Yeah, it was pretty cool. You had to sharpen it with an emery board or sandpaper. It was all plastic except for a beryllium spring. I think it was designed that way to be able to slip by certain inspections covertly.JuPaul wrote: ↑Mon Sep 09, 2019 7:25 amAn frn blade?? Woa, didn't know that even existed! Knifemaking history is so interesting...013 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 09, 2019 6:33 amOff the top of my head, if I'm not mistaken, i believe it was Blackie Collins. I remember purchasing my first flipper of his design in the late 90's. It was fiber reinforced nylon, including the blade, and it was assisted. They had a metal bladed version, but i was still a little sceptical about the design....so I went with the cheaper one to try it out.
What would folding pocket knives look like if Sal never started Spyderco?
Re: What would folding pocket knives look like if Sal never started Spyderco?
The sword the body wounds, sharp words the mind.
- Menander :spyder:
- Menander :spyder:
Re: What would folding pocket knives look like if Sal never started Spyderco?
Even that article mentioned there is some debate on the subject. If you feel like digging into it more, I'd be interested to know what you find!013 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 09, 2019 5:56 pmI remember when I purchased the Blackie Collins blade, & I also remember when I purchased an CRKT M-16 flipper when they first came out. They were years apart. It was a while ago, so clearly this subject is going to require some research.JuPaul wrote: ↑Mon Sep 09, 2019 11:00 amThanks! Someone else mentioned CRKT earlier...appears they did have the first mass produced flipper design.wrdwrght wrote: ↑Mon Sep 09, 2019 8:32 amI’m no historian of knives but the Blackie Collins reference didn’t sound right. Check this: https://knifenews.com/how-did-the-flipp ... o-popular/013 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 09, 2019 6:33 am
Off the top of my head, if I'm not mistaken, i believe it was Blackie Collins. I remember purchasing my first flipper of his design in the late 90's. It was fiber reinforced nylon, including the blade, and it was assisted. They had a metal bladed version, but i was still a little sceptical about the design....so I went with the cheaper one to try it out.
- Julia
"Be excellent to each other." - Bill S. Preston, Esq.
"Be excellent to each other." - Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Re: What would folding pocket knives look like if Sal never started Spyderco?
Check this out:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assisted-opening_knife
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assisted-opening_knife
The sword the body wounds, sharp words the mind.
- Menander :spyder:
- Menander :spyder:
Re: What would folding pocket knives look like if Sal never started Spyderco?
Inspired by the ol' prison yard toothbrush shiv, no doubt. :p013 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 09, 2019 5:59 pmYeah, it was pretty cool. You had to sharpen it with an emery board or sandpaper. It was all plastic except for a beryllium spring. I think it was designed that way to be able to slip by certain inspections covertly.JuPaul wrote: ↑Mon Sep 09, 2019 7:25 amAn frn blade?? Woa, didn't know that even existed! Knifemaking history is so interesting...013 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 09, 2019 6:33 amOff the top of my head, if I'm not mistaken, i believe it was Blackie Collins. I remember purchasing my first flipper of his design in the late 90's. It was fiber reinforced nylon, including the blade, and it was assisted. They had a metal bladed version, but i was still a little sceptical about the design....so I went with the cheaper one to try it out.
- Julia
"Be excellent to each other." - Bill S. Preston, Esq.
"Be excellent to each other." - Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Re: What would folding pocket knives look like if Sal never started Spyderco?
Sorry everybody, I was wrong about the one that I had. It does not have a flipper tab. I went to look & found one for sale & it is exactly like the one I had. I've been wrong before, & I will be wrong again. When I posted, it was early in the day & I didn't have my full dose of coffee yet.....Anyway, here it is:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/BLACKIE-COLLIN ... ect=mobile
https://www.ebay.com/itm/BLACKIE-COLLIN ... ect=mobile
The sword the body wounds, sharp words the mind.
- Menander :spyder:
- Menander :spyder:
Re: What would folding pocket knives look like if Sal never started Spyderco?
Yeah, I was young & I thought "boy, all the things I could do with this":JuPaul wrote: ↑Mon Sep 09, 2019 6:04 pmInspired by the ol' prison yard toothbrush shiv, no doubt. :p013 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 09, 2019 5:59 pmYeah, it was pretty cool. You had to sharpen it with an emery board or sandpaper. It was all plastic except for a beryllium spring. I think it was designed that way to be able to slip by certain inspections covertly.JuPaul wrote: ↑Mon Sep 09, 2019 7:25 amAn frn blade?? Woa, didn't know that even existed! Knifemaking history is so interesting...013 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 09, 2019 6:33 am
Off the top of my head, if I'm not mistaken, i believe it was Blackie Collins. I remember purchasing my first flipper of his design in the late 90's. It was fiber reinforced nylon, including the blade, and it was assisted. They had a metal bladed version, but i was still a little sceptical about the design....so I went with the cheaper one to try it out.
007, navy seal, cia, ninja........
The sword the body wounds, sharp words the mind.
- Menander :spyder:
- Menander :spyder:
Re: What would folding pocket knives look like if Sal never started Spyderco?
Thank goodness Spyderco doesn't mess with assisted.
The sword the body wounds, sharp words the mind.
- Menander :spyder:
- Menander :spyder:
Re: What would folding pocket knives look like if Sal never started Spyderco?
Probably the classic buck design with the nailnicks
- Cambertree
- Member
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Re: What would folding pocket knives look like if Sal never started Spyderco?
If I recall right Spyderco tend to reference Kit Carson when they talk about their flipper design, but I’m not sure if they’re talking about the invention of that opening feature, or a particular type of flipper tab. (Don’t really know anything about that type of design, as I’ve never owned a flipper.)
Re: What would folding pocket knives look like if Sal never started Spyderco?
Woa, sharpening the plastic serrations with an emery board must have taken some real dedication!013 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 09, 2019 6:11 pmSorry everybody, I was wrong about the one that I had. It does not have a flipper tab. I went to look & found one for sale & it is exactly like the one I had. I've been wrong before, & I will be wrong again. When I posted, it was early in the day & I didn't have my full dose of coffee yet.....Anyway, here it is:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/BLACKIE-COLLIN ... ect=mobile
- Julia
"Be excellent to each other." - Bill S. Preston, Esq.
"Be excellent to each other." - Bill S. Preston, Esq.