Why don’t you like flippers?

Lapedog said:
If i need to open an only flipper knife slower I just stick my thumb over the spine of the knife when I’m opening it. Then once I have used the flipper to pass the detent and expose abit of the blade I just use my thumb on the side of the blade to slowly open it. Simple.
Click to expand...

Call me strange, but that's usually how I open my flippers anyways:D
 
Lapedog said:
If i need to open an only flipper knife slower I just stick my thumb over the spine of the knife when I’m opening it. Then once I have used the flipper to pass the detent and expose abit of the blade I just use my thumb on the side of the blade to slowly open it. Simple.
Click to expand...

This. It’s super easy to open flippers discretely and slowly.
 
I’m just not fond of ‘em. I don’t troll flipper threads with, “Ugh, another flipper, etc etc”, but since the OP raises it, I dislike them. Not interested in fidgety B.B. pivots, and all the hassle that goes with them, not interested in endlessly obsessing over the ideal detent. Don’t like that pokey out flipper tab either. Don’t like wallpaper, early Pink Floyd, bay windows or root beer. I also dislike frame locks. I am basically a horrible person. :oops::p
 
Years of opening knives with my thumbs has always been reliable. Thumb opening allows for slow controlled
opening or a fast "flick" opening. Flippers only allow for a fast opening especially assisted flippers. The thumb is also stronger and more agile than fingers. I've always thought of assisted openers/flippers as the go between of manual and auto knives. A real unneeded option. Lots like the .40 cal, the go between of 9mm and .45acp.
 
I don't like them. I tried to, but it's a function that has no benefit to me.

1. It requires me to adjust my grip slightly awkwardly to open the blade.
2. It typically has ball bearings which get dirty and require frequent cleaning the way I use my knives.
4. I hate the way the flipper tab hits my thumb when I close the blade.
5. It has drawn unwanted attention from idiots that think it's a "switchblade". I explain and educate, so that's a good thing, but I'm over it.

That's not to say I won't buy another flipper knife ever again. I might, if something I like comes around.

I do miss my ZT560. I probably should have kept that one.
 
I don't hate them or anything, but I think it's a shame designers/manufacturers spend so much time and effort chasing perfect framelock action (or making up for the lack of it with stuff like torsion assists).

I'd rather see more work on actual utility (like better blade grinds or locks with releases that don't put your thumb in the blade path) than yet another off-the-shelf bearing pivot and giant flipper tab.

When flippers were new, or even a few years ago before drop-shut action without blade play became so easy to find, there was a difference between a really great flipper and a mediocre design.

The ZT lockbar slip controversy kind of highlights how ridiculous the situation is. We, as a consumer demographic, care more about flipping speed / drop-shut action than we do about having a lock work the way it was designed or a pivot that will still work if you get some sand in the knife.
 
I don't love or hate flippers ... I own some ... I have bought some that I didn't keep ... it all depends on the knife ... how smooth it is ... how comfortable they are ... as for me some flipper tabs tend to get in the way of a good tight grip if your hand is broad ...

I prefer non flippers in folders but I do appreciate one hand opening knives ... comes in quite handy ... whether it's a flipper or a thubstud or spydie hole ... if it's a good design and functions well ... there's a good chance it will be a keeper.
 
JacksonKnives said:
I don't hate them or anything, but I think it's a shame designers/manufacturers spend so much time and effort chasing perfect framelock action (or making up for the lack of it with stuff like torsion assists).

I'd rather see more work on actual utility (like better blade grinds or locks with releases that don't put your thumb in the blade path) than yet another off-the-shelf bearing pivot and giant flipper tab.

When flippers were new, or even a few years ago before drop-shut action without blade play became so easy to find, there was a difference between a really great flipper and a mediocre design.

The ZT lockbar slip controversy kind of highlights how ridiculous the situation is. We, as a consumer demographic, care more about flipping speed / drop-shut action than we do about having a lock work the way it was designed or a pivot that will still work if you get some sand in the knife.
Click to expand...

Seems to me like people care alot about that whole ZT lock slip thing.

There are also solutions to the whole flipper tab sticking way out thing. Look at the Spyderco smock for example. Nothing sticks out. I wish more designs would feature a flipper tab like this.
 
Blues Bender said:
Chicago, eh?
2.5 inches?

Yeah, I'll carry whatever the hell I want when I can legally carry a pistol on my waist here in Chicago:D

View attachment 990379

View attachment 990380

View attachment 990381
Click to expand...

Yea! During the Winter, depending on what I have to do in the city, sometimes I carry a 4 to 5 inch fixed blade under my Winter coat. I had a TAN Card at one time, as I was an armed security guard at several large Chicago area properties. I no longer have my IL FOID and never had a CCW. I try to stay legal....cops do check knife length in Chicago if they stop you and you say that you have a knife on you. One time in Chinatown they handed it back to me, and it was 3 inch blade, and then another time a cop started feeding me BS abt running me for being 1/2 an inch over. I told him I bought the knife in a Chicago gun shop and he let me go on it. Depending on the cop, they can be a major pain.

My brother is a CPD cop and he asks me what he should buy next knife wise all the time. He's moving to a 4 to 5 inch fixed in and out of uniform. I'm trying to move him to a Bradford Guardian 4 in M390 right now, but he likes the ZT 0452 that I bought him. He carries the ZT 0452 daily.
 
Four posts moved to the DA thread.
Stay on topic.
 
Tommy-Chi said:
Yea! During the Winter, depending on what I have to do in the city, sometimes I carry a 4 to 5 inch fixed blade under my Winter coat. I had a TAN Card at one time, as I was an armed security guard at several large Chicago area properties. I no longer have my IL FOID and never had a CCW. I try to stay legal....cops do check knife length in Chicago if they stop you and you say that you have a knife on you. One time in Chinatown they handed it back to me, and it was 3 inch blade, and then another time a cop started feeding me BS abt running me for being 1/2 an inch over. I told him I bought the knife in a Chicago gun shop and he let me go on it. Depending on the cop, they can be a major pain.

My brother is a CPD cop and he asks me what he should buy next knife wise all the time. He's moving to a 4 to 5 inch fixed in and out of uniform. I'm trying to move him to a Bradford Guardian 4 in M390 right now, but he likes the ZT 0452 that I bought him. He carries the ZT 0452 daily.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I get it about the laws and all, but I don't understand how I can carry a loaded pistol but my 3 or 4 inch blade is considered a "weapon":rolleyes:

I built a wine store off Division street right next to a cop shop and I would regularly talk to a few officers about guns and blades. I never got hassled, even when I showed a couple my Microtech OTF:D I've also ran into a few officers that I shot a few competitions with up in the burbs. All cool dudes:thumbsup:
 
Pilsner said:
I’m just not fond of ‘em. I don’t troll flipper threads with, “Ugh, another flipper, etc etc”, but since the OP raises it, I dislike them. Not interested in fidgety B.B. pivots, and all the hassle that goes with them, not interested in endlessly obsessing over the ideal detent. Don’t like that pokey out flipper tab either. Don’t like wallpaper, early Pink Floyd, bay windows or root beer. I also dislike frame locks. I am basically a horrible person. :oops::p
Click to expand...
Yup , root beer sucks :)
 
I appreciate a very well executed one; a knife that opens fluidly and with the right amount of pressure, and feels good in the hand while also having a build quality and rigidity that inspires user confidence in its capacity as a cutting tool.

It’s a perfectly viable platform for knife design with legitimate positive features:
- No inherent restrictions on blade or handle design. No concerns about placement or accessibility of thumbstuds or holes.
- Built-in finger guard, which can be helpful for one-handed closing.
- Aforementioned lack of thumbstuds also means no bunching of materials around a post on the blade.


(These aspects aren’t necessarily unique to flipper knives, of course.)
 
I like not having thumbstuds. I see that an advantage with flippers.

I was very anti-flipper overall until on a whim I purchased a Steel Will Mini Cutjack in M390. Really like this knife. Prior to that the only flippers I had were the SOG Vulcans. Since the Cutjack, I have purchased two more flippers. So, I've changed. The speed of opening a knife has little use appeal to me; I view it as a novelty.
 
Comeuppance said:
I appreciate a very well executed one; a knife that opens fluidly and with the right amount of pressure, and feels good in the hand while also having a build quality and rigidity that inspires user confidence in its capacity as a cutting tool.

It’s a perfectly viable platform for knife design with legitimate positive features:
- No inherent restrictions on blade or handle design. No concerns about placement or accessibility of thumbstuds or holes.
- Built-in finger guard, which can be helpful for one-handed closing.
- Aforementioned lack of thumbstuds also means no bunching of materials around a post on the blade.


(These aspects aren’t necessarily unique to flipper knives, of course.)
Click to expand...

There is the disadvantage that they tend to get in the way in another way though. They prevent you from cutting with the heel of the blade against a flat board.

Some flipper designs like the upcoming Smock don’t have protuding flippers that cause this problem.

Most folding knives don’t let the edge lay flat against a cutting board like a kitchen knife but a flipper tab makes it worse.
 
My bikes are steel.

My rifles have wooden stocks.

My watch is analog.

My knives are traditional.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top