why are most mid-techs/"high-end" knives flippers?

S

sutherland

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Jun 10, 2015
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Out of curiosity, why are many of the mid-techs and "high-end" production folders on the market flippers? It seems there are just less and less thumbhole and thumbstud folders at the top of the "high-end" production heap.
 
I think it's just demand.

I used to like flippers, but they lose smoothness over time, in my experience anyways.
 
They're "in" right now I guess. It is a pretty good opening method so it makes sense to me.

Hwangjino, which ones have lost smoothness to you? For the most part in my experience they've kept their smoothness. Production knives for me, not midtechs.
 
Such a shame. I've never really been drawn to flippers because I just like the variety of ways you can approach a thumbstud/thumbhole folder. It's nice that knifemakers offer models that feature both thumb and flipper mechanisms, however it's still a compromise. You either get a great flipper with WAY to strong of a detent OR you get a great flicker with WAY to weak of a detent for good flipping.
 
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Hopefully just a trend, because I really prefer having full control of the opening of my knife.
 
The ZT 0392 was intended to be a flipper, but I was able to add a little texture to the blade stops and use them as thumbstuds. Knife makers can do it. They just choose not to.
 
Simply because that's what in fashion right now. Just like years past when every knife was a Buck 110 clone or a Rambo knife.

The fashion will change one day and it will be something different.
 
I got into the higher end stuff with the zt560, and now a few years later I really finding myself disliking flippers. Thumbstud for the win!
 
Because flippers are awesome. Full, solid, secure lockup every time. A perfectly exucuted flipper is a thing of beauty. And for those of us that work physically for our living, the one handed opening and ease of use with gloves is a big advantage.
 
The current Brain Trust thinks that flippers might flip a ton of profit and are currently very popular.Also young men seem to naturally need to continuously have something to flip to relieve the stress, therefore flippers will continue to be popular.Flippers tend to be popular with persons who might be self diagnosed with OCD.At some point some people get past the flipper faze and learn there are better ways to enjoy opening a knife although a little more patience and time is needed.Then again some people may prefer to flip rather than use more traditional methods that have worked for decades.A flipper might be very similar in deployment speed to an AO which is illegal for most, therefore flippers may always be popular.
 
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My Southard AVO is a flipper; the flipper itself is "transparent." It just works, but you never really know it's there. It's easy to operate, operates VERY smoothly, is solid-opening lockup. What's NOT to like? I used Sebbies and Spydies before I got the AVO. I was a bit worried that I wouldn't like the flipper. Boy, was I WRONG!
 
It's all so folks will have something to do with their index finger other than nose picking.
 
Its funny. I prefer flippers. Especially on bearings. But I dont recall me berating those who prefer traditional opening methods on their preferences. I just figured it was ok to like what you like without having to justify it by putting the other side down just because I dont get it. To each their own.
 
I don't get 'em myself, tried many, XM-18, El Patron, domino, southard, ZT0562, etc and while they have great action (except for the XM) they just don't strike any chords with me. Seems to be the trend though for sure.
 
PURPLEDC said:
Its funny. I prefer flippers. Especially on bearings. But I dont recall me berating those who prefer traditional opening methods on their preferences. I just figured it was ok to like what you like without having to justify it by putting the other side down just because I dont get it. To each their own.
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Very well put.
 
From my inexperienced point of view there is one disadvantage to a flipper - it pretty much eliminates grip position in which your thumb point against the blade (or rests on the edge of the bolster). Most of the time I even do not mind opening my knives with both hands ...
 
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