Are bearings the next big thing?

O

Omega Leather Works

Joined
Jun 13, 2007
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Personally I see it as bearings in most folders. They cost us, the consumer, about $6 for a pair. It'll cost the OEMs much less.

Aren't the pivots in premium knives like the Sebenza outdated? I mean I get that it is (was?) a step ahead of the regular phosphor bronze bushing, but the bearing system seems to trump it.

I've asked a couple of the OEMs and they cite cost as a factor for retrofitting into current designs, but don't much talk about the future. It's almost as if they are waiting for the other guy to make the first move.

What are some other things that you see as being the next big thing?

I'd like to see a different premium scale material. Cf is cool and all, but it's getting a little played out.

Anything you'd like to see used as a scale material?

There's got to be plenty of new lock designs in the future.

There's a guy in the tinkering sub forum that came up with a brilliant sharpening system, it works sort of like an edge pro, but clamps, flips and tells what angle you are sharpening at.

What do you guys think about the future of cutlery?
 
I'd like to see more interchangeability. Sort of like the customize your griptilian site, to me there are a bunch of knives that would benefit from offering more options. From different pocket clips to different scales to different blade profiles, I think when you have a general design that works well you should try to offer that design to a diverse market.

Also, I'd like to see more kirinite scales. I don't know much about it, but it sure gives some interesting looking handles!
 
I can see it as a niche market. If you build it they will buy it. Right? However, I think it will move farther away from being a tool to being a toy for collectors. We are enhancing blade deployment and the benefit of speed and smoothness can only be perceive to a point. Face it changing scales does nothing to change the performance of the knife with certain exceptions. You are just bedazzling at that point (ducking) :D.

Now offering a washer type assembly with integrated bearings as a drop in replacement to your OEM washers might earn you a quick buck or two. Make it the choice of the consumer.

I prefer simpler the better. My dad used to have a saying that if it had tires or something else you would eventually have trouble with it. I would add bearings to that list in this case. My opinion of course.
 
Many of the customs already have IKBS bearings. Maybe that's overkill or progress...hard to tell. I don't have any problems with the phosphor bronze washers that are pretty commonly used in many mid-tech folders. They are smooth, last forever, and if I needed a faster deployment, I guess I'd get an automatic...which I dislike somehow.
 
I'm a user I want fewer parts and the simplier the better. give me framelock or liner lock and regular pivot.
 
I really, really, really hope bearings are the next big thing. They make for smoother opening and seem to eliminate blade play. Those are two things that really bother me about a lot of my knives ever since I've handled an 0561 and my Southard.

I'd be amazed if the bigger companies didn't jump right on to it. I mean, look at the frothing demand and lust happening over the CRKT Swindle, and, before that, the Ripple. Both knives that are basically just okay as far as materials go, but you throw in IKBS and we suddenly all wet ourselves.

Rightly so, too. I'll be getting one of the Sandvik Swindles when they're available. I would love to see a Para3 with bearings - no more blade play, and with the bonus of even smoother action. I might actually keep one if they did that :P
 
Bearings are so, well 19th century. I'd say the future will be in nano-coatings over washers, that are virtually frictionless. No more oil.
 
IKBS is nice- it works great and I have 3 knives with it. But..... It's makes a simple take down to clean a huge ordeal!
 
Ernie1980 said:
IKBS is nice- it works great and I have 3 knives with it. But..... It's makes a simple take down to clean a huge ordeal!
Click to expand...

I have to agree. IKBS is great until you have to open the knife. Probably one of the most frustrating knife break downs I have had. I don't even see how you can open the knife without ball bearings falling out. I would prefer encased bearings myself.
 
As long as they're captured bearings ala the Spyderco Southard and ZT 0560! I have one IKBS folder left, and while it opens very nicely, it's a bear to take down without losing bearings!
 
I'd like to see bearings that are made from resin-impregnated carbon graphite.

These bearings are self lubricating, have high wear resistance, are impervious to water, are safe for food contact and have high compressive strength.

I don't have any idea about the cost on a production scale, but any bearing material that doesn't require additional lubrication seems ideal to me both
for manufacturers and consumers.

My .02 worth :02.47-tranquillity:
 
Bearings aren't that new. I have a TiNives Dresser from a dozen years ago that rides on ceramic ball bearings. It
it the smoothest deploying knife I have ever owned or handled. All that is new is that bearing systems are slowly
easing into mass production.
 
I'm fine with my knives the way they are.
Though I would like the knives that are still using teflon to use bronze washers.
As for IKBS - it's extremely smooth and it's great. However my Galyean Pro Series JYD is running on 8 bearings on each side instead of 12 because the last owner's friend tried to take it apart and lost a bunch of bearings. It rides perfectly and smooth as butter, but losing bearings sucks so encased bearings would be best. However, the IKBS on my JYD is quite more smooth than the encased bearings my 0560 had.
Simplicity works for me just fine. I love the frame lock.
Though I wouldn't mind seeing scales made out of the G-10/CF combo. I know custom scale makers use it sometimes, but I would love to see some knives come out using it.
 
I would think bearings would get gritty easier than bushings but don't know for sure.
 
omt... I have both and some of my folders with washers are just as smooth as my IKBS.
 
I have a couple of ZT's with the bearing system, and they are very smooth. With that said, I don't believe that bearings are really necessary. I will go with the "simpler is better" side on this one.

Tom
 
Locutus D'Borg said:
Bearings are so, well 19th century. I'd say the future will be in nano-coatings over washers, that are virtually frictionless. No more oil.
Click to expand...
This^^^. Nanotechnology is the future. It isn't a question of if, it's a question of when.
 
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