So, I need a nice flipper

B

Bigbluefish

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Aug 19, 2009
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I'm looking for a flipper.

Because I don't have one.

Blade length of 2.75" - 3.25".
Blade Steel: VG-10, S30v, S35v, or ...?
Weight: 3.5 oz. or less.
Frame lock preferred, but I like liner locks, too.
Handle /scales: Titanium, Micarta, G10, carbon fiber....?
Price: $150-$200.

To give you an idea of the size and quality level I am looking at, I want to add this knife to my usual EDC rotation which now includes a Spyderco Sprint Run Worker, an Al Mar Nomad and a Southern Grind Spider Monkey. Recently leaving the rotation is the BM 940, only because I gave it to my son.

The knife will see only light use: opening packages and mail, cutting sandwiches, blocks of cheese, slicing sausages and pieces of fruit.

This will be clipped in the right front pocket of jeans or Dockers.

The few I'm considering:

ZT 0900. The only one I've handled. I was a bit surprised that I really liked it, given it's "funky" blade profile and handle design.
+ The short blade might be legal where some of my others aren't.
+ I can get it anodized in blue or green.
-? Might not be the best blade profile for my intended use?

ZT 0450. Seems like a comparable replacement for my 940. The BM blade profile served me well, and I suspect the 450's would, too.
+ I can get it anodized in blue or green.
- Everyone else has one?

LIONSTEEL TRE G10: looks nice, I like the blade profile - seems like it would be a good slicer. Reviews seem to rate it highly.
+ Appears to be very high quality for the price. Perhaps a little nicer than ZT's
and Spderco's offerings?

SPYDERCO MANTRA 2: very slim and sleek. I like Spyderco's. But I do already have one in my rotation.
+ Looks like it would disappear in my pocket.
- Looks like it might disappear in my hand.

KIZER GEMINIi: Seems to be universally praised for high quality at the price point.
+ Nice looking knife. Looks like would be a good slicer.
- Might be a little large
- The Gemini clip isn't so hot, so I've heard. Milled one on the Ursa Minor is better,

KIZER URSA MINOR: See Gemini, above.
+ Good clip.
- Not sure I like the blade profile with the handle; the aesthetics seem to clash.

That's all I can think of. Feel free to make a suggestion if think I missed something comparable.
 
Lionsteel TRE doesn't flip as smoothly as any of the others listed there. It will require a bit of wrist flick to have it engage, otherwise it won't flip open ever. My vote goes to the Gemini or Ursa Minor.
 
Mantra 2 looks like a nice replacement for the 940.
I've been wanting to try a Kizer Gemini, but haven't picked one up yet.

Have you considered Spyderco's Domino? Flips really well if you keep your hand of the lockbar, looks like it meets all your other requirements. Now available in blue, red or black. Slightly lighter & less bulky than that 0900.
 
What about the zt 566 and de-assist?
 
My vote would go to the kizer models. Mantra and the tre are not good flippers but nice knives. For me the zt 0450 was just a tad too small.(and I do consider myself a spyderco fan and would think that the mantra 1 is an almost perfect edc)

Gesendet von meinem SM-T813 mit Tapatalk
 
I would say ZT 450 or a Spydie Domino.
I have both and they are flawless after a year of carry, use and countless flips!!!
Both cut well, carry well and are so much fun!!
Joe
Pics.....just because!!!
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I had a Lionsteel briefly. The blade stock was way too thick for a folder like that, in my opinion. To add to the problem, the blade wasn't ground very thin. So, thick stock that is ground thick behind the edge...
 
They also made a 450CF if you want one a touch lighter.
 
How about a Blue weave Domino or a Dice.. Just sayin.. Right here!! John:)
 
I would definitely recommend either the Spyderco Domino or Dice. If you haven't tried the Domino, I recommend you try one before you making your decision. The Dice is good as well but a little smaller.

As a wildcard idea, GPKnives sells a brand new ZT0900 with a Krein regrind. I'm not sure if it's a flat grind or a hollow grind but that would solve the grind issue. I only mention it because the 0900 is the most fun I've had using a flipper. Hearing the thwack sound is addicting. Its a bit over your budget but would definitely be a fairly unique piece. Conversely you could get a regular 0900 and if you later find you don't like the grind send it REK for a regrind.
 
I would also suggest the 0450/0450CF. The CF version is an outstanding knife. Best flipper I own by far. It's a smaller knife that still packs decent size blade and it's light.

I also love my Domino but it's a larger heavier knife than the 940 if that is a concern. It's flip really well but just not in the same league as the 0450CF.
 
I've owned a LOT of flippers and never really liked them. I don't like knives that are ONLY flippers (so I like to have a thumb stud or something on them as well). I've owned Spyderco, Kershaws, ZTs, and even a couple Hinderers and none really struck my fancy.

But in the last year I've bout 3 Emerson flippers (Sheepdog Spearpoint, Sheepdog Bowie, and CQC7 Flipper) and I gotta tell ya - they are LEGIT. Smoothest action as any, strong enough detent to not have any play but also be easy to both flip and use the thumb disk. Plus there's also a Wave option.

It'll be about $20-$30 over your price range listed above for a new one BUT I truly believe its worth it.

However, with Emersons, you either love 'em or ya hate 'em...
 
How about a Boker Urban Trapper. I have the G-10 version with VG10 blade. Very slim, lightweight a perfect lightweight EDC. Compliments the others you have in your rotation. I love mine, great for an office setting as well. Flips surprisingly well for such a light knife.
 
onojoe said:
How about a Boker Urban Trapper. I have the G-10 version with VG10 blade. Very slim, lightweight a perfect lightweight EDC. Compliments the others you have in your rotation. I love mine, great for an office setting as well. Flips surprisingly well for such a light knife.
Click to expand...

I had a Boker Kwaiken briefly. Steel liners, titanium scales. A nice knife, but far too heavy and a bit large. The UT, I am afraid, may be a bit too light & slim for what I'm looking for. That leaves the Mini Kwaiken as an option. Guess the only reason that wasn't in the list was that I'd already had the Kwaiken and while I liked it, I didn't think it was quite up to the quality of the Spyderco, Al Mar and Benchmade I had. Things may have improved in the last year or so, though. Probably worth a second look.
 
Bigbluefish said:
I had a Boker Kwaiken briefly. Steel liners, titanium scales. A nice knife, but far too heavy and a bit large. The UT, I am afraid, may be a bit too light & slim for what I'm looking for. That leaves the Mini Kwaiken as an option. Guess the only reason that wasn't in the list was that I'd already had the Kwaiken and while I liked it, I didn't think it was quite up to the quality of the Spyderco, Al Mar and Benchmade I had. Things may have improved in the last year or so, though. Probably worth a second look.
Click to expand...

I sent you an email.

Here are my thoughts

0900 - Another home run from ZT but the blade stock is very thick and it is probably the worst slicer of the bunch. Very beefy knife and fun to flip.
0450 - Great knife and very slim like the 940. Only complaint is that it won't flip with medium pressure on the lockbar if this was not an issue it would be perfect.
TRE - Outstanding build quality and probably one of the nicest built of the bunch but the flipping action is by far the worst. If flipping is a priority I would stay away from this one.
Mantra 2 - Nice knife. Ergos are good and it is a great slicer. Flipping action was so so for me and this one is only semi stainless if that matters to you.
Kizers - Both are great knives. Flipping action is probably the best of this bunch. I don't like the feel of Kizer's titanium. To me it has a weird finish. Very good bang for your buck though.
Spyderco Domino - Great flipper with multiple opening methods. Slices very well. It is a little larger than some of the others mentioned.
 
Love my 0450, one can be had for about $160 in S35VN. Just to clear something up about the 0450. I received 2. The first one I got came with such a tight detent that I literally could not open the knife with both hands on the back of the handle and pressing the flipper against the table. Since it was new I returned it for an exchange. Second knife that came it flips like a dream. With the shape and placement of the clip it allows your middle finger to slide right over it while flipping. The clip sits right between the edge of the frame lock and the edge of the frame (where they met). I have tried squeezing it as tight as I possibly could, and the knife still flips open without any issue. I'm talking two thumbs smashing in the clip as hard as I can and no issue. So from my limited sample size of two knives I would say this. Some just come from the factory with a detent that is too strong. Some MIGHT come from the factory with a clip that needs a slight adjustment. When you get one with a good detent and the clip in the proper place, there is a reason so many people have one. Amazing knife, and as was mentioned by somebody previously, if you want one in CF or if you want to have it anodized there are plenty of options out there.
 
gusnuts said:
I sent you an email.

Here are my thoughts

0900 - Another home run from ZT but the blade stock is very thick and it is probably the worst slicer of the bunch. Very beefy knife and fun to flip.
0450 - Great knife and very slim like the 940. Only complaint is that it won't flip with medium pressure on the lockbar if this was not an issue it would be perfect.
TRE - Outstanding build quality and probably one of the nicest built of the bunch but the flipping action is by far the worst. If flipping is a priority I would stay away from this one.
Mantra 2 - Nice knife. Ergos are good and it is a great slicer. Flipping action was so so for me and this one is only semi stainless if that matters to you.
Kizers - Both are great knives. Flipping action is probably the best of this bunch. I don't like the feel of Kizer's titanium. To me it has a weird finish. Very good bang for your buck though.
Spyderco Domino - Great flipper with multiple opening methods. Slices very well. It is a little larger than some of the others mentioned.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input.
0900-handling it the other day I didn't find it too heavy or chunky (kinda surprising since I just looked it up and it's almost 4.5 oz. But the blade is thick. But I'm sure it will open packages and break down boxes just fine. :) Lunch may be a different matter...Wickedly fun to flip, for sure.
0450-yes the only thing putting me off is the possible lock-bar issue when flipping. I got my son a CRKT squid and for the life of me I cannot open it with one hand. Had the same problem, I think, with my briefly owned DPX HEAT, very hard to open. Pity, 'cause otherwise that was a cool knife. Maybe my like of the 0900 is partly missing my HEAT which was also small and chunky.
TRE: - This, from the reviews, seems to be top of the quality pile. I don't need the fastest or smoothest flipper, just a flipper that well, flips. I like the deployment method. I think the blade shape/grind may be just what I am looking for. But the G10 scale is pretty blah.
Mantra 2: Kinda liking it, though it seems it may be a bit too slim. Not sure. I'd have to handle it. Plus I have a Spydie in the rotation already. And I'm probably going to cave and get the Para3.
Kizers: I like both but... I can't quite put my finger on it but something is leaving me a bit underwhelmed. 6 mos. ago I was very enthusiastic but now...
Domino: Probably a better slicer than any of my pics. I like Spdies. but as with the Mantra 2, I've got the Worker and will end up with a Para3 sooner or later, so probably not going for a Spydie. But...
maybe the Techno? I mean, if the 0900 isn't to chunky, what about the Techno? Oh wait, right it's not a flipper. Still kinda like it. But some other time.
 
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