How much difference does IKBS make?

misterjuiceman said:
good to hear. Kirby just finished a linerlock inferno for me, so no IKBS, so I'm excited for that.

I really need to try RJ's system. unfortunately I've never handled one of his knives. is the general preference for his system because of it's design, or feel?
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As far as I'm concerned, and it's just my opinion, RJ's knives are the top of the food chain right now. Excellent designs, top shelf materials, excellent pivot system, nice strong detent, they always feel so nice in the hand, near flawless fit and finish, and some of the sharpest blades I've ever witnessed on a knife. Every one of RJ's knives that I've handled or owned has amazed me. RJ is a perfectionist and it shows in his work.
 
SoCalRandy said:
I REALLY want a Kirby Lambert, either an Inferno or Incinerator...

http://www.truenorthknives.com/vcom/product_info.php?cPath=345_457&products_id=2729

I almost think I should try to be patient and wait for the Plaza Cutlery show in October? Kirby will be there and I'm hoping he will have a lot of knives for sale.... Anybody know if that is the case or not?
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Hi

Yes, Kirby will be there will a full assortment of his knives- he will be offering both IKBS and his standard pivot version.

Cya, Neil
 
Do the IKBS bearings have washers between them and the handle/liner, or are they resting directly on the liner body? If there is no washer, in case of Titanium liners, I would think that the pressure from the bearings would cause indentations in the soft Titanium, no?

Thanks.
 
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msikk said:
Do the IKBS bearings have washers between them and the handle/liner, or are they resting directly on the liner body? If there is no washer, in case of Titanium liners, I would think that the pressure from the bearings would cause indentations in the soft Titanium, no?

Thanks.
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A channel is milled out in the scales and the ball bearing are inserted into the channel. There are no washers, just the ball bearings in the channel and they rest against the blade around the pivot. Everything is usually done with very tight tolerances so that between the channel, the ball bearings, and them resting against the blade there is no gap and even with the pivot tightened all the way, the ball bearings will not bind up and push into the Ti.
 
I have handled Begg IKBS and Non IKBS and the IKBS versions are smoother hands down. Kinda like closing the door on my Ford Escape compared to closing a door on a Lexus GS or Mercedes S. The doors close but the sound and lockup is obviously better.

That being said, nothing including IKBS comes close to the feeling of flipping a Boguszewski Cobra. I don't know what Phil uses but that is the best it gets IMO.
 
Tony8179 said:
A channel is milled out in the scales and the ball bearing are inserted into the channel. There are no washers, just the ball bearings in the channel and they rest against the blade around the pivot. Everything is usually done with very tight tolerances so that between the channel, the ball bearings, and them resting against the blade there is no gap and even with the pivot tightened all the way, the ball bearings will not bind up and push into the Ti.
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I don't know if anyone else does IKBS like Mikkel Willumsen's, but his Holy Mr. Mug was done a little differently than the other 2 IKBS knives I've had.

The other 2 are like Tony said, but the Mr. Mug has teflon washers that covered the ball-bearings. When I took the scales off, the teflon washers kept the BBs in their channel. Sure made it easier to take apart & might help keep dirt/crap out of BB channel, too.

I recently picked up a an IKBS modded Ti JYD SG2. I have had a regular Ti JYD SG2 & there's definitely a difference. The IKBS version was noticably smoother. I've also heard that the bearings spread stress across a wider area & should be able to take more abuse, too.

For a flipper, I think IKBS is the best set-up. For regular thumb/hole opening knives, I think P/B washers work just fine.
 
With most good knives there is good blade steel,if the steel is harder than the steel the bearings are made of, over time,the action will eveuntally where the bearings (or your blade) and once the bearings start to develop flat spots they could lock together or get stuck and as was said in this fourm, the knives with IKBS need to be tighter at the pivot or bearings will go everywhere ,if the bearings wore with the combanation of a tight pivot the knife could possibly not open as expected when you most need it. IKBS is just somthing else that can go wrong. Bearings need to be replaced in everything they are used in over time. They lose shape and eventualy grind together and chip and break. Imagine a bunch of squars trying to rub smoothly together. (Even just the fact that you can cold roll this system into your knife shows that the bearings (if harder than your blade) dig into the blade with repeated use. The IKBS youtube videos show us "Look IKBS didn't skrew this knife up,see how it still works!" OK...but what does it improve? Like Chuck said Buy the knife from a maker you like,dont let ballbearings sell you a knife. Just give your knife a lil oil!
 
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I sell lots of knives and at perhaps half of the custom knifes use some kind of bearings- IKBS is clearly the most popular.

It is very true that the knife maker must be skilled to make any kind of knife, bearings or not- my point is that I have never had a single issue with a customer over any knife that related to the use of bearings- IKBS or otherwise.

Happy New year to all, :thumbup:

Regards, Neil @ TNK
 
I have actually had a Kershaw Junkyard Dog in Titanium with and without IKBS. The IKBS was added by a knife maker and it is no doubt easier and smoother to open. The difference is hard to quantify, but it is more toward the subtle than the profound. I have also owned a Kershaw Tilt, which uses something similar (can't remember the term) and it opened quite smoothly and easily, although some of my knives with a traditional pivot seem similar. Lasty, I owned a Chris Reeve Ti-Lock, which has teflon washers with ball bearings inserted along the circumference and it opened quickly and very smoothly.
 
I just got an Orion with IKBS from Kirby. It is not a flipper, but it is unbelievable. Super smooth and no blade play.

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