Chris Reeve Ti-Lock review
Mar 15, 2014 17:43:23 GMT
Post by LG Martial Arts on Mar 15, 2014 17:43:23 GMT
Introduction
Ever since I can remember, knives, swords, and guns have caught my attention. My grandfather used to peel oranges and apples with his pocketknife (which was cool since he was born with only one arm!), and would show us how to be safe around any kind of weapon, be it knife, or gun. The first real knife I can remember having (early-mid 80’s) was a Gerber Mark 1 dagger given to me by one of my uncles after he served one tour during the 80’s in the Army. Unfortunately, that dagger was lost during a move.
Enough about me, let’s get to the knife review!
**Warning! Pic heavy!**
Overview
“The Ti-Lock is a design collaboration with Grant and Gavin Hawk that everyone said couldn’t be done. In early 2010, the Hawks showed Chris [Reeve] the concept of a new locking mechanism—one that Chris felt he could engineer and Chris Reeve Knives could manufacture. It was a lack of capacity not a lack of desire that has precluded Chris Reeve Knives from producing this or other Hawk Designs…” The locking mechanism usually found on the handle has been paced in the spine of the blade where you would normally find a thumb stud. The Ti-lock is fully ambidextrous and can be worked by using your right or left hand.
Full Disclosure
A friend of mine from overseas asked me to purchase this knife for him since it would have been a PITA to buy it himself/have it shipped. Long story short, I ordered it and got it at full price from Knives Ship Free. I was not compensated by Knives Ship Free or my friend to do this or any other reviews. My friend gave me full permission to handle the knife and do a review before shipping it to him, except I opted not to do any cutting with it since it’s not mine.
Initial Impressions
The knife was packaged in a nondescript white box with Chris Reeve’s name on the top, which didn’t make it stand out. But once opening the box, I noticed a blue micro cloth rag with the Chris Reeve logo on it, and wrapped in it was the Ti-Lock knife. Wow! What a knife! It looked a little smaller than I had imagined it and from reading descriptions online, but man, was it nice to behold!
Statistics (from Knives Ship Free and Chris Reeve Knives)
Brand: Chris Reeve
Country of Origin: USA
Model: Ti-Lock
Source: Knives Ship Free
Overall Length: 7.19"
Blade Material: CPM-S35VN Powder Steel (Stainless)
Blade Length: 3.25"
Blade Thickness: 0.125"
Blade Type: Drop Point
Blade Hardness: 58-59HRC
Weight: 3.00 oz.
Handle Material: 6AL4V Titanium
Handle Thickness: 0.125"
Lock/Thumb Lugs: Silicon Bronze
Locking Mechanism: Proprietary Titanium Strap Lock technology.
Pocket Clip: 6Al4V Titanium
Sheath: None
General performance:
I cannot attest to cutting performance since this is not my knife. The blade steel is a high-end stainless steel alloy, which should make it wear well and shouldn't need to be resharpened too often.
Overall Impressions:
Chris Reeve has said “[t]he Ti-Lock is not an exercise in ultimate lock strength; it is an exercise in mechanical innovation and an illustration of a passion shared by Grant, Gavin and Chris.” To me, this means that it’s more of an aesthetic thing than anything else. It’s no doubt an unusual design, but are there other locking mechanisms that are stronger? Most probably. But, it’s very nice anyway.
The scales are smooth, but there are some “air holes” machined into them that allows for some grip with your index and middle fingers. The design also features a secondary choil that allows you to choke up on the knife if you so wish to.
When it comes to fit and finish, this is an awesome knife. The blade is centered just like it should be. There is no wiggle back and forth or side to side… in other words, very sturdily made. The pivot is solid, and looks like no corners were cut when designing it. Have to say it again, awesome knife.
The only drawback was that opening it did require a little more thumb strength compared to traditional folders with thumb studs. Wow! Hurt my thumb the first couple of times I tried opening it. In the knife’s defense, there is a learning curve to deploying it one handed, which could be a put off for some people. While the action is smooth (the locking pin rides on the spine of the handle), it isn't as easy to open completely as one would think. The titanium lock bar gains tension as it moves into the locking detent, which prevents it from being able to be “flicked” open. The same thing goes when closing it: the lock bar also has some tension on it when closing, which causes the blade to remain slightly open until it clicks into position and solidly locks up.
The pocket clip is also a little different, requiring you to push down/squeeze the end of the clip in order to open it up. I would have liked it to have a slight bend at the tip so I wouldn't have to grip/push down on it in order to clip it in my pocket, but that’s just me. It also feels like it doesn't hold as securely as a regular clip.
Pictures:
White CRK Box
Unboxing for the first time - nice blue microfiber cloth
Ti-Lock closed
Closed – back side
Closed – Idaho Made
Blade is centered very nicely
Spring Clip
Opening with thumb
Fully opened
Close-up of the blade and Ti-lock. Also notice the vent holes and double choil
Back side close-up
Opened in hand
Comparison shots:
I had some other knives lying around (I’ll review them at a later date ), so I took some comparison shots.
Benchmade 710, Benchmade Griptilian 551, and Chris Reeve Ti-Lock
Benchmade 710, Benchmade Griptilian 551, Hinderer Blue XM-18 Gen IV Slicer, and Chris Reeve Ti-Lock
Benchmade 710, Benchmade Griptilian 551, Hinderer Blue XM-18 Gen IV Slicer, and Chris Reeve Ti-Lock – back side
Final thoughts:
The Chris Reeve Ti-Lock is an interesting knife with a locking mechanism unlike anything else I’ve encountered before. Even though I only had this knife a short while before sending it to its new owner, I do have to say that it was pleasing to hold/carry. I don’t doubt it could make a nice EDC, but you never know with the price tag like this.
I really liked the innovative lock design, but felt a little awkward opening/closing with one hand. It does take time to get used to the mechanism, but I’m sure once you do, it’ll be easy enough to deploy.
If I were in the market for an EDC which was aesthetically different from others and I had the money to get it, the Chris Reeve Ti-Lock would be one of my first choices.
Do I consider the Ti-Lock an EDC? If you had the money, then I’d say “yes”. One of the best EDC’s on the market? Well, that’s a little subjective – depending on the situation and what you consider an EDC should be like, this could fit the bill, or it might not. It’s definitely very nice looking, but if you’re going on looks alone, this knife could disappoint you doing anything considered heavy duty. Like mentioned before, the locking mechanism was created more for aesthetics/design than for strength, which could potentially mean a failure if using it for serious, heavy duty use it which it clearly wasn’t designed to do.
Pros
- innovative locking mechanism; aesthetically pleasing design
- beautiful blade made out of really top notch steel
- really nice in hand
- weight/balance is near perfect
- very sturdy blade and pivot – no lateral movement at all
Cons
- locking mechanism takes time to get used to (long learning curve)
- Hard to deploy with one hand (awkward feel) until you get used to it
- kind of expensive for an EDC
The Bottom Line
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a knife that goes beyond what one thinks as a folding knife. The value for money on this knife is moderate to very high, based on my initial impressions and from the type of materials used for its construction. Mind you, this is an expensive piece, which may or may not stand the test of time when it comes to production since it does have an unusual locking mechanism. Since there is a learning curve to deploying the knife one handed, it might be a while before it becomes natural to do so.
Thanks for reading, and I hope the review was informative.
Ever since I can remember, knives, swords, and guns have caught my attention. My grandfather used to peel oranges and apples with his pocketknife (which was cool since he was born with only one arm!), and would show us how to be safe around any kind of weapon, be it knife, or gun. The first real knife I can remember having (early-mid 80’s) was a Gerber Mark 1 dagger given to me by one of my uncles after he served one tour during the 80’s in the Army. Unfortunately, that dagger was lost during a move.
Enough about me, let’s get to the knife review!
**Warning! Pic heavy!**
Overview
“The Ti-Lock is a design collaboration with Grant and Gavin Hawk that everyone said couldn’t be done. In early 2010, the Hawks showed Chris [Reeve] the concept of a new locking mechanism—one that Chris felt he could engineer and Chris Reeve Knives could manufacture. It was a lack of capacity not a lack of desire that has precluded Chris Reeve Knives from producing this or other Hawk Designs…” The locking mechanism usually found on the handle has been paced in the spine of the blade where you would normally find a thumb stud. The Ti-lock is fully ambidextrous and can be worked by using your right or left hand.
Full Disclosure
A friend of mine from overseas asked me to purchase this knife for him since it would have been a PITA to buy it himself/have it shipped. Long story short, I ordered it and got it at full price from Knives Ship Free. I was not compensated by Knives Ship Free or my friend to do this or any other reviews. My friend gave me full permission to handle the knife and do a review before shipping it to him, except I opted not to do any cutting with it since it’s not mine.
Initial Impressions
The knife was packaged in a nondescript white box with Chris Reeve’s name on the top, which didn’t make it stand out. But once opening the box, I noticed a blue micro cloth rag with the Chris Reeve logo on it, and wrapped in it was the Ti-Lock knife. Wow! What a knife! It looked a little smaller than I had imagined it and from reading descriptions online, but man, was it nice to behold!
Statistics (from Knives Ship Free and Chris Reeve Knives)
Brand: Chris Reeve
Country of Origin: USA
Model: Ti-Lock
Source: Knives Ship Free
Overall Length: 7.19"
Blade Material: CPM-S35VN Powder Steel (Stainless)
Blade Length: 3.25"
Blade Thickness: 0.125"
Blade Type: Drop Point
Blade Hardness: 58-59HRC
Weight: 3.00 oz.
Handle Material: 6AL4V Titanium
Handle Thickness: 0.125"
Lock/Thumb Lugs: Silicon Bronze
Locking Mechanism: Proprietary Titanium Strap Lock technology.
Pocket Clip: 6Al4V Titanium
Sheath: None
General performance:
I cannot attest to cutting performance since this is not my knife. The blade steel is a high-end stainless steel alloy, which should make it wear well and shouldn't need to be resharpened too often.
Overall Impressions:
Chris Reeve has said “[t]he Ti-Lock is not an exercise in ultimate lock strength; it is an exercise in mechanical innovation and an illustration of a passion shared by Grant, Gavin and Chris.” To me, this means that it’s more of an aesthetic thing than anything else. It’s no doubt an unusual design, but are there other locking mechanisms that are stronger? Most probably. But, it’s very nice anyway.
The scales are smooth, but there are some “air holes” machined into them that allows for some grip with your index and middle fingers. The design also features a secondary choil that allows you to choke up on the knife if you so wish to.
When it comes to fit and finish, this is an awesome knife. The blade is centered just like it should be. There is no wiggle back and forth or side to side… in other words, very sturdily made. The pivot is solid, and looks like no corners were cut when designing it. Have to say it again, awesome knife.
The only drawback was that opening it did require a little more thumb strength compared to traditional folders with thumb studs. Wow! Hurt my thumb the first couple of times I tried opening it. In the knife’s defense, there is a learning curve to deploying it one handed, which could be a put off for some people. While the action is smooth (the locking pin rides on the spine of the handle), it isn't as easy to open completely as one would think. The titanium lock bar gains tension as it moves into the locking detent, which prevents it from being able to be “flicked” open. The same thing goes when closing it: the lock bar also has some tension on it when closing, which causes the blade to remain slightly open until it clicks into position and solidly locks up.
The pocket clip is also a little different, requiring you to push down/squeeze the end of the clip in order to open it up. I would have liked it to have a slight bend at the tip so I wouldn't have to grip/push down on it in order to clip it in my pocket, but that’s just me. It also feels like it doesn't hold as securely as a regular clip.
Pictures:
White CRK Box
Unboxing for the first time - nice blue microfiber cloth
Ti-Lock closed
Closed – back side
Closed – Idaho Made
Blade is centered very nicely
Spring Clip
Opening with thumb
Fully opened
Close-up of the blade and Ti-lock. Also notice the vent holes and double choil
Back side close-up
Opened in hand
Comparison shots:
I had some other knives lying around (I’ll review them at a later date ), so I took some comparison shots.
Benchmade 710, Benchmade Griptilian 551, and Chris Reeve Ti-Lock
Benchmade 710, Benchmade Griptilian 551, Hinderer Blue XM-18 Gen IV Slicer, and Chris Reeve Ti-Lock
Benchmade 710, Benchmade Griptilian 551, Hinderer Blue XM-18 Gen IV Slicer, and Chris Reeve Ti-Lock – back side
Final thoughts:
The Chris Reeve Ti-Lock is an interesting knife with a locking mechanism unlike anything else I’ve encountered before. Even though I only had this knife a short while before sending it to its new owner, I do have to say that it was pleasing to hold/carry. I don’t doubt it could make a nice EDC, but you never know with the price tag like this.
I really liked the innovative lock design, but felt a little awkward opening/closing with one hand. It does take time to get used to the mechanism, but I’m sure once you do, it’ll be easy enough to deploy.
If I were in the market for an EDC which was aesthetically different from others and I had the money to get it, the Chris Reeve Ti-Lock would be one of my first choices.
Do I consider the Ti-Lock an EDC? If you had the money, then I’d say “yes”. One of the best EDC’s on the market? Well, that’s a little subjective – depending on the situation and what you consider an EDC should be like, this could fit the bill, or it might not. It’s definitely very nice looking, but if you’re going on looks alone, this knife could disappoint you doing anything considered heavy duty. Like mentioned before, the locking mechanism was created more for aesthetics/design than for strength, which could potentially mean a failure if using it for serious, heavy duty use it which it clearly wasn’t designed to do.
Pros
- innovative locking mechanism; aesthetically pleasing design
- beautiful blade made out of really top notch steel
- really nice in hand
- weight/balance is near perfect
- very sturdy blade and pivot – no lateral movement at all
Cons
- locking mechanism takes time to get used to (long learning curve)
- Hard to deploy with one hand (awkward feel) until you get used to it
- kind of expensive for an EDC
The Bottom Line
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a knife that goes beyond what one thinks as a folding knife. The value for money on this knife is moderate to very high, based on my initial impressions and from the type of materials used for its construction. Mind you, this is an expensive piece, which may or may not stand the test of time when it comes to production since it does have an unusual locking mechanism. Since there is a learning curve to deploying the knife one handed, it might be a while before it becomes natural to do so.
Thanks for reading, and I hope the review was informative.