Not a bearings fan...

I'm with @JAB --I like and use both.

ZJiJUlY.jpg


I've never had a much of a problem with gunk or grit getting into my bearing knife pivots--in day-to-day use, on the job, or in our woods and fields up north, but then I don't plunge my knives into the dirt either. Both types of pivots do require regular maintenance and occasional cleaning.
 
Bearing are cool for flipping, playing and, when clean and clear of debris, that smooth action that a bearing can offer.

However, for work, hunting, camping - places and activities that can stuff in there, I prefer washers (PB) or, in the case of some knives, nothing at all.
 
ChazzyP said:
I'm with @JAB --I like and use both.

ZJiJUlY.jpg


I've never had a much of a problem with gunk or grit getting into my bearing knife pivots--in day-to-day use, on the job, or in our woods and fields up north, but then I don't plunge my knives into the dirt either. Both types of pivots do require regular maintenance and occasional cleaning.
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A bit off topic, what shiro is that?
 
I have only one folder on bearings, and I never carry it. Just today I've made the decision to go further and carry a fixed-blade instead of a folder for EDC. My Ka-Bar BK11 is about the size of a mid-sized folder anyway, and the benefit of my small size is my similarly small hands; I can actually get all my fingers onto that little handle bit.

Functionally, though, I'm not that against bearings. Any folder of any kind, I'd think twice about getting dirty because bearings or not, I don't dare to disassemble my knives. One ruined knife and I'll never do it again. I've discovered I'm equally fastidious with my folders on washers as I am with my folder on bearings, and my enjoyment of using knives has been marred by that fear of dirt and grime getting in. Carrying a fixed-blade now, I think I'd be more inclined to use my knife more, and that's a good thing as far as I'm concerned.
 
Triple Stripe Knives said:
A bit off topic, what shiro is that?
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That's the 111, named for its blade length in mm's. BTW, the smaller knife is a Cheburkov Strizh that runs on PB washers. Both knives are CF both sides with the 111 having but one nested liner and the Strizh a "linerless linerlock" similar to the North Fork Skaha with the lockbar secured only by its tight fit and the clip screw.
 
My Buck Marksman runs with bearings and so far it has went through some dirty work around the farm and ranch. I’ve shaved hair off of a cow to treat an abscess and trimmed a lot of wood sticks, cut lots of poly twine that has dirt and hay mixed in. My son has one too and uses it hard every day feeding cattle, cutting poly twine off large round bales opening feed sacks and other general use. I was concerned about it but now I don’t even think about it, I just use it like any other work knife.
 
I personally would never have thought about there being a problem with bearings. Then I've seen several of the threads posted here with pretty graphic pictures about what happens with some knives with them. Not all were work knives, not all had seen "duty/daily/work" use and certainly none had been neglected or abused.

Seeing pictures of corrosion here and reports back with excessive wear from the bearings wallowing out the friction points or deteriorating themselves put me off. The topper was on one of the last threads folks were replacing their bearings so quickly that there is now a recommended bearing provider other than the manufacturer.

I don't need and don't want one more thing to keep up with, maintain, or use only under certain conditions. Washers of all types seem to work well for me, so no bearings.

Robert
 
As far as fidget-factor knives, bearings are where it's at. I currently dont have any bearing flippers but I'd love to get a front flipper on bearings just for fun. I have had problems with bearings in the past though. Not as many others have said with gunk getting in there and ruining the action, but with the bearing balls denting the titanium they run against. I had a ZT 0560 that I was working some blade play out of. I tightened the pivot a little to much and the bearings pushed into the Ti and created divots and eventually a track. The action was never the same. If I ever get another bearing flipper I'd really prefer if it had a steel bearing race to limit the wear in the track.

Out side of fidget knives, I whole heartedly prefer washers for working knives. Emerson knives are one of my favorites because of their thick nylatron washers that dont corrode or oxidize, but thick phosphor bronze washers are really durable as well.
 
I prefer bearings to assisted or auto, but bearings do indeed have their weaknesses.

In addition to being dirt and sand magnets, if there is lateral force on the blade the ball bearings are pressing into the track. If indentions are made there is going to be some roughness there. If an accident happens and the lock fails, that edge can move at warp speed into your fingers. This makes them light to medium use knives, with notable exceptions. I will still buy bearing flippers just because they are enjoyable.

I would say that washers are probably the best. Done properly a washer knife can be more than smooth enough and still be able to shrug off the grit, mud, water, and blood in the outdoors. Ontario Rat-1 is a good example.
 
I've had both and can frankly say having one or the other is not a deciding factor when I look for a new knife.
 
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