Honest question about 'flicking'

The General

The General

Joined
Jun 6, 2000
Messages
3,625
What is the recognised... definition of 'flicking'

I always thought it was flicking the wrist to open a knife, rather than using a thumb stud/hole etc. On some blades you need to press a stud (Axis, CQD etc) to do this, I think a bolt action does this as well. My Gerber does anyhow.

However someone said they flicked open their Spyderco Delica. Now on a lockback this cannot be possible? Well? So is flicking ALSO when you use the thumb stud/hole to start the open and flick the wrist to help?

Thanks!

------------------
Wayne.
"To strive to seek to find and not to yield"
Tennyson
Ranger motto

A few useful details on UK laws and some nice reviews!
http://members.aol.com/knivesuk/
Certified steel snob!
 
Good Evening.
It is I, THE GREAT AND POWERFUL VAMPIRE GERBIL!

First off, it's spelled "Recognized". I am in America, so ya gotta type Americanish, ok?
wink.gif


"Flicking" means just what ya think... hold the closed knife in your hand and WHIP IT OUT!!
(The BLADE, I mean!)
So you're correct in your assuption about the dephinition (Americanish spelling)

Most folders I have can be opened this way... I even have a Buck 110 that I can do it with... I know, hard to believe but if ya want proof, I'll videotape myself doing this and send it to ya for free.
(Note: To reduce the amount of people asking for this proof, be advised that I will be completely naked in the video)

You said,
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Now on a lockback this cannot be possible?</font>
Click to expand...
It certainly is... eben though it took me a long time to get that Buck to flick, my Spyderco Police model opens in that manner with ease.
It's just a matter of wrist technique, which I have an enormous amount of, due to my many years of living single and having access to the porno channels on cable tv.

And YES, I KNOW that flicking is bad for a knife.... doesn't stop me from doing it with my working knives that cost less than $75 tho.

Happt to Enlighten, the bill is forthcoming,
I remain,
VG
King of Albanian Lapdancers
 
biggrin.gif


------------------
Wayne.
"To strive to seek to find and not to yield"
Tennyson
Ranger motto

A few useful details on UK laws and some nice reviews!
http://members.aol.com/knivesuk/
Certified steel snob!
 
General, what do you mean by 'need to press a stud'? You can open an Axis with just a flick, or with a flick combined with retracting the lock, or with a good hard push on the thumbstud, etc.

--JB

P.S., flicking really won't hurt a knife that is built to take it. Luckily for me, being able to take flicking was built-in to the Axis knives.

------------------
e_utopia@hotmail.com
 
General, I fear you'll not receive a singular answer -- though it pains me and instills deep dread soul-wise to disagree with the all-powerful Vampire Gerbil.

I perceive myself to be a multi-talented flicker. Whe I use my CRKT M16-14, I usually flick only the flipper. Semantically, it may be a flip, but to me it has always been a flick. Now to somewhat agree with the awe-inspiring VG, I do sometimes do a combination flipper flick and wrist snap. But that is usually when my lighting-like sense of feel and reflexes tell me my flick was a bit limp, so I add the wrist.

With my CRKT KFF, and a couple other knives, I flick the thumb stud with my thumbnail. I am not so compulsive about practicing this, as it has too wide an area for mistakes. And, one must be precisely located thumb-wise to make this work consistently. Not the sort of perfection that is likely to occur in a high adrenaline moment. Again, with VG, I often push the stud and flick my wrist. This always works for me. It is the movement I would attempt if ever excrement happens.

I have 1 knife, a Gigand Shockwave -- that unfortunately came without the wrench which is supposed to accompany them -- that can be adjusted to where it practically meets the definition of a gravity knife. I can easily place my thumb on the stud, and with a flick -- tho others might call it a snap -- of that digit, send the blade crashing to a locked position. Of course, with this knife, again in dangerous times, am sure I would only use the wrist to flick it open, and totally ignore the stud.

So, it depends on what knife you're talking about. It depends on both generic tendencies for that model, plus idiosyncratic style of hte individual knife. It depends on how the blade is equipped, re opening mechanism.

I'm sorry I can't more explicitly answer your question. I will, however admit that flicking knives is often the greatest symptom of my raving obsessive disorder. Thankfully, am not compulsive tho.

Flick away, however you choose to do so,


------------------
Asi es la vida

Bugs
 
Some of it depends on the blade size/mass. I believe that is why VG finds that his police snaps open so easily.

I cna get my SIFU to do a hard flick/snap opening when it's tightened to a point where it hurts my thumb badly to use the thumbstud... I try not to flick it too much though, just as practice (Defensive carry).

James

------------------
The beast we are, lest the beast we become.
 
I often open my Native, Endura, and Voyager, by gravity. The Endura and Voyager are the easiest to flick open. I do NOT subject my liner locks to this method. RKBA!
 
As a sub-question: you guys all seem to say that flicking is hard on the lock. Realistically, how bad is it? I imagine that it depends on the mechanism, right? I'm personally interested in Spyderco's lockbacks, so I'd like to know what the effects of flicking are on those lockbacks.

Does flicking mean that I'll destroy my lock in a few years, or is it like "your lock will only last 30 years with flicking vs. 50" sort of thing? Or will the lock survive, but introduce blade play, etc?

Thanks!
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Denix:
As a sub-question: you guys all seem to say that flicking is hard on the lock. Realistically, how bad is it? I imagine that it depends on the mechanism, right? I'm personally interested in Spyderco's lockbacks, so I'd like to know what the effects of flicking are on those lockbacks.

Does flicking mean that I'll destroy my lock in a few years, or is it like "your lock will only last 30 years with flicking vs. 50" sort of thing? Or will the lock survive, but introduce blade play, etc?

Thanks!</font>
Click to expand...

Don't worry about the effect on the knife. Worry about the effect on your world of knives and your ability to own the knives you now enjoy. Picture a young policeman who could care less about knives or you, he reads this thread and teaches himself how to "flick" knives. Then he finds someone with a knife, he flicks it open and tells the judge that he found this fellow the a gravity knife and guess who goes to jail?

Do it in private, never do it in public unless in danger and do not talk about it. JMO A. G.

 
I have yet to find a knife that does not suffer premature wear from flicking, snapping, whatever you want to call it.

Although this maneuver could be used in dire straights, many people I have seen do this have developed it as a habbit. When I ask to see the knife they are carrying, they either don't have one, have a fairly new one, or have one with notable lock wear or blade play.

The heavier the blade, the more impact it will have on the stop and locking device due to inertia.

Most locking folders have fitups that require tolerances to a few tenthousandths of an inch. It takes surprisingly little to wear out a knife that might have lasted many more years.

Mr. Russel has also made an excellent observation in that flipping a folder open should be only used as a last resort in a survival situation. I have never seen anybody snap open a knife at a show with the crowd responding in applause. Most times, folks just gasp and walk away to avoid getting hit with a flying knife - no matter if it's a $35.00 factory folder or a $3,500.00 custom.

I have seen several accounts here where people relate how much they love flipping their knives open time and time again. However, I have not seen any instance where someone guarantees any particular knife to be completely immune to this type of handling over an extended period of time, no matter how well it is built or how much it costs.

If you think knives shouldn't wear, then you should find one that never needs to be sharpened. The blade hardness of most folders is the same at the edge as in the areas where it engages with the stop and the lock.

------------------
Tom Anderson
Hand Crafted Knives


www.andersoncustomknives.com
 
Good points Tom. As for getting applause at a knife show for opening a knife, ask Mr. Sal Glesser if you can see his Military if you ever run into him.
wink.gif
 
What A.G. and Tom said. I like tight tolerances and want them to hang around as long as possible. Seems to me by the time it is flicked and you are back into control of your hand arm and wrist, the knife could have been opened faster with the stud or hole as they were designed to be used.

When I see people flicking with wrist snaps at shows, lets just say impressed is not even close to what comes to mind
biggrin.gif
.

------------------
" The real art of living is to keep alive the longing in human beings to become greater versions of themselves." Laurens Van der Post in memory of James Mattis
 
I'm still wondering how Bug Bug Bug figures he disagreed with me?

Maybe he better not explain, since he dodged a Vampirically Gerbular Bullet and is not yet in danger of suffering my terrible wrath.

The only thing I can think of is that he seemed to imply that it's ok to flick some knives.

Well, maybe... I never saw any problems with any of mine, but I amen't an expert.

I DO know that going to a custom show and picking up a multi-hundred/thousand dollar knife off a maker's table, and flicking it open is a good way to piss off the guy that's trying to sell it.

Off to approach LEO's and jokingly snatch their sidearms, and flick them until they giggle,
I remain,
VG
King of Death Defying Inches
 
Like I said, it really doesn't matter if it's an inexpensive factory knife or a custom folder. Both the dealer and the custom knifemaker have invested their own money in putting the best possible products on the table. Both go to shows to earn a living, not simply to amuse inconsiderate rubes.

It's uncanny how someone can "instinctively" snap open a folder when the maker spends so much time creating a knife with the best finish, fitup, and smooth action. To me, it's like watching a drunkard guzzle a bottle of fine Napoleon brandy.

When the next person comes up and sees that the lock is a little sticky, or the knife now has a tiny rub mark, it just compounds the insult. (Now you know why some folks ask dealers and makers if they have a "fresh one" under the table and why more and more tables have signs that say "do not snap" and "please ask before handling".)


ps: Doing this to a factory knife is no better, because it promotes a false image of what a folding knife is intended for and ignores the fact that (as potential weapons) knives should be handled with caution and respect.

------------------
Tom Anderson
Hand Crafted Knives


www.andersoncustomknives.com

[This message has been edited by Tom Anderson (edited 04-02-2001).]
 
I was once at some friends for dinner. The hostess was a 'flicker.' She had two knives, the Leopard and Leopard Cub (BM 625 and 612). Both had been completely ruined. The screws would not tighten up the scales, and the stop pin was wobbling around like a hanging chad.

Her technique was incorrect, and in a moment of foolishness, I tried to show her how to do it correctly. She flicked my A T Barr folder across the kitchen, nearly skewering my then 7 yo son. I gave her my less slippery Kit Carson #18 with CPM 420V blade, and had her go into the unoccupied front room to practice. She did so for about a half hour. During this time she flatted the stop pin, and I had to (sheepishly) send it back to Kit for refurbishing.

Flicking is damaging, and quite rapidly so.

Walt
 
AGRussell:
You said, "Picture a young policeman who could care less about knives or you, he reads this thread and teaches himself how to "flick" knives. Then he finds someone with a knife, he flicks it open and tells the judge that he found this fellow the a gravity knife and guess who goes to jail?"

Let me see if I understand this right. You think LEOs try to learn how to do something so that we can try to show a judge how something you have is illegal? Sorry, I do not have to go making up stuff so that I can find illegal behavior. People usually call us to point out illegal activity. Then we respond. If you are up to no good, I will approach you, the supreme court says that if I have suspicion to beleive you are armed, I can conduct a pat down of your outer clothing for weapons. & if I find one, and it's illegal, guess what , you are going to be charged. I don't have to do anything to make it illegal, it's illegal by statute. If it isn't, when I am done with this contact, I give it back. If it's nice, I might make an admiring comment about it. If you are nice, I might even strike up a conversation about knives, heck I might even show you some I carry. Plenty of illegal stuff happens everyday, I don't have to go out & make it up.

------------------
Mark, Isiah 40:31 They that wait on the LORD shall mount up with wings as eagles...
 
Wow! I guess that sets the record straight!

I'm glad I asked. I've had my Calypso Jr. for 2 weeks now and have never flicked it. I guess I'm not about to start! One of the main reasons I chose Spyderco was their reputation for rock solid locks with no blade play. After carying Victorinox SAK's for over 10 years and never experiencing blade play whatsoever, I'd be pretty disappointed with a wobbly lock!

 
MarkCid84, you may never try to prove that a knife is illegal by flicking it but there is no way on earth that you can speak for every LEO. Some LEOs like knives, some do not. Also, LEOs are human and respond differently to different suspects. Although I can not remember where I read it, I read of a case in which a police officer flicked a Buck knife in a particularly awkward manner in attempt to convince a judge that the knife was a "switchblade." I think the case was either thrown out or the conviction was reversed, but still, who wants to go through the experience? I mean no disrespect to LEOs, I'm just not naive about human nature.
 
MarkCid84,

I would only add one thing. You pat me down like that, find nothing illegal (which would be the case), you are not striking up any conversation with me, I guarantee you that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top