Spyderco Forums

Recently got a black handled FFG Delica 4. Love it's light weight design. My paramilitary 2 now feels like a tank after carrying the Delica for a few weeks.

Compared to the PM2, flicking it open with my thumb is not difficult, but not as easy as it should be in my opinion. I really have to flick it open hard.

I believe it's the stiff spring constantly putting tension on the blade tang even when the lock bar is depressed.

I have loosened the pivot but to get it opening easily and smoothly with my thumb, blade play occurs.

And yes, I have cleaned the blade out and properly lubricated it. Compressed air works wonders.

Any thoughts?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l38OC6SzFr0

Literally impossible with my delica. Easy on the PM2, I'd end up slicing up my finger if I tried it too many times with the delica.

The physics of the mid-lock (IMO) prevents the flick effect that you get with the PM2. They do break in with time, but the lighter weight of the FFG hinders your rotating mass. This means the saber grind should (in theory) be easier to flick.

The pm2 also has a bushing system for ease of opening, and all that's contacting the blade is the ball part of the compression lock.

It is just physics :) When You try to flick open FFG blade You have much less mass of the blade to throw out than in saber grind version which opens very quickly :)

Its mostly a mass thing, my ffg delica needs some more effort and wrist flick to open, where as my friends saber grind delica 4 I gave him does not need such effort because of its extra blade mass over the ffg version.

It's mass, but also friction. The FRN models have a little more drag. I have to wrist snap when I open my Delicas. You get used to it.

Try not to flick open knives, but the back lock will always be harder. When I get the pivot set up on my Delica's it pretty much makes flicking a non-option.

Aside from looking/sounding cool, what's the upside of flicking open a knife? Doesn't it pretty dramatically increase your probability of accidentally tossing the knife?

dj moonbat wrote:Aside from looking/sounding cool, what's the upside of flicking open a knife? Doesn't it pretty dramatically increase your probability of accidentally tossing the knife?

I don't believe there is any benefit other than what you listed. I think that alot of the new knife afis get their hook into knives by watching youtube videos or get introduced via a friend who got hooked by watching youtube videos. I'm not surprised that so many think flicking is the only way, and the correct way, to open a knife.

I flick my delica open with my middle finger. It's a lot easier compared to a thumb once you get a hang of it.

Quick deployment via thumbnail flick = lady magnet. :)

Blerv wrote:Quick deployment via thumbnail flick = lady magnet. :)

You should see what happens when I flick them the reverse ringer. :D

Ooooo lawdy, they can't stay away.

dj moonbat wrote:Aside from looking/sounding cool, what's the upside of flicking open a knife? Doesn't it pretty dramatically increase your probability of accidentally tossing the knife?

When I'm actually using the blade I open it normally.

When I'm sitting watching TV or bored, I flick that bad boy constantly.

I actually flick my blades (most of them) open because of the musical enjoyment they provide me upon lock engagement. That part brings me great joy and I love comparing the sound of the Militarys Walker Liner Lock to the Manix 2s CBBL. I think the flick is a second step to fast deployment that falls slightly short of the emerson wave openers speed.

1. Buy a Tuff
2. Flick your Tuff open constantly for a few weeks.
3. Your fingers will now be so strong that you risk launching normal knives into the ceiling or wall when you flick them open. :D

I've owned delicas since the mid 1990's. I could never get a constant flick until I switched my clip to tip down carry. My middle finger I indexes on the curve of the clip and lines up my thumb in line with the hole. My ring and pinky grip the knife securely and all the thumb energy goes into the blade of the knife. I have short fingers and small hands and now a can flick my delica, endura and stretch consistently. I also practice with my endura trainer to keep the muscle memory. The downside to this is my spydies have to have the clip with a tip down option.