Best Flipper Around the $200 Range

[stevekolt]

Wow, can't believe that I'm the first to mention the Spyderco Domino. Great flipper, carbon fiber and titanium, CTS-XHP blade...

 

[evilgreg]

Tons of great advice in this thread. A whole bunch of solid knives that it would be hard to go wrong with, for the most part.

Contact spketch. He'll hook you up. And that white scale is called Ivory Snake Juma. He just made a set for me (scale and LBS) and it's AWESOME!!!

You have excellent taste, sir. The Juma scale is one of my favorites as well.

There are no bad choices among the three you have shortlisted. I personally love the ZT, but the Spyderco compares well feature by feature and is lighter and smaller for EDC. With the ZT, you get a bit better edge retention from the ELMAX steel,

I mostly agree with your comparison between the ZT and Southard, but this part is untrue. You will most definitely not get better edge retention with the ZT (I have an 0560 and an 0801 that do not perform as well as my Southard, for edge retention.

ZT 0801. Best production flipper under $200.
I'm a huge fan of the Spyderco Southard, but I have to admit that 0801 flips better. 0801 flips better than most knives on the market.

Lots of folks here on the 0801 bandwagon (me too, I love mine)--but the Southard is an entirely superior knife. The Southard carries better and cuts better, hands down. The 0801 flips better, but it's one of the worst cutting knives I own. Fat blade that stays fat too far down, making for a wide triangle. I use mine as my beater knife for yard work and such, and even after thinning it down and convexing the everloving $#!@ out of it, it's still not the best cutting tool for actual work (I still love it, it's gorgeous and it flips superbly and feels great in the hand). It's probably the knife I love most that doesn't know how to knife . . .

Wow, can't believe that I'm the first to mention the Spyderco Domino. Great flipper, carbon fiber and titanium, CTS-XHP blade...

Only knife in the thread that I outright dislike (and I love Spyderco). I'd suggest you buy this if you've always wondered if it was possible to manufacture a flipper spatula

 

[bld522]

You have excellent taste, sir. The Juma scale is one of my favorites as well.

I'm just following the leader, my friend. One thing I will say is that people who don't particularly care for the looks of the Southard LOVE IT after they see mine. It makes me want to put Ivory Snake Juma scales on some other knives I've got including my Mini-Grip. I've never seen anything else like it.

 

[ARundrpillow]

Thanks for all the great input everyone. I ended purchasing a ZT 0561. I just do not like the looks of the handle of the 801 nor the blade shape. I figured I couldn't go wrong with the ZT and I can always pick up the others in the future, like someone stated. Again, Thank you all. This was a huge help in making my decision and I fully trust the opinions of the vets of this forum. All I have for knives right now is a SOG Flash II, Manix 2, TOPS BOB and a modded BK9 so this should be a nice step up in FFF and i'm psyched to try out ElMax

 

[bld522]

If you can handle the size and the weight, you can't go wrong with the ZT 0561. It's a great choice! :thumbup:

 

[RamZar]

Only knife in the thread that I outright dislike (and I love Spyderco). I'd suggest you buy this if you've always wondered if it was possible to manufacture a flipper spatula

Agreed. It's just ridiculously wide in all aspects. If it was narrower by a big margin it'd be great since everything else I like. This is also true of its smaller sibling the Dice.

 

[evilgreg]

Agreed. It's just ridiculously wide in all aspects. If it was narrower by a big margin it'd be great since everything else I like. This is also true of its smaller sibling the Dice.

I totally agree. It's one of the best flipping knives I ever owned, I love the Cosby sweater CF scale (I know some didn't, but I thought it was cool), it had a steel lock bar insert, the price wasn't insane, and the fit and finish were Taichung perfection--it took me quite a while, trying to like it, before I just gave up and admitted that I couldn't get over the shape of it. Just doesn't work for me, not at all.

Also, @OP: if you don't mind the size and weight to carry it, there's a lot to love in the 056x knives. Odds are pretty good that you'll be a happy camper . . .

 

[grownstar]

Another vote for the 0801. Love at first flip.

 

[Cristian CelMare]

Also 0801 but .... with polished hardware
..... flips like 1000 + $ flipper

 

[fnzeee]

Congratulations! You will not be disappointed... Unfortunately, your wallet may stay open to purchase custom standoffs and a lockring here from Gnoleb....its a sick addiction....

Steve

Thanks for all the great input everyone. I ended purchasing a ZT 0561. I just do not like the looks of the handle of the 801 nor the blade shape. I figured I couldn't go wrong with the ZT and I can always pick up the others in the future, like someone stated. Again, Thank you all. This was a huge help in making my decision and I fully trust the opinions of the vets of this forum. All I have for knives right now is a SOG Flash II, Manix 2, TOPS BOB and a modded BK9 so this should be a nice step up in FFF and i'm psyched to try out ElMax

 

[grownstar]

Congrats on the 0561! I'm sure you're gonna love it :thumbup:

 

[severtecher]

Thanks for the info here fellas. Just bought a ZT 801 from Richard at Bladerunner Knives here in Tucson. His last week until retirement. A great EDC for my rotation . Good size for a regular Severtech user.