Why the Hype for MRBS?

Rufus1949 said:
Would bearings tend to accumulate more "crud" thus requiring more cleaning than washers...especially with outdoor use...thus lowering their practicality?
I guess this leads back to intended function of knife.🤔
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In my experience they do accumulate more crud. Every single time I disassemble a knife on bearings I also clean it out, or there’s a noticeable difference in action.

But—you’re completely right—what are you using it for?
 
I’m not saying this is reasonable, but the theory goes like this: people are worried about steel bearings cutting grooves into Titanium. So they prefer steel washers between bearings and Ti, and/or MRB (generating multiple grooves with less pressure), or even cylindrical bearings.

In practice, IMHO, unless you keep dis/re-assembling the knife, it makes no difference. As the knife wears in, less and less Ti is cut.

Roland.
 
So would you suggest machining a recess for a washer; to act as a thrust washer?
 
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No; you're right on it. 👍
I've got them with, and without the washers...
 
Gotcha. I’ve never owned one that didn’t have recessing… though there were just a few that I never took apart before I sold.
 
WE and Rike don't use thrust washers. Olamic and Hinderer do.
(I think...)
 
If I made a list of all the advances in folding knife design ...bearings for pivots wouldn't even be there .

Zero impact / improvement on the function of the knife as a cutting tool .

But a VAST leap for the fidget toy knife ! :p
 
Leo Greer said:
In my experience they do accumulate more crud. Every single time I disassemble a knife on bearings I also clean it out, or there’s a noticeable difference in action.

But—you’re completely right—what are you using it for?
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This reminds me of cleaning a mechanical computer mouse.
 
I don't think I've owned an MRBS knife.

My personal opinion on bearings versus washers is the same as my general opinion on folders--right tool for the right job.

99% of my use for a folder is opening packages, mail, etc. Occasionally cutting my lunch as many of the restaurants near me have plastic knives that are extremely brittle.

If I'm plan to be doing something exceedingly dirty, I either carry a folder with washers or bring a fixed blade.

I avoid putting lateral stress on my knives if I can help it. It's cheaper to replace a screwdriver or pry bar than a knife.

I like disassembling stuff anyway. Seeing what makes it tick.
 
K.O.D. said:
I don't think I've owned an MRBS knife.
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Ever owned a Reate?

If no, go buy one.

If yes, then most of them seem to have MRBS… my Tasha Bharucha T3000 did not, but I recently opened up a newly purchased OG Torrent to (surprise) find MRBS in ugly blue plastic cages.

I didn’t even know they did that way back in 2016 or whenever the Torrent came out.

Well, I’m sure Shiro did.
 
Leo Greer said:
Ever owned a Reate?

If no, go buy one.

If yes, then most of them seem to have MRBS… my Tasha Bharucha T3000 did not, but I recently opened up a newly purchased OG Torrent to (surprise) find MRBS in ugly blue plastic cages.

I didn’t even know they did that way back in 2016 or whenever the Torrent came out.

Well, I’m sure Shiro did.
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To be honest, I no longer care to spent that much money, and there isn't a single Reate I'm interested in, except maybe a Peña apache.
 
K.O.D. said:
To be honest, I no longer care to spent that much money, and there isn't a single Reate I'm interested in, except maybe a Peña apache.
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That’s fair. They usually ain’t cheap. Still currently on my radar, but that may change within the next month.
 
HP2114B said:
WE and Rike both use steel washer inserts on their Ti framelocks.
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Maybe not ALL of them...
My little Rike Hummingbird doesn't have them...
and neither does the WE Vapor...

But it could just be that they don't put them in all models.
 
Bob Denman said:
Maybe not ALL of them...
My little Rike Hummingbird doesn't have them...
and neither does the WE Vapor...

But it could just be that they don't put them in all models.
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Did you actually watch that Vapor video? It has steel washers, as does the Hummingbird.

I have never seen a disassembled WE or Rike Ti framelock that did not have steel washer inserts.
 
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