The chokwe would be an awesome flipper Sal.

For the record- I dont think anyone here doubts the fact that Kershaw is a fantastic company that produces many innovative edged tools.

That being said they are just not for me, to each his own!
 
The Deacon said:
Spyderhole opener is 100% reliable when used properly. Can't say that for a flipper.
Click to expand...

Wait, what? I don't understand this. Why would a flipper not be 100% reliable if used properly?

Not for/against flippers necessarily; just don't understand the statement.

On the flippers I own, when I use them properly, they open the blade 100% reliably. :confused:
 
Firebat said:
Wait, what? I don't understand this. Why would a flipper not be 100% reliable if used properly?

Not for/against flippers necessarily; just don't understand the statement.

On the flippers I own, when I use them properly, they open the blade 100% reliably. :confused:
Click to expand...
Congratulations. My "success ratio" using just the flipper to open a Boker Trance is close to zero, same with a Boker Direkt. Have several of the first, one of the second. All were gifts from my buddy, Chad Los Banos, and are the only flippers I own.

Am thinking perhaps you use the flipper in conjunction with a wrist snap. In any event, I'd bet you can't make a flipper open a blade slowly when you're in an environment where a "flick knife" style opening might not be appreciated.

Paul
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My Personal Website ---- Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting ---- Kiwimania ---- Spydiewiki
Dead horses beaten, sacred cows tipped, chimeras hunted when time permits.
WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
It's easy to grin when your ship comes in and good fortune and fame are your lot, but the man worthwhile is the man who can smile with his shorts twisted up in a knot. - Morey Amsterdam
 
Aye, there's part of the problem. The Trance is NOT a flipper, even CLB will tell you that. As he put it in a thread once, (and I'm paraphrasing) "it's more of a kicker to get the blade going..." No way on God's green earth can I get the Trance to open simply using the so called flipper. Even with a "wrist snap" it ain't happening. (Love the design otherwise...but it's not a flipper.)

In fact, the Trance was supposed to be Boker's first assisted opener, but it was decided to be kept manual. That's why it has a flipper-like protrusion. Would have been great to get an assist moving, but without it, it's a very poor performer in terms of flip action.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=553951&highlight=trance+flipper

On any well-made and purpose built flipper, there is NO wrist action required, nor should there be. A strong detent allows the resistance to build as you depress the flipper and when the detent finally yields- snap- out the blade goes. Push flipper, blade opens.

So again, as you mentioned "if used properly", a flipper is no less reliable than anything else.

Not that they're better than a Spydie hole, I'm not saying that, I just don't see how it's even possible for a flipper to be less reliable if used properly. Proper use means pushing on the flipper. Pushing on the flipper means the blade opens.

If your finger slips off, that's not proper use, same as if you sweep your thumb across a Spydie hole and miss or slip. That doesn't make it less reliable, does it?

Oh, and you're 100% correct, the speed of blade opening is fixed at "fast" with a flipper. If you want to open it slowly, you have to do it the old fashioned way. (i.e. two hands.)

But that's not the point, nor does it have anything to do with the reliability of a flipper if used properly. Once again: push flipper, blade opens. 100% reliable.

Whether you prefer them or not is another issue entirely. I love Spyderco, but that doesn't mean I dismiss any other type of opening method. I'm sure Thomas from Kershaw would agree, flippers have zero reliability issues when used properly. There's simply no way for them to fail outside of the flipper cracking off the blade or something bizarre like that.
 
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Good grief how could I have forgot.

I want my knives waved!
Hands down fastest opening method ever.:thumbup:
 
Firebat said:
Aye, there's part of the problem. The Trance is NOT a flipper, even CLB will tell you that. As he put it in a thread once, (and I'm paraphrasing) "it's more of a kicker to get the blade going..." No way on God's green earth can I get the Trance to open simply using the so called flipper. Even with a "wrist snap" it ain't happening. (Love the design otherwise...but it's not a flipper.)

In fact, the Trance was supposed to be Boker's first assisted opener, but it was decided to be kept manual. That's why it has a flipper-like protrusion. Would have been great to get an assist moving, but without it, it's a very poor performer in terms of flip action.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=553951&highlight=trance+flipper

On any well-made and purpose built flipper, there is NO wrist action required, nor should there be. A strong detent allows the resistance to build as you depress the flipper and when the detent finally yields- snap- out the blade goes. Push flipper, blade opens.

So again, as you mentioned "if used properly", a flipper is no less reliable than anything else.

Not that they're better than a Spydie hole, I'm not saying that, I just don't see how it's even possible for a flipper to be less reliable if used properly. Proper use means pushing on the flipper. Pushing on the flipper means the blade opens.

If your finger slips off, that's not proper use, same as if you sweep your thumb across a Spydie hole and miss or slip. That doesn't make it less reliable, does it?

Oh, and you're 100% correct, the speed of blade opening is fixed at "fast" with a flipper. If you want to open it slowly, you have to do it the old fashioned way. (i.e. two hands.)

But that's not the point, nor does it have anything to do with the reliability of a flipper if used properly. Once again: push flipper, blade opens. 100% reliable.

Whether you prefer them or not is another issue entirely. I love Spyderco, but that doesn't mean I dismiss any other type of opening method. I'm sure Thomas from Kershaw would agree, flippers have zero reliability issues when used properly. There's simply no way for them to fail outside of the flipper cracking off the blade or something bizarre like that.
Click to expand...
Think you're interpreting Chad's comments in that thread in a way which suits your purpose. Not to mention completely ignoring my inclusion of the Direkt. As for the rest, I think we'll just have to settle for having our own opinions as to what constitutes "proper use" and "reliability". For me "works perfectly under ideal conditions with the knife clean and held so that gravity will assist, rather than hinder, operation" ain't reliable and never will be.

Paul
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My Personal Website ---- Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting ---- Kiwimania ---- Spydiewiki
Dead horses beaten, sacred cows tipped, chimeras hunted when time permits.
WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
It's easy to grin when your ship comes in and good fortune and fame are your lot, but the man worthwhile is the man who can smile with his shorts twisted up in a knot. - Morey Amsterdam
 
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