Which makers use pivot bearings?

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wutitiz

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Mar 5, 2008
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To my knowledge, there are still not a lot of makers out there using pivot bearings, which is one of the things I look for now. I have almost gotten to where I turn up my nose at any new folder that does not have this feature.

A few makers are using IKBS (Ikoma Korth Bearing System), which I think was created by Brazilian maker Flavio Ikoma. I have a Darrel Ralph folder with IKBS, and it is great, although I think his newer 'Max-Glide' pivot sealed bearing is even smoother.

Makers using IKBS:

Ikoma
Todd Begg
Les Voorhies
Charles Marlowe
Mikkel Willlumsen
(There may be others of whom I'm not aware).

Texas makers Brad Duncan and Larry Chew have been making folders with their own pivot bearings for several years. I have several Duncans, and they are very smooth.

I have seen ads indicating that RJ Martin uses pivot bearings of his own design on some of his folders, although I've yet to handle one. Darrel Ralph has his 'Max-Glide' sealed bearing. I have one of his 'Triggers' with it, and it is by far the smoothest-opening folder I have seen. The blade seems to jump out as if it's assisted, but it's not. I can hold it pointing straight up, and flick open the blade via either the thumb stud or the flipper. That doesn't work w/ my Duncans, or with any other folder that I own.

I am also interested to know of any knives so smooth that they feel like they're bearing-equipped. I gather that the Benchmade axis locks and Kershaw 'RAMs' may fall into this category. There was a video that I think may have been posted here originally by maker Brian Felthoelter that is pretty impressive in regard to smoothness.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTV8U45OQvo
I believe he does not use a pivot bearing, just precision fit. I've never handled one of his knives. It looks good, but I still would prefer a knife with a pivot bearing.

Does anyone know of other makers or companies offering pivot bearings? As far as I know, there are zero production companies doing it.
 
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I believe Lone Wolf also use pivot bearings, although my Harsey is still a little 'less smooth' than my AXIS BM707
 
I looked at the Lone Wolf site, and could find nothing about their use of bearings--any link or further info?
 
wutitiz said:
I looked at the Lone Wolf site, and could find nothing about their use of bearings--any link or further info?
Click to expand...

Re the Lone Wolf Harsey tactical folder, i'm not sure if their whole range does it
http://68.142.142.185/details.asp_Q_prodid_E_LW14700HARSEYT3_A_cat_E_9_A_path_E_1,7
Lone Wolf Hasey T3 is constructed with premium components. CPM S-30V Blade Steel for excellent edge retention. Titanium frame & liners for strength. Heat treated stainless steel pivots and phosphor bronze bearings for strength and smooth opening.
Click to expand...
 
That's a bushing to keep the handles at a preset distance, and a pair of bronze bushings to reduce friction, not a roller/pin/ball bearing
 
Lone Wolf and CRK use phospher/bronze washers and that is not the same as the systems mentioned by wutitiz.
 
I don't know....other than being exceptionally "smooth" to open and close, what other advantage do they offer?
 
cutter17 is right. I'm pretty sure that Lone Wolf uses the traditional washers. It sounds like these are sometimes called 'bearings' but that was not what I had in mind. IKBS uses actual ball bearings--you can see them if you look closely in the pivot area. Maybe I do not know the correct nomenclature to distinguish between the washer-type bearings and the newer ones like IKBS and 'Max-glide.' Can someone help me out here?

The traditional washers can be pretty smooth, but IKBS and that ilk is a quantum leap forward in smoothness. Todd Begg, for example, had very smooth-opening folders even before he went to IKBS, but he must have found that IKBS offered significant improvement or he would not have adopted it.
 
RJ Martin uses a roller bearing system that has 7 bearings encased within a polymer (plastic for the uninformed:D) case. These are placed within a circular cutout on the handle. This way the blade "rides" open on the bearings. I had a Devastator and this system worked to perfection on it.
 
Michael Burch (Burchtree Bladeworks) also uses IKBS

Although I use IKBS on all of my folders, I think the greatest benefit is for flippers and balis. I have made and seen many other makers folders that are super smooth without a bearing system. It's nice when your opening and closing a blade with a thumb stud to be able to feel some resistance. With a bearing system the blade can sometime move so freely that it's a little scary (especially with large blades). I don't think people should snub non-bearing folders, sometimes that amount of smoothness is just not necessary.
 
Les, you know more than I ever will, but I would just point out again that Todd Begg made super smooth folders without a bearing system, but he still found it worthwhile to go to IKBS.

I ran across this youtube video of an RJ Martin folder w/ his bearing system:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LlRq-RKOjY

Thanks very much for the reply.
 
wutitiz said:
Les, you know more than I ever will, but I would just point out again that Todd Begg made super smooth folders without a bearing system, but he still found it worthwhile to go to IKBS.

I ran across this youtube video of an RJ Martin folder w/ his bearing system:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LlRq-RKOjY

Thanks very much for the reply.
Click to expand...

:D I can't speak for Todd but I do it on regular folders because it's a little bit easier and hold its adjustment better.
 
I have a Brad Duncan "whiplash" folder with a ballbearing pivot. I can open the blade faster than an automatic folder. locks up very solid and the blade stays secure in the handle when closed. I don't worry about the blade opens accidentally in my pocket. carbon fiber bolster and silver G10 handle. S30V blade and titanium liners. excellent folder.:D
 
A Brad Duncan was the first beariing-equipped knife I had. He has somewhat of a checkered history on Bladeforums. I rate his bearing system as less smooth than either IKBS or 'Maxxglide,' but still very good. His blades will tend to fall open if carried tip-up. I do love some of his designs, especially the 'Misfit' frame-lock (bad name choice for a folder, though!).
 
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