IKBS loose bearings and caged bearings difference in action?

[joeyza]

I was just wondering is there a real noticeable difference in the action between loose bearings like with IKBS or caged bearing like on the spyderco domino or southard? I know it all comes down to the knife in the end but I asking in general terms does one have better action than the other?

 

[Ernie1980]

I have both, and in my experience the loose bearings make for a smoother knife. However, they are both great to flick open there is not a huge difference

 

[Misanthropia]

I have both, and in my experience the loose bearings make for a smoother knife. However, they are both great to flick open there is not a huge difference

In my limited experience, I have to agree. The only IKBS (loose bearing) knife I own is the Boker Kwaiken, which is tremendously smooth even though the blade is so light. All of my other knives that have bearings are caged and have much heavier blades, and they're not all as smooth.

 

[Scurvy092]

IKBS, KVT and Atomik are all different and unique in their feel. I would be really hard pressed to pick one over another.

 

[Moxy]

I disagree that the cage has any noticeable effect on smoothness. There are too many other factors that affect pivot resistance. If the ball bearing pivot is done right, it's smooth. If it's done wrong, it's less so. Simple as that. My CRKT Eros was not very smooth despite the cageless bearing pivot, and it made maintenance a nightmare. I try to avoid buying/carrying knives that I cannot easily dis/re-assemble. On the other hand my Domino could not be smoother, with no detent contact it will fall open or closed and is free of any play. For well designed pivots on any frame/liner lock knives (CRK and the like) 95% of the resistance you feel is due to the detent ball sliding.

 

[evanPGH]

IKBS has been the smoothest and quickest in my experience. Followed by GTC style caged thrust bearings.

 

[23xdm3.8]

All depends on how accurate and smooth the bearing pockets are, as well as lockbar tension and the finishing on the blade that the detent ball rides on.

In my experience, hands down, ikbs is smoother.

 

[brownshoe]

"My CRKT Eros was not very smooth despite the cageless bearing pivot, and it made maintenance a nightmare."

My EROS is as smooth as the proverbial baby's bottom.

Can't see how the cageless pivot makes maintenance a nightmare. I've had mine for two years, it's needed lubrication twice and once I had to lock-tite the pivot. If needed I rinse it out with water, when really dirty, I use soap and water and dry with paper towels and compressed air. No problem.

You don't need to disassemble most knives for maintenance; the sebenza is an exception. Unlike the sebenza, the Eros is is not built to be taken apart.

 

[Moxy]

"My CRKT Eros was not very smooth despite the cageless bearing pivot, and it made maintenance a nightmare."

My EROS is as smooth as the proverbial baby's bottom.

Can't see how the cageless pivot makes maintenance a nightmare. I've had mine for two years, it's needed lubrication twice and once I had to lock-tite the pivot. If needed I rinse it out with water, when really dirty, I use soap and water and dry with paper towels and compressed air. No problem.

You don't need to disassemble most knives for maintenance; the sebenza is an exception. Unlike the sebenza, the Eros is is not built to be taken apart.

Tighten your pivot screw and you'll notice it gets stiffer. I think the IKBS on the Eros has 17 loose ball bearings per-side... yeah it was quite time consuming to reassemble after the accidental drop in sand. It was never the same after that either. It no longer centered and the lock became ridiculously sticky. And no I didn't exercise the pivot movement with sand in there, of course that would destroy the races. The tolerances for a knife that size aren't good enough for repeatable seamless dis/re-assembly. Just my experience. I don't doubt yours is perfect. But thats what I mean about tolerance. I had 2, they were both different in feel, smoothness, and lockup, and I was disappointed with both. Other people report them being perfect. So there is too much variance in the final product.