yeah, and titanium is the bacon of the knife world.
It makes everything better. :)
Click to expand...

I disagree with you about Ti making everything better. A Ti pivot screw doesn't sound like a good idea.
More importantly, you are doing a disservice to bacon. Bacon is awesome by itself. A strip of Ti fried like bacon, not so much. I do see what you are trying to say but be more careful about dishonoring bacon.
 
Squashfan said:
A Ti pivot screw doesn't sound like a good idea.
Click to expand...

Well, call me sick & wrong, but a big beefy Ti pivot screw kind of turns me on..... Put it on a slick Ti frame lock (like a shirogorov or a bodega) with some 3d milled carbon fiber inlays & I might wet myself!

Seriously, anywhere weight is important (mostly racing or aerospace), Ti fasteners are actually pretty common. That just cost more (a lot more)....
 
Definitely takes some really cool treatments...

iphonetest15479.jpg
 
I bought a Buck Titanium 186 back in the 80s not for the cool factor but because I was an industrial mechanic working in the chemical industry back then and the chemicals used to wreak havoc on my Buck 110

004-11.jpg


005-8.jpg


006-8.jpg


007-8.jpg


009-12.jpg


010-5.jpg


As a testament to hire soft it is, I used it to hold a pistol target to a tree and shot it with a Daisy CO2 pistol from about 40 feet and the bb but the corner of the handle and left a divot/ding.

008-11.jpg


As far as framelocks go, so long as they're designed well and executed with precise tolerances they are strong.
 
stabman said:
Ah, but only if cooked. ;)
Bacon, like titanium, needs something done to it to unlock its awesome qualities.
Click to expand...

I will concede that you have me there. In my opinion, Ti is a personal preference. Personally, I am not a fan of Ti though. I don't need any of the special properties it possesses and so Ti only serves to make a knife more expensive to me. I also don't care for framelocks. I have had problems with laying my fingers on the lock bar and, consequently, the knife is hard to open.
 
I have titanium alloy sunglasses, their neat but the cool factor wears off eventually. I would rather take whatever suits the job the best instead of going for titanium right away. But for several people there is a bling factor for anything titanium.
 
I don't like carrying a heavy wristwatch, titanium is ideal for that, so light you almost don't feel it on your wrist.
And it feels warmer to the touch than steel IMHO.

As for knives, the only Ti framelock I have is my DPX Hest, and the titanium lockside is very nicely made, with radiused corners and a great stonewash finish.
Again, it feels nice to the touch and looks great too.
 
Honestly, titanium is mostly for flash. The weight saving aren't really significant, the strength gains are minor, and the price increase is high over a steel frame lock. For some reason (don't ask me) people love how titanium mars, but I hold that as a testament to how soft the metal is. I would rather my knife be a hair heavier and a bit cheaper than be light, ugly, and expensive. Titanium also doesn't polish well, compared to steel (just like aluminum).

As much as people like to praise titanium, it doesn't hold much over steel. It isn't bad, but in order to take full advantage of the strengths of titanium, you would have to put a folder through stuff it just wasn't meant to do. One excellent thing about it, though, is that is has superb springiness (I don't know what the proper term is), and you have to almost break a titanium lockbar for it to not spring right back to where it was, unless you heat it. Steel can usually be adjusted by hand.
 
dkb45 said:
Honestly, titanium is mostly for flash.
Click to expand...

Really? despite titanium being duller and less bright than steel and harder to bring to a mirrored polish?.....right.

Nothing to do with -

Titanium being more inert and highly corrosion resistant, quite important for frame locks with all the palm contact.
Having a high tensile strength & toughness,
A far higher strength to weight ratio than steel,
Having a warmer feel due to the lower thermal conductivity,
Ease of anodising.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top