Ceramic folder

[jzmtl]

So I keep hearing how they suck, from people who probably don't have one. I took the plunge and bought one, and going to see how it works out in real life.

Fit and finish is good, the single liner isn't entirely flush with CF scale on butt of handle, but I suppose since liner is TiNi coated it can't be sanded after assembly to make it so. Liner lock feels solid, action is very smooth, and the whole knife is really light.

Out of box it's not particularly sharp, doesn't shave, but cuts stuff fine. When I work up enough courage I'll put it to my belt sander and see if I can make it better.

[The Deacon]

Stone River Gear? Saw some of their stuff in the latest AG Russell catalog and thought it looked very nice. But I can't say I've ever heard anyone say that either ceramic knives in general or those in particular suck. Have heard folks pointing out that they some limitations folks should consider before purchasing. One being that they are difficult, if not impossible, to sharpen with normal sharpening equipment. That is borne out by both Boker and SRG advising purchasers to return their knives to them for sharpening. It is also said that they're easier to chip and snap than steel blades. Again, Stone River's own advertising for the knives recommends "Precision cutting tool… Ideal for straight cuts of paper, rope, cardboard, fruits, vegetables and boneless meats" which seems to imply that chopping and cuts where lateral loads might be imposed might be ill advised.

[jackknifeh]

I've heard the same info as the Deacon stated. Diamond stones are required to sharpen them because the ceramic is harder than steel. They have ceramic sharpening steels and stones that sharpens steel blades. But when they are sharp they stay sharp for MUCH longer than any steel or so I've heard. I'd like one but am afraid of the possibility of the blade breaking by just dropping it a short distance, or even normal working conditions. I don't think I would have that worry with an EDC knife though. My problem with that is any EDC knife I carry I may need to perform like a "work" knife as well.

I'd really like to get your opinion of your knife after you have used it for a while if you don't mind. Also, I like the look of your nice and congrats on the purchase. Luck.

Jack

[marknett]

what kind of money are we talking for this knife?

[The Deacon]

what kind of money are we talking for this knife?

Assuming it is the Stone River Gear knife I think it is, then it's a new brand and not to many dealers seem to be carrying them yet. That model costs $90 direct from Stone River Gear and $85 from AG Russell who is the only dealer among those I checked that carry any of their knives. Stone River also makes a few less expensive versions and AGR carrys a couple of them. Might be worth noting they're made in China, since some seem to find that an important factor in their knife purchasing decisions.

[Creepo]

I find this rather odd: http://www.boker.de/us/pocket-knife/...e/01BO036.html
Now, which ones the original?
Not that these kind of issues are un-common with China made products.

[The Deacon]

And the one jzmtl has may not be either the Boker or the Stone River Gear version I thought it was. Neither of them use that arrowhead logo which appears on the blade of his and there are other differences at the back end of the handles as well. My guess is that one company in China makes them all and sells slightly different "variantions on a theme" to different companies for re-branding.

[The Deacon]

Update. Jzmtl's knife seems to be marketed by a Canadian outfit called Ceramic Knife, who also sell what appears to be a copy of the 2" bladed Boker ceramic folder with the titanium handle.

[SolidState]

The Deacon may be correct about the location of the purchase. I have one of their older "Rigger" models and enjoy it. It's only really useful for scouting food preparation.

I make ceramics like these for my job in a Hot Isostatic Press, and can assure you that sharpenability is directly dependent upon the density of the ceramic on the run. The Canadian company achieves a little lower density than the Boker models.

The best quality ceramic knives come out of Kyocera who I believe has the original patent for the ZrO2 knife blade, although I may be wrong on that. Either way, they have the best fabrication facilities and even do faux-damascus ceramic knives for kitchen uses.

I have had a kyocera 6" ceramic santoku for over a year. I use it for virtually all of my veggie preparation (on a bamboo board) and love using it to slice onions. It is still almost as sharp as when it came out of the box. It feels so light that it is like you're not even holding a knife which has gotten me in trouble. I took a chunk of my fingertip off (right through the nail) with it. It took me a minute to even notice.

I love the knives, but they're really for kitchen work more than all-purpose, but with the way people around here baby knives, a ceramic blade may make a good safe queen that opens mail sometimes.

[jzmtl]

I could've swore I replied earlier, but don't know where my post went.

Yes that's where I got mine from, I suspect they (and boker, stone river gear) buy from the same manufacturer with their own logo, the blade, handle and hardware sure looks close enough.

So far I like it, it's not nearly as sharp as the caly 3.5 that's in my other pocket, but it does cut everything I need it to cut, and no worry about edge corrosion after cutting food. I have some 15u SiC belts for 1x30 sander, so I'll try to touch up the edge and see if I can make it sharper, after I work up enough courage.

[jzmtl]

My adventure with this ceramic knife has come to an abrupt end. Liner lock and ceramic blade just doesn't mix, since one is way harder than the other, the lock bar is quickly wore away and reached end of ramp, and I fear it will simply slide pass the tang one day with enough wear.

Not completely given up I got a Boker anti-mc instead, which has almost the same blade, but Ti frame lock instead. Which should be better performing, since it's much thicker and will be stopped by the other handle instead of slide pass tang (the scale is thicker than the blade, and lock bar is much more springy than the liner lock).

[bordas]

*Edited*

I make ceramics like these for my job in a Hot Isostatic Press, and can assure you that sharpenability is directly dependent upon the density of the ceramic on the run. The Canadian company achieves a little lower density than the Boker models.

The best quality ceramic knives come out of Kyocera who I believe has the original patent for the ZrO2 knife blade, although I may be wrong on that. Either way, they have the best fabrication facilities and even do faux-damascus ceramic knives for kitchen uses.

I have had a kyocera 6" ceramic santoku for over a year. I use it for virtually all of my veggie preparation (on a bamboo board) and love using it to slice onions. It is still almost as sharp as when it came out of the box. It feels so light that it is like you're not even holding a knife which has gotten me in trouble. I took a chunk of my fingertip off (right through the nail) with it. It took me a minute to even notice.

[marshallb]

I've had no experience with ceramic folders, but a friend gave me a Kyrocera chef knife for my birthday back in the early 90's and it was wonderful! I have been cooking 75 to95% of my food from scratch since I was 19 so it got a LOT of use. After 12-14 years it was still rediculously sharp (NO glass cutting boards!). When she gave it to me, my friend put the spine on a counter top, edge up, and dropped a ripe tomato on it from 5 or 6 inches above and it fell effortlessly into two clean halves, replicating the demonstration the sales rep had sold her on (she managed a high-end knife shop in Baltimore's Inner Harbor Shops at the time). I would show it off to folks by slicing a large tomato off so thin you could read a newspaper through it and roll the slice up tight as a drinking straw. Properly used and cared for they just won't get dull in the kitchen. My love affair with this knife ended sadly when a dirtbag friend of my dirtbag roommate used it to try to pry open the cash box on one of the coin-op washers in our apartment complex while I was away at work...This was especially sad and pathetic as this fellow drove a 60,000 dollar BMW and owned a 400,000 dollar house, etc, and then tried to avoid me for weeks after fessing up and promising to pay for it (he said he was too stoned to walk a block to the cash machine, so he tried to rob the machine instead and it didn't work). Moral of the story: If you own delicate or valuable knives (etc), and you have roommates, lock them in your room when you leave the house.
And if the lady who gave me the knife sees this: Hi Tamara! Get in touch, if you wish, I,d love to hear from you. Sorry I dropped out of sight, the last 20 years have been like some crazy Scorcesse movie, out of the tat biz now-too many brushes with death(seriously) Find me!

[ALEX_E]

I have a ton of experience with the SRG knives and feel that I can provide some answers to the previous posts...the Boker knife jzmtl posted an image of is the same titanium handeled knife offered by SRG and they are made in the same factory in China. (All ceramic knives are manufactured in China or Japan so if your interested in a ceramic knife but only buy knives based off county of origin your out of lucky) SRG did release the knife first winning the BLADE mag best buy of the year in 2010... several months later Boker was offering the same knife under there name for $5 less (actual price your going to pay online is the same)

In terms of sharpening I've had my knife for over a year and use it almost everyday and its still super sharp but I called SRG to find out about how to sharpen it when the time comes. They told me the only effective way to touch up the blade is on a power diamond wheel...diamond stones will just chip up the blade even if your skilled at sharpening... the rotation of the wheel along with an aggressive grit is the only way they say works. They do offer a free service that allows you to send the knife back to them for in house sharpening.

[jzmtl]

the Boker knife jzmtl posted an image of is the same titanium handeled knife offered by SRG and they are made in the same factory in China.

That's what I suspected all along. Sad to see when the same issue was brought up on BF, lots of people just piled on and called boker the Chinese knock off.

So far the frame lock appears to be holding up better (or at least feel to be) than the liner lock.

[Simple Man]

Although I'm sure they are nowhere near the quality or density of the knives mentioned, Harbor Freight carries several under $20 (and under $13 when on sale). YMMV

http://www.harborfreight.com/catalog...=ceramic+knife

Pretty decent reviews. One did mention that it is real good for cutting Fiberglass Batt insulation, that it doesn't dull as steel does, as it is harder than the FG, hadn't thought of that.

[ALEX_E]

That's what I suspected all along. Sad to see when the same issue was brought up on BF, lots of people just piled on and called boker the Chinese knock off.

So far the frame lock appears to be holding up better (or at least feel to be) than the liner lock.

I don't see a problem with the liner lock but I do like the feel of the frame lock better... It also keeps the knife thinner in profile. I love the light weight of my 1STLB but I just ordered the new srg carbon fiber ceramic which is slightly smaller in length but almost nonexistent in weight. It does have the liner lock so after I get a good test period in I'll have a more informed opinion