Flipping as an only option

[Planterz]

I'm very new to unassisted flippers, and both have no thumb studs or hole. A Kershaw Faxion, and a Boker Urban Trapper Petite.

Both, obviously I can open with 2 hands. Neither are 100%, but that's more my fault than either knife's - as I said, I'm new to them. A wrist flick is all it takes when I misfire.

I'm new to them because I fundamentally dislike frame and linerlocks. I recently got a Kershaw Leek in carbon fiber, which brought me full circle, as 14 years ago I joined here looking for a better knife than my Kershaw Leek. Working the liner lock again led me to try other knives like it. For a long time my only EDCs were Spyderco lockbacks and Benchmade Axis locks. And a Microtech auto and a couple BM balisongs.

The Boker, I can definitely see why there's no thumb studs - there's no room and adding room would ruin the lines. The Faxion could use thumb studs. Not necessary, but I'd appreciate the option.

After playing with these knives - and they are fun to play with, don't get me wrong - but they seem to me like they're mainly a solution for those that want the fidgety, knifesturbation toy of an automatic, but can't own or carry one because of the laws. The Kershaw definitely has a mechanical, automatic feel to it. Press the flipper right, and you feel 2 clicks: one when the tang passes the detent/liner, and one when the liner engages. If you've ever played with a leaf spring switchblade, you get a very similar tactile and auditory sensation. To an observer, they see you press something and they hear the clickings, and it would appear just like you had a switchblade. The Boker doesn't have quite the same feel - it's just glass smooth - but it's still fun to play with.

I might pick up a regular size Boker Urban Trapper, as it's the styling that really speaks out to me. I'll also probably pick up a Kershaw Bareknuckle when they come out. A Spyderco Mantra 3 is also on the list. I almost got a Sliveraxe until I saw the Mantra 3, which is a much more "normal" looking knife. I kinda want a Mantra 1 or 2 now too, so I can try out that M4 steel I've read so much about. I prefer the Mantra 2's blade shape, but I appreciate the usable thumb hole on the Mantra 1.

 

[Sonnydaze]

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?

You're better off using your .45 Colt before you are disemboweled.

 

[sXePhenomenal]

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.

This happens to me too. Even knives with amazing actions that fly open they’ll mess it up bc they don’t know how to press the flipper and will just pull down on the very top flat part with a slow push.

It’s pretty funny and if it’s a frame lock you can forget about a non knife person flipping it they’ll just do what I said and squeeze on the lockbar

 

[sXePhenomenal]

My thing double posted smh

 

[mabrowns]

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.

I finger pinch the blade to open it if I don't want to flip it.

 

[McFeeli]

I finger pinch the blade to open it if I don't want to flip it.

An 0900? I can't do that very easily with mine. I'm pretty sure my 0900's detent is on the stronger side, though. The only way I can open it softly is if I purposely attempt to flip it half way, even doing that causes a noticeable pop when the lock engages. My 0900 locks up better than any other frame lock I've own. It's like a mini fixed blade(absolutely love it).

 

[zhyla]

With a wrist flick I’ve got no issue deploying any of my flippers. But under pressure I am not convinced I’ll remember to do so, or even to try to flip it open.

I’ve got years of thumbhole muscle memory so the mountain lion will probably end me while I’m trying to thumb the side of a blade that has no home.

 

[DocJD]

Them wild hills is full of flipper knives imbedded in Cougar scat !

 

[ATJ999]

It takes about 10 minutes to get it down to the point where you can open the blade up every time. IMO
If you are not quite sure about flippers, start with a cheaper blade. A great cheaper option is the Real Steel Sea Eagle.
I personally like flippers, thumb holes, dice, and thumb studs. Probably in that order. For folders. Fixed blades might be at the top now though.
Also, you can always start with a wrist flick till you get it down, or till your index finger gets buff/quick.

 

[Wowbagger]

I only have two real flippers ( the Ti Lite doesn't count ).
My Grail with the custom scales . . . top knife in this photo. The flipper tab is just visible on the left top end of the knife. But it is enough to deploy the knife fast or open it slowly. When fast it likes a bit of wrist. Once part way open when opening slowly I can push my thumb forward toward the blade but by then the flipper has popped out the blade slot side and it rolls nicely under my thumb and the blade continues opening just fine.


The second flipper is my other Urban Trapper . . . the drilled titanium handled one shown here. It requires zero wrist and is a real go getter.

The good news is they are very pocket friendly and the tabs don't beat up my pockets or my hands. Mostly I carry the Grail in a belt pouch to keep the ball bearing pivot cleaner and often I carry the drilled Ti handled one in my shirt pocket. It is so light and thin it is like carrying a fountain pen in my shirt pocket.

 

[Daniel Thompson]

In terms of ease of opening, a well made flipper is just as reliable as anything else. That said, I tend to dislike when the only way to open a knife is with a flipper tab because if you ever need to use your knife with people you don't know around, it's best to open the knife slowly - something that you can't easily do with some flippers.

 

[dkb45]

If you are wanting something to defend yourself against a mountain lion, then being loud is your best defense. If it wants to kill you, there is little you can do to stop it, they are ambush predators, if you hear it then it's probably already mid leap and you just have to hope it leaves enough for your body to be recognized .

For knives for actual use, so long as the flipper is made right there is no issue with only a single opening method. Some flippers that use a hole or stud too have the problem of weak detents though, and if you need to or want to open it fast you have to use a little wrist or flick it just right. I've had very few dedicated flippers that I couldn't reliably open, and most of them are cheaper knives. With the advent of bearings, dedicated flippers have never been smoother or as easy to make smooth.