how is the lock placement on y'alls. mine sits on the other side scale via the detent ball. anyone else's like this?
i like the current grind, but would also like a flat ground version, but we can't have everything.
A little unclear from your description...can't picture what you mean.
The bend in the lock makes it hard to give a figure for lockup percentage, On all of mine the bend itself is pretty well over to the other side when locked, say about 80-85% maybe.... but it seems this gives the knurled flat a good lie all the way across the blade face which I like--it's whole surface engages the blade which seems a much stronger and stable lock to me. A bit of the knurled flat remains in non-contact with the blade on the left as you look at it...room for future wear I guess.
In fact, even if the bend were at 100% it would still give the knurled panel full contact all the way across the blade. This configuration seems like a very secure lockup to me, probably the idea of its unique design which is supposedly pending patent. Also, the bend has to add a lot of strength vs. a traditional linerlock setup.
In short, the Ti-Lite lockup is difficult to describe in % numbers due to its design. I feel very confident with all of mine. Seems very strong with all the contact across the blade face--moreso than with other "traditional" linerlock designs.
I have both Ti-Lites in XHP and another 4" in AUS 8 as a 'beater.' The AUS 8 has held up just as well as the others so far. I like the factory grind as it's part of the whole bayonet stiletto style I find attractive in the first place. Never had a problem with its cutting ability.
As a couple of the posts above reflect, they're also the knives I am most careful with out of all of my collection--I'd hate to slip with one as it would be nasty piece of work for stabbing. The XHP's are also the sharpest out-of-the-box knives I've ever purchased.
I was late getting into the Ti-Lites but they are among my most carried knives now. I really like the style and had eyed them for a long time before finally purchasing one. I was caught up in the "must be a cheap knife"/ "Cold Steel is second rate" thing.
Boy was I wrong.
While I like the factory grind, I DO wish they had a lanyard hole. But I understand keeping with the traditional styling of the Italians.
EDIT: I also wish they would come out with satin or polished blades for these, but,
C'est la guerre.....
! Some of these old cold steel aus8 knives perform as well as vg10 and are even easier to get it sharp.My recon1 in aus8 also performs the same, no noticeable difference with my endura in vg10!Cant wait to try cts bd1 voyager and some of cts-xhp folders!