Recommendation? Looking for a front flipper gentleman’s EDC - Wasabi?

The Real Steel G5 Metamorph is a front flipper. I personally don't classify it as one of my gentleman's knives, but then outside of my own collection, I don't own the rights to saying what is and what isn't a Gentleman's knife - Though I do have strong opinions on the subject. :mad: lol

Here is a stock photo. Slim and elegant knife, just a bit long for the GK category. IMO.
Knife was released for 2018 - 14C28N Sandvik blade, Aluminum handle. Rumor has it a upscale version with better steel and Ti(?) handle is planned for release this year as well. Will be curious to see what that is like.

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Lapedog said:
The Exskelibut 2 can be front flipped, just not nearly as easily as the 1. Take a look at the jimping on a closed exskelibur 1 vs 2 and you will see the 1 is properly set up for front flipping and the 2 is not.

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Ah, I see what you're saying.

No, the Exskelibur 2 won't flip out quickly as a front flipper. However, it is still totally openable one handed, by using the jimping on the front. It takes a bit of practice, but becomes second nature quite quickly.
 
Dan of Bazz Clazz said:
The Real Steel G5 Metamorph is a front flipper. I personally don't classify it as one of my gentleman's knives, but then outside of my own collection, I don't own the rights to saying what is and what isn't a Gentleman's knife - Though I do have strong opinions on the subject. :mad: lol

Here is a stock photo. Slim and elegant knife, just a bit long for the GK category. IMO.
Knife was released for 2018 - 14C28N Sandvik blade, Aluminum handle. Rumor has it a upscale version with better steel and Ti(?) handle is planned for release this year as well. Will be curious to see what that is like.

metamorph.jpg
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The upscale version will be the S5 and have titanium handles and an upscale steel like m390 or s35vn. I will definitely be getting one! The Metamorph looks like an awesome model.
 
Lapedog said:
they are going to release a Feist 2!? I hope they make it 3.25 inches. That would be perfect!
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I posted about it over in the Front Flippers thread, Kizer and Justin Lundquist have both shared pictures on IG since Blade. Sadly it is not an improvement IMO, blade length is the same or 3", I forget, and they clipped the very tip of the blade. Other changes as well but the ugly blade ruined it for me.

OP I would also recommend the Feist 1. Just a great, classy little knife.
 
Anconeus said:
I’m in the market for a front flipper gentleman's style knife. I came across the Boker Wasabi but can’t find much for reviews on it (I know there is a thread here with some info on it but I can’t find a formal review.) I like the style and look but I’ve never carried a non locking blade. Can anybody give some feedback on it? How easily does it deploy, close, etc.

I’m also considering the popular Boker Exskelibur 1 and the Kizer Fiest as well as a possible consideration for a Boos Blade Smoke if they come in stock. Obviously I’m all over with price and size here but the front flippers are a little limited still. I’d prefer something under 3”. Any suggestions?
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Had a Ti Exskelibur 2, really nice knife but had bad lockstick
 
SV-97 said:
Had a Ti Exskelibur 2, really nice knife but had bad lockstick
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My Exskelibur 1 had a little lockstick but it wore in and the lockstick stopped f
airly quickly.

miso2 miso2 the new Kaizer feist 2 is the same as the 1 just with a plain pivot and a few holes drilled
In the presentation side scale.
 
NorthernSouthpaw said:
If cost isn't prohibitive. I would say that Andre Thorburn makes the most refined and gentlemanly front flippers in the market today. Can't recommend him enough. Also check some other South African (Where it was invented) makers. Clyde Challenor, Gareth Bull, and John Arnold are all great makers who excel at the front flipper.
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I wouldn't recommend anything from Andre Thorburn unless it's second hand. I had an order placed with Andre that's was worth several thousand dollars, and he gave me the run around for months and eventually sold the knives I ordered to someone else. When I spoke to him at Bladeshow this year about this matter, he was very quick to dismiss this problem and act like I was lying. He makes a quality product, but doesn't care about his customers.

I would suggest looking into the Olamic Busker instead. Eugene Solomonik has a team that makes some of the best production knives I've seen. The best part is that I also met Eugene at Bladeshow and he was very welcoming to any questions I had. He is good company and will make sure you get your moneys worth. I've been impressed with Olamic's knives and customer service since they started out.

Here's Eugene wearing the white Hawaiian shirt. The gentleman to his left was also a pleasure to speak to (for the life of me, I cannot remember his name). Both of these men are very good guys!

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This was their good selection of front flipping Buskers on the 2nd day of Bladeshow. I'm pretty sure that they had more exotic stuff on day 1.

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Lapedog said:
miso2 miso2 the new Kaizer feist 2 is the same as the 1 just with a plain pivot and a few holes drilled
In the presentation side scale.
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I think they plan to release a sheepsfoot version and spear models with colored scales.
They heard some complaints on the holes and might dismiss it, I hope.
 
Blues Bender said:
How many "true" front flippers have you handled? Please list the ones you have experience with...
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Well I’ve owned my Shamwari, Exskelibur 1 and feist. At my local store I’ve played with the Wakulla by Kizer and the Real Steel G3 front flipper version. I think that is all of them. (Not including my Katsu which is the knife that was being discussed) The Katsu front flips so easily because of the long higonokami style lever.

Those coloured handle Feists are special edition versions for bladeshow. It would be nice if they would release them to a wider audience, I love my feist.

Edit: Oh! The Boker A2 I have played with as well but was not impressed. I also tried out the Vouking G02 which has a terrible action on the one I tried. (It also turns out it is a clone of a Sinkevitch knife)
 
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Any knowledge on when the Sheepsfoot Fiest will be appearing? I don’t think I could resist that.
 
Lapedog said:
Well I’ve owned my Shamwari, Exskelibur 1 and feist. At my local store I’ve played with the Wakulla by Kizer and the Real Steel G3 front flipper version. I think that is all of them. (Not including my Katsu which is the knife that was being discussed) The Katsu front flips so easily because of the long higonokami style lever.

Those coloured handle Feists are special edition versions for bladeshow. It would be nice if they would release them to a wider audience, I love my feist.

Edit: Oh! The Boker A2 I have played with as well but was not impressed. I also tried out the Vouking G02 which has a terrible action on the one I tried. (It also turns out it is a clone of a Sinkevitch knife)
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Those weren't just for Bladeshow, I've seen them available at different dealers in the past. The rep at the Kizer booth confirmed that different iterations of the Feist would be released as well as new front flipper models in the future.
 
Blues Bender said:
Those weren't just for Bladeshow, I've seen them available at different dealers in the past. The rep at the Kizer booth confirmed that different iterations of the Feist would be released as well as new front flipper models in the future.
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I hope they will be wider released. Justin Lundquist’s instagram page said they were bladeshow special editions.

I would probably pass on buying one as the colour and tip difference isn’t enough for me to want to buy a second feist. What I would love to see is a 3.25 inch feist come out. 3.25 in a svelte folder with a shape like the feist has become a favourite knife configuration for me.
 
Lapedog said:
Check out the Katsu front flippers if you like the wasabi.

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They are extremely well made and very affordable.
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Dude those are sweet! Any idea about the damascus in the last one? Is it gimmicky fake stuff or actual damascus?
 
kniferbro said:
Dude those are sweet! Any idea about the damascus in the last one? Is it gimmicky fake stuff or actual damascus?
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It’s real, but I believe it has a vg10 core which is the actual cutting edge.

Edit: kniferbro kniferbro sorry I was wrong. It is a solid damascus blade with no core. I will say that on their other knives they seem to be using real vg10 and d2 so I doubt that they would use a shoddy damascus. I can’t speak from experience on their damascus since I have never owned one of theirs in damascus.
 
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Lapedog said:
It’s real, but I believe it has a vg10 core which is the actual cutting edge.

Edit: kniferbro kniferbro sorry I was wrong. It is a solid damascus blade with no core. I will say that on their other knives they seem to be using real vg10 and d2 so I doubt that they would use a shoddy damascus. I can’t speak from experience on their damascus since I have never owned one of theirs in damascus.
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No worries, just seeing if it was cheapo pot-metal "damascus". I'm sure they use something adequate enough. I'll probably buy one soon. Thanks for posting them man, all the reviews are exceptional. And...that price!
 
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