Closing Friendly Fidget Knives

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ocdnubie

Joined
Oct 27, 2021
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I fidget with my knives opening and closing them over and over with one hand while I sit at my computer. (Even I think I’m weird!) All the knives I’ve tried use the locking mechanism to some extent to help hold the blade closed. The problem is this detracts from closing the blade because I’m usually still disengaging the lock when the blade closes and it bounces back out. So I have to slow down and think about it. Are there any good fidget friendly (generally rules out back, frame and liner locks) flippers that catch the blade well when closing? … A nice sound when locking open and closed really adds to the aesthetics and multiple methods of opening is a huge plus!
 
Welcome to the forums.

I don't know where you live but have you considered a balisong/butterfly knife? Even if it isn't legal to carry where you are, it may be legal to own one. If it is legal to own one, it might help scratch the fidgeting itch.

^ Not legal advice. Just a suggestion to help with the fidget factor. Do your research.

Personally, I'm not a knife fidgeter and never have been. About the closest I come is when I get a little lock stick I might open and close it to help loosen up the lock.
 
An OTF.

As the self-proclaimed resident fidgeter in chief, I find my ZT's do not "bounce" when closing them. Maybe its technique. I have an 0095BLKS90 and 0470. I will probably wear the bearings out on some of my knives I fidget so much. (Adhd, high anxiety, etc)

On the other hand, if I swing closed a comp lock spyderco it bounces like its its job.

Also, my A Purvis Progeny V2 has a very strong detent, and doesn't bounce ever.
 
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The best "hydraulic free-fall" (if that makes sense) out there will be from Shirogorov. They close under their own weight but aren't guillotines. Koenig is a close second. Shirogorov has the detent, lockbar pressure and bearings all dialed in to perfection.
 
For most knives, if you're holding the lock open when the blade reaches its closed position, there's nothing "grabbing" the blade.
You either need to release the lock after the blade unlocks or hold the knife so gravity helps keep the blade from bouncing.

byjiminy said:
Consider the MBK EWC.
EWC flipping video
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mmyron1 said:
Spyderco Smock if you can find one. Slim flipper with a button/compression lock.
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EWC and Smock are both very easy to close mindlessly, though my Smock bounces a little more with the second detent removed.
The Protech Malibu, and plunge locks in general, are good at this.
Axis-style locks (including Spyderco's ball bearing lock) are also pretty good at this.
Double-action OTFs are by far the best at this...
 
ocdnubie said:
I fidget with my knives opening and closing them over and over with one hand while I sit at my computer. (Even I think I’m weird!) All the knives I’ve tried use the locking mechanism to some extent to help hold the blade closed. The problem is this detracts from closing the blade because I’m usually still disengaging the lock when the blade closes and it bounces back out. So I have to slow down and think about it. Are there any good fidget friendly (generally rules out back, frame and liner locks) flippers that catch the blade well when closing? … A nice sound when locking open and closed really adds to the aesthetics and multiple methods of opening is a huge plus!
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*puts down knife to type on laptop*

Yeah that's strange and antisocial behavior, flipping your knife around like that...

The SOG Terminus XR is about the best fidget flipper I've found. It's also good for keeping me from wearing out my more expensive Benchmade knives if I'm feeling overly fidgity.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions! The EWC and Smock look very promising! I’m surprised that in some of the review videos for the Smock it was suggested that removing the second detent is a mod to get fall shut performance. Of course their blades bounced now in the way I’m trying to avoid.

I have a Terminus XR Carbon. It was very tight when I got it in early September, but was very nice after a proper OCD breakin. I could release the lock as I flipped it closed and get a nice snapping sound with no bounce. To an observer it looked like a fast automatic in both directions. Last week both omega springs broke and I have to send it away for a while.

My Para 3 LT bounces like a trampoline when flipped closed, but not as much as my Mini Grip. I wanted a button lock so I got a CRKT BT Fighter. It still bounces, but not as much.
 
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Chuck_Nunface said:
The best "hydraulic free-fall" (if that makes sense) out there will be from Shirogorov. They close under their own weight but aren't guillotines. Koenig is a close second. Shirogorov has the detent, lockbar pressure and bearings all dialed in to perfection.
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Beautiful knives! I hope my habit doesn’t get to the point where I would consider fixes in that price range. Believe me, I wouldn’t be able to satisfy lusts like that selling my body on street corners.
 
My Mini Bugout is a Fidgeting dream come true!
I keep it adjusted to where UI have no blade pay; yet everything still swings smoothly.
 
gazz98 said:
I don't know where you live but have you considered a balisong/butterfly knife? Even if it isn't legal to carry where you are, it may be legal to own one. If it is legal to own one, it might help scratch the fidgeting itch.
Click to expand...
And to boot, a good balisong trainer is also a ton of fun to fidget with. (Balis are full-stop illegal where I live.)
 
ocdnubie said:
Thanks for all the suggestions! The EWC and Smock look very promising! I’m surprised that in some of the review videos for the Smock it was suggested that removing the second detent is a mod to get fall shut performance. I wondered if they disassembled it and couldn’t get the second detent back in? It looks like a pain to assemble. Of course their blades bounced now in the way I’m trying to avoid. I have a Terminus XR Carbon. It was very tight when I got it in early September, but was very nice after a proper OCD breakin. I could release the lock as I flipped it closed and get a nice snapping sound with no bounce. To an observer it looked like a fast automatic in both directions. Last week both omega springs broke and I have to send it away for a while. My Para 3 LT bounces like a trampoline when flipped closed, but it’s better than my Mini Grip. My CRKT BT Fighter is an abomination of ergonomics. Its painful to look at and its even more painful to hold. The annoying back handle corner looks like its only there to facilitate the clip and I take all my clips off first thing. I had to write CRKT to get shorter screws to replace the clip screws. I know this is really my fault. I don’t engage in combat everyday as I walk from the parking lot into the office, so I bought the wrong knife. I wanted a button lock with a blade short enough to carry legally.
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Getting the second detent back into the knife isn't difficult, but a lot of people immediately lose the ball and/or spring when they disassemble it... Best to cover the knife with a rag to keep the tiny pieces from disappearing.

The second detent is really there so that the knife doesn't just flop open when you hit the button, which would make it a switchblade under the federal Switchblade Knife Act. Since Spyderco plead guilty to illegally importing and distributing banned knives, which cost them around $500k in fines and seized product, I imagine it's something they're very wary about.
 
By far the best knives that I know of for fidgeting are Spydercos with compression locks. I have several PM3s, all of which flick open beautifully with thumb or middle finger, no wrist flick required. Some people can flick them open with other fingers, but I am not that advanced yet.

If you must have a flipper, there is the Spyderco Sliverax, which I think is excellent in all respects except for flipping. The detent is too weak for it to flip open easily. You need either a very fast finger on the flipper or a bit of added wrist flick. But it's great for flicking with thumb or finger.

I like compression locks because they close so nicely with a wrist flick. Most of mine do not bounce, but avoid the Lil Native with the compression lock--it always bounces off my finger nail when I try to close it. I've been told that it's not just my Lil Native, all the Lil Natives with compression locks do it. Apparently it's a design flaw. But the knife cuts well.

You might also consider Hogues with their ABLE locks. The X5 flips open very well. It closes with one hand, a push of the button lock, and a strong wrist flick. But I find the handle uncomfortable.
 
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