Bearings or washers

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Gary W. Graley

Gary W. Graley

“Imagination is more important than knowledge"
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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So, I've gotten to where I'm not sure about knives with bearings, sure they might be 'fast' but that isn't always a good thing, phosphor bronze washers can be pretty smooth, ok maybe NOT as smooth as some bearings but they still work.

I've wondered if the bearing craze will some day take a turn and we go back to the PB washers or some fancy smooth material that is similar.

I haven't had any real issue with a knife that has bearings, so I may be worried for naught, but my old brain just isn't that keen on them, simple minded likes simple things I guess.

There are some knives that haven't made that move to bearings, such as Chris Reeve knives, they seem to be doing pretty well.

And GEC folders, no bearings there yet, I know some makers are putting bearings into slip joint folders but that seems like overkill.

Just a Monday evening rambling but I think there may be a few that might agree and of course a lot that will not and that's perfectly fine, everyone has their own opinion and feelings about it I'm sure.

Ok, back to sharpening things that are already sharp, ugh lol need to get another knife to sharpen up!
G2
 
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Spey said:
This has been true for me also.

In my mind, bearings are an answer to a problem that did not exist until Howard Carson aka 'Kit') released the first mass produced flipper knife (M16). Bearings make a flipper experience more pleasurable, and also allow makers an easier time producing a great flippin' experience. And that is a great thing for those choosing flippers.

However, for me who chooses knives w/o flippers a bearing set is an answer to a problem that does not exist.
Click to expand...

I used to view bearings as necessary for a good flipper and washers as good for thumb studs. Then Kizer went and "upgraded" some of their thumb-stud knives to caged ceramic bearings. Now that I've had a chance to mess around with those and other thumb-stud knives on bearings, I've come to really enjoy it.

Of course, I tend to thumb-flick my studs and holes whenever possible. Just as I've largely stopped caring about assisted action, I've largely stopped caring about slow-rolling. Coincidentally, the action of slow-rolling knives isn't great for the arthritis I've developed in my thumb. Flicking studs is a much simpler and easier action for my thumb joints. (Thumb-flicking Spydie holes is somewhere in between, since the geometry often has my thumb moving farther out in the flick.)
 
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As Indiana Jones would say

"It's not the years honey, it's the Mileage "

Ain't that the truth!
G2

edited to add content that relates to the thread ;)
Update on the Demko bearing change to the Skiff bearings, without sounding too amazed, the blade is very very very smooth opening and closing now, in a word, remarkable :)
 
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Gary W. Graley said:
As Indiana Jones would say

"It's not the years honey, it's the Mileage "

Ain't that the truth!
G2

edited to add content that relates to the thread ;)
Update on the Demko bearing change to the Skiff bearings, without sounding too amazed, the blade is very very very smooth opening and closing now, in a word, remarkable :)
Click to expand...
Didja reinstall the thumbstud?
 
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Nope, I prefer it off, for my taste it seems ill placed and just better, since the large oval opening it's easy to thumb it open without any trouble.
G2

....which reminds me, I better put it inside the box before it becomes 'lost' since I never can tell when something will no longer be allowed to stay ;)
 
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