Flippers

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Natedog351

Joined
Jan 9, 2013
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I recently got my zt0561 and its the first flipper and more expensive knife purchase I made and Im basically hooked loving it...right now Im thinking bout grabbing a syperco southard but I wanted to get some other thoughts looking at around 200-300$ range maybe up to around 500$ frame lock tip up carry and obviously a flipper blade length between 3-4" total length no longer than 9" around 5 ounces...
So what are your thoughts
 
From my admittedly limited experience, I'd rate my manual flippers in the following order:

Hinderer XM-18 3.5"
ZT 0561
Spyderco Southard
Boker Burnley Kwaiken (modded to flipper)
ZT 0200

Things get more complicated with the addition of assisted flippers, such as my ZT 0301 and 0400, Kershaw Tyrade, etc.
 
Ill probly stay away from other zts and hinderers since they would be fairly similar to the 0561 I already have
 
Shirogorov?

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I've got mixed feelings about the Southard. But I've heard so many good things about it both on and off BF that I think I'm going to have to give it a try.
 
bld522 said:
I've got mixed feelings about the Southard. But I've heard so many good things about it both on and off BF that I think I'm going to have to give it a try.
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I had more than mixed feelings about the Southard and didn't think I'd ever care to own one. One thing led to another and soon I had one in my hands. Can't find a damn thing wrong with it! I've thrown out my USA snobbery (for this knife) and have to admit that it lives up to the hype and then some. Easily worth the price and then some. I personally found the big ZTs not very pocket-friendly but the shape of the Southard makes it disappear against the back of your pocket.
 
The size of the zt is definately a little annoying usually I can't put anything else into that pocket now like my phone or keys Kinda adjusting to it tho
 
Natedog351 said:
I recently got my zt0561 and its the first flipper and more expensive knife purchase I made and Im basically hooked loving it...right now Im thinking bout grabbing a syperco southard but I wanted to get some other thoughts looking at around 200-300$ range maybe up to around 500$ frame lock tip up carry and obviously a flipper blade length between 3-4" total length no longer than 9" around 5 ounces...
So what are your thoughts
Click to expand...

I was recently in your exact position and I decided to go with a Pohan Leu Bluephin. His normal version is a 4.25 inch blade and around 9.5 overall but the one he's making me has a 3.25 blade and 8 overall.

It's a little over your max price, a basic one without bolsters will run about $525 but that difference is negligible if you're willing to spend $500, IMO.
 
Why the preference for 'tip up' carry?

I'm asking because, I'm genuinely curious and I dont have any ulterior motive.

Tip up or tip down makes no difference to me either way, but I might change my mind, if there are some valid reasons for choosing one over the other.

As others have, I'll also suggest the fantastic looking Spyderco Southard.

Had there been no tip-up preference, I would have suggested the Kershaw JunkYard Dog II as well.
 
Tip preference makes little difference to me on non-flipper knives but with the flipper it is logical as pulling it out of your pocket puts your finger right on the flipper. A knife like the Southard has a good enough detent to ease worries about an exposed blade tip. It seems this is not the case with the new BM flipper.
 
BladeScout said:
Why the preference for 'tip up' carry?

I'm asking because, I'm genuinely curious and I dont have any ulterior motive.

Tip up or tip down makes no difference to me either way, but I might change my mind, if there are some valid reasons for choosing one over the other.

As others have, I'll also suggest the fantastic looking Spyderco Southard.

Had there been no tip-up preference, I would have suggested the Kershaw JunkYard Dog II as well.
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I used to think the same way a you. Having no preference in which way it was carried. But something about tip-up makes it feel more natural. I do enjoy my tip-down carry knives as well but tip up is a winner in my opinion. If you like tip-down well enjoy it :)
 
^ this I didn't pick tip up for any particular reason that's what just came naturally for me anyways so that's what I'm more comfortable with if you really need a reason tho tip up on flippers makes it less likely to accidentally open and is faster to open then IMO anyways
 
Here's my ranking order for flippers: I don't mind the size or weight.

ZT 561
Hinderer XM-18
Southard
 
Tip-up feels more comfortable in the hand to me. Also it allows the lanyard to hang out of the pocket for easy access. It also allows my hand to already be in position to open the knife. My thumb is naturally in position with the stud/hole/flipper when the knife is carried tip up.

Now that I explained that, have you looked at the ZT 0801 that's coming out? It's a Rexford Design and looks awesome. But the Southard seems just amazing as well.
 
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