George Schrade changed the game in 1908 when he filed a patent for the first spring-loaded design for OTF knives, using a button-release coil or leaf spring to propel a telescoping blade forward from the handle. From there, OTFs saw an uptick in popularity as spring mechanisms got more refined and locks got more robust.
But when Congress passed the Switchblade Act in 1958 after nationwide panic on juvenile delinquency, the manufacture and interstate sale of switchblade knives (i.e., automatic knives with blades over 2″) was prohibited. Automatic OTFs didn’t cease to exist, yet in recent years, knifemakers have looked to gravity-assisted mechanisms that actually predated the spring-loaded versions.
One of our favorite EDC brands CRKT has a new knife that takes the niche idea of manual OTFs and pairs it with a vintage-inspired flip insert mechanism, and it’s already one of our favorite new releases of the year.
A Throwback Brought Forward
CRKT has been in the knife game since 1994, building a reputation on accessible, well-engineered blades that punch well above their price tag. The Portland-based brand has never been afraid to push design conventions, and the Gravitic Flip is a prime example of that ethos at full tilt. Designed by Ted Valerio, a Colorado-based former SWAT sniper and founder of Teval Knives, this one pulls its inspiration from old “Flip It” knives. The idea being a manual out-the-front design that sidesteps the spring-loaded mechanism entirely. In other words, there are no buttons or coils. Just physics and a strategic insert.
The Flip Insert Mechanism
In terms of the OTF mechanism, the Gravitic Flip uses a glass-reinforced nylon insert held in place by recessed magnets when closed. A quick flick of that insert rotates and slides it forward across the handle, pulling the blade out-the-front in the process. Internal tabs then recess into the handle to lock everything in place.
It sounds more complex on paper than it is in practice. We were able to try one out firsthand, and once you develop the muscle memory for it, you can easily speed up the deployment gradually. Sporting an ambidextrous design, it’s also a solid fidget device we found ourselves playing with at our desk.
On the Blade
The 3.18-inch dual-edge spearpoint is cut from 5Cr13MoV steel with a stonewash finish. While not necessarily premium, the steel helps CRKT keep the price at just $50, which is a solid fair tradeoff. You still get solid corrosion resistance and decent edge retention is decent for everyday cutting tasks, and the stonewash does a good job of masking wear. The real question is whether a premium steel variant follows. We’d love to see it.
The handle wraps up in the same glass-reinforced nylon as the insert, keeping the whole package at a feathery 1.4oz. Rounding things out are a deep-carry pocket clip and a lanyard hole, both of which earn their keep on an EDC knife.
Spec Sheet
Model: CRKT Gravitic Flip
Blade Steel: 5Cr13MoV
Blade Length: 3.18″
Overall Length: 7.5″
Handle Material: Glass-Reinforced Nylon
Weight: 1.4 oz.
Special Features: Dual-edge spearpoint, ambidextrous manual OTF, recessed magnet insert retention, deep-carry clip, lanyard hole
Price: $50
Pricing & Availability
Not a limited release, the CRKT Gravitic Flip is available now directly through CRKT’s website for $50.
Recap
CRKT Gravitic Flip Knife
CRKT just dropped the Gravitic Flip, a manual out-the-front knife designed by former SWAT operator Ted Valerio that ditches springs and buttons entirely in favor of a vintage-inspired flip insert mechanism. And it’s only $50.
