Cheap Flippers

dkb45

dkb45

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Dec 16, 2012
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I have and LOVE my Kershaw Strobe. The issue is that I have caught the bug for cheap flippers. I don't want anything that is assisted, so manual and a stiff detent are mandatory. I know there is the Nura, but I am a lefty, so it is towards the bottom of the list (no lefty clip). What are my options?
 
Crkt fossil is a surprisingly good flipper. Solid detent and great flipping action. I don't remember if it the clip can be switched to lefty though. I'll check when I get home later.

The flipper has some slightly sharp edges and I'm not too fond of the pocket clip. It sits kind of far off the handle. But it is my first and only CRKT and it is much better than I was expecting.
 
I saw the title and was going to recommend the strobe. :)
I don't usually go for flippers but I had one in the shop and was impressed, especially considering the price!

The crkt eraser is another good one if you want something larger.
 
I have had my eye on the Fossil because it looks sweet, but the recurve is a little annoying, and the clip isn't reversible. The Eraser is another one I am thinking of, but I can't get one in hand, and the handle seems kind of odd.
 
You might look at the CRKT Swindle as well. It's also a manual flipper on bearings. Pocket clip is ambidextrous, but a bit different than most other clips.
 
I handled a Swindle, and while it was odd, I kind of liked it. The clip is awful, though. I would wager one of the worst novel designs around. The clip being so awkward along with being so weak is a bit of a deal breaker.

The Skyline is an interesting knife. Fits my hand, and flips well, but the G10 is 80 grit sandpaper smooth, and the pocket clip is, like most knives, not reversible. Being a lefty really sucks.
 
Enlan EL-01

I can't remember if it's lefty friendly but the few I've had flipped really well. Better than some I've had that cost 20x as much.
 
It sounds like the RealSteel Sea Eagle might check all your boxes. It's available at Knife Center and more retailers seem to be picking up the brand every day.

It's a flipper, and a surprisingly good one for the price.

It looks to me like the clip is lefty/righty switchable. I can't find documentation for certain one way or another.

It comes in a G10 or a CF version to suit the degree of traction you want.
View attachment 588558
 
Depending on your comfort level - you can de-assist and add a detent to many Kershaw knives, the Cryo family for example. There are videos on YouTube on how to do it.
 
Look at the Kershaw Chill. Small, light, flips easily, takes and holds a good edge. I remove the pocket clip and just carry it in my pocket.
Rich
 
I plan on getting an EL-01 sometime because they really are awesome knives, no lefty clip, but I can't complain much for about $10. I have also been eying a few of the Real Steel knives, specifically the Sea Eagle and Thor, but the Sea Eagle may or may not be ambidextrous, but I can't find anything one way or the other. The Sea Eagle is a beauty and has a perfect blade shape, though. If it takes a lefty clip it will have a permanent home in my pocket.

As for adding a detent, no drill press or machining skills here, so I would just ruin the knife and hurt myself.

I already have a Link and Vantage, the Link is great albeit a little beefy, and I don't care for the Vantage line, consistently mediocre flipping action and f&f issues, even though I eventually got 3 total that weren't turds.

I actually have a Chill on my list, but the same as the Nura, I carry knives with pocket clips and no lefty clip makes me a sad panda.
 
dkb45 said:
the Sea Eagle may or may not be ambidextrous, but I can't find anything one way or the other. The Sea Eagle is a beauty and has a perfect blade shape, though. If it takes a lefty clip it will have a permanent home in my pocket.
Click to expand...

I'm going to go ahead and order a Sea Eagle today. I'll message you when I get mine as to whether the clip would be left hand swappable. Now to decide between G10 or CF...
 
The RealSteel flipper does have a spot for a left clip.
 
I have a Ripple now, and got rid of my M16 because of the moderately poor action on it. CRKT has a lot of flippers which WOULD appeal to me, we're it not for the crippling lack of lefty support, or random unnecessarily high price tags.

The new Lansky flippers are definitely on my list, killer price for what you get and the reviews show them as having good QC. Not the top with the lack of lefty support, though.

As for Real Steel, I know the Thor definitely has lefty clip drilling, but I can't say for sure with the Sea Eagle. It doesn't have any apparent milling for a lefty clip, but I could be wrong. I would love to know if it does or not.
 
I wound up buying a new flipper, and got something I wasn't expecting. I bought a Sanrenmu 9054MUC-GV because of the quad carry clip, low price, and flipper. Turns out it is a non locking flipper. It utilizes a dual detent, and with some tweaking I got it to flip decently. I'm considering replacing the washers (dual washer design) with single PB washers and getting the blade regrouped into a drop point, removing the recurve.

Still on the lookout for that special something, because I know there are tons of flippers I haven't heard of.
 
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