i have fallen in love with my 51s even though i bitched like no other over the retirement of the 42....

anyways, check out this guy's custom 51! i personally like the way it comes from benchmade but thought you guys might think this is interesting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...Bw32Lkg&feature=fvst

I like the bearings, but I'm not really digging the scales or the fake hamon. I could get into different colored anodized liners just for variety, but I think I'd still end up liking the original blue the best. Basically give me a stock 51 and put bearings in it. Perfect.

Finally! Welcome to The Dark Side, PhDarth!

This YouTube video was a real pleasure to watch, probably because the guy echoes what I've posted here time and again about how so many sheeple view the 42 as some sort of Holy Grail. Of course, it IS a benchmark of Bali-dom, but as PhDarth here has come to realize, the 51 is worthy of Bali-love. Besides, when you own a bakers' dozen of them, what's there to complain about?

And I'm with the Pastafarian here...I'd have to flip one with the Ti scales before I bought into them. Part of the reason I love my 51s is their lighter weight. Bearings will always be a big plus.

One problem with the video is the reviewer kept calling them bushings when I think he meant bearings...specifically, ball bearings. There's a world of difference so, please let me know which he really meant?

I'm curious what makes you guys think he's taking about bearings? I pretty darn sure he was talking about bushings, just like he said he was. I heard nor saw anything in the vid to lead me to believe otherwise.

The guy in the video was saying that with the "bushings," you can crank the pivot screws down as tightly as you can, which would lock the handles up. With bearings, such as the ones in the new 53, I think you could reduce the handle play to practically nil. But I don't own one, so I'm making an assumption.

With bushings you can crank the pivot screws down all the way without locking up the handles; that's the point of bushings. My Tachyon has practically no play whatsoever because of the bushings and I can tighten that sucker up all the way.

I have a DDR with IKBS bearings that is also great in regards to play, but it's just a different system.

It's clear to me in the case of this fella's viddy that he is referring to bushings because he describes the bushing as "a piece of bronze inside the blade that is 1/2000 longer than the blade is wide." That sounds like an apt description of a bushing to me. Just sayin.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Helix,

quote:

Originally posted by Helix:
It's clear to me in the case of this fella's viddy that he is referring to bushings because he describes the bushing as "a piece of bronze inside the blade that is 1/2000 longer than the blade is wide." That sounds like an apt description of a bushing to me. Just sayin.

Yep, that's what it sounds like, alright.

I like the mod on this 51. Now I'm thinking about having something similar done. I wouldn't have any of the rainbow colors or the cera coat done, but I like the idea of bushings and all ti handles. The 51 is a little light for my tastes and it seems like this would add just enough weight to balance it out. I would want a slight roundover on the handles though. I don't like completely flat handles like that.

On a side note, I did a little de-anodizing mod on my 51 myself because I didn't care for the blue. I kinda prefer less flashy and more tactical colors on my knives personally.
http://www.brokenbrains.us/are...opic.php?f=19&t=2300

Very in-depth tutorial, thanks. I'm not extremely fond of the blue engine-turned look, but I wouldn't go throught all that to get rid of it. I do appreciate the education, though.