Flipping as an only option

J

JMFWSU

Joined
Apr 23, 2002
Messages
181
Hi,

I was looking at ZT knives and was wondering about the drawbacks of having a flipper as the only way to open a knife.

How reliable is the flipper at deploying the blade? Does it take practice to be 100%? Is it more about the fun factor, or is it as practical as the hole or stud?

Thanks
 
In my experience from handing knives to other people to handle, there is a learning curve with even the smoothest and snappiest flippers. I have thought some knives to be infalliable flippers, incapable of failing to deploy the blade no matter how you try, until I’ve handed them to someone to whom flippers are an unknown entity.

With practice, they should be just as reliable as any opening mechanism. At worst, a wrist flick will be necessary to ensure 100% success.
 
I fall in line with Comeuppance's experience. Every single flipper I've owned had their own quirks that you had to figure out before you could open it reliably 100%. Once you learn then it's more muscle memory than anything. You learn the quirks pretty quick.

I'm pretty sure the only knife I own that can only be opened by the flipper tab is my 0900, a combination of a strong detent and not enough exposed blade makes it nearly impossible to pull open. The biggest downside(and one of my more favorite upsides) is that it makes one helluva pop when it slams open. Bad for public, great fun for myself, haha.
 
Out of every ZT knife I've had, only one didn't have a reliable detent, and that was a 561 and those were known for more Hinderer like detents. Every other ZT has either been perfectly fine, as is the case with every other flipper I've had, or within the specs of usability. With their move to bearings on their flippers, even the weakest detent I've had, in my 808, was still more than usable, and unless I got a bad flip it opened reliably.

ZT may not do everything right, but I've never doubted the action on their knives. They brought flippers and bearings into widespread use in the American market, and it's hard to make an industry change screwing it up.
 
I never really cared much for flippers, even though they seem to be the latest rage and you can't be on this forum without hearing about them :rolleyes:. But now I realize I've got 5 or 6 of them, and I'm loving them. With the right model and the right technique, which you'll develop with practice, you can have these flying open as soon as you clear them from your pocket- almost as fast as an automatic. And as mentioned, they're fun to play with and can make some cool noises, in some cases on both opening and closing. I find it to be about the easiest way to open a knife, as opposed to holes, thumb studs, etc. Get a good one and you'll never regret it (or get a bad one and just keep trying- the reviews here and on Utube will help a lot).
 
The only ZT flipper that I have/had that does not have any other openning methods is 0452cf, and it is 100% reliable. The thumbstud on ZT 0562/0562cf is actually functioning as stop pin. It is difficult to be used to open the blade.

To relay a previous comment on ZT 0561, I heard earlier model has weak detent. But the one I have, which has a steel lockbar insert, is the best ZT flipper that I have/had.
 
Drawbacks - fast deployment that makes noise can startle some people. Tuning the pivot screw for smooth deployment without blade play is a factor.

If you keep your fingers off the lock bar, a two-handed opening is also reliable. Pinch grip the blade with your opposite hand while gently pressing the flipper tab. You'll overcome the detent and can then open and lock the blade slowly and quietly. Have used this many times when attracting attention is undesired.

My experience with ZT flippers has been positive. Some (0450, 0609) have detents requiring more pre-loading resulting in "snappy" deployments. Others (0562 - larger and heavier blade) have sublime action on par with knives twice the price.

Not all frame lock flippers are created equal. But to quote bobobama bobobama above "get a good one and you'll never regret it".
 
If opening your knife in a emergency or in a stressful situation and you make a bad flip, what are your options to recover quickly?
 
For example, a mountain lion knocks you to the ground. Is the flipper a good choice or does it require too much concentration and correct posture?
 
JMFWSU said:
If opening your knife in a emergency or in a stressful situation and you make a bad flip, what are your options to recover quickly?
Click to expand...

wrist flick.

I've only got two - a Kizer I picked up in November - and Spyderco that i just got my hands on this week.
I have no issues. It took a little bit at first to get used to a new mechanism, but after that its almost automatic.
I can open both two handed like Eagle Scout mentioned easily as well.
and on the rare occassion that it doesnt fully open, a quick wrist flick finishes it off
 
I have only a few dedicated flippers...because I prefer the availability of other options (thumbstuds or hole); and probably use those options as much as the flipper tab when both are available. On larger flippers - CKF SSE or ZT 0095 - I can pinch the blade between my thumb and middle finger to break the detent, then smoothly rotate the blade open to lock when I want to be subtle. That is much more difficult (for me)on something small like a Mantra 2.
Most ZT flippers are quite good, in my experience; though the light detents on some of their earlier models (0560 and 0200, for example) took a little getting used to for some people. Truth be told, even with the light detent, I found the 0560 to be a consistent and easy flipper...the 0200 was/is a different story. That one - mine, at least - is more technique dependent...but it's got thumbstuds, and can be shaken open if necessary. I prefer the softer detents, others want firm (presumably because it virtually eliminates misfires).
 
JMFWSU said:
For example, a mountain lion knocks you to the ground. Is the flipper a good choice or does it require too much concentration and correct posture?
Click to expand...
If a mountain lion knocks you to the ground, and your flipper is clipped in your pocket, you'll likely be hard pressed to get it out and open...unless, of course, you were simply in its way; and it just kept going once you were down. Of course, the same goes for thumbstuds, holes, waves, or autos - if you get knocked down by an animal that continues in attack, getting a knife out of your pocket & opened will be difficult.
*edited to add - unless you're Otto Carpenter :thumbsup:
 
Comeuppance, I agree. I carry bear spray, but it wouldn’t be super helpful in an attack scenario. And I do come across cat tracks every once in a while in the area I hike.
 
ZT 0770CF. Assisted flipper. No problems here. Press the lever, thwack. Main issue with a rear tab flipper is having to adjust your grip after opening for lion fighting. If that's the primary concern, I'd suggest going with a good-sized fixed blade in a quick draw holster of some kind (like Charlie Mike carries). I think the mountain lions in his area carry Charlie Mike spray.
 
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