Life after titanium framelock flippers

[Pilot1]

Do you prefer them imported or exported?

It doesn't matter. He's an Importer/Exporter who yearns to be an Architect.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Can I be sick of something I've never been into ?

Either way if I had to choose something that would replace titanium flippers it would probably be modern folders with traditional materials.

Why not a modern folder with a 1095 blade, brass frame and bolsters, nickle silver bolsters, jigged bone scales.

Maybe the knife would look like the boker urban trapper, but be a button lock.

 

[danbot]

Can I be sick of something I've never been into ?

Either way if I had to choose something that would replace titanium flippers it would probably be modern folders with traditional materials.

Why not a modern folder with a 1095 blade, brass frame and bolsters, nickle silver bolsters, jigged bone scales.

Maybe the knife would look like the boker urban trapper, but be a button lock.

Maybe you can be sick of hearing about them!?

 

[Lapedog]

One of the features that I enjoy about Ti framelocks (though not unique to them) is that they have the potential to be made quite thin and pocket friendly. Obviously those knives that use titanium on each side of the handle are ridged and strong enough to make a viable option.

Check out how thin this Boker Ti Exskelibur 1 is next to a large Sebbie 21. Despite this because of the contoured scales the knife does not feel flimsy. (Though it is no tank either)

I really enjoy how light those knives designed with ti on one side and composite on the other can be while still being pretty strong. I dislike when they put a liner under the composite which makes the knife thicker and heavier.

 

[madcap_magician]

I have been done with the whole OVERBUILT thing for a long time now. A well designed knife doesn’t need to be overbuilt to be strong.

I like my folding knives to be strong, but there is a line. There's no point in having a 12-oz. folding knife with a .25"-thick blade of CPM 3V with .25" titanium scales that's 'as strong as a fixed blade!' when I can just... have a fixed blade.

 

[danbot]

One of the features that I enjoy about Ti framelocks (though not unique to them) is that they have the potential to be made quite thin and pocket friendly. Obviously those knives that use titanium on each side of the handle are ridged and strong enough to make a viable option.

Check out how thin this Boker Ti Exskelibur 1 is next to a large Sebbie 21. Despite this because of the contoured scales the knife does not feel flimsy. (Though it is no tank either)

I really enjoy how light those knives designed with ti on one side and composite on the other can be while still being pretty strong. I dislike when they put a liner under the composite which makes the knife thicker and heavoer.

Were you gonna post some pics?

 

[Icky Thump]

I like flippers. I like front flippers. I like (good) liner locks. I like (good) button locks. I like compression locks. I like holes. I like (thumb) studs.. I like turtles. look forward to trying other locks and deployment devices.

I would like to see more expertly made washer-based TFF, but I don’t resent bearings either.

Hooray for Everything!

View attachment 895429

<<ATTN READERS: do not derail thread with bearing vs washer bashing.>>

Turtles are a fad

 

[Danke42]

Well that is kindly.

Maybe Emerson would do the same with the Wave feature.

That would be quite the day! This is close but the blade has a funny 2 sided grind.

 

[Wilsonhome]

I was pretty late to the party with flippers, and really with modern knives in general, since i was almost exclusively a traditionals pocket knife carrier until around a year or so ago. I just received my sixth or seventh flipper a couple days ago (my first Hinderer) so i am not bored yet. However, i tend to like them smaller and lighter rather than "overbuilt."

As far as new things, i will join the chorus of people who would love to see more blending of traditional designs and modern materials (and design).

 

[Hickory n steel]

Maybe you can be sick of hearing about them!?

I am kind of tired of hearing about " action ".

Take lockbacks as an example of the opposite.
One handed or two handed, as long as they're not too tight they open properly every time.

For flippers if it's not just right it won't open properly every time and that's out of your control, sure it's an impressive marvel of engineering when they're precise enough to reliably open like butter every time but it's too easy to get a bad one.
There's just so too to be fussy about.

 

[SpySmasher]

But all those different knives are all around us.
I recently got a Fox Knives Nuragus (Pattada pattern), which has no lock at all.
It is a friction folder with a 4 inch blade, and pointy as hell.
The handle scales are cattle horn, no liners.

The non-flipper, non-overbuilt, non-titanium knives have kept being produced all along, both old styles and modern ones.

I think we agree.

 

[SpenceSTL]

Personally, I prefer S/A Autos in every way. Unfortunately, knife laws are still retarded in a lot of places (where I live included), so they're not a viable option for EDC. I also like fixed blades, but again, a lot of places will let a 3.9999999" folder fly, but won't allow (non open) carry of a fixed blade.

Of all other deployment mechanisms, I like front flippers the best. I'm sure that Emerson Wave's and Spydie holes are both fairly comparable, but I dislike the aesthetics of both. I like my blade itself to have clean lines. Thumb studs work well for a lot of people, but I find myself less likely to work them properly 100% of the time.

Of frame materials, I just don't think any other currently available material compares to the strength\weight benefit of Ti. I love Carbon Fiber, but it's really too brittle to rely on for the application. On locks, until very recently the Axis lock wasn't on the table, but last weekend I saw a buddy carrying a SOG flipper with one, so I see more and more people utilizing them in the future.

I guess my point here (if I have one) is that the reason for the popularity is that Ti Framelock flippers seem to me to be the best way to make a reliable, solid knife that most people's knife laws will allow them to carry.

Come up with less outdated laws, more options for locking mechanisms, and new material choices for frames and I see that popularity waning. For now though I see one being in my pocket for the time being.

Peace...

 

[Lapedog]

Were you gonna post some pics?

Oh yeah woops!

Here is that pic of the Boker Exskelibur 1 next to a large Sebbie 21

 

[marcinek]

Can I be sick of something I've never been into ?

You can be sick of hearing about them, like danbot pointed out.

Or you could be sick of the market being driven by them and that just about everything new that comes out is one.

There is a lot to be interested in and is worth paying attention to other than just the knife that is in your pocket....

...if you are into knives, which I always assumed everyone here is. Starting to wonder about that though.

 

[danbot]

Oh yeah woops!

Here is that pic of the Boker Exskelibur 1 next to a large Sebbie 21

That is nice and slim! Must just disappear into the pocket!

 

[Eagle Scout]

Not commenting just to counter, but I do like them.

The "ritual" of opening and closing a well designed and executed frame lock flipper is part of the enjoyment of owning/using them, at least personally. The pressure on the tab, the sound, the timing...all repeatable sensory experiences that are unique to each piece.

That said, my collection is evolving to include more slip joints this year.

Having more options with modern materials in tradition designs is a great trend for the hobby IMO. I'll buy more because of it.

 

[jceckrosh]

The next "it" knife should be the Ti Integral Flipper.

I have one of those too. Just one though.

 

[017]

.

 

[GB940Rookie]

Nothing wrong with titanium frame lock bearing flippers. Hell, I love ‘em!

Wait.....nope, that was somebody else. Sorry, nothing to see here. Move on.

Seriously,
I’ve been thinking there should be more pocket clips on traditional folders but I’m so spoiled on one hand manipulation that I’m not sure it would make any difference now.

As far as locks, I’m always up for something new. I thought the lock on the Buck Marksman was an interesting design.

 

[AF]

I thought it was interesting that WE Knives just came out with a few ti framelock flippers using thin blade stock.
So yes, more ti framelocks but not the overbuilt variety. I mostly have what I want but these are different enough to get me interested.