Small Manual Flippers with 2.25-3.25 inch Blades

[josh yu]

Hi Ram,

I'd forgotten that I posted in this thread last December and promised pics of my North Arm Skaha when I got it. Someone just "liked' that post which reminded me.

Like I said back then, the Skaha is just slightly larger than your 3.25" criterion at 3.3", but carries and handles extremely lightly at 3.1 oz. This is achieved at least partially by the knife being a linerless liner lock, with the lock bar ingeniously tied in by the tip-up-only clip screws.

The knife has G10 scales and an S35VN blade riding on miniature ballbearings and is actuated by a flipper tab. The CNC cut blade is highlighted by the retained milling marks which is North Arm's signature look.

The handle is just a taste long for a smallish knife at 4.4" which makes it a decent fit for my old arthritic carpenter's paws. This is a nice little flipper that finds time in my pocket when smaller or lighter is called for or as a second carry in the bottom of my left front under my wallet.

I have one of these in the mail, and pretty excited about it. When i was looking into ordering, my mind was set on the red handle, however, this model is now back-ordered, so i ended up grabbing a used one in OD green. Your pictures are only solidifying my preference for the red and if i like it after trying it out, i'll be searching for a red

 

[ChazzyP]

I have one of these in the mail, and pretty excited about it. When i was looking into ordering, my mind was set on the red handle, however, this model is now back-ordered, so i ended up grabbing a used one in OD green. Your pictures are only solidifying my preference for the red and if i like it after trying it out, i'll be searching for a red

I was just a bit torn between the red and an orange one. I had nothing else in red at the time and a few in orange so I went for variety and am very pleased that I did.

Color notwithstanding, I expect you'll be real happy with your Skaha. It's super light, flips great, and is an excellent cutter. Let us know how you like it.

 

[josh yu]

I was just a bit torn between the red and an orange one. I had nothing else in red at the time and a few in orange so I went for variety and am very pleased that I did.

Color notwithstanding, I expect you'll be real happy with your Skaha. It's super light, flips great, and is an excellent cutter. Let us know how you like it.

thanks for the reply, i'll report back once i receive it! i'm realzing now, the red is no longer an option, so i'm going to learn to love this OD green, it's not a bad color either, probably tied as my second choice with the black.

Also, if anyone's interested in buying one of these, do it NOW. The back order went from 2 weeks on saturday to 9 weeks now. We've all seen this before, they are going to stop taking orders soon

 

[josh yu]

I was just a bit torn between the red and an orange one. I had nothing else in red at the time and a few in orange so I went for variety and am very pleased that I did.

Color notwithstanding, I expect you'll be real happy with your Skaha. It's super light, flips great, and is an excellent cutter. Let us know how you like it.

received this yesterday. I cleaned and oiled it, and the action is beautiful. It really fires open and drops shut. the detent is a bit strong for my taste, but i'm sure it's necessary for that flipping action. I probably would have been more blown away if i wasn't already somewhat expecting it after watching the Nick Shabazz review

 

[ChazzyP]

received this yesterday. I cleaned and oiled it, and the action is beautiful. It really fires open and drops shut. the detent is a bit strong for my taste, but i'm sure it's necessary for that flipping action. I probably would have been more blown away if i wasn't already somewhat expecting it after watching the Nick Shabazz review

Glad you like yours, Josh. That OD green is a decent color too. It has just a little brightness to it.

Mine is just about perfect in every way. Funny you mentioned the stiff-for-you detent as mine seems just a tiny bit on the light side of perfect, though the knife still fires out wicked fast. I'm sort of a a medium detent guy, which I suppose is a silly way of saying I like it just right.

 

[josh yu]

Glad you like yours, Josh. That OD green is a decent color too. It has just a little brightness to it.

Mine is just about perfect in every way. Funny you mentioned the stiff-for-you detent as mine seems just a tiny bit on the light side of perfect, though the knife still fires out wicked fast. I'm sort of a a medium detent guy, which I suppose is a silly way of saying I like it just right.

nice, hopefully that means mine may break in a little eventually. I sat on the couch and flipped it while watching tv last night, and i have a sore index finger now. i think it might be in part due to shape and finishing of the flipper tab, but either way, nowhere even close to being a deal breaker. still love it!

 

[ChazzyP]

nice, hopefully that means mine may break in a little eventually. I sat on the couch and flipped it while watching tv last night, and i have a sore index finger now. i think it might be in part due to shape and finishing of the flipper tab, but either way, nowhere even close to being a deal breaker. still love it!

You could try putting a little dab of CRK or Finishline grease on the detent ball to see if that would ease the resistance. From the open position just barely disengage the lockbar to give a little better access to the detent ball and stick a little grease on with with a toothpick or the like.

 

[josh yu]

You could try putting a little dab of CRK or Finishline grease on the detent ball to see if that would ease the resistance. From the open position just barely disengage the lockbar to give a little better access to the detent ball and stick a little grease on with with a toothpick or the like.

thanks for the tip! i usually use nano oil 10 weight on my flippers, especially the ones on bearings. as i do with all of my knives, i disassembled cleaned and oiled the moving parts. do you think grease would be better for the action than the nano oil? i usually reserve grease for my knives on washers, CRKs, Spydercos, etc.

 

[ChazzyP]

thanks for the tip! i usually use nano oil 10 weight on my flippers, especially the ones on bearings. as i do with all of my knives, i disassembled cleaned and oiled the moving parts. do you think grease would be better for the action than the nano oil? i usually reserve grease for my knives on washers, CRKs, Spydercos, etc.

I'm not big on grease for pivots, either ball bearings or washers. Whenever I redo any knife--CRKs included-- I switch to W10 NanoOil with W85 in the pivot bushing if it has one. I only really use grease on the detent ball track. Sticking just a taste on the ball would save you disassembly is all. It might help the ball come put of the hole a little and soften your detent.

 

[josh yu]

I'm not big on grease for pivots, either ball bearings or washers. Whenever I redo any knife--CRKs included-- I switch to W10 NanoOil with W85 in the pivot bushing if it has one. I only really use grease on the detent ball track. Sticking just a taste on the ball would save you disassembly is all. It might help the ball come put of the hole a little and soften your detent.

awesome i will try this. i should have some leftover crk grease laying around somewhere. thanks for the tip!

 

[Jisatsu]

I have a U.S.-made Kershaw Zing 1735 with the 3-D machined grind with a grooved striated pattern.

Ordered one of the U.S.-made Kershaw Zing Tanto Black Blade 1735TBLK Limited Editions from KershawGuy.

Kershaw zing was really nice, especially the USA made ones. I just sold one not too long ago, and somewhat regret it, but the pocket clip was a deal breaker.

 

[RamZar]

I received my Gray Hogue X1 with stonewashed. It's a nice compact and light weight EDC flipper at a great price of $127.

Blade has nice CPM-154 steel, sharp, centered and no blade play. The flipper action is great and the blade stays closed due to the decently strong detent and solid lock up. Sub 3 ounces weight.

Ergos are very good due to the gritty aluminum handle, handle length and plenty of jimping.

The backspacer has advantages and not having it could’ve added other benefits. It’s nice that it has holes through it, protects the blade and the pointy heel used as a pummel.

However, not having it could’ve extended the blade to a full 2.99” (my measured length was 2.69") without changing the handle length. Also, the sides of the heel of the backspacer are too sharp.

Without the backspacer and pummeled end they could’ve extended the clip further back and deep carry. Also, the clip is a little too raised for such a small handle and thus a little bit of a hot spot.

The milling on the aluminum should’ve been done on both sides since they have already drilled for both sides’ carry.

 

[JDRanger]

You've probably reached the level of information overload but here are a few I own and really like.

Each of them is in the +$150 range so I'm not sure if they are what you are looking for.

- Brian Tighe and Friends small Tighe Fighter
- Guardian Tactical Helix
- Benchmade Sibert 755
- Spyderco Dice
- Viper Ten
- Spartan Metis Flipper

I don't think they still make the Benchmade Sibert 755 but there are still new ones out there.

The small Tighe Fighter and the Spartan Metis are my favorites.

Another knife I really like in this size but it's not a flipper - Zac Brown Southern Grind Spider Monkey.

 

[RamZar]

You've probably reached the level of information overload but here are a few I own and really like.

Each of them is in the +$150 range so I'm not sure if they are what you are looking for.

- Brian Tighe and Friends small Tighe Fighter
- Guardian Tactical Helix
- Benchmade Sibert 755
- Spyderco Dice
- Viper Ten
- Spartan Metis Flipper

I don't think they still make the Benchmade Sibert 755 but there are still new ones out there.

The small Tighe Fighter and the Spartan Metis are my favorites.

Another knife I really like in this size but it's not a flipper - Zac Brown Southern Grind Spider Monkey.

I've looked at all of those and either have one or it's not a flipper or the blade is too long or overpriced:

• Brian Tighe and Friends small Tighe Fighter -- At $295 these are overpriced for 154CM and G-10/Aluminum
• Guardian Tactical Helix -- You're probably referring to GT Helix Nano and I have one
• Benchmade Sibert 755 -- Not a flipper
• Spyderco Dice -- I have one but it's too small and blade too wide
• Viper Ten -- Blade length is 3.375"
• Spartan Metis Flipper -- At $340 it's a little overpriced but I may pick one up at some point
• Southern Grind Spider Monkey -- Not a flipper

 

[ChazzyP]

Hi, RamZar . I see it's been quiet over here for some time, but I thought about this thread after posting pics of my newest acquisition elsewhere--a brand new Hinderer Half Track from USA Made Blade. I scanned back through the pages here and was surprised not to see the Half Track mentioned as it's right there in the size sweet-spot for this thread at 2.75".

This was a knife I didn't think was gonna be for me given it's chunkiness. I tend to like lighter, slimmer knives in this size range, but the ergos of the Half Track work really well for me. It's really a hard-use small knife, which seems almost an oxymoron. I've become a big Hinderer fan over the last year or so, but don't think I would have picked one of these up had not one of our good members here offered to lend me one of his to try out. I went from being underwhelmed to really liking the little guy and missing it a lot when I returned it.

I looked around quite a bit to find a Half Track that appealed to me before selecting this one. It's a bit outside the features I was looking for for finish, color, etc, but I'm really pleased with it and it's been in my pocket every day since it arrived. Certainly not cheap at $425, but a very solid and interesting knife nonetheless.

 

[RamZar]

ChazzyP that's a nice Hinderer Half-Track in G-10. They also have some in all titanium.

A little on the small side for me. I prefer a blade length of 2.99" which is still legal here and affords a longer handle. Since posting Steel Will Cutjack Mini M390, Kizer Envoy and Hogue X-1 I purchased a couple more. I'll post pictures later and both are very nice. One is the Massdrop Facon flipper designed by Ferrum Forge and made by WE and the other is the super slim Kizer Feist front flipper.

 

[ChazzyP]

Here's another for your thread, RamZar . I know you weighed in on this knife back around the time this one dropped last August. I recall you thought it a bit too big and a bit too pricey, and it's technically oversized for this thread too. While it's listed at 3 3/8", careful measurement has my blade at 3 5/16", and you won't beat me up for a 'steenth, now, will ya'?

Anyway, I picked this up off the Exchange the other day for $255, whereas the original price on these limited edition knives was $340. This one's really clean with a couple tiny marks on the tip of the clip and a couple blade scuffs that the seller mentioned that I really can't find.

There are so many refined design elements here--the Class 2 Ti slabs, the steel liner-lock captured by the backspacer, the backspacer itself with it's integral lanyard cut-out, a highly functional and handsome clip, the rounded spine of the M390 blade, the shape and grind of same, and even the nail nick for more discreet opening. The flipping action is all-but-perfect and the blade moves through its arc really smoothly. Best of all for me, is the handle shape and length which give my crippled-up old mitts just enough four-finger grip on what's otherwise a slender handle.

I know the Giant Mouse GM3 is too large for the carry restrictions where you are, but I have none here and really like the size of what, for me, is a smaller-than-usual knife.

 

[22-rimfire]

Really enjoying my Steel Will Mini Cutjack in M390 and blue G-10 scales (#286). I learned in this thread that this knife appeared about mid 2017. I got mine in October at a price below the mentioned price here and it was even at a knife store. (Pat on back for an excellent knife purchase as many aren't.)

 

[Belzoni]

Between the the Spartan Metis, Hogue X1, Hinderer Half Track and Maserin AM3 (all with about 2.75 inch blades), which is the slimmest?
Thanks.

 

[ChazzyP]

I looked back through this thread again, RamZar , and saw only one pic and a passing comment or two on this knife, so I figured I'd go ahead and add my new Shirogorov NeOn Ultra-Lite to the mix. It just fits in under the bar here at exactly 3.25" and, even at such a smallish size, is one of the best flippers I own. The detent is toward the light side of medium, as you can easily hold the knife in one hand and pinch the blade with two fingers of the other for discreet opening, but this observation is belied by the snappy, fast, and effortless flipping action. The blade free-drops upon unlocking and very nearly closes under its own almost negligible weight.

The standard model of this knife is the NeOn Lite, which features a handsome, partial backspacer and carries a US dealer price of $650. That knife generally features M390 blade steel, has also been available in S90V, and weighs in at a whopping 3.1 oz. The Ultra-Lite features fully open-back construction with a single stout, dumbbell standoff, weighs even less than the Lite at 2.8 oz, and comes most usually with S30V steel, though there was a run of Elmax in the past. The Ultra-Lite prices out at $550 new at US dealers and I paid $490 all-in LNIB here on the Exchange. I'm fine with the S30V on mine as my Shiro F3 in Python Micarta features the same steel and sharpens easily to a wicked keen edge.

The Ultra-Lite fits my hand nicely for a small model with its palm swell at the handle spine nestling nicely up against the radius at the base of my thumb. There are but three jimp-cuts at the rear blade spine, but my thumb actually locks into the reverse bevels in the slabs short of those which are cut for index finger comfort when flipping open. Really nice ergos for a small knife with a 3 1/2 finger grip.

This is so not an inexpensive piece, but can be had for around half the price for the full size F95R that more-or-less shares the same design. I'm usually a big knife kinda guy, but this little one has been finding its way into my pocket more and more. Speaking of my pocket, it's also worth noting that, despite Nick Shabazz's assertion to the contrary, the pocket clip on this baby is pretty much perfect, slipping in and out easily with great retention.