The Hoback Rolling Detent (HRD): Tunable Action & History | Hoback Customs
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The Soul of the Action: Understanding the Hoback Rolling Detent (HRD)
If the pivot is the heart of a folding knife, the detent is its soul. It dictates the "feel"—the break, the deployment, and the secure retention of the blade. For decades, the knife industry relied on a simple, albeit flawed, standard: a ceramic or steel ball pressed permanently into a lockbar.
In 2010 I looked at that standard and asked a simple question: Why are we relying on friction when we could use mechanics?
Enter the Hoback Rolling Detent (HRD).
The Problem with Standard Detents
In a traditional frame lock or liner lock, a detent ball is pressed into the lockbar. As the blade opens and closes, that ball drags across the tang of the blade. Over time, three things happen:
- Wear: The ball can flatten (if steel) or wear a groove into the blade tang (if ceramic).
- Friction: Sliding friction creates drag, making the action feel "gritty" if not perfectly lubricated.
- Permanence: If the detent is too light or too strong, you are stuck bending the lockbar to fix it—a risky move that can compromise lock geometry.
The HRD Solution: Rolling vs. Dragging
The HRD flips the script. Instead of a fixed ball dragging across the steel, the HRD utilizes a ball bearing system that is allowed to roll. This changes the physics of the action from sliding friction to rolling friction.
This system drastically reduces friction, resulting in an action that feels hydraulic and smooth, right out of the box, and stays that way for the life of the knife.
True Tunability
The greatest advantage of the HRD is adjustability. Because the detent assembly is threaded into the lockbar (rather than pressed in), you, the user, have control.
Want a hard deployment that snaps open with authority? Tighten the HRD slightly. Prefer a softer, easier deployment for office carry? Back it off a fraction of a turn. You can tune the knife to your preference without ever having to bend a lockbar or void a warranty.
HRD Technical Breakdown
The HRD isn't just a screw; it's a micro-assembly engineered for longevity.
- Mechanism: Threaded housing with internal ball bearing swedged into place with a micro lubrication pocket behind it.
- Adjustment: User-tunable via standard 1.5mm Hex driver.
- Compatibility: Standard on the Kwaiback MK series, A10, A15, and many custom builds.
- Patent: I did a provisional patent back in 2011, but decided that I wanted to leave it open source. Ever since then, I have allowed anyone to use the idea that wanted to as long as they called it the Hoback Rolling Detent or "HRD". Since then, TCT knives, Ferrum Forge, and many others have used it in their day-to-day knife lineup.
A Forever Innovation
The HRD was born out of frustration in the shop back in 2010. We were working on The first A10 folder and realized that the standard pressed detent was the limiting factor in the knife's longevity.
Today, the HRD is a hallmark of Hoback Customs. It represents our commitment to making tools that aren't just toys, but engineered to outlast their owners and be working tools.
Get the Upgrade
Whether you are tuning your Kwaiback or looking to install an HRD into a custom project, we offer the kits directly to the public. Because we believe in the ecosystem of makers.
Shop Custom Parts & HRD Kits