Can anyone tell me who invented the flipper?

[9blades]

Learn something new every day Crazy to think that AO are nearly 2 decades old

I'm glad I could help you learn something.

I remember that thread from a while ago, and this comment by Les Robertson really stuck out:

"As for who originated the flipper, I don't think any one around today knows. I saw a flipper on a antique friction folder Circa 1875. I think that pre-dates most of the members here. I suspect that are some folders even older than that. I'll bet when they came out who ever came up with the original idea was given credit as the person who "popularized" it."

While I can understand the quote, it would guess Mel Pardue was the first to use it on a locking folder for the purpose of deploying the blade. Just a guess.

 

[macknife12]

Ricou Browning,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flipper_(1964_TV_series)

Sorry, I couldn't resist.
Cheers

 

[Bob6794]

They say Al Gore invented the internet. But according to the movie Escape to Planet Earth they say aliens invented it along with social networking.

Personally I think it's all a bunch of lies. On an interesting note they say George Schrade developed the first practical automatic knife.

 

[markseventwo]

While I can understand the quote, it would guess Mel Pardue was the first to use it on a locking folder for the purpose of deploying the blade. Just a guess.

true, that is mostly speculative. At the best it would be a very crude version, but I really cant say since ive never seen it or been able to find anything on it.