Have you seen a ball bearing pivot fail?

[NeilB]

I went back to reread the OP. He asks if anyone has seen a ball bearing pivot break. That's a pretty clear definition of failure, I think.

So, has anyone seen a ball bearing pivot break?

Personally, I don't recall seeing any pivot break, be it ball bearing based, washer based, or just slabs.

 

[stabman]

And what I was getting at is that you have defined "failure" so narrowly, no possible "failure" could ever exist. The bearings could be rust away and the blade would still open. Just as a destroyed wheel bearing won't prevent the wheel from turning.

Is that your intent?

My intent?
My intent is to fill in a few moments of waking consciousness with an activity that may or may not be occurring, involving an indeterminate number of possibly existing beings.

But then again I think water is wet, so I may not be the most trustworthy person to ask.