Fidget Factor Favorites

[JAB]

Like most of us here I have several criteria to consider when it comes to shopping for a new knife but it seems that recently one has become more important than ever - high fidget factor. I’ve got plenty of knives that see regular carry and use as well as a bunch of safe queens that do get their fair share of occasional fondling but I’m always on the lookout for something new and different and lately I’ve found myself looking for knives that seem like they’ll just be fun to play with.

My current fav is probably the Boos Smoke Mini. It’s small size (but not so small that it’s difficult to manipulate safely & easily), super light weight, great action/detent combined with relatively easy unlocking, and, most importantly, multiple ways of deployment (thumb, forefinger-tip, thumbhole, spydie-drop, etc.) add up to make this the perfect fidgeter (well, at least until the next one...)




So let’s see those fun fidgeters!

 

[MolokaiRider]

Benchmade Griptillian.

Fills the hand, snaps open and shut. Flicks open. Blade is heavier than the handle so it’s possible to whip it. You can dink around with the axis lock. Two fingers on the lock or one. Makes an audible snap closing and opening.

Very smooth and large washers help.

 

[JAB]

I don’t currently have an Axis lock in my collection but when I had a Mini Grip I would find myself holding the lock back with forefinger and thumb and just repeatedly flipping the blade open and shut - very satisfying fidgeter!

 

[Therom]

it really depend on the mood of the moment

I like the spydie flick and compression lock, so I have a lot of fun with my PM2 & para 3
I think I would say my para 3 black/black is the one I enjoy the most playing with

Other honorable mentions here below

Sometime I like to play with flippers, my Koenig mini goblin and my Hinderer half track are very fun for that

otherwise I have a Bugout and a Emerson CQC-7 That have increasingly action so I take them sometime just for the fun of playing with them

And when o want to enjoy something just smooth I pick my small inkosi or another CRK

 

[jacksterp]

Grip and Bugout - if I felt the need to fidget.

 

[Planterz]

Double action OTF autos.
Non-assisted, non-automatic AXIS locks.
Balisongs if you're not inebriated.
Leafspring autos have a far more satisfying sound and feel than coil spring ones.

 

[OrangeBlueOrangeBlue]

Spyderco Smock
MBK EWC

 

[Ajack60]

ZT’s because most of the ones I have fire hard, Shirogorov 111, for a long blade, it’s really smooth. Recently, the Spyderco Manix 2 and Shaman, they’re just fun to play with.

 

[Wasatch11253]

In my experience, and somewhat in order:
Benchmade Foray
Benchmade mini Crooked River
Spyderco Smock
Artisan Archaeo
Spyderco PM2
As mentioned most decent dual action auto OTF's

 

[Stairway]

I guess the closest I come to fidgeting is when I reach into the safe and flip my Direware Hyper-90 a few times for no apparent reason. It flips so well and locks in so audibly and so aggressively that it is hard to resist.

 

[Ruukuu]

Favourite fidget is the knife i have just finished working on. Always feels so tactile. Its shiny and 'new.'
Then its onto the next one and a new favourite.

 

[evilgreg]

There are certain knives that I'm more likely to play with if I'm carrying them, these four in particular:

Olamic Busker

Daggerr Sting

Olamic Swish

Spyderco Manix 2 LW (orange guy at the top)

The Busker because it's small and can be opened a crazy variety of ways, and the other three because they're all great middle finger flickers for me. The Sting has a stiff detent, bearings, and the skull hole, and the Manix 2 LW has the perfect size and placement of Spyderco round hole. The Swish is a different animal in that I middle flick it by the fuller. All are easily able to get my wife annoyed.

 

[cnm123]

#1 Any axis lock
#2 Spyderco Manix2
#3 any compression lock

I just got Brown knives Cortex. Similar to your Boos, it can open thumb/front flip, index finger, thumb slot, spydieflick. It’s been hard to put down.

 

[shoegazer]

As much as I like the paramilitary 2 this is probably my favorite fidget knife.
Great thumb stud works for thumb or middle finger, flipper tab works well, or shake it open. Very smooth and a great value. Dirk Pinkerton design by Artisan.

 

[Cscotttsss]

No particular order but here are some of mine.

Spyderco compression locks (PM2, Para 30
Spyderco Smock
BM Bugout
ZT 0450cf
Spyderco Manix 2

 

[craytab]

Top of my list right now:

 

[K.O.D.]

Brian Tighe and friends Twist Tighe OTF

Hogue Exploit

Heretic Manticore E

Matt Bailey Model 2 Geek edition flipper

Truthfully, most of my knives are fidget friendly, sort of a prerequisite for me I have pretty severe ADHD.

 

[CyberRacer]

Olamic Whippersnapper. Not only does the front flipper give it a sweet snap on the open, but it has the best middle finger flick action I've ever experienced. The detent is perfectly tuned making it near impossible to short stroke.

 

[soc_monki]

Compression lock Spydies, Manix 2 and 2 XL, Axis locks.

What I find fun with Spyderco is spydie flicking with index, middle, or ring fingers. Fun to try and accomplish all three!

 

[Silent H]

Anything with an Axis lock is always very fun to fidget with, Button lock flippers like the ProTech Cambria and Mordax (and im assuming the upcoming malibu) are a lot of fun too.

The Southern Grind Penguin is also fun because it has a flipper and a nice large flick-able opening hole.