Any tips on how to open a front flipper?

[Pteronarcyd]

I obtained a Real Steel G5 Metamorph Mk II on Saturday, primarily to get a nice, affordable front flipper. After three days I find it difficult to flip it open. If I hold the knife securely, the blade hits my palm. When I hold the knife so the blade is facing outward so as to avoid my palm upon opening, my grip is tenuous, which has resulted in several fumbles of a partially open knife accompanied by panicky footwork.

Is there a secure way to hold a front flipper in one hand while opening it that doesn't involve applying superglue to my fingers?

 

[Fonedork]

Hold the handle in your fingers instead of your palm. Put your thumb on the flipper and push it up, just flick it in the direction the blade will point and let your thumb kinda end up to the side, don't try to swing it around the top or you will block it

 

[Mo2]

Different knife but similar concept.

 

[Comeuppance]

What a timely post. I just got a G10 Metamorph less than an hour ago and was also encountering some issues with opening it with a consistent and natural motion.

I sort of figured it out, but now my thumb is sore from fiddling with it. My method is to hold the knife entirely in my fingers with the back of the knife landing behind the second knuckle of my index finger, in such a way that the path of the blade is not impeded when I use my thumb to open the knife.

This is going to take more practice than I anticipated.

 

[Lance Leon]

If you are having difficulty (or the jimping is too abrasive) using the side of your thumb, you can try pushing with the tip of your thumb. And as fonedork said, the key to all grips is to hold it in your fingers rather than your palm.

 

[miso2]

For small and thin handle flippers, I secure the handle by grabbing (or hooking?) the pocket clip with ring finger and pinky.

 

[Sharp & Fiery]

Im a huge front flipper guy. Dont be disheartened by the Real Steel...i tried a few at my local B&M and its not the greatest actionwise. Nothing like the more expensive customs.
Save up, and buy a burger or bull (there are others) because the action is amazing.

Edit:
For a cheaper option...the kizer feist also has pretty great action.

 

[Pteronarcyd]

Hold the handle in your fingers instead of your palm. Put your thumb on the flipper and push it up, just flick it in the direction the blade will point and let your thumb kinda end up to the side, don't try to swing it around the top or you will block it

You're holding the knife upside down? With the blade well pointed downward? I don't see how to get a good grip without using at least part of my palm, regardless of the orientation of the knife.

I consider having mastered a knife when I can open it as designed successfully 10 times in a row, which seems to be an awfully low bar for mastery. After three days the best I've been able to do is four in a row. I'm close to concluding that front flippers are not only impractical, but actually hazardous.

 

[Pteronarcyd]

Different knife but similar concept.

I can't reach around with my forefinger like the guy in the video does with his last flip, not with one hand. It works that way when I hold the knife with my other hand, but I assume it's designed for one-hand opening. The knife in the video has a more prominent pocket clip, which likely offers a better grip. The Metamorph is long with a shortish, low profile clip that doesn't offer much purchase.

 

[Pteronarcyd]

If you are having difficulty (or the jimping is too abrasive) using the side of your thumb, you can try pushing with the tip of your thumb. And as fonedork said, the key to all grips is to hold it in your fingers rather than your palm.
View attachment 1147904

The jimping is very nice. And, the detent is quite weak -- it's probably easier to shake the blade out (ala NYPD gravity knife test) rather than flip it, as shaking it doesn't require an odd grip.

The photo you provide of the fingers only grip is what I derived from fonedork's post, but that grip still aims the blade well slightly toward my palm. I need to angle the blade well outward more, which is proving tough to do while maintaining a secure grip.

 

[Pteronarcyd]

For small and thin handle flippers, I secure the handle by grabbing (or hooking?) the pocket clip with ring finger and pinky.

That's what I'm doing to turn the blade well outward from my palm, but the smallish and shortish clip on the Metamorph doesn't provide much purchase. The clip is very nice for carry -- it rides well in my shirt pocket and looks like a pen. But, the ergonomics for opening the blade aren't there, at least for my hand.

 

[miso2]

That is unfortunate.
I do not own the knife, but thought that Kizer Feist is somewhat similar in the handle width and clip length.
It is a bit tricky even with Feist, but I can secure the handle good enough with pinky during operation.
Maybe I am just so used to front flippers already.

 

[Sharp & Fiery]

So far these are some of the ways ive learned to open a front flipper.

Edit: special thanks to miso2

 

[Pteronarcyd]

What a timely post. I just got a G10 Metamorph less than an hour ago and was also encountering some issues with opening it with a consistent and natural motion.

I sort of figured it out, but now my thumb is sore from fiddling with it. My method is to hold the knife entirely in my fingers with the back of the knife landing behind the second knuckle of my index finger, in such a way that the path of the blade is not impeded when I use my thumb to open the knife.

This is going to take more practice than I anticipated.

We can see who gets comfortable with the Metamorph first. I've got three days on you, but I'm not betting the babyshoe money on me winning.

Today I improved my Metamorph record from four consecutive successful openings to six. Twice I've made nine out of ten, but I still need a wrist flick.

I can see that the index finger can be used to get a better grip, but when I do that it turns the blade well inward. I stabbed the heel of my hand for the third time trying that. It looks like someone jabbed me with an appetizer fork.

 

[Pteronarcyd]

That is unfortunate.
I do not own the knife, but thought that Kizer Feist is somewhat similar in the handle width and clip length.
It is a bit tricky even with Feist, but I can secure the handle good enough with pinky during operation.
Maybe I am just so used to front flippers already.

The Feist looks to have a milled clip that is elevated along its entire length; thus, giving better purchase:

Little of the Metamorph clip is elevated:

The Metamorph's handle is a full inch longer than that of the Feist, which I think makes it harder to hook the relatively short clip while opening the thing.

Maybe I shouldn't be too eager to scratch the Feist from my wish list.

 

[miso2]

I see.
There is not much room for finger tips to hang on beside the clip for Metamorph.
Can you open it slowly in a comfortable way?
If you can, then eventually you may be able to flick it in a similar way.

 

[Sharp & Fiery]

Thats the issue i had with a lot of FFers. The clip. All ffers ive felt comfortable using have milled clips...

 

[Lance Leon]

The front flipper I showed earlier to demonstrate grip is a custom from Romain Bignon which doesn't have a clip, and I haven't had any difficulties with holding it. The scales are contoured though, so that may have something to do with it. It's also not super thin in the same dimension that the Metamorph is, which I had though was the reason why there were issues with deployment.

 

[slyraven]

these look fun, gotta get a front flipper!

is there anything dangerous you can do? It sees like there is room for error and getting bit somehow.

 

[bflying]

I saw this thread earlier today, and was going to share my learning curve experience with my first and only front flipper, an Isham Abstruse. But as often happens, I got distracted.

So an hour or two goes by, and I walk past the Abstruse that was left out on the table. I grab it to flip a few more times, and....I fumble. As it starts to slip from my grasp, I grab harder to keep from dropping. Of course you all now know what happens next, right? My thumb makes contact with the edge, and runs the entire length. Yup, it was a bleeder that didn't want to stop. I don't think the designer had envisioned this model as a fillet knife, but mine is today.
Mmmmmmm - Fillet-o-d-thumb.

Sooooo, it's probably best that I don't share any of my vast knowledge of front flippers. I'll just shut my mouth and learn from y'all. Wow that's difficult for me.