Flipper fumble

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mvm217

Joined
Feb 14, 2018
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I was recently in an emergency situation (nonviolent) where I needed to get my knife out quick. I have a nice framelock flipper, but it took me a full 5 seconds to get it open. Eventually I realized that I was putting too much pressure on the framelock. I wasn't doing it on purpose, but I was keyed up on adrenaline and my hands were shaking and I also had trouble solidly hitting the flipper tab at the time due to distraction.

Has this ever happened to anybody else? The fact that i couldnt deploy it when I needed it shook me so much that I'm sadly thinking of giving up on flippers.
 
Muscle-Memory....works for LE, cops, civilians...can save the day.
I'm guilty of the same thing...I vary my carry knives sometimes, from flippers to Spydies to framelocks...and it can be a problem.
Fortunately, I've not had an emergency situation, and if so, would be more likely to pull my Sig 9mm. Slow is sure; sure is fast...
 
What are your alternatives? Slip-joints require either two hands or focus. Automatics require you to activate a mechanism to deploy. Seems like your alternative would be to carry a fixed blade with a non-clasping sheath.
 
I think placing the blame on all flippers is misguided. Sounds like this is an issue of muscle memory/technique and also not knowing your knife. I primarily use flippers, and only a few have ever completely locked up with a large amount of pressure on the lock bar, and I sold them for that reason. Most of your posts on this forum are about thumb stud knives, this is why I try my best to stick with one primary method of opening a knife.
 
Kyle Heinchon said:
What are your alternatives? Slip-joints require either two hands or focus. Automatics require you to activate a mechanism to deploy. Seems like your alternative would be to carry a fixed blade with a non-clasping sheath.
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There are lots of alternatives...thumb studs and opening holes (a la Spyderco) to mention just two.
 
I agree that muscle memory plays a large part. I use this knife everyday on opening boxes and flip it open a ton at home just for fun. I can do it now very quickly and easily. But when I needed it most I couldn't... Maybe it's my fault for having shaking hands during a bad situation
 
mvm217 said:
I agree that muscle memory plays a large part. I use this knife everyday on opening boxes and flip it open a ton at home just for fun. I can do it now very quickly and easily. But when I needed it most I couldn't... Maybe it's my fault for having shaking hands during a bad situation
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Have you ever deliberately tried to see what could cause a failure with your knife? Like, squeezing the framelock as hard as you can and try to open the knife for example?
 
mvm217 said:
I agree that muscle memory plays a large part. I use this knife everyday on opening boxes and flip it open a ton at home just for fun. I can do it now very quickly and easily. But when I needed it most I couldn't... Maybe it's my fault for having shaking hands during a bad situation
Click to expand...

Stress can make any of us clumsy. No one is immune...but practice and familiarity certainly help.

Create stress for yourself, if you want, by using a timer. Not that you have to be very fast, but it will induce a modicum of stress. Or without a timer, just tell yourself when to go...using a clock or counting down to yourself.

Teach yourself to relax, control breathing and focus, and you will see results.
 
mvm217 said:
I was recently in an emergency situation (nonviolent) where I needed to get my knife out quick. I have a nice framelock flipper, but it took me a full 5 seconds to get it open. Eventually I realized that I was putting too much pressure on the framelock. I wasn't doing it on purpose, but I was keyed up on adrenaline and my hands were shaking and I also had trouble solidly hitting the flipper tab at the time due to distraction.

Has this ever happened to anybody else? The fact that i couldnt deploy it when I needed it shook me so much that I'm sadly thinking of giving up on flippers.
Click to expand...


You would have had the same problem with thumbstuds though, since the issue was deathgripping the lockbar. I got an MBK mini Old Guard recently and just because of the long lockbar relative to the handle length, I had a marked tendency to seize up the lockbar at first.

It's still an easy mistake with that knife. Maybe you could try to practice an alternative hold that's more of a deliberate ergonomic process, just in case you find yourself needing to open your knife in a traumatic situation again?

You might want to find a way to stabilize the knife with your off hand to help keep a good grip without depending too much on getting your finger placement correct with the dominant hand. Or even just plan on using two hands to open it if you have them free and your fine motor skills are starting to go from the adrenaline.
 
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Blues said:
There are lots of alternatives...thumb studs and opening holes (a la Spyderco) to mention just two.
Click to expand...

Right but these require the same type of movements from the user, just in a slightly different spot. IMO, a thumb stud or spydiehole that is easily opened one handed IS essentially a flipper.
 
Kyle Heinchon said:
Right but these require the same type of movements from the user, just in a slightly different spot. IMO, a thumb stud or spydiehole that is easily opened one handed IS essentially a flipper.
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The mechanics of the flipper lend themselves to failure much more often if gripped wrong or in the wrong position of the hand. Well designed thumb studs, and especially the Spyderco or similar holes or slots, make things much more foolproof. I've proven it to myself many a time over the past 30 years or so with numerous examples of each.

YMMV...but my experience is my experience.
 
mvm217 said:
I was recently in an emergency situation (nonviolent) where I needed to get my knife out quick. I have a nice framelock flipper, but it took me a full 5 seconds to get it open. Eventually I realized that I was putting too much pressure on the framelock. I wasn't doing it on purpose, but I was keyed up on adrenaline and my hands were shaking and I also had trouble solidly hitting the flipper tab at the time due to distraction.

Has this ever happened to anybody else? The fact that i couldnt deploy it when I needed it shook me so much that I'm sadly thinking of giving up on flippers.
Click to expand...
Get yourself a butterfly knife. Aerials or y2k are surefire ways to deploy under stress
 
Any knife or tool would be the same in that situation when emotional stress and or fear is involved. I’ve seen a guy drop a fixed blade several times in that kind of state. My advice would be to work on your self control and emotions. Practice is good but You can’t always replicate the senecio but training your mind over emotions is the key. Keeping a cool head will prevail!
 
Sonnydaze said:
Muscle-Memory....works for LE, cops, civilians...can save the day.
I'm guilty of the same thing...I vary my carry knives sometimes, from flippers to Spydies to framelocks...and it can be a problem.
Fortunately, I've not had an emergency situation, and if so, would be more likely to pull my Sig 9mm. Slow is sure; sure is fast...
Click to expand...

You better not be pulling my Sig...


Anywho, I've never been in a situation requiring me pull a knife and deploy it quickly, but if this were a regular issue I'd get a knife with a wave type feature.
 
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