Flick or thumb open BM 940?

R

RobbW

Joined
Oct 15, 2003
Messages
2,988
I'm new to the forum and appreciate the advice I received here the other week on and EDC. I just received my BM 940D2CF and love it. The edge needs work, but that's no problem. I really like the way the CF conforms to my hand and feels warm. I'm looking forward to working with the D2 and finding out how well it holds an edge.

I have a question about opening the knife. Is it OK to flick open, or will that damage the action?

TIA
 
Flick away man, it's made for that :)
Also read your post on sharpening, & it sounds like you already know what to do. It just becomes a matter of deciding what your primary type of cutting will be. For general use , (urban EDC), an edge finished with a 600 grit stone is fine.

Welcome to the Forums !
 
With my 940 I usually opened it with the studs because it was so smooth and easy, and then I would always flick it closed.
 
I have a BM943 and flicking it open is the only way to open the knife. FLICK AWAY!!:D
 
Thanks!! That's exactly what I was hoping to hear! I'm ffffllllicking away. :D

I've got a Sebenza on the way and I read that I shouldn't flick that, so I'll have to restrain myself and in the meantime it's great to have a flicker.
 
I had a Sebenza and I could flick it but it didn't feel as comfortable to flick as my Benchmade. It was also recommended that you don't flick the Sebenza, I think that came down from Mr. Reeve himself.
 
Be careful, though...

if you're a little off timing with the flick, you could easily catch your thumb pad on the outgoing blade.

Then it would be a test of how well you flick vs. how well you sharpen.

Had it happen to me.

-j
 
Originally posted by boobar
I had a Sebenza and I could flick it but it didn't feel as comfortable to flick as my Benchmade. It was also recommended that you don't flick the Sebenza, I think that came down from Mr. Reeve himself.
Click to expand...
Will flicking shroten the life of my 730 stop pin?I really like my 730
and 806.Does Benchmade use better stop pin on their knives than CRK?Better material?
 
The inwards flick has me on the alert, too. Hopefully when it becomes more second nature I won't be on total auto-pilot. Thanks for the heads up.
 
Originally posted by lsstaipei
Will flicking shroten the life of my 730 stop pin?I really like my 730
and 806.Does Benchmade use better stop pin on their knives than CRK?Better material?
Click to expand...

I don't think any knife mfg recommends flicking their knives, except for the assisted openers, flippers, and the Emersons.

This is party b/c the assisteds are built for more abuse (or more failure, depending on your view) and EKI will willingly replace worn liners and stop pins.

It's interesting -- Reeve says that the framelock is not meant for flicking, as it will produce grittiness in the action. That's REALLY weird. Looseness in the lock, yes. Gritiness in the action, no. CRK has been known to not service Sebs that he feels has been flicked -- one reason (aka snotty customer service) that I refuse to buy CRK.

Also keep in mind that the flick/flipper based knives usually use the thumbstud/stop pin setup, such as Darrel Ralph designs. He builds his so they can stand up to the shock. They impact on the side of the frame and the stud itself -- two points of impact -- rather than the typical stop pin setup -- three points of impact (blade tang, stop pin, frame). (Yes, I know, the stud/pin to blade interface also counts as the third impact...shush.)

One last thing: It may not be the stop pin that deforms, but the retaining holes in the liner/slabs that stretch with repeated fast openings.

I try not to do it. It's unnecessary wear and tear on any physical object.

Bottom line: BM may warranty knives that have gone funny b/c of repeated flicking. I don't know. CRK won't.

-J
 
Both but I prefer the flick just have to be careful here in our great nation one connot flick it open in front of a cop. So both that ways I can cover my A$$ and make sure no cop takes it from me. Flick for sure most of the time.
 
By design, the AXIS lock should stand up to flicking very well. My 940 is super smooth and I love to flick it!
 
Go to any knife show and see how many top makers have signs on their tables: "Please do not flick open blades". There is an obvious reason for this and you don't need to be an engineer to figure it out. Many will not honor warranty work on a knife that has been sujected to such abuse.

The June issue of Knives Illustrated has an article by Allen Elishewitz cautioning against the practice of "flicking". Take a look at his analysis of the mechanics of flicking.

That said, I'm sure a flick here and a flick there will do no harm--only repeated, hard "ballistic" flicking that would cause abnormal stress on the stop pin and pivot pin areas.
 
I agree with knifenerd -- there is indeed a difference between the vertical light flick, the thumbstud flick, and the 160mph, full arm swing flick... ;)

-j
 
Metal slapping against metal isn't necessarily a good thing. If I was mathematically inclined I could probably calculate the force being exerted on the parts hitting together. You would need to know things like the surface area of the parts hitting together, the velocity of the blade moving, blade weight and probably something else I'm forgetting. Unfortunately, I am not a math guy. But my guess is it's a pretty substantial "whack". Any math/physics majors, engineers out there wanna try a calculation? It would be interesting.


In any case, flicking, though fun (I do it to, some times.) may not be the best thing to do for the long term health of your knife. That's my very humble opinion.

Mike
 
Before i lost my BM 942 ....... I always flicked it open and closed. You could just pull down on the axis just a bit on the back swing and release it at just the right time and it would close silently, swiftly yet gently. Very smooth action.

You put your thumb on that thumbstud and you know that blade just wants to jump out.

I'll have to get that titanium S30V 940 in the future, sweet edc.
 
Originally posted by biogon
I don't think any knife mfg recommends flicking their knives, except for the assisted openers, flippers, and the Emersons.

-J
Click to expand...

I would like to add Microtech MA knives to the list. I have been flicking my socom for over 6 years now and still no problems.
 
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