ugaarguy
Member
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2006
- Messages
- 13,828
In a recent thread another member and I were discussing blade steels to try to help another member better understand the differences in some of the premium / super premium steels. I brought up the soon to be released M390 blade versions of the aluminum handle Kershaw Link and Dividend liner lock folders. I opened that at $80 (current pre-order price at Knife Center) to get a quality a US made folder with that steel, they should make an interesting alternative Spyderco's plastic handled Native 5 LW back lock and Manix 2 LW caged ball bearing lock folders with s110v blades. Those two Spydercos are both US made, and (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) are the lowest cost entries to s110v blade folders at their $130 price point. The other member agreed that the M390 Link and Dividend do indeed look to be excellent values, but he opined that aluminum was not a premium handle material.
However, the standard Benchmade 940 Osborne uses aluminum scales over steel liners. The Microtech Sigil has an aluminum front scale. The ZT 0770 uses aluminum for both sides of its handle, with an inset steel liner lock. Heretic and Brous both use aluminum handles on several of their folders. The Lionsteel SR series uses aluminum monoframes. Given, those higher priced knives I just listed have more complex / detailed machining on their aluminum scales, and they have more complex locks.
So, here are my questions for those who wish to discuss this:
Do you think aluminum is a premium material for knife handles?
Does it depend on the level of machining and quality of finish rather than just if a handle is aluminum or not?
Do you think aluminum is (or can be) a premium handle material in reality, but it's just perceived not to be a premium material?
However, the standard Benchmade 940 Osborne uses aluminum scales over steel liners. The Microtech Sigil has an aluminum front scale. The ZT 0770 uses aluminum for both sides of its handle, with an inset steel liner lock. Heretic and Brous both use aluminum handles on several of their folders. The Lionsteel SR series uses aluminum monoframes. Given, those higher priced knives I just listed have more complex / detailed machining on their aluminum scales, and they have more complex locks.
So, here are my questions for those who wish to discuss this:
Do you think aluminum is a premium material for knife handles?
Does it depend on the level of machining and quality of finish rather than just if a handle is aluminum or not?
Do you think aluminum is (or can be) a premium handle material in reality, but it's just perceived not to be a premium material?