Huge Fan of the "Middle Finger Flick"

7

72jroberts

Joined
Mar 16, 2012
Messages
277
I saw a youtube reviewer flick open a pm2 with his middle finger, and then I started doing it- and now Im hooked. Its the only way to go- and its so freakin fast and cool looking- no more thumb opening spydies for me. One more advantage to the spydie hole.
And as a side note, I took personal offense at a BF member's comment a few months ago on Spydie holes being the fastest opening system ( obviously excepting autos and assists- well, some assists). I was like, no way, a good thumb stud will be faster. And getting into spydercos and really falling hard for the Manix 2 and the M2XL, and flicking them like I mentioned above, I really feel that the round hole is superior to almost any thumb stud shape or design. My opinion, of course.

Hey let me know if you are a middle finger flipper, too!
John
 
This hole thread sounds just a little wrong lol....but yes I really like the M.F.F, I think I first saw it on tuffthumbz channel...
 
Seen the middle finger flick, but have never been able to execute the maneuver. I must be missing something.
 
The Yojimbo 2 I find is difficult to open with the tumb due
to the hole beeing so close to the center line of the blade so I use the M.M.F metod.
Works great.
 
It is my preferred method of opening other than just a regular slow thumb opening. I can also middle finger flick most thumstud knives, and the Southard, but that one is a little tricky. Mid-locks are tricky too because they don't have a detent but rather resistance the entire opening path. The Stretch is not bad, but the small Caly 3 is hard.
 
This is yet another reason why I love spyderco. I think the Spyder hole is the best opening method. It's also fun to open.
 
Shakyamuni said:
Seen the middle finger flick, but have never been able to execute the maneuver. I must be missing something.
Click to expand...

It's all about how the knife is positioned in your hand. The knife must be oriented in the same direction as your hand, with the butt if the knife resting in the heel of your palm. Then you flick your middle finger straight up, you should have to overcome some tension due to the angle, just like if you are flicking it with your thumb. If the knife is positioned too much across your palm then the angle won't be right to build up tension and you will overcome the detent too easily which does not allow the blade to fly open.

Here is a video by jdavis882 (crimsontideshooter here on BF) demonstrating the technique, it just takes a little practice but you'll get it.

[video=youtube;9odGU2418vk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9odGU2418vk&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/video]
 
I can't do it safely and really don't care if how I open a knife looks cool or not. I can't hold the knife securely and trying to flick the blade open is just asking to fling the knife out of my hand. The meat of my thumb won't pinch the knife. I assume my hand is too big or wide. Also, the way I flick a knife requires some initial resistance and I have never felt resistance while trying and the blade only opens half way.

Even if I was able to pull it off I doubt I would use it much. The knife just isn't nearly as secure in my hand as when I use my thumb. Also, when using my thumb the knife is being gripped and I don't have to change my hand position. The middle finger seems to require I change my grip some. I can flick just about every knife with my thumb and do it really hard or so it just barely opens and locks in place. The knife is in a good grip and ready to work. I like to flick knives as it gives my hands something to do but I really don't have a desire to use my middle finger. Maybe because I have repaired too many knife tips and it feels like I am on the verge of throwing the knife on the ground.
 
FlaMtnBkr said:
I can't do it safely and really don't care if how I open a knife looks cool or not. I can't hold the knife securely and trying to flick the blade open is just asking to fling the knife out of my hand. The meat of my thumb won't pinch the knife. I assume my hand is too big or wide. Also, the way I flick a knife requires some initial resistance and I have never felt resistance while trying and the blade only opens half way.

Even if I was able to pull it off I doubt I would use it much. The knife just isn't nearly as secure in my hand as when I use my thumb. Also, when using my thumb the knife is being gripped and I don't have to change my hand position. The middle finger seems to require I change my grip some. I can flick just about every knife with my thumb and do it really hard or so it just barely opens and locks in place. The knife is in a good grip and ready to work. I like to flick knives as it gives my hands something to do but I really don't have a desire to use my middle finger. Maybe because I have repaired too many knife tips and it feels like I am on the verge of throwing the knife on the ground.
Click to expand...

Again, it isn't about how big your hands are or the size of the knife, it's all about how the knife is positioned in your hand. If the blade is only partially opening and it feels like you aren't creating enough tension for the blade to fully open then you are definitely holding the knife too horizontally across your palm. It's all about the angle you're creating in relation to the pivot.
 
It feels perfectly safe and secure when I do the middle finger flick. The knife is gripped by my entire palm when I flick it open. I've never dropped a knife using this method.
 
I don't do thumb flicks anymore. I have very bad coordination / muscle memory for fast motions and sometimes confused myself between a slow, controlled thumb guided opening with a fast thumb flick. The result would be my flicking my thumb in a curved motion into the knife edge instead of a straight motion. I know, motion challenged here. With a MFF, the index finger magically guides the middle finger away from the blade no matter how carelessly I am doing it. Also, with a MFF, my thumb and index securely grip the knife over the pivot. This compared to the thumb flick where the knife is gripped between the four fingers and the palm because the thumb is off doing something else. I personally prefer the MFF grip. I also like the fact that with a MFF, the knife can be rotated slightly more towards the final grip to begin with. Whereas with a thumb flick, I have to rotate the knife more after opening (this might just be me).
 
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I like MFF too, but I find myself doing Ring Finger Flicks just as much. I've gotten comfortable with both, depending on the positioning of your hand.
 
Mkjellgren:
It was actually JDavis on youtube that I noticed him doing it first, and didnt know he was crimsontideshooter. Actually, JDavis is my favorite knife reviewer and he seems like the nicest guy around. I appreciate the way he approaches a knife review and I like his cutting tests.
John
 
On knives that allow it/easy to do, I like it. Best examples are the Tenacious, PM2, and Sages.
 
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