Bearings on Non- Flipper Knives

Ok.

On a liner- or framelock, I see no practical advantage, as you need to get your thumb out of the way of the blade to close the knife.

On a Compression or Axis lock, you actuate the lock release... and the blade can go home... without your digits ever crossing the path of the blade.
Safe, intuitive one-handed closing is one of the advantageous features of both of these locking systems, and the less friction on the pivot, the better it works.
A bearing pivot largely eliminates the need to compromise between friction and blade play: you can have smooth opening and closing and the "monolithic" stability of a tight pivot.
My Mini-Grip has, and will always have, some blade play to allow for easy closing. This doesn't make it unusable, but it does make the whole system feel less stable than other knives I own.

I would like to emphasize that I never suggested that all knives should run on bearings, as I don't think that's necessary.
Of the dozens of knives I own and use, only three run on bearings. Most are happily wearing washers.
Opinel? Higo No Kami? No bearings, and no washers. Both function as intended.

Where I specifically want to see the bearing "fad" (I don't think it is one) to go next:

Axis lock.
Compression lock.

So what's the actual advantage of it? A comp lock or Axis lock that requires a minor tap or flick to close is realistically no less convenient and is unquestionably safer. Accidental lock release is a thing that happens and we even see the occasional lock failure. I love the feel of a frictionless drop when I release the lock, but if those Omega springs fail when I flick the blade out I know which option would make me bleed.
 
One of the smoothest knives I have...a BMW 761...is a non flipper with bearings. I love the thing and it gets as much carry time as my Sebenzas

BMW is making Ti Framelocks? They do have a reputation for high-performance luxury. I'm a Mercedes guy myself.
 
Side note: If you do like the frictionless drop, I recommend the Buck 830 Marksman and Freeman 451 BLF. Both great knives and loads of fun, but they're also the two I warn everyone, including fellow knife knuts, about before handing them over to be admired.
 
Side note: If you do like the frictionless drop, I recommend the Buck 830 Marksman and Freeman 451 BLF. Both great knives and loads of fun, but they're also the two I warn everyone, including fellow knife knuts, about before handing them over to be admired.

Thanks, never heard of that Freeman... it's a mean-lookin mo.
Both of these knives appear to have locks that allow closing without fingers in the blade path, thereby taking full advantage of their ball-bearing pivots.
And reinforcing my point.
 
I have a crk ti lock and it runs on bearings like many g and g hawk collabs. Just did first take down since May with daily edc. Never gunks up and washes clean with water when i use it on fruit or whatever. Works perfect with this design and execution.
 
Bushing systems can achieve simmilar results as well. I think the big complaint about bearings is they tend to get gritty and dirty easily when used in messy environments. With a bushing system you get the best of both worlds. Admittedly though the bearing systems are smoother than even a bushing system.

What if we had a folder with an axis lock, bushing system, and bearings? Would the blade fly out faster than the speed of light?

I have never tried the roller pin style bearings yet. Any comment on how those are?
 
Thanks, never heard of that Freeman... it's a mean-lookin mo.
Both of these knives appear to have locks that allow closing without fingers in the blade path, thereby taking full advantage of their ball-bearing pivots.
And reinforcing my point.

Given that I own both, I can pretty much promise you that they reinforce my point much more.
 
Lapedog,
In my experience, roller pin bearings dont work that well for knives. Ive tried them on a few. Including shiro and shiro knock offs that somebody tried to send me for repair. Too much surface area and they tend to bind up. Balls are best imo. I also love teflon or pb as well. They all work.
 
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Given that I own both, I can pretty much promise you that they reinforce my point much more.

I see what you mean; I just watched a video of the Marksman and that long blade falls like a guillotine.

What if we had a folder with an axis lock, bushing system, and bearings? Would the blade fly out faster than the speed of light?

I have a knife like this: I grease the pivot with creamy peanut butter to slow it down.
 
I see what you mean; I just watched a video of the Marksman and that long blade falls like a guillotine.

Yeah, it's an awesome knife and has better flipping action than knives literally 3-4 times the price, but it closes mean. It's basically the only knife in my collection that I simply won't let certain people even handle. Now I'm just debating whether or not to get the S90V version when it hits. :D
 
They should magnetically suspend the blade as their next big advance in knife pivot technology. Or imagine a folder that opened so fast it was always open. Infact they make it so you can't close the blade because the knife is too fast for that. Theb they could actually run the blade all the way to the butt of the knife, so it would be like one piece of steel from tip to butt.

That would be an amazing folder. It opens so fast you can't close it!

In all seriousness though, I have never tried the roller pin bearings ever. So far Shirogorov is the only company I see making knives that use this type of bearing system. Are there any other companies that use it?

Honestly everyone likes flippers these days it seems. My problem with these drag racing blades today is they hop out of the handle so fast it scares the uninitiated. I have to put counter pressure on the spine as the blade opens so it doesn't frighten someone. This is why all modern folders should have thumb studs or hole. I find the way you draw a knife has alot to do with how accepting people around you will be of it.
 
A properly tuned sebenza flicks open easily.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Per CRK, you shouldn't flick your Sebenza, but you can flick a Tilock. Sebenzas are not guitars, and don't need tuning :)

Brand new you can't flick a Sebenza, after 5 years of use it's still true of mine. If you "tune" it to be flickable, it's no longer within factory specs. The lockbar tension at rest is supposed to be strong enough to inhibit flicking.
 
One of the smoothest knives I have...a BMW 761...is a non flipper with bearings. I love the thing and it gets as much carry time as my Sebenzas

I cannot agree with you more DL!!
Have had my 761 for about a year and that bad boy amazes me!!
Also one of my smoothest! Flicks beautifully and locks up as tight as anything else I have!!
Amazing blade steel and blade profile! It is also a great slicer!!
Had mine anodized and I love it even more!!
Joe
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I cannot agree with you more DL!!
Have had my 761 for about a year and that bad boy amazes me!!
Also one of my smoothest! Flicks beautifully and locks up as tight as anything else I have!!
Amazing blade steel and blade profile! It is also a great slicer!!
Had mine anodized and I love it even more!!
Joe
818bc682a9f43c34ea5b7864995fbae0.jpg

Looks great man! Been thinking about doing that to mine as well!
 
Thanks brother!!!
It just adds that little bit extra! I love the looks of this blade and with a bit of color it just pops!!
Joe
 
My small 21 actually flicks just fine. That is if I use Benchmade BluLube. I kind of need to flick it differently than other knives because Sebenzas actions require a more outward flick. This is with the pivot fully tightened down and no bladeplay at all.
 
As for dirt and gunk gumming up your bearings, this has never been an issue for me, although any knife you drop on a sandy beach will probably need disassembled and cleaned.

Or if you just happen to run a rock splitter at an open pit gravel mine. 😀.

No bearings for me. It's enough that my PB washer knives get gritty, without lube.

My Emerson seems to handle it the best with it's nylatron washers.Plus Emerson encourages disassembly.
 
Nylatron and Teflon washers are way underrated. My Emersons have such a smooth hydraulic feeling once I clean them and they break in. I admit I can't flick them without some wrist action though. Atleast not the shorter blades like my cqc7s.
 
The problem with bearing on a thumb opener are possibly dangerous. The blade may deploy faster than your thumb follows through the arc of opening. I had that problem with an assisted opener. My thumb followed through and went into the edge.
 
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