Are there any strong detent system slipjoints? Civivi question.

O

Omnius

Joined
Apr 17, 2020
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Or is this mechanism very weak by design and there aren't any good ones?

I tried a few like Boker Wasabi or Kizer Pinch and they all were very weak, noticeably worse than even the weakest backspring slipjoints that I have. ZT 0230 was a bit better, but still way too soft for me.

I know even among normal backspring slpjoints there aren't many as good and strong as Manly Comrade, but these detent arms barely hold the open blade's weight and it is unacceptable no matter how smoother opening it makes. I have bearings flippers for that, from a slipjoint I expect high resistance and a nice snap.

Normally I wouldn't care about this system, but I was browsing a coming soon section from my local store and found something very interesting that I didn't before know about. Civivi Appalachian Drifter. Great looking design, good materials, and very rare for Civivi in Europe, good price and value. But I got discouraged when I saw it has detent slipjoint instead of trusty backspring or backlock. I really don't want this design be ruined by a poor mechanism.

So I would like to ask, can a detent slipjoint be at least average, not to mention good and strong, compared to a backspring? Or is it just a faulty design that can only be weak and better to forget already about this pretty Appalachian Drifter.

And I know Civivi has Rustic Gent and maybe others with similar classic design, but here they are very overpriced. Not going to pay 110 EUR for a D2, but 120 for S35VN is not bad.
 
The Amare Knives Paragon is a non-locking knife that doesn't use a backspring. It doesn't use a detent ball either. It has a y-shaped spring in the frame that catches a pin on the blade, I believe. This allows the possibility of tuning the tension by removing the covers and swapping in new springs. As delivered, it has a moderate pull, but a very strong detent when open. On the downside, the frame is stainless and heavy, the style might not suit your taste, and the price is high for the steel. It's a neat design, but maybe "a solution in search of a problem", as they say. I found one cheap and got it as a curiosity.
 
We MRF has a really strong lockup. It's a slipjoint with a backlock design just no lock
 
Spydeco Terzuola SLIPIT. Terzuola designed the ball system and it's as good as a slipjoint, better than many.
 
Thanks for suggestions.
Looks like if I can't check it myself in a store, then better to stay with normal backspring slipjoints and not experiment with double detents ones.
I think I will choose between Gitano (lower price, fancier design) and Key (better steel), because I can get both here without international shipping.

Too bad CK don't ship here. I think they are mostly Lionsteel and Viper, but on pictures and videos their exclusives look like designed and made by a different, much better companies compared to regular models.
 
The only job of a backspring is to keep the blade from opening in your pocket, and gravity from flopping the blade 1/4 to half closed when open. They can't lock a blade open or closed, nor are they intended to.
Personally, I prefer a light pull. IMHO, a 91/93mm SAK's "5" is as "hard" as I want. I actually think the "3" to "4" pull on a Buck 301 is "perfect".
I have no desire to fight my knife to open it -- especially when (not "if") my hands are cold and/or wet.
The normal cutting/slicing action when using a folding knife forces the blade open; not closed.
All my slippies have a satisfying snap when I open or close them. Even those with a "3" or "4" pull.
 
Last edited:
brownshoe said:
Spydeco Terzuola SLIPIT. Terzuola designed the ball system and it's as good as a slipjoint, better than many.
Click to expand...

I have it and the ZT 0230 he mentioned. I don’t think the Spyderco is much stronger.

i.ashx
 
brownshoe said:
Thanks for the picture. I’ve been thinking about the Anso and the comparison shot is illuminating. I really like the Bob-T.
Click to expand...

Of the two I’d probably take the Spyderco. The ZT is nice but I feel like the Spyderco would be more versatile.
 
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