Looking for folding pocket knives brand that don't use ball bearings for blade swinging

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alan0354

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Hi

The only brand that I know that has knives with no ball bearings and have the index finger tap to deploy the blade is Steel Will. The index finger tap I refer to is shown in the picture:
https://i.postimg.cc/TYvPqfkR/Index-finger-tap.jpg

I cannot use the thumb tap or the hole to deploy the blade, so it has to have the index finger tap. That rules out Cold Steel. Any suggestion of brands in the price range of $40 to $80 is appreciated.

Thanks
 
Buck vantage uses washers and has flipper tab......also has a narrow oval shaped hole but really isn't useable to open easily. kinda low to the scales and too narrow to get your thumb in there.
 
Thanks guys

I try to make the first post short, I want to find a knife that is without ball bearings, also I am looking for one that has a long flipper tap that gives better prevention of the knife from being shoved back into the hand, like as shown in this picture, and blade length between 3.25" to 3.5"

[url=https://postimg.cc/w1xtQtSB][/URL]

I did a lot of research, pretty much ruled out Cold Steel and Buck. The only brand I found so far is Steel Will.

1) https://steelwillknives.com/our-knives/urban-series/warbot-f10-03.html

2) https://steelwillknives.com/our-knives/urban-series/lanner-f35m-01.html

Before I order one of the two, I want to run it by here to see whether there is any other possibilities.

Thanks
 
Uh, not a genius on this, but Kershaw comes closest - Try for something with 8cr +
Will be 80 or less. Bunch of Civivi and Petrified Fish and Ruike which are perfectly usable tools if on a budget though truth be told I don't enjoy rec'ing Chinese knives. Rec Ruikes in 14C28n because it's all I have, gifted and they're good, usable knives.
 
Hashishiin said:
Uh, not a genius on this, but Kershaw comes closest - Try for something with 8cr +
Will be 80 or less. Bunch of Civivi and Petrified Fish and Ruike which are perfectly usable tools if on a budget though truth be told I don't enjoy rec'ing Chinese knives. Rec Ruikes in 14C28n because it's all I have, gifted and they're good, usable knives.
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I am actually looking at S&W, cheap as long as it's 8Cr13MoV blade. I just ordered the Steel Will Lanner, I am thinking about cancelling the order.
 
alan0354 said:
I am actually looking at S&W, cheap as long as it's 8Cr13MoV blade. I just ordered the Steel Will Lanner, I am thinking about cancelling the order.
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Just a warning, have not heard the best things about their build quality - might do that the other way around, but ya know
 
I know its not what you are asking, but unless you are a pro sandblaster or sandsculptor I wouldnt be too precious about bearings, they can be replaced anyway.
Washer flippers might be hard to find I think Steel Will is one of the few.
 
Buy a Ruike P801 and don’t look back. $39, good steel, flipper opener. Look on the site named after a big river.

Many years ago this was my first “good” knife….100 knives later I still have it and still like & enjoy it.
 
Hashishiin said:
Just a warning, have not heard the best things about their build quality - might do that the other way around, but ya know
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I have like 10 of those knives with ball bearings that are from $30 to $70 which is middle of the road, pricier than S&W. Brands including Kubey, Kizer, CJRB, Forsail and Off-Grid etc. I don't particularly think they are built any better than S&W that I have that cost only $13. I would say I have to work on 70% of them to make them lock better. The line lock on a lot of them had to be bent and adjust to get better engagement. A few of them where the big pivot screw CANNOT be tighten because it will squeeze the blade and the blade would get stuck. I had to thin out the fiber glass layer to give it more space. Stupid people just not tightening the screw!!! They just ship it like that!!

They all are very sloppily made, the S&W I have really is not worst. Just the steel is 7Cr17MoV, too cheap. This time, I only look at 8Cr13MoV minimum.

I decided to keep both.
 
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elasmonut said:
I know its not what you are asking, but unless you are a pro sandblaster or sandsculptor I wouldnt be too precious about bearings, they can be replaced anyway.
Washer flippers might be hard to find I think Steel Will is one of the few.
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It's a long story, First, I have a lot of knives with ball bearings already. From taking them apart, I notice one weak point in knives with ball bearings is the area where the ball bearings are, either the blade or the steel lining of the handle is very THIN in order to accommodate the bearings. The picture below show the area of concern of Sencut Acumen. You cannot judge by looking at the outside of the knife, they might look very heavy duty, you have to OPEN it and look to see. Meaning it's a crap shoot.

Sen-Cut-thickness.jpg


The worst is you cannot count on the brand. I have a Kubey KU159 where it is 0.06" thick, very robust, but then I bought the KU901, it's as thin as the Sencut Acumen. Same as Off-Grid, the Baby Rhino is very good with 0.07" thick. Then I bought the Enforcer which is held as very heavy duty. The blade part is ok, BUT they milled the frame on both side to like paper thin.

When this part become too thin, it becomes a weak pt of the knife particular in outdoor and survival situation when you might need to use it to pry. You might not have all the other tools and you have to use the knife to pry. This can be another weak point other than the tip of the blade.

After having all the ones with ball bearings, I decide to get some WITHOUT ball bearing.
 
I strongly dislike bearings in all of the folders I have tried so far. It’s possible that a more premium example would be different, but I just plain old don’t like the way they feel.
 
BJE said:
I strongly dislike bearings in all of the folders I have tried so far. It’s possible that a more premium example would be different, but I just plain old don’t like the way they feel.
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Give me some names of the reasonable priced ones without ball bearings.
 
alan0354 said:
Give me some names of the reasonable priced ones without ball bearings.
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I think the problem might be with your expectation for a folding EDC knife. In a survival situation, I’ll always flex to a fixed blade knife, as should you.

The distinctions you’re drawing between scale thickness (aka “strength”) in a washer knife vs. a bearing knife is like trying to split an imaginary hair.

There is simply no evidence of bearing knives failing at the pivot at a faster rate than washer knives. If a folding knife fails you in a survival situation, it’ll be at the lock, not in the handle.

Any well made folder will serve well in an EDC mode, regardless of bearings vs. washers. I think you’re trying to solve a problem that doesn’t really exist.
 
alan0354 said:
It's a long story, First, I have a lot of knives with ball bearings already. From taking them apart, I notice one weak point in knives with ball bearings is the area where the ball bearings are, either the blade or the steel lining of the handle is very THIN in order to accommodate the bearings. The picture below show the area of concern of Sencut Acumen. You cannot judge by looking at the outside of the knife, they might look very heavy duty, you have to OPEN it and look to see. Meaning it's a crap shoot.
Click to expand...
I'd sooner trust a knife like a Zero Tolerance with the bearing cutouts than anything that cost $80 and certainly any knife that cost $40. I also wouldn't expect anything to be heavy duty in that price range.
 
I see no issue, but then I would never use a folder to pry or any other activity that puts lateral stress on the pivot or blade. Get a pocket prybar.

I don't see the steel liners on my PM2 as being stronger than the titanium on my ZT's.

I also don't have any modern folders in that price range.
 
tokerblue said:
I'd sooner trust a knife like a Zero Tolerance with the bearing cutouts than anything that cost $80 and certainly any knife that cost $40. I also wouldn't expect anything to be heavy duty in that price range.
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You would be really surprised. Maybe the blade material is better in the expensive ones, I don't think you can put a price tag on quality and sturdiness. I did find at least 3 knives even with ball bearings that are very robust at lower price range.



The biggest one is LAURISILVA, less than $30, middle one is Kubey KU159 and the small one is Off-Grid Baby Rhino. Notice all 3 has wide and thicker blade, the tip is not pointy so it's not easy to break off. I can say there 3 are very sturdy.

I am not saying the pivot part is the most critical, but it can be one of the weak point. I am not into name brand designer's stuffs. I want something that I won't cry if I lose it.
 
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