How tough are your titanium handles?

Artfully Martial

Artfully Martial

Joined
Jun 8, 2005
Messages
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Been thinking about picking up a 635 miniskirmish for awhile, but I have an old Buck 560C with titanium handles that scratch pretty dang easy. For those of you with titanium handles that EDC, how scratch resistant are they? Of course, 630/635 info is especially helpful.
 
I EDC a few Tia. handled knives. Madd Maxx bowie, USN BM 630 and a Websight Seb. All of the handles show scuffing and rubbing marks from daily carry.
I actually work in a machine shop that machines Tia. daily and I can tell you that it is not a hard metal. It scratches quite easily. It is more of a tough metal than hard metal. If that makes any sense.
The sctacching and scuffing that Tia. gets from EDC does not make the knife any less attractive to me though. I actually notice more marking on the untreated Tia. of my Sebbie than on the other two.
I would get the 635!;) They are great knives and the scuffing on the handles are just love marks. Those handles will out last you and me and still keep on kicking so have at and don't look back.:cool:
 
Well, titanium is tough, don't get me wrong, but I can really abuse G10 and it doesn't look any worse for it...I don't know if I can deal with scratching up a 140 dollar knife....can you maybe post some photos of the scuffing? It would be really helpful

Thanks
 
Keep in mind that depending on the grade of Ti used, hardness can vary. Additionally, I don' t know if every company or maker finishes the surface with a clear hard anodizing. I have been carrying and using a Dozier made Ti Folding Hunter for a few years now, all in the shop, backyard and clubhouse. And it has only suffered minor surface scuffs and hairlines. Not any scratching that can be felt if running a nail across its surface. But if you' re the type that allows your knives to fall onto concrete or let tools drop on them and such, then even Ti with or without the anodized finish won' t prevent mentioned scratches.

N.
 
Nah, it's extraordinarily rare for me to drop a knife, but it will have to put up with jean pockets. My 560C suffers minor scratches from its own sheath.
 
Pictures do not really show up in my photos. Then again, they are not that large and not deep at all.
 
Ti scuffs, period. There is really no way around it, but unless you are looking close you shouldn't be able to see the scuffs.
 
I can't see any scuffs on the photos, so I guess that's a good sign...I guess my 560C is just especially soft...but for such a large knife, it weighs only a feather.

I like the engraving on your sebbie--one of the RARE sebs I like visually.

Thanks guys
 
The handle of the 635 is anodized 6AL4V. If does a good job of resisting scratches if you take care of it.

The most scratch resistant titanium finish I've seen was lightly bead blasted and then heat colored. I EDC'd a Jim Smyth custom with Timascus bolsters finished this way for more than three years. I made a point of putting my keys and change in the same pocket with the knife (it does not have a clip) to test the durability of the finish. The knife also went through the washing machine twice. The bolsters still look great but the wood scales are beat up.
 
I had one of the bucks you are talking about and I have a 630. The buck was old ti. technology and was very soft (I'm not sure it was even hardened) but if you want a large knife with out ti. handles look at the Benchmade 610 Blackwood Ruckus (it has G10 and Micarta)
 
a anodised finish like the 630 will scuff up fairly quickly imho, i edc a ti ATR and its handles are polished ti and after 1 year of carry its still amazingly scuff free somehow or another, but most ti handled knives i have carried (ie BM 630, crawford kasper and perfigo, cuda maxx) scuff and scratch really easy. ti is my fav handle material though,
 
Chuck Bybee said:
I EDC'd a Jim Smyth custom with Timascus bolsters finished this way for more than three years. I made a point of putting my keys and change in the same pocket with the knife (it does not have a clip) to test the durability of the finish. The knife also went through the washing machine twice. The bolsters still look great but the wood scales are beat up.
Click to expand...

Chuck, I have heard of many ways to clean your knife but the washing machine seems kinda harsh to me! :D If you ever want it refurbished and maybe some other type of scale material put on, let me know. I just dont work with wood anymore. ;) CYA in Vegas in a few days!
 
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