XL Commander Flipper 'Ultralite'

[Frank Fischer]

Here's my XL Commander set-up 'Ultralite'. She weighs an impressive 4.7oz and has an oal of 9.75". The blade is 4.5" long and about 5/32" thick, ground very thin and super sharp. Lightened ti frames and thin carbon fiber scales complete the light weight scenario. It also wears the standard Commander clip, still can't improve that, every time I try I seem to over complicate it... Why mess with a simply elegant thing?

Thanks for looking and excuse the first two pictures, they were taken on my counter at midnight. For some reason I lost the initial shots...

 

[rogerschrisj]

That is beautiful! I love it.

 

[raylaconico]

Wow, that's super nice! One of the nicest flippers I've seen in a while:thumbup:. I need to try and make a flipper one day. The weight is really impressive too. I just made a linerlock about the same size and it weighs 8.25 oz. I don't know why mine weighs so much more than yours. It has .060" Ti liners, the blade is .160" thick, no bolsters, G10 scales.

 

[Lorien]

that's an awesome looking knife.

 

[SBranson]

Beautiful. You nailed the design as it looks equally good opened and closed. Nice work!

 

[Frank Fischer]

Thanks y'all!

Wow, that's super nice! One of the nicest flippers I've seen in a while:thumbup:. I need to try and make a flipper one day. The weight is really impressive too. I just made a linerlock about the same size and it weighs 8.25 oz. I don't know why mine weighs so much more than yours. It has .060" Ti liners, the blade is .160" thick, no bolsters, G10 scales.

On a knife that is made of steel, ti, and g10/cf (really any handle material), the steel is obviously the heaviest, the key is to get the primary grind as high and as thin as possible, then get that top grind deep and thin. I use the smallest wheel possible to achieve the look and go beyond the calculated maximum grind height by manipulating the block and angles a bit. The frames are lightened by milling excess material away. The last factor is the thin overlays, they are about .090", and contoured as much as possible, bringing the edges down to .030"-.040".

Thank you for the compliments.

 

[SharpByCoop]

In my position, it really takes something inspiring and suitable to 'command' me to place an order for a knife...

In Frank's case, he'd done just that with this design. I place MY order for a custom version last Spring. ^^^ This is why.

Nicely done!

Coop

 

[Kevin Jones]

I really like that. :thumbup:

Very Clean design. Great combination of simplicity, eye catching appeal and functionality.