I hate how most flippers are being built!

M

mantzao

Joined
Jun 16, 2011
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I mean, i hate that the only way of opening is by using the flipper!
I understand that it gives a cleaner look to the blade and such but it has a big negative in my opinion.
Let's say you live in an area where autos are forbidden and a non-knife-educated cop sees you flipping the knife.

How do you explain the knife is legal and it's not an auto?
Do you have to carry the tools to disassembly it to prove it?

Don't get me wrong, i love flippers but i only buy the ones that have two ways of opening so that when i'm in public i can open it quietly and in a controlled manner so that it doesn't draw much attention.
We are living a flipper trend nowadays and the most recent models, with the KVTs, IKBSs...don't need any wrist action to open.
You simply push the little sucker and the blade just flies open.
Damn it :D

I'm sure i will get some heat for this but it would be nice that some makers could pay more attention to this.
What do you guys think?
Please be gentle :D
 
Use the flipper and the thumb stud at the same time. I do it all the time works fine. If ya can't get comfortable doing that. ....go old style and open with two hands...by pinching the blade spine area. Works on some knives.
 
Open like a old time slip joint with your fingers pulling when in that situation..

I see your in Europe I guess its more of a concern there
 
jbmonkey said:
Use the flipper and the thumb stud at the same time. I do it all the time works fine. If ya can't get comfortable doing that. ....go old style and open with two hands...by pinching the blade spine area. Works on some knives.
Click to expand...

how can use it if there's no stud?!

mc556 said:
Open like a old time slip joint with your fingers pulling when in that situation..

I see your in Europe I guess its more of a concern there
Click to expand...

i guess i could use both hands but that completely eliminates the one-handed opening knife concept!
you can't do that with some knives because, by being a flipper only, the blade is almost all hidden inside the handle.
 
Opening one handed causes this problem whether there are thumb studs or not. Personally, I find thumb studs to be a real pain in the rear. The get in the way of drawing, they get in the way of cutting, they get in the way of sharpening. Hate them.
 
How can it be confused for an auto? Auto's are opened without touching any part of the blade, and is driven by a spring; just show them by having them open and close the knife, no tension from a spring.
 
One knife that comes to mind when I read your post is the CRKT ripple and while it is super easy to flip open quickly (and lacks thumb studs or any other opener) just don't "load up" on the flipper, you know how to make it flip you sorta build up pressure on the flipper than all the sudden change the angle and it suddenly flips, just apply lght consistent pressure and the blade will open slow and controlled.

As far as proving its not auto/ assist, open the blade 1/2 way, hold the lock disengauged and show the blade free swings, should be good enough (or let the cop play with the knife).
 
I don't carry a flipper, but when I want to avoid knife drama, I keep a UKPK, Victorinox, or traditional GEC in my left pocket so I don't have to pull out my PM2.

So I use the left pocket knife in the office or general public, and pm2 from the right pocket for heavier duty where a larger knife would be normal.
 
Cereal_killer said:
As far as proving its not auto/ assist, open the blade 1/2 way, hold the lock disengauged and show the blade free swings, should be good enough (or let the cop play with the knife).
Click to expand...

That will work but in some areas it could be construed as a gravity knife, which a whole lot of places don't allow. Opening it partially and finishing manually with two hands is the method I use when in the company of non-knife people or LEO's. This can even be done with the assisted knives.
 
I don't like flippers and I don't think I've ever used my knife in front of a cop. Good luck though.
 
I too am not much of a flipper fan. I prefer thumbstuds. But I recently got a Kershaw Groove and I'm diggin it!
 
Keep it in your pocket when the cops are around, problem solved. I carry flippers as my EDC and with any knife come discretion I don't try to flash my knife around in public unless its a knife show or a knife friendly environment like a gun show you get the idea. I have never needed my knife in a public place other than at work and I was using it for work related utility. Over 35 years of carrying a knife from autos to butterfly's now flippers not one issue with the law. Discretion is the magic word.
 
I hate how a lot of flippers are being built too! They put these thumb studs on them, or thumb holes that make the knife feel so much wider in my pocket :p I wish they would stop doing that, if I had things my way the flipper would be the only part of the blade sticking out when the knife is closed. I guess I'll have to deal with it because of people like you ;)
 
I say i would rather have a flipper that flips than a flipper that is compromised for dual deployment. Making flippers is actually a difficult task for some production companies. And for them to consistently flip properly (which imho should not include wrist movement) then it needs a strong enough detent to make thumb stud opening troublesome. How are you supposed to explain its a manual? simply show them the knife. If ANYONE with authority questions it all they have to do is close it and notice that there is 0 resistance when closing so there should be no more questions. You actually would have a harder time convincing a cop that an Assisted opening knife isnt an automatic even if that knife DID have stud. Either way if you are careful of how you do things and are aware of yourself and your surroundings then you should have no problem opening even a dual action OTF discreetly around people. You simply have to take into consideration your surroundings. Many times the ONLY time anyone ever notices me opening or closing a knife its because I GOT LAZY and forgot that not everyone is a knife person and opened the thing like I was filming an episode of 24.
 
First of all don't walk around town flipping your knife open because someone is gonna call the cops and you'll definitely have a hassle on your hands. Second of all a flipper is not an automatic and if some uneducated cop thinks it is and takes it from you than file a complaint with the police department.
 
I'm torn on this. I used to hate flippers with no thumb studs, but now I want one without. I figure you have more useable blade and can always pinch open.
 
I don't flip knives in front of cops!
It was just an example :D

Some knives can't be pinched because, as i said before, the blades are or are almost entirely hidden insinde the handle.
The new Boker Kwaiken Flipper for example.

I apreciate the tips on deploying it half way Cereal Killer:thumbup:
 
I actually can open a volt II without the flipper. I just jam my thumb where the stud normally is and open it from there.
 
I like some flippers, but not very many. I really don't like the type where the flipper sticks way out or is sharp in the closed position. And I also prefer non-AO.

Jim
 
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