BladeScout - I didn't know that; however, aside from non-magnetic and corrosion resistance, most evidence points to one of two options for titanium blades:
- sharp, but not durable
- not very sharp, but durable
A tool, not a weapon.
If it were the best option I have to believe every maker would use it. However, it seems rather limited in production knife blades.
I understood as much (that you werent aware of the MISSION titanium range).
- sharp, but not durable
- not very sharp, but durable
Durable, but not durable!?
Sort of the point of titanium and the epitome of the MISSION blades; that they are supposed to work as a very strong tool for guys who who needs a light weight tool which is impervious to the elements and which will work for EOD work (amongst other tasks)..., as can be gleaned from the knife site.
Advantages as per the MISSION site:
Corrosion Resistance Missions titanium is corrosion proof in all naturally occurring environments. The MPK12-Ti knife was soaked in seawater for over four years without a hint of corrosion. We clean these blades in concentrated Hydrochloric acid.
Weight Missions titanium is 40%-50% lighter than steel.
Heat and Cold Stability Missions titanium is 800 degrees F more thermally stable than steel. Its thermal range is from -100 to over + 700 degrees F. It will not break in subzero weather; whereas, steel can shatter at -65 degrees F and ceramics are brittle at room temperatures.
Wear/Abrasion Resistance Missions titanium is a self-healing metal that forms a titanium oxide ceramic skin over itself when scratched and has 5 times the abrasion resistance of steel. This gives it the ability retain an edge and resist being eroded by contact with outside materials such as dirt, sand, ice, mud, nylon webbing, rope, etc.
Superior Ductility (Percent Elongation) - The deformation that results from the application of a tensile force, and is calculated as the change in length divided by the original length. This is usually measured over a 5cm gauge length. The higher the number the better the ductility. The Navy Seals have been unable to break the titanium MPK12-Ti in almost twenty years of service. This is due to the 12% elongation, coupled with toughness and flexibility under load. It is the alloy of choice for jet landing gear.
Toughness Missions titanium is tough at both high and low temperatures. Toughness is the relative resistance of the metal to breaking, cracking or chipping under impact or stress. Think of it as the opposite of brittleness. It should be noted that toughness and wear resistance are inversely proportional.
Flexibility Missions titanium may be flexed or bowed repeatedly without undergoing rupture. It has 1/2 of the modulus of steel; therefore, it will bend at least twice as far before breaking.
Non-Poisonous Missions titanium is non-poisonous and biologically inert. It is used as human replacement joints.
Strength-to-Weight Ratio Missions titanium has superior strength-to-weight ratios when compared to either steel or ceramic. It is the alloy of choice for aircraft.
Non Magnetic Missions titanium is magnetically inert, and is used by the Navy Seals and Explosive Ordinance Disposal units (EOD) to defuse magnetically triggered mines.
....but the above company selling points and that its a tool for amongst other tasks, underwater EOD work, you could have read on the company website yourself
If it were the best option I have to believe every maker would use it.
No. Most knifemakers cant work the right grade of ti. Titanium is not just titanium. There are different grades. When ever a ti knife comes along on the forums, it most often wont be BETA ti.
I have no problem per se with the stories floating around the web, that titanium is useless as a material for a working knife, thats its difficult to sharpen and that it wont hold an edge.
So many people believe this and stories about how awful titanium knives are, have been repeated so many times, that a huge amount of people firmly believe it is so.
There are reasons for that.
Ti knives became a fad at some point.
Loads of knifemakers make some kind of titanium knife or other.
Very few (if any company other than MISSION) make their knives out of BETA ti.
BETA ti is extremely hard to work and few knifemakers are able to work it.
Its expensive to make knives out of BETA ti.
MISSION ti knives are out of BETA ti.
The supposedly atrocious capabilities of ti are now firmly believed.
Many of those believing the stories about ti have never handled a ti knife for extended periods let alone a BETA ti knife.
Many wont even take on a ti knife because of the above mentioned stories.
I have used BETA ti knives for different tasks through the years and they remain some of my favourite knives.
While a ti knife (BETA or not) will never be able to compete in the sharpness department with the keenest of steel knives, I have NO problem what so ever with achieving a working edge on my MISSION knives. My ti knives are just as easy to sharpen as my steel knives are (I use a dimond sharpener).
Ive used/use MISSION knives as camp knives, skinning knives, utility and kayaking knives.
I like that they are light weight when hiking. Put the knife in your pack or belt and forget about it until you need it.
They are very strong - at least as strong as steel, but with less weight.
My camp knife is incredibly strong. How strong is it? Well, here is one of those destruction tests, which doesnt really say anything about how I use my knives (I certainly dont use them like that, but it is confidence inspiring, that the tool you bring along is virtually indestructable).
Anyway, I must point out, that the video is made by someone with a vested interest in selling the knife. How ever, that doesnt detract an iota from how capable the knife is in the test. The knife can no doubt withstand exactly that amount of abuse (again, how much use that is for the ordinary knife owner is up to the indivudual to deceide):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNoGucy0tws
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCqN7Fq6fYE
(MODS; I posted the vids for ti demonstration purposes, but I realize they might be on the line - delete at your leisure. Anybody can go to their favourite video host and punch in 'Mission Knives MPK-10 Ti Demo part II,' is vid links are deleted).
The ti knives are impervious to the elements - a huge advantage when hiking/hunting for extended periods of time and for kayaking in salt water, ti is an obvious advantage. Ive used several different SS knives for kayaking and they all developed some kind of rust even with rinsing and oiling after each use.
SS will eventually rust around salt water.
The ti knives just sits in my rig and only gets rinsed Down with the gear (vest etc.). They'll never rust.
My ti skinning knife will zip through several deer in one session with no noticable loss of edge to slow down skinning in any way.
Ive used several models of the MISSION knives for skinning.
BETA titanium knives work just fine....for me
Sorry for going on and on about these, but if there was any doubt, Im partial to these knives, so dont take my word for it - go use one for yourself and make up your own mind
Ti knives
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