About knives & vibrations

[Stas]

Asking this kind of question almost embarrasses me, but I come from the world of vintage watches where vibrations and humidity are big enemies. So, I apply the same mindset to my Spyderco knives.

Do even minor vibrations affect folding knives, not the super strong and prolonged ones that loosen screws, but just regular handling, accidental bumps and transportation?

I know none of you probably inspect your knives inside under a microscope like we do with edges, but from a design and mechanical perspective, does it matter? After all, Sal added foam inserts to each box for a reason.

P.S. I get it, my knives have been on quite the journey to reach me, and parcels not handled like plutonium capsules from Back to the Future. But I still treat that plastic box with BNIB backups on top of my bookshelf like it's delicate, and when I accidentally bump the shelf below with a book's corner, I cringe!

[standy99]

Pocket knives go in pocket…don’t over think it. The occasional spa treatment will sort out anything.

Watch guy also and have plenty of 1950-60 Vintage Omegas that run as good as the day they left Omega with a regular service history.

[Bolster]

Do even minor vibrations affect folding knives, not the super strong and prolonged ones that loosen screws, but just regular handling, accidental bumps and transportation?

I've never heard of it, or experienced it. The contact/mating surfaces of knives are just so much larger, stronger and hardier than watches or electronics or other delicate instruments. Simple designs with sufficient (often metal) contacting surfaces = sturdy.

[yablanowitz]

I believe that foam insert is more to protect the box than the knife. The often maligned threadlocker is there to prevent vibration from loosening screws, and
it mostly works. Aside from threaded fasteners, there's nothing to worry about. Depending on how many boxes you have atop the bookcase, you may need to upgrade from "cringe" to "duck and cover". A guy could get buried that way around my place.

[Mushroom]

Asking this kind of question almost embarrasses me, but I come from the world of vintage watches where vibrations and humidity are big enemies. So, I apply the same mindset to my Spyderco knives.

Do even minor vibrations affect folding knives, not the super strong and prolonged ones that loosen screws, but just regular handling, accidental bumps and transportation?

I know none of you probably inspect your knives inside under a microscope like we do with edges, but from a design and mechanical perspective, does it matter? After all, Sal added foam inserts to each box for a reason.

P.S. I get it, my knives have been on quite the journey to reach me, and parcels not handled like plutonium capsules from Back to the Future. But I still treat that plastic box with BNIB backups on top of my bookshelf like it's delicate, and when I accidentally bump the shelf below with a book's corner, I cringe!

Nothing to worry about at all. Makes no difference from a design or mechanical perspective.

[kobold]

Only if batoning with a folder counts as vibration.

[Stas]

Thanks so much for your replies!