T.R.E. Three Rapid Exchange LionSTEEL

I got the Orange flipper in today from Lamnia and I am very impressed. The knife feels more substantial to me than the specs suggest, I think it's because of the chunky blade stock they use. The machining and work put into this knife is really impressive.

My example has no lock stick and flips smoothly, it doesn't flip as hard as a 0450 but the form factor, fit and finish and smaller size make up for this in every way. In fact I sold a ZT 0450 to fund this knife and I am happy I did.


 
Of my three TRE flippers only the G-10 flips really well. The TI & CF models have noticeably smaller detent balls and their flipper performance is not great but adequate.

Gianni mentioned that it was done on purpose so that the TI & CF models open effortlessly with the thumb disc.

It looks like the detent ball is on the lock bar insert. I wish LionSteel would have included an extra lock bar insert with a bigger detent ball for the TI & CF models. At least, send them out for those that want it.
 
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RamZar said:
Of my three TRE flippers only the G-10 flips really well. The TI & CF models have noticeably smaller detent balls and their flipper performance is not great but adequate.

Gianni mentioned that it was done on purpose so that the TI & CF models open effortlessly with the thumb disc.

It looks like the detent ball is on the lock bar insert. I wish LionSteel would have included an extra lock bar insert with a bigger detent ball for the TI & CF models. At least, send them out for those that want it.
Click to expand...

Gianni should have warned potential buyers about this. The flipping on the Ti version really sucks. Mine actually got worse out of the box.

A major disappointment.
 
I don't think the flipping action on the Ti & CF models is bad at all. I think you need to flip either knife with more of a 'downward push' (sort of 'pre-loading' the flipper lever) in a similar manner to flipping a Hinderer XM-18.

What other knife gives you the options the TRE does in customizing it to your preferences & in such a compact & well constructed package.
 
RamZar said:
Of my three TRE flippers only the G-10 flips really well. The TI & CF models have noticeably smaller detent balls and their flipper performance is not great but adequate.

Gianni mentioned that it was done on purpose so that the TI & CF models open effortlessly with the thumb disc.

It looks like the detent ball is on the lock bar insert. I wish LionSteel would have included an extra lock bar insert with a bigger detent ball for the TI & CF models. At least, send them out for those that want it.
Click to expand...

If this is true, then that's extremely irritating. I paid a premium for the TI & CF model, and I just got it in today. It's my second Lionsteel, so I was pretty excited about it. I love everything about the knife, including the clip which I was worried about. The only change I would be interested in seeing is maybe titanium spacers to match the pocket clip of the various models of the knife, and that's just me being extremely nit-picky. The fit and finish os EXCELLENT. The blade is razor sharp, and was perfectly centered out of the box. The milling in the titanium was smooth and flawless, and the carbon fiber looks great. I was pumped as I was looking it over. It's so small and lightweight, I hardly noticed it in my hand. The only real problem with it is, you guessed it, it flips like a piece of crap. The detent is almost non-existent. The thumb stud works effortlessly, but that doesn't matter because I prefer the flipper mechanism. If this was a $20-40 knife, I would get over it, but I've had $40 Kershaws that flip much better than this $310 Lionsteel. I've messed around with it for a few hours, and I found one method that will actually make it flip completely open, but even then that works only about 1 out of 5 times. If I would have known this beforehand, I would have went with the G10 Model, or bought one of each and swapped the scales. I agree that they should have included a lockbar insert with a larger detent, or at least made the flipper a little larger. For what I paid, this isn't what I expected. I was hoping I just had a dud, but that doesn't seem to be the case based on what some others are saying.
 
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It's not just irritating -- the end result is that the Ti version feels like the tolerances are off when you try to flip it.
Of course, they aren't off at all. It's all intentional. It's like sticking a finger in a beautiful artwork.
 
The thing to keep in mind, is that optomizing the action for any one of the deployment methods would be detrimental to the other two. For instance, had LionSteel made this action specific to the flipper, the thumb disk and two handed opening would be very uncomfortable, if not impossible.

Recently Zero Tolerance shaved down the thumb studs on their models so they now only function as blade stops. They grew tired of people complaining that it was almost impossible to use said thumb studs because the knives had been optimized for flipping. Thomas explained that you cannot make a knife that flips really well, and also has great action with the thumb studs, so they just removed the thumb studs since the flipper tab is currently more popular.

The TRE was designed as a 'do all' sort of knife, that is legal in most locations across the globe. The action therefore has been generalized for all three methods of deployment as opposed to optomized for any one specific method. After a few days of playing with the knife, along with some Breathrough CLP added to the pivot, has given me a very smooth knife that will deploy with the 'pushdown' method of using the flipping tab. An aggressive 'light switch' method of using the flipper tab will also deploy the knife. The thumb disk works the best of all the deployment methods, and thankfully I'm not restricted to two handed opening in my country.

My full review should be up soon.
 
austonh said:
The thing to keep in mind, is that optomizing the action for any one of the deployment methods would be detrimental to the other two. For instance, had LionSteel made this action specific to the flipper, the thumb disk and two handed opening would be very uncomfortable, if not impossible.

Recently Zero Tolerance shaved down the thumb studs on their models so they now only function as blade stops. They grew tired of people complaining that it was almost impossible to use said thumb studs because the knives had been optimized for flipping. Thomas explained that you cannot make a knife that flips really well, and also has great action with the thumb studs, so they just removed the thumb studs since the flipper tab is currently more popular.

The TRE was designed as a 'do all' sort of knife, that is legal in most locations across the globe. The action therefore has been generalized for all three methods of deployment as opposed to optomized for any one specific method. After a few days of playing with the knife, along with some Breathrough CLP added to the pivot, has given me a very smooth knife that will deploy with the 'pushdown' method of using the flipping tab. An aggressive 'light switch' method of using the flipper tab will also deploy the knife. The thumb disk works the best of all the deployment methods, and thankfully I'm not restricted to two handed opening in my country.

My full review should be up soon.
Click to expand...

A very thoughtful response, and thank you.

While I'm sure it must be easier to design a folder to open one way than for two, I have plenty of folders that excel at both, including some ZTs.

And let's remember, Lionsteel has positioned the TRE as a disc and a flipper opener. It didn't say users had to choose one.

As for additives to help the flipping, I tried Tuf Glide. It did help but only very temporarily. I'd probably have to use it daily, which I wouldn't recommend.

At any rate, users shouldn't have to make up for a designer's failure with pencil lead, sprays or magic spells. And certainly not with a $300 product.

I look forward to your review.
 
I'm still hoping LionSteel can send out lockbar inserts with larger detent balls to improve on the flipper action of the CF & TI models. I'd rather not send them back to Italy.

This is what Gianni said in an email:

"The first knives that we have done for the TRE Ti and CF we have made a soft retention ball in order to let use the Thunb Stud easily.

Now we make also for TRE Ti and CF more retention ball.

It is easy for us to increase the retention ball of your knife, (more difficult for you). For this reason if you want you can send the knife back here and we will fix it like you want."
​

So, it sounds like they have changed the CF & TI models to larger detent balls but they're not on my samples.
 
I am glad I waited to purchase this knife.I would have chosen the TI model to use as a flipper only.I like the design and materials used and it is a beautiful knife.Thank you Ram and Flash for posing your experiences.If I purchase one it will be the G10 model, but I am willing to pay a premium for a CF/ Ti model with the proper detent strength for optimal flipping. Someone has mentioned that Lionsteel could possibly sell us another insert with the proper detent for optimal flipping?
 
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RamZar said:
I'm still hoping LionSteel can send out lockbar inserts with larger detent balls to improve on the flipper action of the CF & TI models. I'd rather not send them back to Italy.

This is what Gianni said in an email:

"The first knives that we have done for the TRE Ti and CF we have made a soft retention ball in order to let use the Thunb Stud easily.

Now we make also for TRE Ti and CF more retention ball.

It is easy for us to increase the retention ball of your knife, (more difficult for you). For this reason if you want you can send the knife back here and we will fix it like you want."
​

So, it sounds like they have changed the CF & TI models to larger detent balls but they're not on my samples.
Click to expand...

Question?
How will we know which detent strength model we will receive when we order this knife from a dealer since the new models will all have stronger detents?
 
I dislike the limp-dick flipping on my Ti enough that I would gladly return it to be fixed.

The problem is that Gianni asks that you value it at just $30 US to reduce the import fees he will pay.

He doesn't say what would happen if the package is lost or stolen -- who pays then?

Bottom line: It's past time for Lionsteel to establish warranty service in the US.
 
Here are my three TRE flippers.

HCobFq9.jpg


The G-10 model is the lightest at 2.37 ounces with the best flipper action with a larger detent ball. The CF model weighs slightly more at 2.40 ounces without the thumb disc installed and the flipper action is second best but definitely a smaller detent ball. The CF has excellent texture. The TI model weighs 2.86 ounces with the thumb disc installed and the flipper action is the worst but I can reliably flip it open every time. The TI model is the smoothest probably because I have worked it the most. Also, the flipper action on the TI model has gone down a notch or two since I got it. Perhaps as it got smoother it affected the flipper action as well.

By the way, the detent on the TI model is so weak now that if I hold the flipper closed with the blade point up and then just snap it down the blade opens up. The CF and G-10 models do not open up no matter how hard I snap my hand/wrist. Personally, I'm not in favor of that in anything other than light carry. When I went for a hike and sped down hill the blade opened up in my pocket. Fortunately, no blood! I can do the same reverse snap open with Viper Odino, Viper Maga, Benchmade 761, Emerson Sheepdog, etc.

I like the TRE flippers a lot but feel like with the proper detent it can only be improved.

I may try the lock side of the G-10 model with the bigger detent ball on my TI or CF model to see how that goes.

I think I like the CF model best. It's very light and the texture gives even more traction than the G-10 model. Plus, it looks great.

However, you can't beat the value of the G-10 models for about $170 shipped from Lamnia!
 
I really ponder if the people who vote for the Blade awards actually ever use/ handle the knife?????Seems that there was some issues with last years "overall knife of the year"CRKT/Ken Onion Hijinx/Lionsteel made(lock stick)...I really makes me ponder all the Blade awards validity in general...This knife looks wonderful to me, but alas there are issues(weak dentent) with another Blade "Overall Knife Of The Year" Lionsteel produced knife.
 
salmonkiller said:
Question?
How will we know which detent strength model we will receive when we order this knife from a dealer since the new models will all have stronger detents?
Click to expand...

Good question. Right now, you won't. I'd assume if you wait a few months you'll get the larger detents.

Perhaps Gianni can shed some light...
 
salmonkiller said:
I really ponder if the people who vote for the Blade awards actually ever use the knife?????Seems that there was some issues with last years "overall knife of the year"CRKT/Ken Onion Hijinx/Lionsteel made(lock stick)...I really makes me ponder all the Blade awards validity in general...This knife looks wonderful to me, but alas there are issues(weak dentent) with another Blade "Overall Knife Of The Year" Lionsteel produced knife.
Click to expand...

The issue with Knife Awards is that many a times voters only get a cursory chance to look and feel them over since the knives are so new. The CRKT Hi Jinx had serious lock stick. CRKT could have opted to have a lock bar insert installed but that would have increased the price.
 
flash900 said:
I dislike the limp-dick flipping on my Ti enough that I would gladly return it to be fixed.

The problem is that Gianni asks that you value it at just $30 US to reduce the import fees he will pay.

He doesn't say what would happen if the package is lost or stolen -- who pays then?

Bottom line: It's past time for Lionsteel to establish warranty service in the US.
Click to expand...

I would guess that about half of all LionSteel sales come from the U.S. market so it would be nice if they had a rep here to at least send out parts.
 
I would love a Ti/CF model with the properly tuned detent for flipping.I am sure Lionsteel will make things right.They seem to have a positive interaction and are listening to their customer base.
 
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