Pivot Style Longevity

D

Drake S. Withers

Joined
May 9, 2017
Messages
10
Hi all,

I've been thinking about how pivot washers and bushings wear and wondering how different styles last. In particular, the pivot on the Spyderco Para 2 concerns me. It's my favorite knife so far, after testing hundreds of other good ones. But the pivot offers a fixed tightness spec—the pivot pin has a shelf against which the liners (or maybe just the bolt head) are pressed when it is tightened, preventing any adjustment of the knife's action. My concern is that once blade play begins to develop, there is no easy way to fix it.

My Para 2 is about five years old and it's still going strong. I was going to purchase an additional Para 2 just to have around because it's the only folding knife I really use anymore, but I'm wondering if I need to keep looking. (I've considered the Sebenza 31, among others.)

Could I hear a few opinions from some of you with experience, especially 20+ years with the same knife? What style of pivot do you think offers the best longevity and best resists developing play?
 
A pair of new washers is under two bucks, or you could file a bit off the pivot bushing if it became an issue, but I'd put good money that the thickness of the washers never changes enough to affect the action in your lifetime.
 
Thanks for the responses. Do you all feel that the fixed-action pivot pin found in the Spyderco Compression Lock is superior, or do you prefer the traditional style that allows tightening?
 
Drake S. Withers said:
Do you all feel that the fixed-action pivot pin found in the Spyderco Compression Lock is superior...
Click to expand...

I don't think it is a case of "superior" or not, just two different mechanical options. I prefer an adjustable pivot on a harder-use folder that may be subjected to some lateral cutting stresses that puts more strain on the pivot and liners or scales. Fixed action pivots are just fine for your average EDC cutting tasks, however.
 
I have quite a few PM2. And in all of them I can adjust the action from tight (like the blade is hard to move), to loose.

Meaning the liners don't sit flush on the "shoulders".

That being said, the PB washers should be wearing down until the action is perfect, wear less and less as the action gets looser. Self-adjusting in a sense, until the action is perfect and still without play. Until you disassemble again of course. Meaning frequent assembly/disassembly contributes to pivot wear.
 
My PM2 is 8.5 years old, has been taken apart and put back together a million times, custom screws, scales, and clip. I'm a massive fidgeter and it has been none the worse for wear. I wouldn't worry. Neither my Manix 2 nor my Yojimbo 2 have had these issues. For that matter, I've never had a pivot "issue" from wear.
 
I have a couple Seki made Spyderco Enduras I've had and used for decades. Two go back to 1992. They have held up fine. In fact I can't recall any pivot issues I've ever had on any folder except one Benchmade Panther ( linerlock ) from the 80's and all it needed was to be checked and re tightened now and then and that was to keep it from falling open in my pocket . Pivots just have never been an issue.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top