Manual flippers!

Zt 0700 is super smooth flipper right out of the box. Handle is deceptively comfortable as well.
 
Comeuppance said:
I wish the 0888 wasn't a billion dollars / ounces, and the 0600 was a little smaller. I'd buy those in a second.
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Very limited numbers of around 200 for the ZT 0888 plus they cost around $550 before the secondary market pricing.

The ZT 0600 flips great for such a big folder (blade length of 4.25" and weighing over 7 ounces). Also, it has has a fairly narrow profile so easy to carry in the pocket.

Comeuppance said:
Dendra is a brand I've been looking at. What're your impressions of 'em?
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They give you a lot of value for the money. Quality made by LionSteel. Their flipper actions are not the smoothest and blades are all D2 only like Brous.
 
Comeuppance said:
I've been thinking about trying the Foresight and ZT 0200/0700, despite not generally being one for recurves. How bulky is the 0200 in the pocket?
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The ZT 0200 is definitely bulky and heavy but if you can manage it you get a lot for your money. The 0700 is even more inexpensive, fairly light, slim and has a pronounced tanto blade. Both flip great and can be had without black blades.
 
A few quick takes on some of your mini-reviews:

Comeuppance said:
Kershaw RAM: Man, do I regret selling this one. Best flipper I've owned, bar none. Loved the integrated choil in the bolster (thus not sacrificing cutting edge), rock solid lockup, nice and fun closing mechanism.
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A superb inexpensive little flipper. Wish KAI would bring it back with a better blade too.

Comeuppance said:
ZT 0560CBCF: Received in a trade. Perfect in every way. Just as smooth as the 0777M390BLK I had, which is impressive.
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With the S110V cutting edge and grippy CF handle this is a great folder although I prefer a stronger detent on it. Right now the price is right on the secondary market.

Comeuppance said:
ZT 0566: Great assisted knife, off-center and terrible de-assisted flipper. Might have gotten a bad one.
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I'm equally underwhelmed!

Comeuppance said:
ZT 0770: Bought it basically to resell it, but I'd have considered keeping it if the handle wasn't aluminum. I would have preferred G10, or really anything that isn't such a scratch magnet. Otherwise, fantastic knife. Never tried to de-assist it, but it is a flawless assisted flipper.
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This is one assisted opening ZT that does not need to be de-assisted and I really like the aluminum handle. I like it so much I have three of them!

Comeuppance said:
ZT 0801: It's a lot lighter than I thought it would be, given the all-Ti handles. Perfect lockup, amazing blade shape, VERY strong detent (which seems a bit unnecessary given that it runs on bearings), and great flipping action. Not a fan of the pocket clip, though - it looks cheap and out of place on the knife.
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Great flipper action and feels good in the hand but the screws and clip should've been silver/titanium colored.

Comeuppance said:
ZT 0777M390BLK: Lives up to the hype.
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All the 0777 are great and have the same light weight and strong CF handle without additional support structure. Flipper action varies from model to model and within a model (0777, 0777-M390 and 0777-M390BLK) but all are great!

Comeuppance said:
Spyderco Southard: CTS-204p is a beast. I bought one and used it, and used it, and used it... Hit the edge on a steel pipe accidentally with so much force that the pipe rang and resonated for a while. Zero damage to the edge. Top notch.
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Best production flipper with smooth flipper action and great blade. The ugly brown G10 just needs replacing!

Comeuppance said:
Hinderer XM-18 Gen 3: Terribad detent, and apparently Hinderer doesn't work on detents. You put out a >$500 knife and won't make the flippers work well? That's stupid. You're stupid. Otherwise, beautiful knife with amazing tolerances.
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The weak detent makes for a weak flipper action! Curtiss F3 fixes that.

Comeuppance said:
Hogue EX-02: I have three. God, I love these things. Linerlocks done right, flips and snaps open with authority, VERY nice blade shapes. All three see regular carry.
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Way underrated and stout flipper action at a good price point. You also have a choice of spear point or tanto and with blade lengths of 3.4" or 3.75".

Comeuppance said:
MicroTech DOC: I loved everything about this but the lock disengagement. Finger-hurtingly-stiff and hard to access.
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Stay with this. Mine is so smooth now. I can open it via thumb studs as well and closing is not a problem. Needs several hundred open/close cycles. Choice of handle colors now (black, tan, blue, red and green) and with those released already in Elmax, 154CM and S30V (most of the color ones).

Comeuppance said:
Brous Reloader: It just felt flimsy to me despite having no flaws. It's hard to describe. The handle grooves are very comfy, it flipped out well, and the lockup was solid, but, eh. Just didn't inspire confidence for some reason.
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I have the Borus Reloader and Division but I hear the T4 is a better flipper which I don't have.
 
Comeuppance said:
I've been looking at those and Bluephins ( very similar grinds, IMO ) - any carry/usage feedback?
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I've EDC'd my Bluephin for the past few months and have owned two. Feel free to PM me with any specific questions.

As far as manual flippers go, the only production one that I didn't see mentioned that deserves to be is the Boker Federal. Possibly the best non-IKBS fliipper I've used.

Edit: Just saw RamZar had the Federal listed, carry on.

Les Voorhies is way up there in the custom arena, I think he builds some of the best flippers around.
 
It's kinda sad to think I've reached the end of production flippers that I have any interest in...

...But also exciting, because that gives me an excuse to start edging into mid-techs and customs.

I mean, I scoff at the price of Shirogorovs now, but I also scoffed at spending more than 50 bucks on a knife just two years ago. I only own three knives that cost less than $50 now... And that's out of twelve.

And I just bought a CC 110V SNG.
And a Boker Kwaiken with a flipper mod.
And I'm considering getting another 0561.
 
Shirogorov prices truly are insane. They were selling for $450 or so brand new. I remember... Now, double that.

And there definitely isn't a shortage of Mid-tech flippers
 
Honestly, I don't think you can beat the Hogue EX-02. I got one two weeks ago and it has yet to leave my pocket.
 
Many fine flippers mentioned. The best I've ever owned is a Tim Galyean Pro Series Lahar. In second place is the Curtiss F3
 
Smoothest manual flippers I have are my ZT 0200 and Kershaw DLC JYD. :)
 
Surprised you don't like the Skyline, for the money i love mine. Also I picked up a boker / sniper collab (s1 think) sprint with orange handles and for the money I like it for a big knife, though the lock is not as easy to disengage as some. and I do find myself playing with the crkt ripple often, but it is so thin I do not use it for heavy work.
 
Comeuppance said:
It's kinda sad to think I've reached the end of production flippers that I have any interest in...

...But also exciting, because that gives me an excuse to start edging into mid-techs and customs.
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Perhaps try Curtiss F³ next. Blade lengths of 4", 3.5" and 2.3" that's 0.156" thick of Bohler N690 (RC60). Great IKBS flipper action. I have a medium and compact. Just great. Get on his email list.
 
Reediculos said:
Honestly, I don't think you can beat the Hogue EX-02. I got one two weeks ago and it has yet to leave my pocket.
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Troof. I almost always have at least one of them on me.



The 3.375" EX-02 probably sees the most use, and I've been pairing it with my recently-modified JYD. They're both sporting brand-new 30 degree inclusive Wicked Edges, and are flying through all the ill-fittingly-minor tasks I throw at them at work.
 
Comeuppance said:
As far as customs go:
Will Moon: If he used something other than S30V, I'd own one ( or three ) already.
Shirogorov: $900 base price. I can't carry that.
RJ Martin: Price, recurved blades.
Bodega: Blade steel. N690? Ehhhhhh.

I have been looking at VECPs, Combat Eagles, and Elishewitz, though. Also, some of the Tighes.
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Just curious to know, but why don't you like N690 and S30V?

I have had N690 in a few folders and cannot complain at all. All being customs though.
 
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