Smoothness of Hinderer tri-way ball bearings?

[sharp_edge]

My sample is tiny as I have only three XM-18s with the tri-way pivot system and maybe they need more time to break in (they are pretty much new)? They are not gritty, they flip 100% reliably with authority but they are definitely not as smooth as most ZTs that I have/had. This is just my wild guess but does it have anything to do with the thickness/size of the bearings and the construction of the bearing cage?

Any tri-way Hinderer owners mind share your experience and opinion?

 

[JAB]

My 3.5” stonewashed Spanto is ridiculously smooth and drop shutty but my 3” is not nearly as smooth (of course it’s not quite as broken in either.) XMs have always needed some degree of break-in and I think these are no different.

 

[Richard Coyle]

My 3.5 skinny sheepsfoot is very, very smooth. It slams closed with no wrist movement at all. I’m definetly very satisfied with it.

 

[Knives&Lint]

I own a Full-Track and a Jurassic, and while both are smooth, the Jurassic has a better flipping action. The ZT's I have experienced have have been slightly better than that. I have no complaints with my Hinderers though, in fact I am quite satisfied with them, just speaking relatively.

 

[Rykjeklut]

My 3,5" is very, very smooth, and it's running on whatever it comes with from assembly. The sheepsfoot is a massive hunk of steel though, so I bet it would be "fall-shutty" even on teflon.

 

[Kmikaz3]

I would say its pretty damn smooth. Drop shut.

 

[Kmikaz3]

This one is on pb washers tho, so not really related to the topic but still very smooth for washers

 

[ferider]

It really depends how they are adjusted. There’s quite a window from looser to harder action and still being able to keep the blade centered.

Assuming you talk about XMs. The Fulltrack is another matter.

Most ZT have steel washers; the Ti in Hinderers has to wear in (tracks).

Note that I adjust all my knives myself to my liking. Whoever assembles at the ranch obviously has a personal taste, different amount of loktite, etc. I know that Rick (eg, on the Covid skinner) doesn’t use any; others do ....

 

[Julian Williams]

My XM-24 Vintage is the smoothest knife I've ever experienced after breaking it in and adding nano lube. My full-track came feeling gritty, after cleaning/nano-lubing it got a little better. I think it has to due with the working finish blade, but I can tell its breaking in at least.

My one ZT on ballbearings, a 0456cf, is somewhere in the middle of those two. Its not gritty but it doesn't drop as freely as the XM.

 

[Clem Fandango]

I found mine arrived quite stiff. After tweaking the pivot screw slightly (remains centered with no blade rock etc) they are very smooth and drop shut.

 

[marrenmiller]

My sample is tiny as I have only three XM-18s with the tri-way pivot system and maybe they need more time to break in (they are pretty much new)? They are not gritty, they flip 100% reliably with authority but they are definitely not as smooth as most ZTs that I have/had. This is just my wild guess but does it have anything to do with the thickness/size of the bearings and the construction of the bearing cage?

Any tri-way Hinderer owners mind share your experience and opinion?

I had 3 and none of them were as smooth as most ZT ball bearing flippers I've had.

 

[sharp_edge]

It really depends how they are adjusted. There’s quite a window from looser to harder action and still being able to keep the blade centered.

Assuming you talk about XMs. The Fulltrack is another matter.

Most ZT have steel washers; the Ti in Hinderers has to wear in (tracks).

Note that I adjust all my knives myself to my liking. Whoever assembles at the ranch obviously has a personal taste, different amount of loktite, etc. I know that Rick (eg, on the Covid skinner) doesn’t use any; others do ....

I didn't know hinderer bearings are made of titanium. That probably explains the difference of smoothness that I experience. As for adjustment, I feel the detent strength affects the action more than the pivot tightness. That is what I learned from tweaking Its. I have not adjusted the detent of any of my tri-way xm-18s yet.

Edit: I think you mean the liner of hinderer is to. The ball bearings should still be steel. Guess I had a brain fart.

 

[abbazaba]

This actually has little to do with bearing differences, and more to do with lock bar tension and detent ball drag.

 

[ferider]

Edit: I think you mean the liner of hinderer is ti. The ball bearings should still be steel.

Yes, I meant Ti liner and lock side get bearing tracks over time - as they should, loosening up the action.

I've also seen detent all over the place, from Gen6 knives bought new. The lock angle varies, depending on who assembled the knife. Plus, that wears in, too, the lock gets softer over time, and the detent ball flattens just a bit.