To "Flipper" or not to "Flipper"

A

AnklePocket

Joined
May 5, 2001
Messages
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Wondering if those with Carson M16 experience prefer to have the Flipper or maybe not. Does using the Flipper compromise the grip at all and maybe not expedite things when you net it all out? Please don't yell at me too much if that was a very stupid question. I'm still a little bit new.
 
No compromise in grip, makes it quick to open and serves as a guard.

Pretty cool, actually. ;)
 

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Some knives you just get tired of seeing. Blues, I know you've posted pics of this one before. But I gotta tell ya, you could post that one every day and I would not get tired of looking at it. And I don't even like tantos particularly, but that knife has that special something and that is what makes Kit a great knifemaker.....and you, a lucky man!
 
Why, thank you, Peter. In fact, as nice as the knife is, it was the circumstances under which I received it that make it all the more special.

Now, if I can only figure out how to get the pix to display in a smaller size when uploading from my hard drive.
 
Carson-Toggle-1-1988-to-1990.jpg


Carson Toggle Lock Folder;
OAL 9.3"
Blade length: 4"
Blade Material: ATS-34(5/32")
Handle material: Australian Sea Coral

This knife is accented with gold anodized liners and bolsters. The liners have been jeweled.Opening method: Flipper and toggle thumb stud. This knife was made in the late 80's and is a forerunner of the current CRKT M16 flipper.
 
Hey BigTex aint them flippers fun? You got a good one there.
I forgot to post the des. of the knife, so here it is.

Carson Toggle Lock Folder;
OAL 9.3"
Blade length: 4"
Blade Material: ATS-34(5/32")
Handle material: Australian Sea Coral

This knife is accented with gold anodized liners and bolsters. The liners have been jeweled.Opening method: Flipper and toggle thumb stud. This knife was made in the late 80's and is a forerunner of the current CRKT M16 flipper.

Hey Kit this is one fine knife.
 
While the first pic was loading, was thinking I'd say something to the effect that, IMO, the flipper is one of the most ingenious parts of a knife I know about, and it proves Kit's genius -- whether he thought of it or not.

When my CRKT M16 was finally properly lubed, it became extremely easy to open with the flipper. It can be done in a split second, once you've mastered the draw.

Another important part of the design is the thumb studs. Even if you don't use them for opening the knife, they make contact with the end of the handle, which thereby serves as a stop pin -- a stop pin that ain't ever going to break, or need adjustment. What's amazing to me is that after thousands of cycles, you can only detect very faint marks where the studs hit the handle. CRKT did a fantastic job on the hard anodizing of the aluminum.

Have to say that the toggle lock folder is one of the coolest looking knives I've ever seen! That handle is gorgeous, and the design is too cool!
 
Definitely go for the flipper! I've got the CRKT M16-04 and a custom M16A1 spearpoint that have flippers and it makes getting the blades out very fast and intuitive. Just grab the knife, yank it out of the pocket, hit the flipper, and go to it. The flipper is placed far out of the way of your grip that it doesn't compromise it at all. The fact that the flipper serves as a hand guard when the knife is open makes it ingenious. Kit charges more to build a flippered knife but its worth it.





Here's mine:

<img src="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=55151&a=4790097&p=20391223&Sequence=0&res=high">


....and the same knife under construction:

<img src="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=55151&a=4790097&p=20390527&Sequence=0&res=high">
 
If I recall correctly, and Kit will correct me if I get it wrong, Kit told me that he got the "flipper" idea from Randall Gilbreath years ago.

Kit has always been one to pay homage to those who helped him along the way. Not much of a surprise to those of us fortunate enough to know the big hillbilly. ;)
 
Blues,
That is absolutely correct. The Toggle Lock was the first version, from way back then.
 
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