Front Flipper Fans?

[Gilbert G]

Love front flippers but haven't found any USA made that tickled the pickle. Didn't know the Anax was front flipper too! Always wanted to try one of those so now even up higher on the list. wow

How come there aren't more front flippers on the market? Are they not as popular and thus don't sell as well or do they take more design planning to execute correctly?

 

[Spears]

Thank you. A few years back I went on a mission to locate Horns and Burgers and I was not disappointed. I sold a lot of knives to purchase these over a relatively short span of time. The nitrobe is a treat to use, for me.

Oh, that is sick! I was gonna ask if any were in Nitrobe77. Would be awesome to see more of this stuff in production knives (or customs for that matter). Though, much like Vanax or other high nitrogen pm steels, the raw material cost is quite high. I understand heat treating can be tricky, as well, since it requires the right partial pressure to prevent unwanted de-nitriding or even unwanted additional nitriding of the steel.

Love front flippers but haven't found any USA made that tickled the pickle. Didn't know the Anax was front flipper too! Always wanted to try one of those so now even up higher on the list. wow

How come there aren't more front flippers on the market? Are they not as popular and thus don't sell as well or do they take more design planning to execute correctly?

I don't think the Anax was intentionally designed as a front flipper. At least, when they first came out, I don't remember them being advertised as such.

I think you're right that they're not more popular in the US because we've become so accustomed to Kit-Carson-esque or "back" flippers. As with anything, it does take a little practice to get used to. It's the same with certain flipper designs and flipper placement on other knives, though. However, now with the advent of bearings, ceramic detents, adjustable detents, etc., makers have the resources to really execute either back or front flipper designs well for all users.

I personally don't think the execution or design would be all that much more intensive. Honestly, looking at my large Sebenza, I think Chris Reeve could easily modify the design into a front flipper. In the closed position, the blade spine already juts past the front of the handle. Would just need to extend that, move the stop pin back about half a centimeter, make the choil cut more vertical and forward about the same half centimeter, and voila! Front Flipping Sebenza! Also, since the front flipper design is popular with South African makers, I think it's a little strange CRK, who started out in South Africa, didn't come out with a front flipper version of the Sebenza.

The way that Chad Nell (Trico, Utah FF), Enrique Pena (Zulu, Apache, Trapper, Barlow), and Craig Brown (Exponent) do their front flipper design is pretty much spot on, IMO. They have the flipper tab in more of a "top flipper" position and the tab is so unobtrusive as it follows the contour of the front of the handle and feels natural to engage (I use the distal digital crease of my thumb to grab the jimping on the flipper and rotate the knife out). Additionally, I think how they have the pivot essentially in the center of the vertical axis of the handle helps with getting the right path to follow when opening the knife.

Reate's Bushido and Tribute is pretty good, as well, with an angled tab that gives a bit more leverage. Only complaint I have is the tab does look a bit less svelte than the tab design from Chad Nell or Enrique Pena.

 

[Sharp & Fiery]

Oh, that is sick! I was gonna ask if any were in Nitrobe77. Would be awesome to see more of this stuff in production knives (or customs for that matter). Though, much like Vanax or other high nitrogen pm steels, the raw material cost is quite high. I understand heat treating can be tricky, as well, since it requires the right partial pressure to prevent unwanted de-nitriding or even unwanted additional nitriding of the steel.



I don't think the Anax was intentionally designed as a front flipper. At least, when they first came out, I don't remember them being advertised as such.

I think you're right that they're not more popular in the US because we've become so accustomed to Kit-Carson-esque or "back" flippers. As with anything, it does take a little practice to get used to. It's the same with certain flipper designs and flipper placement on other knives, though. However, now with the advent of bearings, ceramic detents, adjustable detents, etc., makers have the resources to really execute either back or front flipper designs well for all users.

I personally don't think the execution or design would be all that much more intensive. Honestly, looking at my large Sebenza, I think Chris Reeve could easily modify the design into a front flipper. In the closed position, the blade spine already juts past the front of the handle. Would just need to extend that, move the stop pin back about half a centimeter, make the choil cut more vertical and forward about the same half centimeter, and voila! Front Flipping Sebenza! Also, since the front flipper design is popular with South African makers, I think it's a little strange CRK, who started out in South Africa, didn't come out with a front flipper version of the Sebenza.

The way that Chad Nell (Trico, Utah FF) and Enrique Pena (Zulu, Apache, Trapper, Barlow) do their front flipper design is pretty much spot on, IMO. They have the flipper tab in more of a "top flipper" position and the tab is so unobtrusive as it follows the contour of the front of the handle and feels natural to engage (I use the distal digital crease of my thumb to grab the jimping on the flipper and rotate the knife out).

Reate's Bushido and Tribute is pretty good, as well, with an angled tab that gives a bit more leverage. Only complaint I have is the tab does look a bit less svelte than the tab design from Chad Nell or Enrique Pena.

You may enjoy this thread...
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/the-transformation-of-a-large-crk-classic.1730242/

 

[ArchVV]

Honestly, looking at my large Sebenza, I think Chris Reeve could easily modify the design into a front flipper. In the closed position, the blade spine already juts past the front of the handle.

You can already do it; use the meat on the side of your thumbnail bed to catch the spine end and roll it along the frame. With a little wrist flick it's pretty easy.

 

[Spears]

You may enjoy this thread...
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/the-transformation-of-a-large-crk-classic.1730242/

Oh, man, that is freaking beautiful!

And, yes, I very much did enjoy that thread. So I guess it's easier to front-flipperize a Sebenza than I initially thought!

Can we get CRK to make this part of the line-up? I certainly wouldn't mind a Large Sebbie front flipper minus the thumb stud. Heck, it makes the knife even simpler by getting rid of the thumb-stud hole and thumb stud! Well, I would want a full backspacer, so that complicates the knife a bit, just for me though!

 

[Spears]

You can already do it; use the meat on the side of your thumbnail bed to catch the spine end and roll it along the frame. With a little wrist flick it's pretty easy.

Yea, I have done that. It's just not consistent and requires the wrist flick, as you mentioned. My Sebbie is still breaking in so it's a little stiff in the action.

 

[Sharp & Fiery]

You can already do it; use the meat on the side of your thumbnail bed to catch the spine end and roll it along the frame. With a little wrist flick it's pretty easy.

Yea, I have done that. It's just not consistent and requires the wrist flick, as you mentioned. My Sebbie is still breaking in so it's a little stiff in the action.

It is definitely doable without the wrist flick.
Out of the box...no, but a few months old.
Definitely.
Like ArchVV said, use the side of your thumb, the meaty part at the top of the jimping, preload and roll.

 

[Sharp & Fiery]

Oh, man, that is freaking beautiful!

And, yes, I very much did enjoy that thread. So I guess it's easier to front-flipperize a Sebenza than I initially thought!

Can we get CRK to make this part of the line-up? I certainly wouldn't mind a Large Sebbie front flipper minus the thumb stud. Heck, it makes the knife even simpler by getting rid of the thumb-stud hole and thumb stud! Well, I would want a full backspacer, so that complicates the knife a bit, just for me though!

Thank you for the kind words.

A front flip Medium Sebenza at 3.3” blade would be amazing.

 

[Phil Indablanc]

I love a good front flipper! I have yet to find anyone that does it better than Pena.

 

[Sharp & Fiery]

I love a good front flipper! I have yet to find anyone that does it better than Pena.

Correct me if I’m wrong...but arent those Pena’s more of a top flipper? Like a Thorburn or a Brown Exponent? Not trying to be a snob, just curious.

 

[Edgeoflife]

I dig front flippers and my first was a metamorph via a Christmas gift from the wife a couple years ago. (I provided the link for her ). Took a few days to get the technique down but easy peazy after that. (The original metamorph’s slick aluminum scales probably didnt help either lol). Since then i have acquired several more FF although mostly budget pieces. I have had my eyes on a TBC for some time though. Always like to find new models as well to try out. Latest acquisition was a small exskelibur decade to go with my large one. A metamorph, Civivi exarch, or mckenna are good entry level FF to get started with imo (the 3 on the right below). Again nothing fancy but heres a few of mine.

 

[Sharp & Fiery]

Part of the collection of front flippers...and a top flipper Thorburn thown in the mix.

 

[Sharp & Fiery]

@loon#r

I’m still sad the micarta TBK Lexk got away from me. Couldnt have ended up in a better collection!

 

[Keyman]

This WE black Void Opus is my first front flipper.
It has about an 1” shorter blade than my preferred carry length and about 1/4-1/8 longer blade than my works carry limit. But, it does disappear in pocket and operates like glass. Front flippers seem to give more ways to open the knife as well as being much less obtrusive.

 

[Glenn Goodlett]

I only have one.

 

[Sharp & Fiery]

I only have one.

A nice one too!

 

[WadeWilson]

Not sure if anyone has mentioned the ZT 0640. I have one and I don’t think it was intended to be a FF but it works decently well as one once the technique is down. I’ve since also bought the Real Steel Rokot and man I was smitten with that knife. Ridiculous action out the box and a really fun FF. That knife sold me on FFs. Easily one of my most carried folders. And for under $100 it’s really hard to beat. Steel is N690 which is totally adequate for my uses. The G10 is grippy without being overly aggressive. I can’t say enough good stuff about that knife.

Edit for corrections

 

[Spears]

Thank you for the kind words.

A front flip Medium Sebenza at 3.3” blade would be amazing.

Lol, we really ought to get the CRK subforum to petition for this! My vote would still be for a full size Large Sebenza but that middle ground between large and small might really be the ticket for a lot of folks.

Correct me if I’m wrong...but arent those Pena’s more of a top flipper? Like a Thorburn or a Brown Exponent? Not trying to be a snob, just curious.

I think David from KnifeCenter might have used the term "top flipper" when referring to Liong Mah's KUF V2 design. The Lundquist Baby Barlow would be another example of a "top flipper" despite it being called a "front flipper." The Baby Barlow's tab is also minimalist and much more unobtrusive compared to the KUF V2 flipper tab.

I'd categorize a "top flipper" when the tab extends from the tang and essentially sits in the middle the handle; whereas, with a "front flipper," the tab extends from the spine and is biased towards the bottom of the handle when closed. That being said, that's why I'd classify Pena's, Nell's, Brown's design as "front flippers" since the tab extends from the spine of the knife and is clearly offset towards the bottom of the handle.

I think you'd be correct in classifying Thornburn's design as "top flippers" since it's clear the tab extends from the tang and is pretty much centered in the handle (A1-3D and L45 are two examples I can think of).

I personally don't like top flippers as much because you can't really slow roll them open. Part way through a slow opening, the tab just disappears into the handle.

Not sure if anyone has mentioned the ZT 0620. I have one and I don’t think it was intended to be a FF but it works decently well as one once the technique is down. I’ve since also bought the Real Steel Rokot and man I was smitten with that knife. Ridiculous action out the box and a really fun FF. That knife sold me on FFs. Easily one of my most carried folders. And for under $100 it’s really hard to beat. Steel is N690 which is totally adequate for my uses. The G10 is grippy without being overly aggressive. I can’t say enough good stuff about that knife.

See, now we're getting into some nuance. Is a waved knife a front flipper?

If the engagement of the front flipper is behind the pivot, more towards the end of the handle, I don't think it would be a considered a front flipper. Same with something like the Spyderco Gunting; would not classify it as a front flipper.

 

[NorthernSouthpaw]

I don't care how convenient it is. I still think that flipper tab on the KUF v2 is the most ridiculous looking thing on an otherwise nice knife.
It always reminds me of those insta-grow Martians from Loony Toons.

 

[WadeWilson]

S Spears ; the ZT 0620 is indeed an Emerson design but it does not have a wave. Just enough protrusion on the spine to make it a front flipper if you have the grip down. If it had a bit of jimping, it would make it a lot easier to deploy as an FF.