spydeco southard flipper or reate hills

[mfirpo]

Im looking at getting a flipper and I have narrowed my choices down to the reate hills and spyderco southard flipper. I have never held a southard flipper or a reate hills so im really unsure on which one I should get. I don't want a finger breaking detent either. I don't know which one to get and I need some help deciding. Thanks

 

[RamZar]

Both flip very well.

Better steel: Southard
Lighter: Southard
All titanium: Hills
Better slicer: Hills

 

[PURPLEDC]

I have had knives from both manufacturers. I have not had the hills model but I have owned a southard. They both make an extremely high quality knife. My only complaints about my southard is that you wouldnt know it rode on bearings. I like my bearing flippers blades to fall into the handle simply by the weight of their blade. This actually has less to do with the pivot and more to do with the lockbar strength and detent ball. The southards I have owned and handled where not as smooth as other bearing knives I have had. The lockbar pressure was so much when manually closing it there was a lot of resistance almost like a knife with an over tightened pivot. And any attempt to reduce the lockbar pressure even by a slight amount had a dramatic negative impact on the detent to the point the knife would no longer flip open. Now its worth mentioning that all my southards were from their first year they were released. I have no idea if they have improved on these issues. But I can say reate knows how to do a bearing flipper and I have not had these same issues.

 

[Sonnydaze]

I bought a new production Southard very recently...my third one. It was beautifully smooth to operate. Showed it to my college-age grand-daughter, who immediately relieved me of it. Well, I did give it to her, but she had her choice of that or a Domino or Dice. All manual flippers; differing blade-lengths, all very nice products.

For me, the choice is easy. No, I have NOT owned a Reate folder. I have read many good things about their products. However, here is the choice as I see it.
Very nice folder, G10 and titanium, great steel, smooth, weighs 116 gm or 4.1 ounces. Southard
Very good name, somewhat new (many creditable reports),weighs 155 gm or 5.5 ounces. Hills
Yes, you spotted it right away. One is 34% HEAVIER than the other.

My EDC for the last several yrs has been a 3.5" (0.140" blade-stock)_ CRK Umnumzaan, at 5.0 ounces...141.75 gm.
That five ounces is as heavy as I choose to carry. My carry needs are light-duty, although I did once use the blade to pry off a cast-iron lid from a pipe in order to turn off my water MAIN, during a home emergency. Some very small chipping from the S35VN blade-edge; easily and quickly repaired.

This abuse of my knife, with insignificant blade-edge damage, has proven to me that I don't need to carry a heavier knife.
When I look at new folders? First comes the 5-oz limit on weight...followed by many other factors.
This is THE right decision for ME. Other folks may certainly choose differently, based on other factors...

I wish you well. Both folders seem to be very good choices for many folks.

 

[mfirpo]

Thanks for all the help guys, I think im going with the southard. A couple of questions though; Sonny, did you get the black version or brown g10? And Ramzar, do you have both? If so, which one do you prefer?

 

[RamZar]

Thanks for all the help guys, I think im going with the southard. A couple of questions though; Sonny, did you get the black version or brown g10? And Ramzar, do you have both? If so, which one do you prefer?

Personally, I do not like the looks of the Brown G-10 so in that case I prefer the black one. Also, the texture of the G-10 on the black one is not rough like it is on the brown one (you can sand it down).

 

[austonh]

Both are great knives, I think the other contributors have done a great job of really breaking down the individuals parts. As for flipping action, the Hills is superior.