Did Cold Steel invent the front flipper?

[cbrstar]

Front flippers are supposed to be the "latest" knife innovation. But I was looking through the old Cold Steel catalogs from 1993-94 https://sales.coldsteel.com/cs_images/1993-94brochure.pdf
And I came across the Ultralocks!!!
At first I didn't notice anything special about the knife. But I realized that the Ultralock in there looks nothing like the modern version. So I looked closer and then it hit me that it was a front flipper.

Cold Steel had a front flipper 27 years ago. I don't think they get the credit they deserve for being so innovative.

 

[The Whip]

Cold Steel had a front flipper 27 years ago. I don't think they get the credit they deserve for being so innovative.

I definitely think that Cold Steel doesn't get a fraction of the credit it deserves for the innovations it has pioneered over the decades. There are no two ways around that!

But I'm afraid the "front flipper" design wasn't original to Cold Steel. A company called Tekna marketed its Hidden Edge folder prior to the introduction of the UltraLock. The Hidden Edge used the same type of friction opening concept with grooves on the blade's tang (unfortunately, not visible in this photo).

I believe that Cold Steel was the second modern company to make a folder utilizing the design, and certainly the UltraLock set some early standards (liner lock design and strength, among others). But, to my recollection, the Hidden Edge was first with that style of friction opening.

-Steve

 

[jstrange]

Those look nice. I also like the rescue series shown in your link. They have definitely made some cool stuff over the years.