How do you open your folder?

Yeah, that was a good link, David.

I think we should try to define some terms though. The "drop" seems pretty self-explanatory, but what about the other "flicking" methods? For instance: what do you call it when you flick the stud or hole with your thumb to start the blade in motion and what do you call it when you flip the blade open with just wrist action?

I like the term "shake-n-flip" for the wrist action method, but you can sort of eliminate the "shake" part of the movement. Maybe we should just call it a "flip". Then, if you use a disk/stud/hole it can be called a "flick".
 
Most fun for my flicking is the CRKT M16-04.If you pull the Lever with your forefinger while holding the blade in with your thumb and allowing the thumb to "slip off under pressure" the knife opens WITH NO WRIST MOTION fast as an AUTO. you just pick up knife and snap your fingers and Presto!
 
LOL, "My hands come in handy!"
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.

The one thing I do differently, is I always use my birdie finger(in my car alot
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) to open all my spyderco's. Its just easier for me. Maybe cause I have really small hands.
Try it, it works alot better than your thumb ever will IMO. Just give your wrist a little flick when you push and they fly right open.

Sincerely,
Adam

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Self improvement is a hobby of mine :).

 
You've got a point cerulean, flick seems more like hole or stud action while flip or fling is a wrist action. I like fling, because if you're not careful, that's what can happen to your knife (and that's a BAAAD thing)!
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But then what do you call that thing you do with the CRKT M16-04?
 
I'm inclined to agree with Cerulean and Bob, regarding the distinction between the terms "flick" and "flip". The word "flick" might be best used for the sort of opening where the thumb does all or most of the work. For example, it's possible to press your thumb against the thumb stud on, say, a Benchmade Leopard Cub, and just pop the blade open, with a motion similar to that used when shooting a marble. I don't use this "thumb only" motion very often in real life, as it takes a bit too long to set the thumb properly for a good flick. More often, I use what we might call a "thumb assisted flip". In other words, I use thumb pressure to overcome the ball detent (on a liner lock) or the spring pressure (on a lock back) in conjunction with a quick (but not necessarily hard) snap of the wrist. With practice, the thumb push and the subsequent wrist snap become alomst simultaneous, and perhaps the distinction between a pure thumb "flick" and a wrist "flip" becomes blurred. The amount of thumb assistance required will depend on the agressiveness of the ball detent, and the tightness of the pivot screw (in those knives which have them).

In the thread I linked to above, I used the term "flick" for what I am now proposing to call a "flip".

Gee, maybe I should write this all up in the form of a Talmadge-esque FAQ to be added to the Knowldege Base.
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Regards to all,
David Rock

[This message has been edited by David Rock (edited 28 October 1999).]
 
Sensei David's snap-flip technique was the first I learned. Now also getting the hang of the few mentioned in Combat Knives.

The method Janich uses to flip the blade open when holding with a standard forward (foil?) grip differs from David's, but I personally prefer David's. Surprising that Janich's coverage of the "openings" didn't mention the snap-flip (does David hold a patent?).

Janich has you rotating the knife (via wrist and arm action) in such a way that the blade is made to open when the rotation stops. The knife starts pointing downward and finishes pointing more or less straight up.
This method seems to only work when the handle is held using the fingertips, which seems a bit less secure to me, plus the movement ends with the blade in front, pointing straight up, which I'd think would attract undue attention as a threatening action (unless that was your intent).

David's method finishes with the blade pointing forward and requires more wrist action, but seems easier to keep low-keyed.

Thanks again David, for that technique... there's not a folder in my collection that hasn't seen the snap-flip work on it (even the BM330 works after the WD-40).
 
Longden, I'm not altogether sure which method it is that you're thanking me for (gee, this IS confusing, isn't it!) but you're welcome.
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David Rock



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AKTI Member # A000846
"Never carry a knife shorter than your schnoz."
 
Hi Bob, my flick knife is a BM Axis 710 BT. I like to pull back on the lock button and flick open or closed. I have a post on it here.

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RICK LEFTIES UNITE


 
I refrain from displaying a knife in public, unless I am among friends. When I have done so, observers tend to think ill of me. I do not need or want any more critics. If I feel there is justification to use a knife in public, I will open it with both hands in a non-intimidating manner.
 
I like David Rock's little discourse on flicking. The comparison to shooting a marble really made it clear to me that the thumb does the work. This is my preferred method of "quick" opening. True, one must carefully set the thumb behind the stud or in the hole before "flicking," but practice produces the motor memory. I just don't like flipping or whipping the knife open with wrist motion. Sal Glesser says most eventual vertical blade play results from stop pin wear. Why hasten that process? The little thumb flick produces a satisfying and fairly gentle SNAP! into the locked position as opposed to the SLAM!!! after whipping the blade open with the wrist. That's my thought on the subject.
ptn
 
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