I got a question about ball bearing detents...

[Maaso]

Before I ask the question, I feel as though I should inform you this has nothing to do with a knife. But another project I have going on at the moment.

I've done a bit of searching and from what I've read here; it seems that ball bearing detents don't "roll" like one would imagine a regular ball bearing would. A few threads make it sound like the balls are pressed in so tight it wont allow them to roll but instead just makes it to where the blade isn't sliding across the liner lock.

 

[Maaso]

Hmmm, I should have proof read that before I posted it. It sounds confusing, let me restate that....

Is the purpose of a ball bearing detent to provide less surface area for the blade to "scrape" against. Or does the ball actually spin and provide a smooth operation for the blade to "ride" against.

 

[Salem Straub]

The ball does not spin. It's pressed into a hole in the lock bar. It lets the lock bar ride over the heel of the blade without undue friction, but it's real purpose is to hold the blade in the closed position as much as possible. When closing the blade, it snaps over into a small blind hole drilled in the blade flat. Best results come when the ball is positioned so that the ball has only partly to mostly fallen over into the blade hole when the knife is fully closed. This provide a more positive retaining action then if the blade hole is so positioned that the detent ball enters it fully.

 

[Maaso]

Damn, just what I thought.

I had an idea for a project, I was going to put a spinning ball bearing on the top and bottom of a gun trigger so it glides through the trigger track instead of scraping it's way through.