Replacement washers for Kershaw CWC-1K

[Kamoe]

I just pulled the trigger on a Kershaw/Emerson CQC 1K to get a feel for the wave feature before I start saving up for a real Emerson, but I found out after the purchase that it has teflon washers instead of phosphor-bronze. I'm not too fond of teflon in my experience, I much prefer bronze, my questions are: is it possible to replace the teflon with bronze washers, or would they be too thick? If that'll work, does anyone know the size washers I should be looking for to get, or if a size from an existing Kershaw knife would fit the CQC-1K so I can order them from Kershaw, which knife that would be?

 

[dkb45]

If you can even get your 1K apart you will find that the washers are rather thick, thicker than I have seen PB washers get. I am not a big fan of stacking washers, either, but it is an option. I can try and measure mine, but I can't get the bloody knife apart.

 

[killgar]

I have no experience with that knife, but I know that bronze phosphorus washers come in a variety of thicknesses from as thin as .005" to as thick as .020". I would describe the .005" as being paper thin (I use them on some of my knives). Obviously the .020" washers are 4 times thicker.

And if .020" isn't thick enough, you can always use more than one washer in each side of the pivot. I like to maintain a stock of various sizes and thicknesses of bp washers, both as replacements, and so I can customize my pivots by trying different thicknesses until I get them exactly the way I like.

Of course you would need to know the outer and inner diameter of the stock washers in order to get the right size bp washers. A good ruler is all you should need for that because bp washers are typically standard measurements (1/2", 3/8", 5/16", 3/16", 1/8", etc, etc).

 

[Kamoe]

Hmm, if they're truly that thick, then I might need to stack washers if I wanted to go with pb. Some of my favorite knives stack washers so I'm not concerned with that causing performance issues.

What I'm concerned about now is the construction. What's wrong with it that you can't get it apart? The hardware is a flathead for the pivot and phillips for the body, right?

 

[victorf]

OP, I believe your wanting to replace teflon with PB is good one! However, commercially available from most knife making supply, PB washer selection is far from complete. Especially the smaller OD variance.

Although I am not into making pivot washer for sale. But an idea to share as to it is a little more involved to come up with a set of precision custom replacement washer.

Its a good idea to measure the existing washers to get the base line dimension. Precision dial caliper or a micrometer is better suited to get the precise measurement. Replacement washers need to be parallel and square as well. To avoid variables, better to use one piece than multiple stack up.

I made two sets of PB washer to replaced the teflon on my two 3 1/2" XM-18s. Here, shown one set along with the homemade, Strider/Hinderer pivot disassemble tools:

This is a lapping tool, similar to the one I made to lap final thickness to .0147" on the four washers:

Along with good grade lubricant, PB washers installed XM-18's pivot action are truly transformed and without blade deflection:

Good luck!