What's a nice, heavy flipper (Like the ZT's) only in high carbon look like?

F

farmboy

Joined
Aug 31, 1999
Messages
731
I mean, if a guy wanted something similar to the fine ZT line of heavy folders, only in some of the old school steels, what would that be?
 
ETA: sorry OP missed the "high carbon" in your title. :-) I can't think of any flippers of that type either.
 
Last edited:
14C is a good cutlery steel but it isn't non stainless / carbon steel.

Farmboy, there aren't really any I can think of in 1095 or similar. There are some nice high performing non stainless alloy steels ( CPM Cruwear, CPM M4, 3V , Sleipner, 10V, K390, CTS XHP, D2 and more) around with some now available like Lion steel SR11 in Sleipner, Numerous knives in CTS XHP from Spyderco and Cold Steel, and lots more depending how "ZT" you want to get. Does it need to be a Titanium Frame lock for instance?

Joe
 
Old school carbon steels meaning? I know Medford uses d2 in their folders. Not sure if any flippers.
 
Hard to find a folder in high carbon these days. Schrade used to make their big double-blade trapper folder in 1095, but I don't know if they still do.
 
I think the OP wants high carbon because of sharpening..most of the modern steels D2/52100 are going to give him the same issues he brought up in the other thread.
 
I think he is talking about non stainless. (Mixing up HC steel and Carbon Steel).

It is not common unless requested in a custom to see carbon steels in folders. D2 is as mentioned above, probably the "old skoolest" high carbon semi stainless steel commonly found in more readily available folding knives.

Opinel Carbone has a carbon steel blade. Now just install a flipper tab.
 
maximus83 said:
Interesting option just occurred: Spyderco came out with a PM2 in 52100 steel. That's a tool steel but would count as HC I think. A bit spendy, sadly not a flipper though.

https://www.bladehq.com/item--Spyderco-Paramilitary-2-Knife--37151

ETA: OP thinking back to your other thread, are you just looking for a steel that's easier to sharpen? Are you open to stainless or does it need to be HC absolutely?
Click to expand...

bingo. I understand the facination with the new stuff. It's just that it doesn't appeal to me. I want to hit it with the stones and move on, only do it with a little style. I suppose 440c might do the trick. Or maYbe CPM154?
 
farmboy said:
bingo. I understand the facination with the new stuff. It's just that it doesn't appeal to me. I want to hit it with the stones and move on, only do it with a little style. I suppose 440c might do the trick. Or maYbe CPM154?
Click to expand...

OK that makes sense. If open to let's call it "classic stainless" options (by that I mean--NON high-carbide super steels that require diamonds/etc to sharpen), then that opens up a lot of great options. Prior to editing my earlier post because I though you wanted ONLY high carbon steels, I suggested the Kershaw Knockout (flipper, US made by same company that makes ZT, nice Sandvik stainless that's easy to sharpen). That is a great option, just ordered for a relative for Christmas, you can get them for around $70 give or take.
 
farmboy said:
bingo. I understand the facination with the new stuff. It's just that it doesn't appeal to me. I want to hit it with the stones and move on, only do it with a little style. I suppose 440c might do the trick. Or maYbe CPM154?
Click to expand...
Look at the knives from Real Steel. They're typically well made, inexpensive and made of Sandvik 14c28n which is plenty easy to sharpen. I'm partial to the orange g10 version of the Megalodon. It's a plenty beefy, 3.8" flipper over 4oz.
Real-Steel-Megalodon-orange-G10-satin-BHQ-75334-er-large.jpg
 
maximus83 said:
Here OP this might help. A filtered link to BladeHq.com, it's a list of flipper knives in all prices ranges that have one of these steels: Sandvik 14c28n, 440c, 154, and VG10. The search shows 279 knives, obviously some will be out of stock etc., but some good choices in that list.

https://www.bladehq.com/cat--Manual-Knives-

-45#filter:opener:Flipper/filter:blade_material:14C28N/filter:blade_material:154CM/filter:blade_material:440C/filter:blade_material:Sandvik$252014C28N/filter:blade_material:VG-10
Click to expand...

wow........thank you!

Now I just need to turn a little inventory over the free up some cash....
 
Another one that's on clearance right now is Spyderco's Domino. CTS-XHP blade. Now it's not a carbon steel(it is most definitely in the stainless category), but it is really easy to sharpen. Not much harder than 14c or AUS8.

The knife itself isn't what I'd call overbuilt, but it's carried by a full titanium frame. I'm pretty impressed with mine. I dropped it on a cabinet the other day and it didn't even mark the titanium(put a dent in my cabinet though, haha). They sold for $200 new up until about a week or two ago.
 
hhmoore said:
I don't think one can apply the term old school to CPM154, yet...perhaps you were thinking 154CM?
On a more serious note, CPM154 is a pretty nice "compromise".
Click to expand...

you caught me........yep, 154CM used to be considered pretty good stuff, if I remember correctly.
 
farmboy said:
you caught me........yep, 154CM used to be considered pretty good stuff, if I remember correctly.
Click to expand...
I'm still quite fond of cpm154/154cm. I think it's the best balance of affordability, performance and ease of maintenance.

If autos are legal wherever you happen to be I'd take a look at Protech. They do a great job with it and their knives are some of the best on the market.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top