Bearings or Washers?

whitty

whitty

Dealer / Materials Provider
Joined
Aug 25, 2005
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The bearing system has been around long enough that most people have had a chance to at least test it out. So what do you guys prefer and why?

Which one do you think will stand up the longest over time?
 
I feel like there's going to be a lot of people citing KISS and other notions about additional parts and potential failures, etc.

I'm pro-bearings, if that's how we want to draw the line here. Less friction, less flimsy, better action, easier to lubricate. This is at the cost of generally having more exposed pivot parts which could attract lint / dirt / etc, but I have yet to ever have a problem with that.

Compressed air and nano lube is all I need with a pivot-bearing knife. I'll take that compromise for the sake of how fun they are to play with. I probably opened and closed my Buck Marksman more times than any other knife I've ever had, as I could do a full open/close cycle in less than one second. Clickity-boom, opened, locked up, unlocked, and closed - faster than you could really tell what was going on.

I wouldn't say they're necessarily functionally superior, as I really don't know if they are. I do prefer them, though, and have had enough bearing-pivot knives to know that I will basically always opt for them over washer-pivot knives.

Besides, it makes it easier for companies to produce knives with good pivot action. I've had about a dozen skylines in my hands, and maybe 3 had good pivot action out of the box. Every KVT knife I have had has had perfect action right out of the gate - assuming the detente was set correctly, of course.
 
I'm fine with either when done well. My ZT0620 I just received is a great example of a washer knife done right. It was buttery smooth out of the box and is adjusted perfectly. But I'm also a huge fan of the KVT bearing system on my ZT0777. It opens very quickly and is a great flipper. IMO, the biggest benefit of the bearing system knives is that you can very easily adjust the perfect pivot position. With washers, it's more of process to get everything to open smoothly and easily without blade play.
 
14 moving parts in a pivot? Hmmmmm......

I like bearings for smooth opening and a fun feel. IMO, the 'fun feel' may well be most of the attraction to bearing knives and I have no problem with that. I like to flick 'em too.

For average EDC and most tasks they are fine. Personally, where the preference shifs to washers would be once one gets into 'outdoor' knives. For bush, survival or SHTF I'd go with washers---and very much so.

A bearing knife will eventually require maintenance or cleaning, is probably more lubrication critical for smooth and proper function and, on average, will wear out or fail before the simple physics of a good washer pivot be it P/B, teflon or nylatron.

Yes, there are exceptions to everything so hold the heat down, OK? ..... you bearing lovers. I like em too.
 
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I'm fairly agnostic when it comes to bearings or washers. I'm also agnostic when it comes to AO versus manual. Both are near the bottom of my list of considerations in selecting a knife. Blade steel doesn't even rise to the top of my list. Esthetics, ergos, build quality, size and weight are what matter most to me.
 
In a theoretical "you can only have one" world, I'd say PB washers for durability purposes, and I would keep my ZT 0550 as my "only one".

In the real world, I have a Manix 2, ZT 0566, ZT 0562, ZT 0550, and Lionsteel TiSpine that I can rotate as needed or desired. Even with frequent use, I am highly unlikely to get so many pivot reps in that I develop wear issues from bearings, or break down the Teflon washers in my TiSpine. When I look around, I see constant posts about "today's EDC", which makes it pretty evident that most people don't actually have an "every day carry", and will never wear out their pivot system. I suppose a person who fires a flipper all day could get there over time, but...

Yeah. This is one of those issues like brand X's warranty vs Busse's, when both are going to live in a safe.
 
Bearings feel great but washers will last longer.

In general I like bearings for gentlemen's knives and other knives that I only carry for special events or situations. I like washers in, well, everything else. Users, abusers, general EDCs.
 
Bearings have changed the game.

Bearings are here to stay, and I can only assume that bearing technology will continue to evolve.

Washers will stay around too as there will always be people who prefer the simpler and perceived reliability of washers.

I have some very smooth knives that sport washers, but the bearing knives are noticeably better with less friction and great action.

That is my opinion.

best

mqqn
 
I have used both extensively, and I would have to go with washers.

One simple reason. Less parts, less chance of failure.

A well designed and executed knife on washers is every bit as smooth and quick as one on bearings (from my experience)
 
Bearing are really nice for flippers. :)
Most of my knives use washers though, and I'm fine with that.

I haven't noticed that bearings get affected by gunk more though...perhaps if you got tree sap or something in the pivot, that might do it, I don't know.
So far, my knives with bearings are doing just fine (I only have two knives with bearings though, so take that into consideration).
 
It think the answer to this question really lies with the individuals preference. If washer knives have treated you well and smoothness of operating is not a desired attribute then really the only viable gain for someone not caring for such things is a bearing knives ability to self center if properly machined and much less finesse being needed when dialing in the pivot. You can dial out all perceptible play without binding the blade where as a washer knife would certainly lock up unless it has a bushing. Some apposed to bearings are quick to point out that the risks outweigh any potential reward. And that the smoothness gained doesnt make up for the reduction in strength at a critical point in a folding knifes design. I however feel that in the majority of cases where pocket knives are used most people will not have to worry about any reduction in strength as long as the knife is being used as it was designed. And I have never in my life seen a bearing equipped folder fail because it had bearings. So even if a bearing knife might theoretically be weaker in some cases I still think that weakened knife would be plenty strong for its intended purpose. And the same argument could apply to a discussion about blade thickness in the first place which as we all know varies greatly. With all that said, if it folds and has a single handle I want it with bearings.
 
bld522 said:
I'm fairly agnostic when it comes to bearings or washers. Both are near the bottom of my list of considerations in selecting a knife. Blade steel doesn't even rise to the top of my list. Esthetics, ergos, build quality, size and weight are what matter most to me.
Click to expand...

Same here....agree with you this far. I don't like A/O's though.
 
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If price is no object, I'll take bearings because they add a nice, luxury feel to a knife, but I don't think they're worth paying more for.

They're a nice touch, but I've stated before and still believe that they add nothing practical to a knife.
 
I have knives with both, and aside from just sitting around flicking my knives open on the coach, I have little practical preference one way of the other.

Bearing knives can be incredibly smooth, and with the right detent strength produce a very snappy flipper. However, bearings do complicate the manufacture process somewhat. I doubt it makes much of a difference from a strength standpoint, but there are extra machining processes necessary to make a good bearing pivot. You need to mill a pocket for the bearings to ride in, either in the blade or the frame/liners. If the frame/liners are Titanium, you should include a steel washer in the bearing pocket so the bearings don't wear a groove in the Ti. And this all needs to be done while maintaining tight tolerances.

That is noticeably more work, to do it properly anyways. The extra work only matters to me as a consumer because machine time = money.

Aside from very specific applications, the corrosion resistance of nilatron washers for example, I don't really feel strongly one way or the other. All of the bearing pivot knives I have are very smooth, have zero blade play, and are well executed. But I also don't have any complaints about PB washers.
 
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I have a $9 knife made with two bronze washers, one copper and one teflon. It opens so easily that I really don't understand bearings beyond the need to get a poorly designed washer knife to work correctly.

Plus, I'm not sure if I want a knife in my pocket that can flop open so easily should it get past the detent. Maybe a little friction is a good thing.
 
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