Zirc handle knives almost non-existent ?

K

KJKeyserSoze

Joined
Jun 16, 2019
Messages
25
Hello all,

long time lurker and purchaser on knife exchange. I was wondering why there aren't many full zirc handle knives out there, but full zirc pens, flashlight etc. (heck I'm searching for a full zirc set, you see).

I understand the material is very hard and yet, if not machined and smooth, scratches (easily? ) and also hard to work with as zirc fillings are easily combustible?

Have I got all reason narrowed down already ? Love to learn more.
 
Expensive too, that's a big factor. You'll also see that high-end customs aren't selling quite as well as they used to, so why make something that takes more time and costs more for it not to sell?
 
Over on the Shop Talk subforum, D Daniel Carraher has posted some in-progress shots of pretty cool hidden hardware folders with zirconium on the scales. I don't know if he's made any that were 100% zirconium, but you could probably follow up with him on this.

Daniel Carraher said:
Zirc came in today so started on bolsters
9l5Z1vP.jpg


YvK4oIY.jpg


It always amazed me how fast something can go from looking “meh” to great once cleaned up.
8TQM4Hg.jpg

GuJFhUJ.jpg
Click to expand...
 
Zirc is soft and heavy, which isn't a great combination. You can't really make a frame lock with it, so that eliminates a huge chunk of the folding knife market.
I know Jens Anso does the Casino and Monte Carlo with full Zirc scales, and Brian Tighe has made some customs with zirconium handles.
 
Zirconium has surged in price because it's used in aerospace, medicine, and a dozen other things. It's not a particularly rare element, but turning it from elemental form into metal is pricey. It's interesting enough to Google to see all the stuff we have learned to use it for. Not likely to drop anytime soon since it's not a matter of rarity like some of the rare Earth metals. I think nuclear reactors use it by the ton so there's likely to be a market for it pretty much forever.
 
here is a good hint...

google is now junk & has been since like 2010, ... you want to do all your initial research on wiki:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zirconium

just the facts; your IQ will expand most quickly starting every search there instead of crappy google/bing/yahoo that just wants to sell stuff to you
 
Could do zirc liner lock or inset lock. Won’t work safely for a framelock. Inset lock would pretty cool, especially with mostly hidden hardware
 
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