Axis with IKBS

L

Lennyo3034

Joined
Nov 27, 2012
Messages
490
Just thinking out load here:

How difficult would it be to use an IKBS system on an axis lock knife? The ones I have messed with have been very smooth, however do not have that "free range of motion" like axis lock knives due to pressure from the lock. To understand what I'm talking about, I'm sure most of you have pulled back on the axis lock and allowed the blade to swing freely to test for smoothness. I'm wondering how a knife with the IKBS do if equiped with the axis lock.

I'm not too familiar with the system, so would there be anything preventing this from happening?
 
I think that it could work. There's nothing mechanically in the action to prevent it. That would make for a stupid smooth knife!
 
I don't think IKBS is not needed in any of BKC knife. The copper phosphate washers makes extremely smooth. Having IKBS and need to seal it from sand & grit will add additional weight to the knife, not to mention increased machine work (i.e. more cost) with very little gain.

My Adamas, (most likely one of the heaviest blade) swings silky smooth with thumb stud. Adjustment can be made by tightening/ loosening to your desired level of free swing.

As long as washer is mirror smooth and liner & blade surface is also smooth, there are nothing hinders its movement.
 
I disassemble every benchmade I get as soon as I get it to polish the washers, as well as the blade where it swings on. However I wouldn't mind seeing the concept to test how much smoother it would be.
 
I've thought about the same thing, would be interesting to see how they implement it as I don't think it would work as is. They would need to find a way to increase the support at the pivot so that horizontal lockup was not so sensitive to the adjustment of the pivot screw.
 
I think it would be doable, but not necessary and a lot of time and money spend unnecessarily. Chris Reeve found a much easier way around this, and a method to allow usage without the need for any modification whatsoever: perforated PB washers with a fluoropolymer grease. I think that type of bearing system is neat, but just do not find it necessary...especially since most knives can be a lot smoother than they are from the factory with much less effort/cost-investment.

I generally detail strip knives when cleaning, and lubricate using DuPont Finish Line Extreme Fluoro grease. On AXIS knives, it gives smoothness like my Brian Tighe. It really can't be any smoother, and that kind of grease reduces wear so dramatically that it would be difficult to improve upon it. BM knives are pretty smooth from the factory, but they are rough as sandpaper compared to a BM once it has been lubricated with Extreme Fluoro.

On some BMs I have perforated the washers to retain grease, and I am really happy with how that has come out as it cuts down on maintenance dramatically.

Nylatron washers offer the ability for a system which is almost lube-less and still very smooth with minimal wear. I tend to generally still use PBs with grease tho as I do not think anything is smoother than that.
 
Problem with ball bearing system like IKBS or even KVT, that are exposed and has more area that can get gritty when it is used in sandy or muddy condition. I say "No" for Black class.

Also AXIS lock will not add lateral friction like liner lock or frame lock, ball barreling pivot provide less benefit.
 
I can't imagine it would be smoother than my Axis lock with Nano Oil. Slick as glass. While there is always room for improvement in any mechanical system, bearings won't give enough improvement to justify the added cost.
 
In my experience, the pivot screw has to be just loose enough to allow a little blade play for the blade to glide smoothly when the AXIS lock is pulled back. The amount of play is minute, and it doesn't bother me. My Adamas is the exception, it glides freely and smoothly without any play. I think it's because the blade is so heavy and has a lot more momentum than smaller knives.

I do lube them, but I don't use anything special brand, and I've never bothered to polish the washers, liners and blade for smoother action.

I would welcome a AXIS locking knife with caged ball bearings. Perhaps just for fun
 
sogflash said:
In my experience, the pivot screw has to be just loose enough to allow a little blade play for the blade to glide smoothly when the AXIS lock is pulled back. The amount of play is minute, and it doesn't bother me. My Adamas is the exception, it glides freely and smoothly without any play. I think it's because the blade is so heavy and has a lot more momentum than smaller knives.

I do lube them, but I don't use anything special brand, and I've never bothered to polish the washers, liners and blade for smoother action.

I would welcome a AXIS locking knife with caged ball bearings. Perhaps just for fun
Click to expand...

If that small amount of play ever does bother you, the solution is usually using a slightly different lubricant. I agree with you it's not a big issue, but I generally get my BMs to a point in which that blade play is no longer there just because.
 
They might have to go a little thicker with the liners so they can mill the bearing cups into them with out making them weak. Also depending on the knife and bearings used, the axis lock slot might cut into where the bearings would ride. I've seen some pretty tiny ikbs setups that ride right on the pivot though, so I think they could get away with it with out a problem. I would love to see this.

It would also eliminate that issue all the noobs have with their side to side play from the pivot not being adjusted correctly. Knives with bearings are fantastically smooth... just think how easy that thing would flip close when you pull the axis back.

I was also pretty underwhelmed with the 300, I think IKBS would have gone a long way to help that. IF they could find a way to incorporate a real detent into it as well, I think they'd really something. I think benchmade is losing more and more business with the lack of good flippers, they really need to make a change there. I'm buying more and more ZT and spyderco flippers with bearings these days.
 
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This would be like adding grease to a drag race strip, in addition to the 1K horsepower cars racing there with a couple bottles of NOS.
 
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