Help me pick a Spydie flipper, please

Discuss Spyderco's products and history.
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Smaug
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Help me pick a Spydie flipper, please

#1

Post by Smaug »

I've got several Spydercos, and I like them. But I kind of want a better flipper than I have.

Here are the Spydies I currently have:
  • Delica 4, VG-10 gray
  • Walker, AUS-8
  • Kapara
  • Spydiechef
  • Squeak
  • Native
Here are the flippers I currently have:
The Kershaw has a nice action, but by the time the action is nice and smooth, the blade centering is off; pushed to the side by the locking liner. It's nice and slim, and the blade length is just about perfect for me. Steel is 8Cr --> meh.

The Buck has a tight action; requires some wrist action or a very deliberate flip. Also, its grip only accommodates 3 fingers. Nice little knife, but we're connoisseurs here. "Good enough" is actually NOT good enough for us. ;)

What I want is something:
  • in the 2.75" 3.5" blade range
  • Good flipper action; no wrist needed
  • Good blade centering, even when the pivot screw is loosened a bit for smooth easy opening
  • Good detent; neither of my current flippers have a detent that is strong enough that it just flies open the way it should.
  • Price: < $200, preferably closer to $150.
I'm considering the Mantra 3, Sliverax, Mantra 2, A.G. Russell Ti flipper and the ZT0450

Things that make me hesitate about each of them:

Mantra 3 - has the cheesy laminate CF. I'd might rather have plain ol' G10 or even smooth G10 than laminated CF? Same size as my Delica; would be a bit of overlap.
Mantra 2 - Odd blade shape, might not be good at slicing, due to how narrow and wedgy it would be? Should be slim in the pocket though...
Sliverax - Odd shape handle, but looks comfy and the Spyder hole wouldn't be protruding oddly; slim in the pocket
A.G. Russell - They don't like to really use top class blade steels, (9Cr is their best) and they're made in China. (although with good QC)
ZT - Everything looks good on this, only it's not a Spyderco. ;)

Sorry for the long post; thanks to those who got through it.

Thoughts?
-Jeremy
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Smaug
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Re: Help me pick a Spydie flipper, please

#2

Post by Smaug »

By the way, anyone in northern/western/NW Chicagoland have any of these? If so, maybe we could meet in person. I'll buy you coffee and we'll talk knives...
-Jeremy
zhyla
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Re: Help me pick a Spydie flipper, please

#3

Post by zhyla »

Have you considered the used market? Dice, Domino, and Positron models all are interesting flippers. The Positron is kind of a project as it has some kinks they didn’t work out before production, but it’s worth it.
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Crux
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Re: Help me pick a Spydie flipper, please

#4

Post by Crux »

The Spyderco Amalgam

I just got one, my first Spyderco flipper.

Image
Can you find it and can it cut? :eek:
ugaarguy
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Re: Help me pick a Spydie flipper, please

#5

Post by ugaarguy »

The ZT 0450 is a three finger knife for me. The CF laminate over G10 turned me off from the Domino and Dice for a long time. Now that I own both, I can tell you that they're awesome knives. The red/black and blue/black laminate CF are brighter than I've seen in the same colors with solid CF, plus they have a nice silver strand woven in that makes for a cool subtle contrast. I'd get one before they're gone. You can usually find them for $200 or a little less on eBay. Use the make an offer combined with a coupon code to get an even better price.
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Sharp Guy
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Re: Help me pick a Spydie flipper, please

#6

Post by Sharp Guy »

Sliverax or Mantra 3
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Re: Help me pick a Spydie flipper, please

#7

Post by Sumdumguy »

I like my Mantra 1, I'll be buying a Mantra 2 one of these days.
It's funny that I like this knife, yet I hate flippers and framelocks... it's a nice knife.
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Smaug
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Re: Help me pick a Spydie flipper, please

#8

Post by Smaug »

Crux wrote:
Sat Dec 08, 2018 5:32 pm
The Spyderco Amalgam

I just got one, my first Spyderco flipper.

Image
That's beautiful, but too big.
-Jeremy
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Smaug
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Re: Help me pick a Spydie flipper, please

#9

Post by Smaug »

ugaarguy wrote:
Sat Dec 08, 2018 5:46 pm
The ZT 0450 is a three finger knife for me. The CF laminate over G10 turned me off from the Domino and Dice for a long time. Now that I own both, I can tell you that they're awesome knives. The red/black and blue/black laminate CF are brighter than I've seen in the same colors with solid CF, plus they have a nice silver strand woven in that makes for a cool subtle contrast. I'd get one before they're gone. You can usually find them for $200 or a little less on eBay. Use the make an offer combined with a coupon code to get an even better price.
I don't like it when there's a handle scale only on one side. Otherwise, I would have gotten a domino before.
-Jeremy
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Smaug
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Re: Help me pick a Spydie flipper, please

#10

Post by Smaug »

Sharp Guy wrote:
Sat Dec 08, 2018 5:55 pm
Sliverax or Mantra 3
Which one?
-Jeremy
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Evil D
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Re: Help me pick a Spydie flipper, please

#11

Post by Evil D »

Sliverax.
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lonerider1013
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Re: Help me pick a Spydie flipper, please

#12

Post by lonerider1013 »

the only one i have is the positron. great fit and finish, real carbon scales. Not cheap though. But a nice slim knife if you want that.
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The Meat man
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Re: Help me pick a Spydie flipper, please

#13

Post by The Meat man »

The only Spyderco flipper I have is the Advocate, but it's pretty expensive. Nice knife though.

That Kershaw Chill looks familiar. It's what I carried and used for years doing construction. Nice knife, although it feels terribly flimsy now compared to my Spyders. :)


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SG89
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Re: Help me pick a Spydie flipper, please

#14

Post by SG89 »

Mantra 3 or Amalgam
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knivesandbooks
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Re: Help me pick a Spydie flipper, please

#15

Post by knivesandbooks »

That 0450 isn't good at slicing. Been there and did that. The hump at the end of the handle is a major issue.

I would try the Amalgam or Sliverax
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BigGrove
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Re: Help me pick a Spydie flipper, please

#16

Post by BigGrove »

Depending on how soon you want something, the Smock looks very interesting.

The Sliverax is the only flipper I have in my EDC rotation. I like it that much. It has the newest design ball bearing washers so the action is great.
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Re: Help me pick a Spydie flipper, please

#17

Post by spyderg »

For Spydie flippers I’ve got a Mantra, and Domino. The Domino is the better flipper of the two, not the best flipper I’ve got but very good action and outstanding F&F. I’m waiting for the Smock as I’ve got the custom SK23 and it is by far the best flipper I’ve got or ever tried.
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brainfriction
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Re: Help me pick a Spydie flipper, please

#18

Post by brainfriction »

The only two I own are the Mantra and Domino. I really like the Domino, smooth, snappy action. The Domino got some bad press with stories about gritty and/or notchy action but it seems like that was remedied by Spyderco. Mine is as smooth as any of my ZT flippers after a little bit of break-in time.
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Re: Help me pick a Spydie flipper, please

#19

Post by Oogie »

Hold out a bit more for the Smock.
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Smaug
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Re: Help me pick a Spydie flipper, please

#20

Post by Smaug »

I didn't even know about the Smock before. It looks good, if a bit on the large side. I find myself not carrying my larger knives, these days. (Desk job)

That has me leaning more toward the Mantra 2 and 3.

The Mantra 2 had the slimmer pocket profile, but had some issues, which I'm not sure will ever be worked out. Can anyone confirm?

So I think it's down to the Sliverax or Mantra 3 now.
-Jeremy
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