Washers vs bearings 

You have put it better than anyone else I have heard!

Maybe in most people’s cases, it’s pretty similar. I have both types & for me, washers are ideal at my job. As a machinist, there’s grime & grit mixed with oil & chemicals everywhere. I tried keeping a knife on bearings but it became troublesome. At home however, I go with bearings & like them equally so. Spyderco sage 5 lightweight is as good as it gets with washers. That I’ve experienced

huh... i always heard of the whole dont get gunk in bearings, but now i have to rethink things. ive definitely gotten all sorts of things in washers (sand, coffee, blood, etc) and it always affects the action a lot, but never bearings. hope this doesnt become another controversy

They say assisted opening is "cheating". I'm not the biggest assist/open fan...but if the steel is properly heat treated....I could care less. Washers / bearings...I hear bearings get dirty actually...but I can't tell the difference. I do TRY to get a knife on bearings if it's possible. Why? Because I see people who say very good things about em...if im being honest

Freaking awesome as always "crazy sharp" I have always found your vids very informative and entertaining!!!!!

I still tend to make my work knife a Sebenza on washers. All my knives on bearings drop shut. When I'm working and my mind is on not just my knife, but on whatever else I'm holding and working with while my knife is in my hand, I don't want it to drop shut. I want to have to purposefully open and close the knife. I don't mind an OTF for this because I can be very purposeful with the switch, but I don't like a blade that free falls shut. I'm also not sure I trust bearings when a knife gets dirty yet, at least not with more than pocket lint. So I tend to carry a small Seb for work, and my other knives like Hinderer, Curtiss, etc. when I am just at home or hanging out around town with friends and family.

What about Teflon washer like on hinderers

Hmm interesting, I consistently have the opposite happen, bearing knives seem to not work for me, I work construction and stuff like that, washers haven’t given me much difficulty at all. I’m gonna do some testing on my own, try to figure out some definitive results. Great video!

Nice job on the video

The problem is when bearing her dirty fast. And sand dust ect is not good for bearing. It can ruin the bearings.

I've been carrying a bugout for a year, never taken it apart and don't have any plan to.... I cut steak I wash it, I whittle a wood stake I don't... Tomorrow I'll cut butter and open some mail.... Next day I'll dig out a splinter.. But I ain't taking the knife apart... I might spray some slick stuff if I think about it..... If it ever wears out those bushings I'll talk to benchmade... Lol probably not I don't expect it to ever (as long as I give a shit)

I thumbs upped it immediately. Did I do good MIke?

So this was basically ceramic bearings vs phrosphor bronze washer. Compare steel bearings vs nylon washers and you will get exactly the opposite result. Ceramic is self lubricating that's why is stays smoother even with dirt in it. Same for nylon. Phosphor bronze is not really self lubricating and needs alot of maintenance and lubricant to be smooth.. same for steel bearings. You can't really just compare bearings to washers you need to compare all the different types.