Best Folding Knife Action You've Ever Felt

Tom Mayo's knives are the epitome of smooth. The Todd Begg Mini Gents Glimpse I had was beyond smooooooth. It was an awesome knife. I LOVED it.
 
The Virginian said:
Runner Up:

Brian Nadeau Typhoon

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Very nice!!
 
Recently acquired a custom Kirby Lambert. My first custom. Its on a whole other level. Super smooth and the detent is perfect.
 
Part the First Production: Introduction

Allow myself to introduce...myself. I am a male human who has traveled around the sun just over 40 times. I live in central Ohio. I'm a recovering opioid addict who also dropped cigarettes for vaping & feel all the healthier for it. I like movies & video games. I recently ended a 17-year long distance relationship (it was for the best). I'm a former Registered Polysomnographic Technologist now leading shifts at a grocery store checkout department, guitar player & singer, & I really like pointy things. I'm relatively new to BladeForums, & I think it's pretty neat.

Part the Seconds Count: Down to Business: Smooth Knives That Are Smooth

I realize I'm weighing in 5 years after the most recent post. I'm going by what I have owned since starting knife collecting in earnest exactly one year ago.

It just so happens I still own everything listed. Thank goodness I've been wise enough to keep these, as I've sold many. To make my list, there can be VERY little (as in literally the minimum amount possible) to zero blade play in any direction. The only knife listed with any play is the 940-1, & even then I think I might actually be feeling the axis lock moving a bit, & not the blade.

Please keep in mind I have never owned nor handled any custom or even a mid-tech. In roughly this order, from best-of-the-best to least best-of-the-best:

Washers
1. PM2 - DLT Exclusive in S90V & OD Green
2. Griptillian 551S - with KCG Micarta scales
3. Para 3 Maxamet - Factory Seconds with RGT Micarta scales
4. Para 3 LW - 20CV KnifeJoy Exclusive
5. 940-1 - Diamond paste polished washers
6. Hogue RSK Mk1 G2 4G LTE
7. Bugout - 20CV BHQ Exclusive, Diamond paste polished washers

I am lucky to have this many running on washers that are extremely smooth, & every one drops shut instantly without shaking, some with less resistance than others.

Bearings
1. Malibu PR1
2. Smock - M390 DLT Exclusive
3. Elementum Button Lock
4. Sitivien ST102
5. Sitivien ST103

I feel very lucky particularly on the Para 3 Maxamet FS because the only reason I could find for why it wasn't a first quality is the centering is off a fair amount, maybe 66/34 to the show side. But it glides like glass on glass & drops shut instantly. And it was $111 off retail, which I'd count as $124 in savings if Spyderco didn't charge $13 shipping on their factory seconds. So even with RGT blue denim micarta scales, all copper hardware, & Lynch clip, I still paid less than retail for the standard Para 3 Maxamet.

I feel the same luck with the PM2 S90V. I've owned several different-steeled PM2s, including S30V, S110V, Cru-Wear, Maxamet, & M390, & some of them had superb action. But maybe I got a really good one because this one is perfect, with zero lock stick or blade play, perfect centering, & the glassiest fall shut action I've ever felt on a PM2.
And it's the kind of action where you can still feel the blade while it falls shut. Sometimes you'll have one where you feel no resistance, like the blade isn't even touching the washers. And upon closing it makes a sort of "tink" sound like it fell from the sky,. You know what I mean, LOL.
Well this isn't that. You can still feel the blade contacting the washers as it glides along like butter. I think I just happened upon one with tolerances well above the average PM2, which is saying something because most of even the worst PM2s off the line are still pretty dang good..

Part the Third Rock from the Sun: What the Heck is a Sitivien?

Has anyone here had experience with Sitivien knives? I learned about them through Jay, the Knife Beater, on YouTube. When I searched Amazon, the engine thought I made a typo. Without correcting this, you won't find this brand even if you know the name & how to correctly spell it. Lots of "I"s. This, along with there being only around 10 reviews per knife (all 5 stars) makes me think they're not well known.
And what is up with brands with a bunch of the letter "I" being so good? Civivi, Sitivien. If I started a knife company I'd call it Inquisitivity or something & have a guaranteed hit.

Both the Sitivien ST102 & ST103 (both in D2 steel) have ridiculously smooth action for knives that cost $28 each. And they're like that out of the box, so when you add KPL, hooboy! Centering & blade play are also perfect & they are razors out of box.
If you haven't already (& you likely haven't already), check out Sitivien & thank me later.

The ST103 is an absolute QSP Penguin killer, in my opinion If you like the Penguin's blade shape, this is that - but with a longer blade, a flipper tab, & quite frankly better action.

These knives are on par, or maybe even exceed the quality of brands like Ontario & CJRB in their price range. And they offer jade G10 on a couple models at no additional cost.

Part the Fourth Dimension: Wow, You're Still Reading This?: Conclusion

Well, this got extremely long & no one may even read this. But I figured this is an extremely important thread (even if inactive for a while), because who doesn't love smooth, drop-shutty action? I know I do! Love it, I mean. And I bet you Demkos to dollars you do too! If I'm wrong, I'm sorry I have no Demkos with which to pay you until I get my AD-20.5 when it becomes readily available in another 5 years. Since that's how long since anyone else posted here, maybe someone will have read this rambling rant by then! :)

Regardless, I had fun working it all out. If you made it this far, thank you & I hope all your knives kick arse like gliding glass from this life into the next & the next.
 
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Irked Particle said:
Part the First Production: Introduction

Allow myself to introduce...myself. I am a male human who has traveled around the sun just over 40 times. I live in central Ohio. I'm a recovering opioid addict who also dropped cigarettes for vaping & feel all the healthier for it. I like movies & video games. I recently ended a 17-year long distance relationship (it was for the best). I'm a former Registered Polysomnographic Technologist now leading shifts at a grocery store checkout department, guitar player & singer, & I really like pointy things. I'm relatively new to BladeForums, & I think it's pretty neat.

Part the Seconds Count: Down to Business: Smooth Knives That Are Smooth

I realize I'm weighing in 5 years after the most recent post. I'm going by what I have owned since starting knife collecting in earnest exactly one year ago.

It just so happens I still own everything listed. Thank goodness I've been wise enough to keep these, as I've sold many. To make my list, there can be VERY little (as in literally the minimum amount possible) to zero blade play in any direction. The only knife listed with any play is the 940-1, & even then I think I might actually be feeling the axis lock moving a bit, & not the blade.

Please keep in mind I have never owned nor handled any custom or even a mid-tech. In roughly this order, from best-of-the-best to least best-of-the-best:

Washers
1. PM2 - DLT Exclusive in S90V & OD Green
2. Griptillian 551S - with KCG Micarta scales
3. Para 3 Maxamet - Factory Seconds with RGT Micarta scales
4. Para 3 LW - 20CV KnifeJoy Exclusive
5. 940-1 - Diamond paste polished washers
6. Hogue RSK Mk1 G2 4G LTE
7. Bugout - 20CV BHQ Exclusive, Diamond paste polished washers

I am lucky to have this many running on washers that are extremely smooth, & every one drops shut instantly without shaking, some with less resistance than others.

Bearings
1. Malibu PR1
2. Smock - M390 DLT Exclusive
3. Elementum Button Lock
4. Sitivien ST102
5. Sitivien ST103

I feel very lucky particularly on the Para 3 Maxamet FS because the only reason I could find for why it wasn't a first quality is the centering is off a fair amount, maybe 66/34 to the show side. But it glides like glass on glass & drops shut instantly. And it was $111 off retail, which I'd count as $124 in savings if Spyderco didn't charge $13 shipping on their factory seconds. So even with RGT blue denim micarta scales, all copper hardware, & Lynch clip, I still paid less than retail for the standard Para 3 Maxamet.

I feel the same luck with the PM2 S90V. I've owned several different-steeled PM2s, including S30V, S110V, Cru-Wear, Maxamet, & M390, & some of them had superb action. But maybe I got a really good one because this one is perfect, with zero lock stick or blade play, perfect centering, & the glassiest fall shut action I've ever felt on a PM2.
And it's the kind of action where you can still feel the blade while it falls shut. Sometimes you'll have one where you feel no resistance, like the blade isn't even touching the washers. And upon closing it makes a sort of "tink" sound like it fell from the sky,. You know what I mean, LOL.
Well this isn't that. You can still feel the blade contacting the washers as it glides along like butter. I think I just happened upon one with tolerances well above the average PM2, which is saying something because most of even the worst PM2s off the line are still pretty dang good..

Part the Third Rock from the Sun: What the Heck is a Sitivien?

Has anyone here had experience with Sitivien knives? I learned about them through Jay, the Knife Beater, on YouTube. When I searched Amazon, the engine thought I made a typo. Without correcting this, you won't find this brand even if you know the name & how to correctly spell it. Lots of "I"s. This, along with there being only around 10 reviews per knife (all 5 stars) makes me think they're not well known.
And what is up with brands with a bunch of the letter "I" being so good? Civivi, Sitivien. If I started a knife company I'd call it Inquisitivity or something & have a guaranteed hit.

Both the Sitivien ST102 & ST103 (both in D2 steel) have ridiculously smooth action for knives that cost $28 each. And they're like that out of the box, so when you add KPL, hooboy! Centering & blade play are also perfect & they are razors out of box.
If you haven't already (& you likely haven't already), check out Sitivien & thank me later.

The ST103 is an absolute QSP Penguin killer, in my opinion If you like the Penguin's blade shape, this is that - but with a longer blade, a flipper tab, & quite frankly better action.

These knives are on par, or maybe even exceed the quality of brands like Ontario & CJRB in their price range. And they offer jade G10 on a couple models at no additional cost.

Part the Fourth Dimension: Wow, You're Still Reading This?: Conclusion

Well, this got extremely long & no one may even read this. But I figured this is an extremely important thread (even if inactive for a while), because who doesn't love smooth, drop-shutty action? I know I do! Love it, I mean. And I bet you Demkos to dollars you do too! If I'm wrong, I'm sorry I have no Demkos with which to pay you until I get my AD-20.5 when it becomes readily available in another 5 years. Since that's how long since anyone else posted here, maybe someone will have read this rambling rant by then! :)

Regardless, I had fun working it all out. If you made it this far, thank you & I hope all your knives kick arse like gliding glass from this life into the next & the next.
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Welcome to the forums! I'm in Southern Ohio, so it's always good to see another Buckeye knife nut. Sounds like you have some nice knives and pics are always highly encouraged here, so post 'em up (though I' m not sure if the process on how to do that has changed with the new server and format)!
 
Flipper: Civivi Dogma
Studs: Quietcarry Waypoint
Hole: Para 3 G10
Button: Elementum Button Lock
Axis: Hogue Deka
Side Auto: Protech Newport
Traditional: Sell me your GEC
OTF: dont have one
Butterfly: Maxace Petrel
Fixed Blade: White River Backpacker (sliding it in and out of the sheath count as action? Sounds weird lol)

I'm sitting here waiting for food so I made a little template! Feel free to copy and paste lol.

Flipper:
Studs:
Hole:
Button:
Axis:
Side Auto:
Traditional:
OTF:
Butterfly:
Fixed Blade:

Cheers.
 
Headesigns poison. The knife is everything I dislike about knives in one and its hideous but I was drawn to it for some unknown reason and after much encouragement from my wife I bought one, and I was so pleasantly surprised I bought another one. It has the best detent and action of any other knife I own, including both shiros. There is a lot of sentimental value attached to that knife now, most of which I cannot share but it’s one of two knives, the other is the original j-cape from something obscene, that hold a special place and I will never part with.
 
Toss up between a Spyderco Shaman, and a ZT 450. I chose these two because out of the box performance. Other than a drop of oil they needed zero adjustment. My Hinderers, CRK’s all needed some break in. The other Spyderco‘s and BM‘s I had, while just as smooth out of the box, had blade play which needed to get dialed in.
 
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This is so, so, sooooooo subjective.

Flipper on bearings? WE Deacon
Front flipper on bearings? Civivi McKenna
Flipper on washers? Bailey Model 2
Thumbstud on washers? TSF Beast the thing is silk
Thumbhole on washers? Spyderco Para 3 LW
Thumbhole on bearings? Spyderco Southard

Overall? I have no clue.

Best on washers? TSF Beast.

Feel on bearings? WE Deacon.

I've yet to get actual "action" from any of my folding knives, but most women aren't turned on by knives.
 
For flippers, I'd say ZT562, Koenig Arius, Massdrop Laconico Keen; with Koenig Arius being best in the class.

For non flippers, I would say BM Grip series, 940s, Spyderco Para series are all very good.

CRK is in a class of its own, the bank vault action is certain unique.

For Traditional, GECs have good F&F and great walks and talks.

Modern Slip joint, I would say Pena X Bronco, Two Sun 221 and 187. Pena have absolutely fantastic F&F and really stout spring, while Two Sun 187 have one of the most unique walk and talk I have seen/heard in slip joint.
 
I couldn’t pick just one but my favorites are
ZT 0562, 0452 and my Hinderer Eklipses on bearings.
 
The best knife action that I have felt is a CRK product. My Mnandi is very smooth! I also have an older Benchmade 705 with bronze washers that is also very good!
 
Washers - Spartan SHF (2020 or newer)

Bearings - Shirogorov 111 with MRBS

I have a PB washer Hati inbound so perhaps I may have a new PB champ. TBD.
 
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