Folding knife, folding knife kit, knife kit, and methods

A folding knife, comprising:

• a handle comprising:
• spaced apart and opposing first and second sides;
• a slot extending therein between the first and second sides;
• a first bearing aperture extending between and opening to the first side and the slot;
• and
• a second bearing aperture extending between and opening to the second side and the slot;
• a blade disposable at least partially within the slot of the handle, the blade comprising a tang portion, the tang portion having opposing first and second sides and a bearing aperture with a radial bearing surface;
• and
• first and second bearing pivots configured to be received within the first and second bearing apertures of the handle, at least one of the first and second bearing pivots comprises a radial bearing surface configured to engage the radial bearing surface of the blade, and each of the first and second bearing pivots comprising:
• a stepped exterior surface configured to engage a corresponding surface in the associated bearing aperture;
• a shoulder configured to engage an outwardly facing surface of the associated bearing aperture or side of the handle;
• and
• a thrust bearing surface configured to engage the first or second side of the tang portion of the blade.

A bearing pivot assembly for a folding knife, comprising:

• first and second bearing pivots configured to be received within first and second bearing apertures of a knife handle, at least one of the first and second bearing pivots comprising a radial bearing surface configured to engage a radial bearing surface of a blade, and each of the first and second bearing pivots comprising:
• an exterior surface configured to engage a corresponding surface in an associated bearing aperture in the knife handle;
• a shoulder configured to engage an outwardly facing surface of the associated bearing aperture or a side of the handle;
• and
• a thrust bearing surface configured to engage a side of a tang portion of the blade.