Is anyone else starting to hate flippers?

Status
Not open for further replies.
RamZar said:
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.
Click to expand...

My 0450 has broken in pretty well, I'll give it that, but I still like a weaker detent combined with a super smooth action because it allows me to choose how fast I want the blade to flip.
 
I like flippers with caged bearings and low-profile flipper tabs.

I like other opening mechanisms too. There are many pros and cons but it's all about variety and choice.

Even within a type of opening mechanism there's quite a variance. Look at the different thumb stud shapes, placements, etc.

I prefer an opening mechanism that doesn't add too much to the overall width of the folder.
 
Last edited:
SmedleyButler said:
Sheesh - I'm not trying to take your knives away, lol! I have a bunch of them myself. I just find that I never put one in my pocket any more. The winter glove comment makes sense to me. So does the fun comment. for some reason I don't think they are fun to open at all.

Anyway, you can put down your pitchforks and torches. I was just wondering if others felt the way I do. I got a ZT 0566 the other day and am hating it only because of the flipper aspect. I love my 0550 so much more. OK, that's it. I now return you to your Smedley bashing already in progress.
Click to expand...

You knew it had a flipper when you bought it no? Well, that maybe wasn't the smartest choice in model for someone who doesn't like flippers no? Maybe you should grind it off if it bugs you that much or you could just stop buying flippers maybe? Easy solution no? Lol
 
Chevy454 said:
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.
Click to expand...

Nope, I agree. Spyder holes look ugly, add penetration resistance, and weaken the blade. They have no place on a knife imo and we're a terrible design choice. They remind me a bit of that Simpsons episode where Homer puts "speed holes" in his car much to Ned's dismay.

They are one of the only things that stop me from buying Spydercos. I especially hate how they put the stupid hole on their fixed blades too.
 
Last edited:
brancron said:
My 0450 has broken in pretty well, I'll give it that, but I still like a weaker detent combined with a super smooth action because it allows me to choose how fast I want the blade to flip.
Click to expand...

Yes, this exactly!! This is exactly how the Bradley Flipper is set up and that's the very thing that finally got me interested in the knife (or any flipper). You can fire it open lightning fast or give it a light press and swing it open slow and easy like the door on a 59 Caddy! :) Throw in that Spyderhole for an even more discreet opening method when desired and you've got yourself a flipper fan.
 
Last edited:
I like flippers and autos however lately I have been trying to open my knives by using the Force only.
 
waterstoneblades said:
I read a book by John.D Verhoeven. He pointed out that stainless steels with C: 0.67; Cr: 13.00; Mn: 0.60;
P: 0.025; S: 0.015; Si: 0.40; composition is the best choice for knife blades AKA "AEB-L" or equivalents. I don't think it's the best choice for cutting abrasive materials like carpet with sand in it. I want to read through DR Romen Landes book but the only person I know that speaks German is not likely to translate it for me.
Click to expand...

Interesting. Works well with flippers? ;)

-Was this perhaps for the "super steel" thread? :D
 
r redden said:
I like flippers and autos however lately I have been trying to open my knives by using the Force only.
Click to expand...

:D Focus and don't forget to take the knife out of your pocket first! I love this idea :cool:

Rather a flipper than a thumb stud.
 
Tachead01 said:
Nope, I agree. Spyder holes look ugly, add penetration resistance, and weaken the blade. They have no place on a knife imo and we're a terrible design choice. They remind me a bit of that Simpsons episode where Homer puts "speed holes" in his car much to Ned's dismay.

They are one of the only things that stop me from buying Spydercos. I especially hate how they put the stupid hole on their fixed blades too.
Click to expand...

I agree with what you say about the hole in the fixed blades, but with folding knives I absolutely like the hole more than studs, disks, and flippers. The only drawback for me is crap getting into the hole. They open the knife easier in more ways, they don't get in the way, they usually add a nice thumb ramp, and when done right, it makes it almost natural to open the blade with multiple fingers in multiple holds.
 
I absolutely freaking love it when a guy starts a thread thinking to himself "I'm going to get so many people agreeing with me, patting me on the back, telling me what a wise and necessary topic I've hit on"...only to then find that nearly everyone who responds has the exact opposite feelings. Oh my, I think I just wet myself. No, no...that's blood. I have to go now.
 
Well, I should know if I like 'em by Saturday when my Spyderco Dice arrives. Of course, since it also sports a Spydie hole I get the best of both worlds. If it turns out I hate flippers I can always grind off the stud.
 
I really never got into flippers or fast opening knives, I'm a Fix Blade guy, I really love my Busse Anneversary Mean Street LE, my Son of Badger, or my Rodent Solution and my new Rodent 3, I do usually carry a pocket knife like my vintage Silver Sword 3 blade Canoe, or some of my vintage Westerns, or Ka-Bar, Camillus, Schrade all are made in the U.S.A., and I even have very comfortable neck carry options like my Top's Mini Scandi Knife (M.S.K. or my (2) BK-14's, I also can carry my Skookum Bush Tool and carried my Browning Independence in CM 154 and my Jeff White Trade Knife all of these I can carry under a T-Shirt, and of course my Frost Mora, I also have some folders that are if not larger than some of my fix blades, like my vintage C.S. Talwar, Black Sable, Rajah 1. and my Black Rhino, so you see what I use a knife for if you like flippers I say kewl beanz, if you don't like flippers I say kewl beanz.
 
Flippers holes or studs.. have them all. Depends on the overall design of the knife. It's really a matter of aesthetics.. Flippers are usually the fastest ( "usually" as I have some ridiculously fast holeys and stud openers too). But that's not the main reason. It's convenience and smooth one hand operation that I sometimes choose to carry a flipper for the day. Speed of opening doesn't bother me most time. It's really more of a showy thing. If I have to depend on that few microseconds a flipper can save me, then my spatial awareness has really been off whacks long before. But there's one time opening a flipper was sure lots easier one handed when I had one hand gripping a rope on a rocky ledge. Under those situations... I could easily have fumbled and dropped a thumb stud or hole opening blade... Some might argue on those points but for butter finger me-- there is a difference when flicking open a knife in the comfort of a couch vs some of these real life conditions when out. Fail safe is my fixed.. but then I guess the next love hate thread will be leather sheath vs kydex ;)
 
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.
Click to expand...
I get that you don't feel flippers are practical. What about them makes them impractical in your opinion? Push button, blade comes out for use. Seems reasonably practical to me.

So give us the why, rather than the what.
 
DAVE_M said:
How is a flipper practical?
Click to expand...

Flippers allow for easy, one-handed opening, they do so without having to drill the blade or add stress points, and they act as a guard.

Personally, I prefer well executed discs and studs, but saying an alternate opening method isn't practical is pretty obtuse IMHO.

This is the same thing as someone not understanding spendings $150 on a knife when you can get one that works for $30. Different people value knives differently just like different people prefer different features.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top