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Pocket Dump: Comparison of 5 EDC Flipper Knives

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O.K., I have a drawer full of EDC knives that I rotate regularly depending on my view of the day or what type of pants I will be wearing. Here's a rundown of what I carry:
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1. Boker Plus Brad Zinker FR, G10 scales: When it's a suit coat and necktie day. Overall length (OAL) opened, 6.5". Pluses: Small, light, great steel (VG-10). Minuses: Can't reverse the pocket clip.
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2. Bestech Kendo: Had this knife the longest, Probably used the most. 8.5" OAL. Pluses: Good build, D2 Steel. Minuses: Non-captured pivot pin doesn't allow "fine tuning" of action, non-reversible right hand only pocket clip.
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3. Artisan Waistline, 9- 1/8" OAL. Pluses: Definitely a larger flipper tab than the Bestech, nice, wide pass through to disengage the liner lock. Captured pivot pin allows fine tuning the blade action. Reversible pocket clip. D2 steel. Minuses: Pocket clip rides low, not a "deep carry" clip.
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4. Artisan Shark: 9-1/8" OAL. Pluses: Nicely textured G10 scales, reversible deep carry pocket clip, nice large flipper tab. Probably the "snappiest" action of all of the knives listed here. Minuses: not a very large pass through to disengage the liner lock - I find I have to press down hard and then left to unlock the blade.
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5. Boker Plus Komsubi Front Flipper: 8 - 5/8" OAL. This is definitely the "tank" of all of the flippers I have. I just bought it. Why? I wanted to learn how to work a front flipper (it does take some practice) but I have very large hands and most of the other front flippers I have handled are made for people with smaller hands. Working a front flipper sends the blade point past the swell at the base of your thumb, and I drew blood when I tried to use smaller framed / bladed front flippers. Pluses: Built like a tank, great build quality, no sharp edges anywhere, positive action. Minuses: 440C stainless steel (doesn't bother me - I don't use my knives to pry or as a screwdriver or cold chisel). Non-captured pivot pin, so you can't fine tune the action. Non-reversible pocket clip. On a personal note, most days I wear heavy work trousers with multiple pockets (similar to BDUs or ACUs for those with a military background). So carrying a large, heavy knife is of no concern. I do use my knives as working tools, and while a small knife like the Brad Zinker Urban Trapper is finely made and wickedly sharp, it was just too small for me to get a good grip on. Larger knives fit my hands better and are more up to the task(s) I normally use a knife for. If I had to pick one: Where's the fun in that? It would be the Artisan Shark, but in my pocket right now is the Boker Plus Komsubi - I want to work the front flipper a few hundred more times before I pass judgement on it.
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reswright
3850
Oct 2, 2019
but I have very large hands and most of the other front flippers I have handled are made for people with smaller hands. Working a front flipper sends the blade point past the swell at the base of your thumb, and I drew blood when I tried to use smaller framed / bladed front flippers. This is me with my Metamorph. I can open it perfectly if I'm paying attention, a few different ways -- side of the thumb, flat of the thumb, even tip of the thumb (like a striking snake). And it's an impressive open, with that knife. Hella snap. The price for failure can sting a little, though -- as you note. It's got me twice. I suppose this means it's a master's knife. Teaches wisdom and restraint, that kinda thing? I just know I look at it more than I pocket it, and I think I would use it more if it had a regular flip tab on it. There's something about front flippers that makes me wanna try them, and it's not fair to call it a gimmick... but at the end of the day it kind of feels like starting a fire with flint and steel when you also have a working Zippo. Cool.... every once in a while. After that it's just trying too hard.
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