Spyderco Forums

Hey guys so a few days ago I responded to the “What is the coolest Spyderco that doesn’t exist?” Thread and I said I thought it would be really cool if Spyderco made a compression lock front flipper. Since then I have been thinking/obsessing about the idea of a compression lock front flipper, and I wanted to see if any of you guys also think that would be cool or if I’m the only one.

Check out the Smock http://catalog.spyderco.com/midyearproductguide/?page=3

I think that a great idea. I’ve been waiting for a front flipper from Spyderco but I have yet to hear a peep about it.

If they do one it would be cool if it had no thumb ramp and came without a functioning opening hole so that that could focus on getting the detent right for the flipper action.

The smock looks cool but it isn’t a front flipper.

Hi M4Life,

There are a few coming down the Pike.

sal

That’s excellent news! I am looking foreward to a front flipper. I have been eyeing one from a Chinese maker but that plan has been updated.

sal wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 13, 2018 10:52 am

Hi M4Life,

There are a few coming down the Pike.

sal

Ok, you have my attention now :D

My understanding was that a design like the Smock counts as a front flipper, while the Shamwari, Exkelibur, Boose Smoke, et al are technically "lip flippers" if you want to be more specific under the South African taxonomy.
But I could have it backwards; threads with the relevant info don't have pictures anymore. XD

The Paul Alexander design (can't recall the name) looks like a cool knife, though not as "clean" as some others with its wheel-shaped "tab." Would love to see more like it, if only to add variety in a world of framelock flippers.

Every time I think about making a Spyderco into a lip flipper, I usually realize that the Spydie hole is better in literally every possible way. The Native designs are a good example; I think you can front-flip all of them if you mod the scales, but it's far easier to use the hole. The hole is itself a trade-off, but wide flat ground blades have their own benefits. If you want a skinny easy-carrying profile, front flippers can give you some of the same benefits as the hole without the hump/leaf blade.