Looking to buy an integral titanium framelock flipper. Any suggestions?

Integral, one-piece, monoblock, solid frame folders (some flippers):

  • LionSteel SR-1
  • LionSteel SR-2
  • LionSteel TS-1
  • LionSteel TM-1
  • Spyderco Nirvana
  • Custom Knife Factory Tegral
  • Rike 1508s
  • MicroTech Anax
 
Brian Tighe has some nice Ti knives--framelocks, button lock, klecker lock.

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Oh, my bad. I never seen those, or didn't know Lionsteel's design.

Whoa. The handle is chuck of titanium shaped like a handle? Looks tough. Full tang tough? So thats why Lionsteel cost a pretty penny.
 
Yeah, by integral, I'm referring to a single billet of titanium. I don't have much experience with these kinds of knives, so I'm looking to broaden my horizons. Lock-bar insert is an ABSOLUTE must, since the part where the frame meets the knife will eventually wear down, and replacing an entire frame is just stupid.

I have a Lionsteel SR-1 in D2 and aluminum, but really don't like it because it's a really sluggish knife. It takes absolutely forever to deploy.

Here's the one's I know of in the $500 or under range (that are also flippers):
Rike 1508S $400
Reate The Future $480
Custom Knife Works Tegral $475 (but no longer available)

The Rassenti and Microtech knives are way out of my price range. I really hope Zero Tolerance has one in the works (hopefully one where they decide NOT to paint the blade).
 
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Have you looked at the MKT flippers?
Way outa my price range but look like quality knives.
Just way too big for my EDC criteria.
 
There's a Strider/Microtech collaboration that's an integral flipper. Can't remember the name I've seen them on the exchange in the $700 range...
 
brucekent711 said:
I have a Lionsteel SR-1 in D2 and aluminum, but really don't like it because it's a really sluggish knife. It takes absolutely forever to deploy.
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I have one of the first run of Lionsteel's SR1 and I'm not sure what you mean by sluggish? It opens just like any other folder I have, usually speed of opening is dependent on the person using it. Just out of curiosity, how fast do you need a knife to open?

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Now you guys got me looking at all these knives I can't afford. I am all about the Ti so couldn't help Googling them since photos are kind of sparse

As Dundee said "Knife ? That's not a knife. This is a knife". I wish it were Ti. Seriously cool and useful though.

http://www.arizonacustomknives.com/...l=NewProductListing.aspx?product-listing.aspx

OK carry on . Just pretend I'm not here.
Didn't mean to interrupt.
Good thread though.
(needs more photos)
OK, OK . . . I'll just sit over here and be quiet.
 
unwisefool said:
I have one of the first run of Lionsteel's SR1 and I'm not sure what you mean by sluggish? It opens just like any other folder I have, usually speed of opening is dependent on the person using it. Just out of curiosity, how fast do you need a knife to open?

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The SR-1 has a lot of resistance to opening. I find it much harder to flick open than any other knife I own. I guess a comparison is the ZT 0560, which just glides open, with ease. I've lubed it up to help ease things, but it still requires a lot more effort to open. I don't need a knife that's super fast, because I'm not someone who carries a knife around for self-defense, but I do like a quick flicker.
 
RamZar said:
Integral, one-piece, monoblock, solid frame folders (some flippers):

  • LionSteel SR-1
  • LionSteel SR-2
  • LionSteel TS-1
  • LionSteel TM-1
  • Spyderco Nirvana
  • Custom Knife Factory Tegral
  • Rike 1508s
  • MicroTech Anax
Click to expand...

Also, the Marfione/Strider MSG-3. Phenomenal knife but a bit out of your price range.

OP - The CKF Tegral and Rike 1508S are the only flippers on that list. Keep an eye out for the Reate Future and the Rike Thor as well.

ATJ999 said:
Just a heads up, they can be a pain if you have to take them apart to clean them!!
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I used to think the same thing. I own a Lionsteel SR-2 and previously owned an SR-1. I wouldn't recommend that anyone ever disassemble either one. Re-assembly is extremely difficult and frustrating due to the thin teflon washers the knives use.

On the other hand, my Spyderco Nirvana is definitely the easiest knife I have ever disassembled and re-assembled. The blade has pockets for the caged bearings and the whole assembly slides easily into the frame. The most baffling part is that there is absolutely no blade play. Very well designed and executed knife.

brucekent711 said:
The SR-1 has a lot of resistance to opening. I find it much harder to flick open than any other knife I own. I guess a comparison is the ZT 0560, which just glides open, with ease. I've lubed it up to help ease things, but it still requires a lot more effort to open. I don't need a knife that's super fast, because I'm not someone who carries a knife around for self-defense, but I do like a quick flicker.
Click to expand...

My SR-1 and SR-2 took a loooong time to break in. Initially I never applied any lubricant or oil to the pivot. I also tightened the pivot quite a bit and just opened and closed the blade countless times over at least a few weeks. Eventually I loosened the pivot a bit and the knife was considerably smoother than before. After adding some lubricant it was perfect.
 
Thanks for the input. I'm definitely watching for when the Thor gets released, and also for when new quantities are made of the 1508S. As far as the Tegral, I absolutely hate recurve blades with a passion, since I sharpen my own knives on a whetstone, and recurves are impossible to sharpen.
 
brucekent711 said:
Thanks for the input. I'm definitely watching for when the Thor gets released, and also for when new quantities are made of the 1508S. As far as the Tegral, I absolutely hate recurve blades with a passion, since I sharpen my own knives on a whetstone, and recurves are impossible to sharpen.
Click to expand...

Tegral isn't a recurve.
ckf-tegral-cm-large.jpg
 
brucekent711 said:
The SR-1 has a lot of resistance to opening. I find it much harder to flick open than any other knife I own. I guess a comparison is the ZT 0560, which just glides open, with ease. I've lubed it up to help ease things, but it still requires a lot more effort to open. I don't need a knife that's super fast, because I'm not someone who carries a knife around for self-defense, but I do like a quick flicker.
Click to expand...
It's interesting how people can have the exact opposite experiences. My Lionsteel opens pretty quickly and I've never actually used it. My zt560, which I've used a lot, can't be flicked open with the thumbstuds at all, you have to use the the flipper. Guess it just depends on the individual knife was made as well!

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