Kizer Vagnino Zipslip Heinnie® Exclusive Folding Knife

Firstly great delivery and customer support from HH. Lovely knife and would happily address the thumb stud issue which really had me unsure on buying this knife for a while. I can confirm the stud sits at the same height as the handle... Therefore impossible to open if trying to push the blade out perpendicular to mechanism. Sure enough push 90 degrees to this and it opens easily (and I am no wilderness rough handed expert, even my soft thumbs manage it with ease). For clarification: if holding the knife vertically slide your thumb up the sheathed back side of the blade until hit the stud and keep sliding, the blade easily pivots. Additionally lovely blade and the security of using it with the index finger holding the blade open gives a much more confidence when applying pressure especially with the UK EDC rules. Only gripe would be the colour which I know I could have gone for the non HH edition, but I do really like the thumb stud. Overall fantastic knife and easily gone to my daily use knife.

This is a beautiful knife. The shape, the colours, it's all so attractive. The shade of red used for the handle is truly beautiful, almost regal. I'm the kind of person that normally just goes for a tactical black on everything and avoids colour, but I've really fallen in love with the red handle here. I also love how the slip joint mechanism is hidden from view, and the back spine of the handle is sealed instead of showing a gap between the two scales. • The scales have a relatively grippy texture, but also feel smooth and comfortable at the same time — much better than the rough texture of the CRKT Pilar Heinnie. • The front finger choil is fantastic for guarding against accidental closure and for easily closing the knife. Unlike the CRKT Pilar Heinnie, the front of the choil is smoothed and rounded, so the finger is fully protected from the cutting edge. • There's also a quarter-stop to help protect from accidents — I much prefer this over a half-stop. • The pocket clip is fully deep carry, and completely plain for maximum stealth. This knife could have been perfect. It could have been a contender for the number one knife in my collection. Unfortunately, it has a fatal flaw that relegates it to being just a display piece. The big problem with it is the thumb stud. It's simply impossible to use. It is positioned far too close to the pivot to get proper leverage, and far too close to the handle to squeeze the thumb in to grab it. And then the knife is very stiff on top of that. I can press on the thumb stud with all my might, and the knife doesn't open — all I get is injury to my thumb. It leaves deep impressions/bruising on my thumb and has caused me to bleed, while still not budging. It is just impossible to use. I've seen several other reviewers mention this, both here and on YouTube, so it's not just me. This should really be considered a two-handed opening knife. Even then it's still awkward, as the blade is slippery and hard to properly grip to pull it out. It's such a shame. The original Kizer Zipslip had a thumb hole, which is superior. For some reason, it got swapped to a thumb stud on this Heinnie Haynes version, and it makes the knife impossible to open. I don't understand why they did that. The thumb stud is really just there for decoration. I'm now looking into ways to modify this to make it possible to open one-handed, such as replacing the thumb stud with a larger one, or with a hook-style one, or with a "thumb bar"... We'll see.

Well after reading all the so called problems of the thumb studs I really was on the fence about this knife. No offence to all those of you that are struggling but you are doing something wrong. Yes this is not going to be a flipping easy fidget toy but all you need to do it push the thumb studs upwards towards the blade instead of out from the handle and have a thumb that’s not made out of cotton wool and BANG it opens !! If you’re a traditional knife person then you want be used to this sort of opening method and you will think your thumb has broken lol. It is a excellent knife which after 2 days I can flick completely open no problem and I have arthritis ( not sever but int fingers and thumb are not as strong as they was ) Honestly I can flick it open no problem, you lot really need to get some hang d skin on them thumbs . No offence intended to anyone but you just really need to get used to it and let it break in a bit before slamming it so hard as it’s a great knife for legal carry in our over controlled country.

Great knife very happy.

As always, the HH customer service they are justifiably so proud of was excellent. Purchasing was easy and simple, delivery quick and efficient. My issues lie with the product itself and why I give only 3 stars. The HH Edition of the Kizer Zipslip is nowhere near as good as the original. In my opinion, there are several reasons for that. I wanted a knife to hopefully improve on other EDC pocket knives I have carried previously. I am not a collector, I use my knives every day. I have become an unintentional collector by constantly seeking improvements on what I already have. I was looking for a reasonably priced, one hand opening UK Legal EDC with specific features. The Kizer Zipslip offered what I sought to improve upon my Boker+ XS. The Kizer was similarly priced but has the flat grind and a deep carry pocket clip I wanted. The XS has a hollow grind, great for slicing, but I sought a stronger blade profile for other tasks. Unfortunately, I struggled initially to find the exact Kizer model and specifications I wanted. Most UK sellers had sold out, including HH, one even stating the knife I wanted was "discontinued". So I bought the HH Edition and now wish I hadn't. The polished blade is ok but not for me. The drop point blade shape is almost a spear point with it's deep swedge and reflects light off it in all directions. The original Kizer Vanguard series has a more discreet stonewashed blade. Without making any issue over the different steels used, (there's not that much difference for pocket knife use), the HH Edition grind is totally different from all versions of the original Zipslip. It is much less of a flat grind throughout the depth of the 'meatier' blade making it more like a scandi. I did like that, and the chunkier blade, heavier due to the thumb studs replacing the Zipslip's original thumb holes. But the thumb studs and heavier blade are the major problem with the HH Edition, making it extremely difficult, very uncomfortable and at times, impossible, (when your thumb gives in), to open one handed. The thumb studs are too small and positioned in the wrong place, way too close to the 3mm thick G10 scales to allow your thumb to get any decent purchase on them. One handed opening is possible using the tip or edge of your thumb, but after a while you will have an extremely sore thumb and either start using your non-dominant hand, if you dare, or both, when a sharp blade is involved. HH could greatly improve their version of this knife by redesigning. Either a) enlarge the thumb studs and make them more comfortable, (as in the Boker+ XS), or b) reposition the thumb studs, or c) carve scalloped channels into the edges of the G10 scales almost down to the steel liners to allow the user's thumb, (whichever hand is used), to be able to effectively access the thumb studs, or d) do away with the thumb studs altogether and revert back to the original Michael Vagnino design. The free Kizer case supplied with my purchase was a nice touch but as the HH Edition has proved to be practically useless for my needs, it will be used to store the knife in a drawer. I have since been able to purchase original Kizer Vanguard Zipslip's with both orange and black G10 scales, in addition to the Micarta scales version and even the Titanium scales version. All the same designed knife, different steels used in the blades. I had to source internationally but well worth it. The Kizer Zipslip is a great knife. The HH Edition made me realise it's potential for me, hence the multiple purchases subsequently. But the HH Edition was otherwise money wasted. Anyone interested in the Kizer Zipslip should avoid the HH Edition in it's current form and look further afield for an original as I eventually did

This looks and feel great and is super sharp on arrival. I was hoping this would be the knife that replaced my Boker XS due to the perfect size and shape of the blade with a comfortable grip. Unfortunately this knife is a little stif on the opening and with the small thumb studs which feesl a bit sharp when opening. If you could replace the thumb studs for the ones on the Boker this could be my No.1 knife

I love the subtle difference in shape, more pokey and still one handed open, I actually thinks it better.

I would go for the original Kizer version. It´s twice the price but really one handed to open by thumb hole and still UK legal.

This is my first knife. As I understand it a thumb knob is intended for one hand opening so why is it so hidden. I will either be sending it back (and look for a junzi) or scalloping the handle to see how much that helps.