Friction folders and washers

[theBUSHguy]

I know I know, friction folders are lame. Still, wanting to move my first steps in folder country, I came upon a doubt: I see someone using washers and someone not using them.
It makes sense to use them in a normal folding knife but on a friction folder you would separate the scales from the actual friction-generating thing on the back of the blade. What do you all usually do?

 

[HSC ///]

I Don’t think they’re lame at all and that’s how I got started and I think it’s a great way to get started into folders

Not sure what you mean by friction generating thing on the back of the blade

I use washers

 

[theBUSHguy]

I Don’t think they’re lame at all and that’s how I got started and I think it’s a great way to get started into folders

Not sure what you mean by friction generating thing on the back of the blade

I use washers

Yours is a very beautiful knife! I like them too and that's why I'm making one, didn't mean to offend them just saying that they are a very simple, and practical, design.
I meant that the part of metal that protrudes out of the top of the closed knife (which probably has a real name that I don't know of) should, at least in my understanding, get "jammed" between the two scales thus holding the blade in place. Isn't that so? Now, if you use washers you introduce free room between the blade and the scales, and the only friction generated is right where the washer is, eliminating the friction between the scales themselves and the piece of metal I don't know the name of. I'm probably missing something here.

 

[HSC ///]

No that is not so... The only person I know who has done that is David Lespect. A friction folder I owned of his used a ball plunger mechanism in the back of the tang.

 

[Dominick Maone]

I have made one so far. The friction is caused by screws pinching the scales into the blade, through washers. My construction (which was based on DB Blades (and i'm sure his are based on everyone elses)), is scale, washer, blade, washer, scale. With everything held together by a barrell with screws on each end. There is a stop pin right next to the center of the blade to stop it in the open positions. It has a piece of g10 on the other side for the spacer. I will try to post a picture. I carry my DB blades friction folder about twice a week. It is a really nice knife. Check out this link.

 

[Dominick Maone]

Sorry, two of these pics are my dive knife. Not familiar with imgur yet. Watch DB Blades’ video, it’s really good. Friction folders are definitely worthwhile endeavor.