Battle of the North American Mid-Tech Flippers

[WedgeAntilles]

Full disclosure, I am a CRK fan boy, and I have more CRK than anything else. But this doesn't involve them. This is about North American made flipper knives. Who wins?

The flagship of the Grimso Brothers, the Grimsmo Norseman?

The smooth Idaho flipper by Koenig, the Arius?

The overbuilt from Ohio Hinderer XM-18?

Consider any and all qualities from steel to design to action, to price, to availability to design. Which of these three is best? And what North American made flipper was left off the list?

 

[mitchnola]

You forgot Les Georges VECP flipper! Or maybe you just assumed it would be number 1, and wanted to see what the best of the rest was!

 

[WedgeAntilles]

You forgot Les Georges VECP flipper! Or maybe you just assumed it would be number 1, and wanted to see what the best of the rest was!

I don't own, and haven't handled a Les George. Maybe someday. I selected models I personally own.

 

[J Lensmire]

You’re forgetting about Medford.
Smooth Criminal , M-48 etc.

 

[norcalAF]

You’re forgetting about Medford.
Smooth Criminal , M-48 etc.

Love my m48, but my Norsman is smoother

 

[norcalAF]

Don't forget about Olamic

 

[badmatt]

Brothers grim.. Rask.

 

[Delgadonine]

My middle fingers are quite, fast, smooth and strong! Particularly in traffic!

Oh! Knives....

Hinderer XM-24 is my fastest knife.

Faster than my Microtech Stitch.

 

[Another Shepherd]

The recurve on the Norseman disqualifies it as far as I'm concerned.

 

[tony281sc2]

.

 

[BTTLBRN]

The recurve on the Norseman disqualifies it as far as I'm concerned.

Is that from use, or just based on the looks (it is certainly a divisive design)?

I am a fairly new owner of a Norseman, and I have to say that while I had my doubts on the actual utility of the blade; I have found it to actually be pretty utilitarian. The "tanto" is thick and a good scraper, while the recurve portion is incredibly thin and slicey.

YMMV.

I am very impressed with the whole Grimsmo story, it is well documented on both their excellent YouTube channel and their Instagram; so much so, that I would really like to get a Rask as well.

 

[mitchnola]

I recently got a mefp esv on skiff bearings. Was surprised and impressed how smooth the skiff bearings are.

View attachment 2422182

I think Emerson deserves an honorable mention on his flippers. They’re very smooth and drop shutty!

 

[Another Shepherd]

Is that from use, or just based on the looks (it is certainly a divisive design)?

Recurves are a nuisance to sharpen. I think hawkbills can be useful enough to put up with some extra time to sharpen them, but a slight recurve like the Norseman just seems like useless aggravation to me.

 

[LLRJ17]

McNees and Curtiss should be added to the mix.

 

[Culprit99]

Buck makes world-class bearing flippers in the 840, 841, 842, 843 Sprint series. My favorite is the 830 Marksman, and not just because the pocket clip is reversible for us lefty's.