Is anyone else starting to hate flippers?

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Nope just bought the 0562. Totally digging it.
 
I like flippers as they work and have the added bonus of a finger guard. Have my ZT 0454 and ZT 0450 with me today and love them both very much.

 
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Wolverine666 said:
These days I much prefer carrying in my back pocket. Especially since I'm more interested in larger knives than I was in previous years. That WH is a looker for sure. How big is it ?
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7" overall, 3" blade, 1.8 ounces, ATS-34 blade, button-lock.
 
I don't like flippers, poorly engineered or executed flippers that is. Can't even begin to explain the disappointment of a flipper that won't flip, or a poorly functioning detent. But when a maker succesfully
designs, engineers, manufactures and executes a flipper properly, its a thing of beauty.

Exhibit A- this custom Curtiss TAC mod1 F3 running IKBS... Oh, my goodness......



 
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Thumb studs are my least favorite way because they always get in the way when sharpening. I like flippers - when done properly - because they are faster than anything but a wave and no studs to get in the way when sharpening.
 
I'm most definitely in the minority here, but I have always disliked flippers mainly because of the appearance. Then I tried a few and I added to my dislike, the feeling of the guard. The only flipper I actually liked was a Kershaw Skyline... and I liked it for the exact reason "flipper guys" disliked it... it is not a very good flipper! I like that it took a really controlled action to make it work... Fast forward to a couple years ago... Shirogorov... loved the knife but not stoked on the flipper... it just rocketed out like a switchblade... not my cup o' tea. ...a couple years ago... Southard Avo... same. Hinderer Gen 4 XM-18... love it... again... for the same reason some hate it... it takes a really controlled and practiced technique to flip them. I can flip it out slow with a hint of a wrist flick or I can slam it out with just my index finger with practiced technique... All things considered, I would still likely choose the non-flipper out of two otherwise identical knives. I will admit though... my XMs are my favorite knives... mainly for their overall quality but I do love the way they flip!
 
DAVE_M said:
How is a flipper practical? Thumb Studs/Holes/Discs were added for easy one handed opening. What purpose does a flipper have, other than for fun? Why do knifemakers add bearings to a knife? To make it smooth? Whether the knife has flipper or thumb studs/holes/discs doesn't matter when I'm opening the mail.

If flippers were practical, Chris Reeve would have made one a long time ago.
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The same could be said of thumb studs, in lieu of thumb discs. Or thumb discs, in lieu of thumb studs. Or thumb holes, in lieu of either. Or... you get the idea. The flipper is simply a similar one handed opening mechanism.

Most of my favorite flipper knives have ONLY this method of one-hand opening, so for those models, they are quite practical. ;)

As far as the OP in general, these are my favorite (and for me, easiest) one handed opening knives. Never had it get caught on the pocket or anything like that.
 
I love flippers, for me it was a natural progression starting with nail nicks, thumb studs, flippers, and spyder holes. Spyder holes, on the other hand, do nothing for me. I'm sure that's a rather unpopular opinion.
 
stog75 said:
I don't like flippers, poorly engineered or executed flippers that is. Can't even begin to explain the disappointment of a flipper that won't flip, or a poorly functioning detent. But when a maker succesfully
designs, engineers, manufactures and executes a flipper properly, its a thing of beauty.

Exhibit A- this custom Curtiss TAC mod1 F3 running IKBS... Oh, my goodness......



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Very nice, I haven't seen a Curtiss like that. Cool pivot. :thumbup:

When a flipper is well-designed, I don't need another opening method at all. In the case of the Spyderco Southard, I felt the hole actually detracted from the overall appeal of the knife.

The Shirogorov flipper tab is very unobtrusive -- I don't think you could get it to 'snag' on something if you tried. In fact... I've never had a flipper tab snag. I have, however, had thumbstuds snag on the inner pocket material, sometimes opening a bit, like a half-assed wave. Still, thumbstuds work okay, but the 'Spyder-hole' is my second choice, after flippers.

Also... I have to echo some of the sentiments expressed earlier about the tab's function as a guard in the open position -- for me, almost a necessity for any blade I might need for last-ditch self-defense, or any emergency situation where adrenaline is involved.
 
i've personally never felt a need for a flipper but nonetheless i wouldn't say someone was wrong for wanting or using a flipper and i certainly don't hate them nor would i say they were impractical. but they certainly do look cool and perhaps in an outdoor or hard use knife i could see where it could function as a guard but really i just found that for me a flipper is a bit like a waved knife: its cool and all but not particuarly useful in my personal case but i may change in the future.
 
SmedleyButler said:
I don't think I have one single thumbstud that I really like! I never see the need for the 'thumbstud' nub. Most of my many folders open easily with the flipper or spydie hole, etc. Most open far faster when I don't use the thumbstud. To me the thumbstud aspect just seems like poor engineering - something to get hung up on your pocket at worst or unnecessary at best. Also, I think it looks silly. I hope this is just a fad.
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Fixed it for you.
To me it makes no difference, thumbstud, spydie hole, flipper or wave. Just different ways to open my knife.

Mike
 
I'm not a fan of the flipper, either, but I can live with them. Spring assisted openers, on the other hand... Hate those. If they don't break, they at best develop a rattle or click noise. I also feel like I actually have to put in more effort to open them than manual folders and get them open no quicker.
 
don't like flippers. won't buy another. i have several and they're fun while watching tv etc, they don't get any serious pocket time. i actually like a knife that can be "flipped" closed, like an axis or compression lock. i just don't like that its one opening speed only, bam. when i've opened a flipper around employees or guests there is almost always a reaction and it is almost always negative. i do carry my 562 some because it has a weak detent that i can start open in my hand and then finish with the blade stops. there is a bit of flipper craze going these past couple of years. i remember reading a post on a makers upcoming products and right away the moaning began that there was no flipper, when are you making a flipper? be great if it was a flipper. i feel that way in reverse, be great if it wasn't a flipper lol. along with the "overbuilt hard use" trend, i'd like to see flippers shrink back to the niche segment they were. sorry flipper fanactics. just MHO.
 
DAVE_M said:
How is a flipper practical? Thumb Studs/Holes/Discs were added for easy one handed opening. What purpose does a flipper have, other than for fun? Why do knifemakers add bearings to a knife? To make it smooth? Whether the knife has flipper or thumb studs/holes/discs doesn't matter when I'm opening the mail.

If flippers were practical, Chris Reeve would have made one a long time ago.
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Why is there a thumb stud when a hole in the blade works perfectly fine?
 
ginaz said:
don't like flippers. won't buy another. i have several and they're fun while watching tv etc, they don't get any serious pocket time. i actually like a knife that can be "flipped" closed, like an axis or compression lock. i just don't like that its one opening speed only, bam. when i've opened a flipper around employees or guests there is almost always a reaction and it is almost always negative. i do carry my 562 some because it has a weak detent that i can start open in my hand and then finish with the blade stops. there is a bit of flipper craze going these past couple of years. i remember reading a post on a makers upcoming products and right away the moaning began that there was no flipper, when are you making a flipper? be great if it was a flipper. i feel that way in reverse, be great if it wasn't a flipper lol. along with the "overbuilt hard use" trend, i'd like to see flippers shrink back to the niche segment they were. sorry flipper fanactics. just MHO.
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Exactly!
 
I'm not a fan of the trend toward super strong detents on flippers. ZT is the biggest cuprit in this regard.
 
brancron said:
I'm not a fan of the trend toward super strong detents on flippers. ZT is the biggest cuprit in this regard.
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I also think that ZT went a little too far with their extra strong detents on the flippers released this year. They all break in but the break in time is somewhat long and varied. Once they break in even pressure on the lock bar doesn't affect the opening much and they're very smooth. A drop of nano-oil on the detent ball helps.
 
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