Let's Talk About Flippers

Why hasn't anybody mentioned the ZT 560/61 ? I have several others but it's the 1 I like best. I wish I still had my RJ Martin Overkill. What a rocket that is.

Really fast with a strong detent.....fantastic knife!

jill posted a pic of a 560 a few post up brother ;)
 
I dig flippers. I use the Buck Vantage at work quite a bit, it's easy to use with greasy hands and I don't have to reach into my pocket all the way to retrieve it.

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Flippers are my favorite. Hands down. I own more flippers than any other type of knife. In a tip up confguration in the RFP it is such a natural motion to pull it from the pocket and flip it open. If every knife I owned could have a flipper attached, I would be a happy man.

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This one may not look like a flipper, but it is.
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I've got a bunch more, but I need to take pictures.
 
Flippers are my favorite. Hands down. I own more flippers than any other type of knife. In a tip up confguration in the RFP it is such a natural motion to pull it from the pocket and flip it open. If every knife I owned could have a flipper attached, I would be a happy man.

IMG_1953800x600.jpg


IMG_1610.jpg


IMG_1544.jpg


This one may not look like a flipper, but it is.
IMG_1586.jpg


IMG_1457.jpg


IMG_1440.jpg


IMG_1374800x600.jpg


IMG_0686800x600.jpg


IMG_0240800x600.jpg


IMG_0213800x600.jpg

I love those RJs (especially that brickyard handle one), just can't have enough of them
 
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BePrepared - Get the top one. Seriously they are both gorgeous but the top one is just breath taking.


If he has the materials to make another one of those, i'll be getting one, but i'm a bit worried that he won't have the bolster material handy... if that's the case, i'll ask for the exact same thing but with a damascus bolster
 
For mid-to-large folders, I prefer something else, but on small knives, definitely a fan of the flipper :thumbup: Only one I own is the Kershaw 1740 - ingenious design.
 
I don't have anything specifically against flippers. Its just that I would prefer to open all of my knives the same way.
Same principle for the whole tip-up vs. tip-down thing.
 
I like flippers.

Just yesterday, I was trying to teach a friend how to flick open a knife. We were using a CRKT Drifter, which actually opens pretty easy, but my friend had trouble doing it (not a knife guy). It got me to thinking that thumbstuds and Spydie holes are not ideal for one-handed opening. Sure, we're all used to them now, and we can all do it pretty easy - but, they require you to hold the handle with just your fingers and palm while your thumb is occupied with the blade. For a lot of knives, I'm using the top of my palm (where the base of my fingers start), with my fingers curled in a very awkwards grip.

From an ergo standpoint, flippers allow you to grip the handle between your fingers and thumb (much better) with just your index finger to open the blade.

This is best evidenced in strong assisted openers. Knives with thumbstuds and strong AO's feel like they're going to fly out of my hand because of the awkward grip. Flippers with strong AO's feel very secure.

I currently own:

Kershaw Volt II (my first flipper)
Kershaw R.A.M. (red RAM, red RAM!)
Kershaw Chive (spritely little bugger)
Buck Vantage Avid Large (my current carry)
 
I thought I would like flippers, and at first it was sort of a neat feature on the 0560. But now that the novelty has worn off, I much prefer thumb studs or Spyder hole. The flipper is this thing that sticks out. It's more difficult for me to find without looking than a thumb stud. The flipper is fancy and flashy, but I prefer simple and functional.
 
I only have one,a ZT200 and it works perfectly.All my other Kershaws/ZT's are assisted.
I would love to get a 560 when I get the funds together.
 
These awesome pics, taken by "Mystro" , is of a David Mosier Spyro. I hated to get rid of it, as it was super smooth....VERY well built.
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It was very naughty of you to display this fine blade, thereby making me covet it, only for me then to learn that it is no longer made.

Ya tell me about it, I had to hunt one down a while ago. Mine is smooth but doesn't fly open, yet. The polish or bushing on the blade is very nice. The grip shape is kind of like a wedge, it fits great in the hand.

I got a serrated tanto Zing recently and its surprisingly quick and smooth, when I release the liner lock the blade falls closed, a feat a thought was only attainable with bearings around the pivot.
 
I have:

ZT0560
ZT0200
Kershaw Skyline, zing, tanto zing, groove, od-1
Buck Vantage Avid Small.
 
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