Rick hinderer using teflon washers

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killerelite

Joined
Nov 29, 2012
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greetings to all, i just picked up a xm-18 fatty special edition and found out they have TEFLON washers instead of the phosphorous ones usually used on alot of high end folders. i was wondering why is this ? is it to save him $$$? i know first hand the teflon washers run as smooth as butter but im wondering how long is their longevity? and is it okay to use tuf-glide on these washers? how durable are they really? if anyone can answer my questions id greatly appreciate it. by the way everything else concerning fit and finish is spot on with my xm-18s
 
IIRC, they use teflon for corrosion resistance and natural lubricity. Ive had no issues with durability, and have used several different lubricants without any concerns.
 
:D this is gonna be a great thread...

The only advice I have on teflon washers is be careful when you put the pivot back together if you takw it apart. The pivot can cut the washer if its not lined up fully.
 
Reassembly is the only time Teflon washers pose an issue. I like them fine. Just avoid taking the knife apart when you don't need to, which is almost never, and be careful when you do. Enjoy the knife. It's a good one.
 
My Teflon washers on my Emerson's have held up perfectly since 2012. Never an issue. I'm sure Rick has done his homework. Use it in confidence
 
I have no problem with the Teflon washers on my Hinderer's or other knives. Many high end makers do use them. If you do a little research you will find pros and cons to both Teflon and phosphorous bronze. You can buy extra washers-just in case.
 
I've got some Benchmades, Emersons, and stuff that are 20+ years old and still on the original Teflon washers. Opened, cleaned, and lubed a million times. They still work well. I honestly don't know what all the fuss is about.
 
The teflon washers are good to go. And some of us have a habit of replacing them with phosphor bronze anyway. It really doesn't make much difference in the action but I like using larger OD phosphor bronze because you can run the pivot looser, the detent stronger, and the blade still centers. This was a big help on my fatty because the heavy blade needed a stronger detent to not fall open in my pocket.



My MP-1...

 
I thought it was something to do with heat resistance. The xm-18 was designed for firefighters. Not positive...
 
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I haven't had any issues with either PB or teflon. Currently I use PB washers in my XM-18, it's not quite as free dropping and smooth as the teflon ones were but they give me a bit more piece of mind knowing that my whole knife is metal.
 
Honestly at this point I want literally nothing to do with knives that do not have PB washers or bearing systems, Teflon is just a cheap cost cutting measure and the messed up thing is PB washers are not even that expensive!!
 
Dean Crail said:
Honestly at this point I want literally nothing to do with knives that do not have PB washers or bearing systems, Teflon is just a cheap cost cutting measure and the messed up thing is PB washers are not even that expensive!!
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I doubt the decision came out of a cost cutting perspective. The cost of any washer would be negligible compared to the rest.
 
Dean Crail said:
Honestly at this point I want literally nothing to do with knives that do not have PB washers or bearing systems, Teflon is just a cheap cost cutting measure and the messed up thing is PB washers are not even that expensive!!
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Really don't think the choice is do to cost-just what the maker likes for the situation
 
Funny, I showed my female dermatologist a birthmark under my ball sack. She asked how in the world did I notice it and I said my gf pointed it out. She then said we may need to keep an eye on it.

I have an old CRK small sebenza BG42 that has the bronze washers. Not sure the newer versions have them.
 
Davor said:
I have an old CRK small sebenza BG42 that has the bronze washers. Not sure the newer versions have them.
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CRK still uses the Phosphorous bronze washers on their Sebenza's but they are not the same washers. The new ones have all sorts of cut outs rather than solid
 
Have the people who dislike teflon washers actually had bad experiences with them? I'd honestly like to hear.

My smoothest knives have teflon washers, and I've beat the hell out of my SuperLeaf (especially) for years without any issue at all.

Only BP washers that come close to as smooth are my Umnumzaan and GB1.
 
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