Like thumb studs and flippers, front flippers are great for one-handed opening. You then arch your index finger over the top of the knife and pull the tab back towards your hand quickly, firing out the blade. The second method requires (if you have smaller hands like I do) to choke up on the knife a bit. The first method is to choke down a bit on the knife, place your flexed thumb on the tab and roll your thumb quickly over the top. Just like with the other locking knives mentioned, you will want to ensure that your fingers are not putting any pressure on the lock bar. There are two common methods to opening a front flipper. This is why I’m hooked on the Baby Barlow designed by Justin Lundquist. Being able to roll your thumb over the top of the knife and quickly knock the tang in to create a swooping open motion is pretty epic. Pat Hammond / Alliance Designs Scout – Titanium.Īs I mentioned earlier, the front flipper brings with it a lot of fidget factor, in my opinion. Hand placement – sometimes the way you hold your hand to open the knife is not the same position you would be in to use the knife.There! You have mastered the flipper tab! Using your index finger, create some pressure on the knife’s detent and then quickly push down and in, causing the blade to fire out. Typically, I will place mine on the clip. To deploy a flipper knife, hold the knife in a way (for instance when a frame-lock is used) where your fingers are not on the lock bar. Additionally, flipper tabs are easier to use with gloves on, which is why they are my go-to for my boot knife. These types of knives are great for one-hand deployment – which is necessary for any number of scenarios from needing to cut fishing line while maintaining a taut line, to needing to cut a seat belt while your other arm is pinned. For instance, the Pat Hammond Mini Scout is a frame-lock folding knife with a flipper tab. A flipper, like a thumb stud, is generally found on a knife with a locking mechanism. The flipper tab is probably (I know I am making someone angry) the easiest quick-open technique to master. Sometimes harder to use with work gloves given the closeness of the stud to the frameīrian Efros / Alliance Designs Ice Lite – Titanium (Exclusive).Ĭhaves Knives Ultramar Redencion Drop Point – Titanium w/ Patina’d & Lasered Brass Inlay (Exclusive).Ĭhaves Knives Ultramar Redencion Drop Point – Titanium w/ Patina’d Brass Inlay (Exclusive).Can be tough to master for the beginner.Dual Thumb Studs allow for thumb or index/middle finger opening.The concept is the same, but you can do it from underneath the knife, while maintaining a solid grip. This allows you to use your thumb, as stated above, or your index or middle finger on the bottom lug. The Dual thumb stud, like that on the Efros Ice Lite and Chaves Ultramar, is the same in concept to the traditional thumb stud, but this one has two lugs protruding from both sides of the blade. This will give you that satisfying flick open and subsequent lock sound. Alternatively, using your flexed thumb on the thumb stud, you can build slight pressure and then quickly move your thumb in the opening motion without following the track. You can slow open the knife, allowing your thumb to ride the stud all the way until the lock position. Then, apply pressure with your thumb and follow the opening path of the knife while applying pressure to the stud. In order to open this, hold the knife so that your fingers are not on the lock bar. First, you have the true thumb stud, which has one lug protruding from the blade. The thumb stud, second on my list of preferred opening methods (second only to the fidget factor of the front flipper), comes in two flavors. Typically means there is no lock on the bladeĪ good example: Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Alox – Champagne.Non-locking blades are typically legal in more places.
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