Thumbstuds on flippers.... Why?

A

Aldebaran

Joined
Sep 18, 2004
Messages
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I have 4 flippers now. I have a Zero Tolerance ZT0566BW, a Kershaw Cryo II, a CH CH3001, and a Harnds Talisman.

The ZT0566BW does not have thumb studs in reality, but they are the blade stop for open. Well they can be used as thumb studs if you want when the knife is de-assisted. When the knife is open they are basically out of the way of the cutting path. Being that they are an integral part of the design to hold the knife open I can understand their implementation.

The Cryo II has a flipper, assisted opening, and thumb studs. Why? What possible real reason is there for these thumb studs? If they are there for more sheeple friendly opening action, the assisted opening still takes over and it flies open almost as suddenly and with as much noise as the flipper. They are also in the cutting path. If you de-assist the Cryo II, if possible, you still could open the knife with two hands to not scare the public, and the thumb studs are still in the way of the cutting path. BTW, my Cryo II is a total POS.

Quickly becoming one of my favorite knives, the CH3001 is a flipper with no studs. This makes perfect sense. For one it makes it easier to get in and out of the pocket as you don't have the studs grabbing at the fabric. The full cutting edge is unobstructed by studs. If I need to open my knife in a more friendly way for idiots, I can still open it two handed.

My Harnds Talisman has all the same attributes as the CH3001, as far as the thumb stud comments go.

So, WTF? Why do designers and manufacturers still put thumb studs on flippers? It seems to provided no real benefit. If it is to provide sheeple friendly one hand opening, I think sheeple will be afraid of one hand opening regardless of the method. Thumb studs usually get in the way of the cutting path and add cost to production. As far as I can see they are only a detriment. Why are they there?

What am I missing?
 
Some guys like to have both. Some guys will even grind their flippers off. I feel if it has a flipper that is all i need. But trust me. Get rid of thumbstuds on those flipper knives and someone is gonna complain.
 
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Maybe some like it for some reason. The only thing I can think of after the fact is that maybe when you open with the thumb stud you know the position of the blade relative to the handle and can be more sure that it is correctly open. I am stretching my imagination for that one.
 
I think the issue is many people will like everything about a knife except that it opens with a flipper. So some companies toss thumbstuds on it so that people who dont like flipper openings can have their studs. Still i find it useless because the flipper is still going to be there.
 
It gives you more options. A flipper has basically one speed to open a knife. With thumbstuds, you can either flick it open quickly or rotate through it's arc with a nice slow smooth motion.

YMMV
 
Some people like thumb studs, thumb disc, blade hole, etc. on a flipper because they like opening it stealthily. I prefer just the flipper opening and you can open it stealthily by capturing the blade before it deploys fully.
 
Stealthy..... Why does one need to open a knife, one handed, and with stealth? Maybe in an offensive use? I don't understand.
 
I had a ZT0562 and the thumbstuds also played the role of stop pins–if you look closely on it the tang does not touch what appears to be the internal stop pin. This may be the case with 0566 as well.
 
So then remove the thumbstuds. A vice and/or a pair of pliers will do the trick.
 
Opening options...

Why not? I'd personally like to see more. I love my Domino and XM partially because of it.
 
If you don't like it, don't buy it.

I prefer to open a knife with my thumb, but I still enjoy a nice flipper. Using my thumb to open my knife has nothing to do with "sheeple", and thinking so is just displaying your ignorance. The assumption that the public is against you and your knife just makes you look like a clown.
 
When I bought a '95 Taurus, I thought it strange that it had both keyless entry and remote entry but there's nothing wrong with having multiple options available. (and last year when my neighbor bought a 2008 Escape, I was really shocked to see that keypad on the driver's door)

And it was nice to be able to get something out of the Taurus without going into the house for my keychain. I actually sort of miss that thing now.
 
What Blues Bender said. Why would the use of thumbstuds constitute anything related to sheeple? How about those of us who open carry fixed blades? Since you prefer to hide your little folder in your pocket, should I consider you part and parcel of the sheeple community? Of course not.
 
My Protech TR-5 SA has a thumstud only to open it. Anyone who owns one of these knows a flipper would do no good to deploy the blade.
My father-in-law still thinks this is an auto.
:-)
 
CPP said:
I had a ZT0562 and the thumbstuds also played the role of stop pins–if you look closely on it the tang does not touch what appears to be the internal stop pin. This may be the case with 0566 as well.
Click to expand...

Really? Did you not read my post? I already mentioned that...... DOH!
 
Blues Bender said:
If you don't like it, don't buy it.

I prefer to open a knife with my thumb, but I still enjoy a nice flipper. Using my thumb to open my knife has nothing to do with "sheeple", and thinking so is just displaying your ignorance. The assumption that the public is against you and your knife just makes you look like a clown.
Click to expand...

Wow, immediate insult over a question. Should I insult you back? Nah, it will just go over your head. Thank you for your thoughtful and well thought out response.
 
Wow, I propose a possible reason for the existence of the thumb studs, not assert that this is the reason, and then ask for reasons I do not see. This is an admission of ignorance why people might want them. This was a question and possible rationalization of their existence. I get back that I am and idiot and sheeple. Those who can't comprehend the question and start attacking are internet trolls and assholes
 
Then grind them down and finish them in line with the finish of the blade. You have been here since '04. Modifications of this type should be easy for you ;)
 
So some people have said that having both thumb studs and the flipper is just their preference to have more than one option. I can understand that. Everyone has their own preferences. I will not judge preferences. To me, my preference is to have the extra unobstructed cutting edge for something that does not add any usefulness to me.
 
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