Thoughts on non-metal bushings.

B

Brian6244

Joined
Aug 25, 2004
Messages
537
I recently purchased a Sere 2000.

Upon inspection I was surprised to find that the pivot bushings were not metal. After owning Benchmade and CRK knives I guess I just expect to find metal (bronze?) bushings on knives with reputations for quality. The bushings on this knife are white and look like plastic. Maybe they are nylon or something like that but I don't think they are metal.

So, what are your thoughts on non-metal pivot bushings?
 
I don't like them. Don't ask me to explain why, as I've never had any problems with them. They just seem to be of lower quality than phosphor bronze ones. Maybe it's similar to the way others feel about FRN handles.
 
GarageBoy said:
I love the nytralon and teflon bearings for some reason. They're REALLY smooth to me
Click to expand...

:thumbup: same here. some companies seen to use a very flimsy plastic washer:thumbdn: I have found them to deform when pressure is exerted on the blade. ie. prying.
 
I was told that Nylatron washers feature the best tradeoff between friction and rigidity. Teflon=very low friction, low rigidity, and phos-bronze the opposite. Nylatron fits somewhere in between.
HOWEVER, Nylatron will still flex a little and manufacturers still ought to give enough clearance so that the blade won't rub. If they don't, it's a design flaw. IMO, it really shouldn't be that hard to make the handle just a little thicker to accomodate this, why it happens so often is beyond me. :rolleyes:
For thin handled gentlemen's knives where there is minimal clearance because size is an issue, only phos-bronze will do.
 
If the washers are a dark blackish grey, it's nylatron. If it's a blueish white, it's teflon.
 
I've replaced the Nylatron washers in my Emerson CQC-8 with phosphor bronze for a long test run.

I found absolutely no improvement in lock up, pivot action, maybe an unmeasurable increase in stiffness when prying.

I went back to the Nylatrons and find them to deliver great performance. They seem to be smoother without lube than the phosphor bronze meaning you can use your knife dry so dirt doesn't collect in the lube.

Phosphor bronze washers area "comfort factor" that some customers seem to want rather than a real need.

Nothing against them just don't consider them superior or more desireable than Nylatron.
 
They are probably nylatron, or teflon. While these do not wear as well as bronze, they are adequate. The way a folder is built has much to do with how the bushings will wear. Tolerences that are correct will cause the bushings to last much longer. Incorrect tolerances will cause bushings to wear "unevenly" (tolerences such as the pivot screw, back spacers, etc.)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top