~3" A/O flipper recommendations for my wife.

Cereal_killer

Cereal_killer

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Apr 4, 2013
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My wife is looking for a new EDC knife for purse carry. She has a very specific set of likes and isn't that open to trying other things. I have only came up with one knife that fits all the requirements and I need help finding more options for her. The one I've came up with is a Kershaw Leek.

Her requirements
~3 or a little larger
Liner/frame lock
Small/light weight/thin
Low profile handle
Flipper preferred but not required
Easy to deploy, not a super strong detent (my shallot is impossible for her to open)
Preferably removable scales so I can make her some.

As far as the blade length that's really a tricky issue, I'd say strictly 3" but there are some very slim profile 3.5" blades out there, think Caly 3.5 or Benchmade 940/943, something like that would be ok. If I had to give up either A/O or flipper I'd rather stick with the A/O. Also pretty set on lock type, no Axis/CBBL/Piston/similar operation, no back/triad locks.

The Leek is the only knife I've been able to come up with that fits all the requirements but she's not big on the blade shape, other than that its a good option. I showed her the SOG mini Aegis but she doesn't like that (or the Axis) lock or the handle. For reference her favorite knife is her CRKT Ripple frame lock, she has a kershaw Chive on her keys and she sometimes rotates a Sage 1. I think she light actually like the shallot but it's takes so much pressure to deploy, I'm not sure if that's a fault so I don't want to risk getting another one she can't use either.

As for price let's cap it at ~$150 but I'm really hoping to find something to trade for. this is not a trade thread, please no offers

TIA for recommendations.
 
Zero Tolerance 0566, 0770, 0350, 0750 or wait for the 0770CF.
 
You could go for pretty much any assisted Kershaw as long as you're making her some nice scales! I'd recommend the Volt II, it's got a great blade shape and removable scales.
 
Unless she uses it a lot I would get the Cryo or Cryo 2. Just remember it will take a little more work to make custom scales with the speed safe. If she uses it a lot I like my 0566 which is 3.25"
 
Check out the CRKT Eros. 3" blade. Nicely sculpted Tia framelock. Great flipping action. Ken Onion design.
It has a lot going for it.
 
I gave my wife a kershaw leek, she loves it, I think it's great knife, the tip is real sharp but thin and flimsy, I don't think the leek would be a good pry bar knife! But for a simple sticker knife, it's perfecta,
 
I would say a good old ZT 0350 (assisted or de-assisted, whatever she prefers). Has a 3.25" S30V blade. The only downside is that it is anything but light in my opinion...

Other option could be a Hogue EX-02 drop point flipper with 3.375" blade, 154CM. If she can live with the ghastly G-mascus scales.

A Hogue EX-A01 is an automatic (talking about easy to deploy). Available with a 3.5" 154CM blade.
 
ArchAngel said:
Check out the CRKT Eros. 3" blade. Nicely sculpted Tia framelock. Great flipping action. Ken Onion design.
It has a lot going for it.
Click to expand...

Totally agree. It weighs just 1.5 ounces plus very slim and thin.
 
The skyline isn't assisted but it is very similar in size to the Ripple, and the G10 scales can easily be swapped out.
Also look at the A.G. Russell Skorpion, it's pretty much the definition of lightweight, the 3 inch blade version is under 2 ounces.

Also if the leek seems perfect excect for the blade shape, an OD-1 might be better, and can have a custom scale. The flipper mechanism basically guarantees a full opening without being assisted.
 
Ok guys keep 'em coming. I'll address some of the reoccurring suggestions here-

First off the CRKT Eros- Acuto+ isn't all that much better than 440c, That's actually what it is; "enhanced 440C". She might not care about steel but I'm a steel junkie so I do. Also the pocket clip is horrible and its non A/O. Getting an A/O is the big reason she's wanting a new knife, plus its hardly different from her Ripple.

The ZT's (0566,0350) good steels (especially ELMAX, I'm looking forward to getting my first ELMAX blade) and A/O but the handles (and overall knives) are huge, remember if its going to be larger than 3" think slim, along the lines of the Caly 3.5 and the BM 94x line- a 3.5" blade crammed into the handle of a 3" knife.

The cryo 1/2, same as the ZT line, large handles and heavy but with worse steel.

The one I'm liking is the random leek, didn't think of it, does it come in frame lock or only liner lock? Also like the 0770, it has a "shorter" profile handle (and a shorter closed profile as well) but at almost .5" thick its still far from a "petite" little knife.

I don't mean to come off as unappreciative I'm just trying to be thorough. She's very supportive of my hobby and I want to get her the perfect knife, I've thought on this for a long time now and covered pretty much all the common brands/knives, I'm looking for off-the-wall ideas I didn't already think about.
 
Kershaw Leek S30V & G-10. You get nice steel for the blade and G-10 instead of the "slippery" stsinless steel handle.
 
There's the SOG Flash, etc. Benchmade Barrage, I think. More Kershaws that you can shake a stick at (but all in mediocre steels, I know--one steel junkie to another).

I suppose a Mini Grip is out? I love mine in M4. But no assist and no flipper.

Bladehq has a section for spring assisted knives. Twenty-nine pages. You might try there.
 
The Sage is sweet, liner lock, carbon fiber handles, S30V steel. The Caly has the lock on the spine. My 0770 does not deploy that easily, you may want to have one in hand to test, my Shallot is easier to flip open than the 0770. I use a Kershaw Turblance for my work knife, I have the random leek with S30V steel, I'm disappointed the blade is too thin for anything other than house chores. It will be hard to find a random leek without the partial serrated blade. The Turblance is a bigger knife, but is has a slim profile. Good luck
 
Ajack60 said:
The Sage is sweet, liner lock, carbon fiber handles, S30V steel. The Caly has the lock on the spine. My 0770 does not deploy that easily, you may want to have one in hand to test, my Shallot is easier to flip open than the 0770. I use a Kershaw Turblance for my work knife, I have the random leek with S30V steel, I'm disappointed the blade is too thin for anything other than house chores. It will be hard to find a random leek without the partial serrated blade. The Turblance is a bigger knife, but is has a slim profile. Good luck
Click to expand...

Did you de-assist your 0770 since you say it doesn't deploy easily or that the detent is too strong?

There was a Kershaw 1660TG10 Limited Edition Random Leek Assisted 3" S30V Plain Tanto Blade, G10 Handles from KnifeCenter which takes care of premium steel, no weak tip and G-10 handle. I'm sure you can find some on the secondary market.

KS1660TG10d.jpg
 
Cereal_killer said:
Ok guys keep 'em coming. I'll address some of the reoccurring suggestions here-

The ZT's (0566,0350) good steels (especially ELMAX, I'm looking forward to getting my first ELMAX blade) and A/O but the handles (and overall knives) are huge, remember if its going to be larger than 3" think slim, along the lines of the Caly 3.5 and the BM 94x line- a 3.5" blade crammed into the handle of a 3" knife.
Click to expand...

Elmax is awesome. However, ZT got famous for doing it wrong (Elmax that is). S30V will hold an edge much longer than the S35VN or Elmax ZT uses.
 
I don't have a clue what de-assist means. So, no I haven't. This was the first assist open I've not like because of that. My ZT560's are smoother than the 0770.
Good luck on the 1660OTG10, they were exclusive to KnifeCenter and sold out fast. The secondary market did have a few up, but at a stupid price. I've been on the hunt for one for a while now and have had no luck. I have a couple of the 1515's
 
Two I can vouch for are the Kershaw Leek and the CRKT ripple. Neither is by anymeans a hard use knive, but they are both surprisingly strong. Both very thin framelocks, and both Ken Onion designs I believe. As you have a shallot I am sure you know the speedsafe mechanism well. I have a shallot also ( and damascus one I love) and the leek is easier to disengage, possibly because it is a bit less metal, I don't know, but mine is certainly easier. (that seems an issue) the framelock on the crkt is very easy to disengage. I have larger hands and worry that i might bend it even, though it has held up very well. One downside to me, is that the ripple is tip down only, for a purse, I would take off the clip and maybe put on a lanyard unless it is clipped to a pocket ( or purse, not a great pocket clip in my opinion).
Also, try a IKBS knife first, the detent can be a bit hard to open, but it won't open up in the purse, and once past the end of lock it is buttery smooth. And the look is entirely different. leeks come in damascus, colors, s-30v/g10, etc.. the ripple is two sizes and colors, and it looks like there are some other ikbs flippers in the crkt line these days. A sog twich might be a choice, the open and close easily, but I have only handled them and not owned one. Good luck in your search, I would try to go to the local knife shop and let her hold and open and close a few knives. These two have been good blades, in my experience, I have used them both quite a lot, and they have not let me down. Here are some photos to show the size and the look with a sharpie for size comparison, and because photos are fantastic. Good hunting!


Edit- re read original post, am idiot. I know you are a steel junkie, so these have already been ruled out ( and she has a ripple). a damascus ( I know, I just like it) or s 30 leek would be cool.. a custom scale maybe. Should have read more carefully, but I really do like these two knives as far as that category goes. A/O is so limited... look forward to seeing what the more educated have to say.



 
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