What are your thoughts about ball bearings vs washers?

A well made and designed knife with bearings is fantastic....ie Shirogorov knives. They make it look/feel easy. They're incredible. The only thing IMO that makes them less desirable for a truly EDC is maintenance. I cant imagine having to take one apart to clean and lube...would be a nightmare as i think the bearings actually rest in a groove LOOSE.

The only bearing design that i think/know of for the casual, weekend warrior/mechanically DECLINED (myself) is the caged bearing design.

I once owned a custom flipper that had caged bearings. The bearings were somewhat sealed in a plastic ring?(for lack of better description/knowledge). The knife was very easy to take apart, and the caged bearings just lay in a recessed cutout. I took it apart once to "clean it" and was totally comfortable with the process. I basically cleaned off the dirty lube from the bearing cage and re lubed it. I didnt keep the knife very long but i could see how replacing the caged bearing set up would be somewhat convenient.

I forgot to mention the "Vs washers" part...id prob just stick with the washer set up like CRK uses. I enjoy both fast and slow opening methods on various knives, but i tend to gravitate to the slower CRK method.
 
I love a ball bearing pivot. The only way I can describe how smooth it is is by saying it's like introducing blade play in a knife with washers. You feel no resistance. But the nice thing is you can get them tight and there's no issue. I don't lube mine and they're quiet and smooth.
 
unit said:
Right on. To me ball bearings (of needle bearings) in a knife pivot are a solution to a problem I don't have.

Opinions vary, but I am satisfied with the design I currently carry. I'm not going to argue with anyone, but I won't be convinced that I need a faster pivot. If speed ever becomes a problem, I'll stick with my fixed blades;)
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Exactly. Don't need a faster pivot. The washer is more bomb-proof and, depending on the design, thinner and/or less expensive to incorporate into the design and manufacturing process.
 
Looks like mostly prefer washers against bearings (caged or not), myself included. :D
 
I'm not as sold on bearings as I was a few years ago, mainly because a good washer system is largely indiscernible from a bearing setup. I think bearing races are more prone to collecting dirt as well as being more expensive. I don't dislike, I just don't they're the cat's meow.
 
The most impressive bearing pivot knife I've tried (and consequently purchsased) is the Benchmade 761. It's such a light and stiff knife overall...it blasts open with a nudge on the stud. It's quicker than some assisted flippers I've owned like Kershaw Speedsafe designs.

On the flipside, my Farid mini K2 is such a big, heavy knife that the Teflon washers it rides on are perfect. Smooth as butter and they give you a level of control that is needed with a knife that size. If bearings had been used I think it would easily fly out of your hand when opening.

Now, I've played with all kinds of Sebenza and I own an Umnumzaan. I think bearings would kind of ruin the trademark feel of these knives.
 
Crk folders are not flippers so imo no need for ball bearing pivots. The pivot design of the sebenza is a proven design and such simple design that can be maintained by oneself. I have also a zt560 and xm18 and both being excellent flippers may have issues due to wear from being flipped. I may be wrong though but nonetheless, i prefer to use the thumbstuds.
 
I for one avoid bearings at all costs, as said it is a solution to a problem that hasn't occurred or probably will not occur in my eyes. I dearly hope CRK stays away from bearings.
 
Ok i have had both, and every1 does know you can purchase a variety of diffrent quality bearings for your folder? Copper or teflon washers will not withhold 2000 lbs of force without distorting. If a knife with good bearings and made properly you will never have problems! Try using your teflon folder with something really hot, then watch the blade play!
 
I avoid bearing and flippers when I can. Sure they work fine. Less is more.

That is why I love the Sebenza.

I used to wish my Ti-lock had PB washers but I looked past that.
 
Interesting question as I just came across only a few days ago for the first time ever, opeing up a Benchmade knife. This was a 940 Osborne and I opened it to remove the blade to put a Wicked Edge mirror on it. I was surprised to see it ran on two small bronze looking washers much like a Sebenza only smaller without the grease holes in the washers like a CRK.

I used for a short time a ZT 0562 and it ran on roller bearings and it flipped open smooth as silk. So did a Spyderco Para II which I thought ran on bearings. I resold both though as I'm hooked on the smoothness of CRK's. If I want fast flipper action, I use my BM assisted Emissary or my Kershaw assisted Ken Onion Blur. The Emissary is probably two bronze washers and the Onion my guess would be bearings.

Interesting that this is a 3 year old thread. Looks like this question never gets old!
 
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The very mention is off-putting. I only own two with bearings, a Trevor burger and a Ti lock.
 
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