What is the 'best' flipper you have-or are familiar with

Fish30114

Fish30114

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Jan 5, 2014
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I have several flipper style knives, and it is my belief that a well executed flipper knife, that functions well, is one of the highest expressions of the knifemakers art. My best flipper is a 'semi-production' model I suppose, a Brous T-4. By best, I mean excellent quality materials, attractively built and functions superbly. My Brous flips easily every time, lock up is early and rock solid and it is a well balanced knife. I was a little apprehensive when I ordered the knife-based on widely diverse reviews, but including a few customs, this is still my 'best' flipper. I own a knife I prefer to it, based mainly on looks and materials, but the Brous still performs the best of the several I have, for the record Honorable mention goes to my pair of ZT 801's
 
My best flipper, and one and only now that I think about it, is a ZT 561. It's been a great knife, I carry it often, and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone, especially now that I've seen the prices drop below $200.
 
The ZT561, Spyderco Domino and Spyderco Southard are good flippers. No special technique or adjustment needed to get them to work correctly. Out of the box they work like they're designed for. Good detent, I'd be leery of a weak detent on a knife that the fanboys claim is a good flipper. The 0801 also doesn't have thumb studs:)
 
I've handled a T4 and it is very good. The Southard and Domino are good as well.

I love everything about my 3.5" Curtiss F3s. Super perfect detent. Not too light or heavy. "Light switch" or "button" method works incredibly well and they are very, very smooth. 5 finger flipping all day long :thumbup: I would rank my Begg Field Grade as a close second. The detent is a little lighter than the F3s but every millimeter of it is smooth and rounded so putting a little more into the action doesn't produce any significant "hot spots".

Disclaimer: These are the pieces I own... I am sure there are better flippers that exist :rolleyes:
 
My best and only flipper is my EDC. (I have owned others, zero comparison)
Andy Fitz Angel Wing.

It uses washers, and relies on balance and perfect weight distribution to flip like it's on bearings.

I appreciate that kind of craftsmanship....
 
I fancy Brad Southard's work, I do own a Spyderco Southard and it is "perfect".

ZT801CF is no joke, glad I lucked out and got one. Looking forward to the 0562CF.
 
My ZT 801 brwcf has the best flipping action Ive ever encountered. I thought my standard 801 had the best until i got the brwcf and it literally blew it away. I still kinda scratch my head wondering how basically the same knife could have such a different action. It literally jumps out of the detent and flies out with speeds rivaling any auto Ive handled. Ive only owned 4 flippers and their order of flipper function is such.

801 brwcf
801
southard
xm-18
 
My curtis f3 hands down is the best flipper i have owned. Begg bodega is a close second.
 
I seem to have two different types of flippers in my collection. They either have very strong detents and fly out at warp speed, or softer and flip out nice and easy. I have two Tilts and one is a easy lazy opener the other a hard fast opener. Which would most people prefer? And why?
 
You know Jill, that's a great question. I prefer a flipper that has a detent that is strong enough to be certain the blade opens fully, and with a 'basic' level of authority. I suppose this is everyones individual taste as to how hard they prefer....I feel that a maker has to balance all the variables of blade balance, pivot function, detent strength and overall aesthetics and balance of the knife in it's entirety that makes these knives the pinnacle of the knife-building craft.
 
After playing with a few different flippers, I think I prefer a stronger detent/quick opener. The stronger detent preloads and the blade whips around with little chance of stalling short. My 561 is somewhere in the middle, wish it was a hair tighter detent, but not enough to bother opening it up and playing with the lockbar.

Good question.
 
Best one that I own is a pohan leu bluephin. A Voorhies model 9 that I sold a while back was impressive as well.
 
I have an inexpensive Kershaw Kuro and a better quality ZT301. They are the only flippers I have ever owned so they are the best flippers I have. Actually they aren't pure flippers because of the SpeedSafe AO. As you know the ZT301 is big and solid and the Kuro is a toy by comparison. I'm sure there are several knives that flip better than either of these two and I'm sure I might hear about a couple of them right here:)
 
jill jackson said:
I seem to have two different types of flippers in my collection. They either have very strong detents and fly out at warp speed, or softer and flip out nice and easy. I have two Tilts and one is a easy lazy opener the other a hard fast opener. Which would most people prefer? And why?
Click to expand...

Actually, I like both, forgot to mention the Tilt,mine is softer than the 561,s. I have one 561 that I cannot open with the thumb studs, the detent is strong. The other two are not as strong and can be opened either way. Same thing with the two 0801's I have. Looking at the serial numbers, the earlier models on the 561 and 0801 have stronger detents. I guess from habit, I don't always use the flipper except for the 0801 of course.
 
My Curtiss F3 is downright preposterously fast. The detent is strong enough that several of my friends don't even have the strength to overcome it. Probably not ideal for most people, but just breaking past the detent is still faster than any assisted knife I've owned.

My 801CF is good for most other people, it doesn't matter what method you use. Perfect every time!
 
My 801cf is is my "best" flipper. Crazy fast. Even my idiot brother can open this one. Scared the poo out of him first time he flipped it open. Said it was a "switchblade" :eek:
Maybe just a smidgen better than my original 0801 which has seen no pocket time since I got the new one.
 
I have yet to try a 0560 or 0561 but my ZT 0700 is a buttery smooth flipper. I find the detent perfect and I can flip it open without any wrist action in any position.
 
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