Another reason to carry your Hinderer " tip up"

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Feb 11, 2012
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Okay I know there are hundreds of threads and responses on "tip up or tip down carry" on the forum. I would like to put aside all the deployment pros and cons and focus on functionality. IMHO the biggest draw back to "tip down" carry is the pivot being exposed to the elements which becomes a magnet for collecting debris. Today while hand digging in frozen dirt (8 degrees) to fix a frozen and broken water pipe near our farm pump house, I pulled out my XM 18 to cut some electrical tape and to my dismay the pivot was filled with frozen dirt and prevented the blade from opening. I had to clean it out before I could open the blade. Hinderers being overbuilt as they are and with open construction made it easy to clean out the pivot and blow the dirt out right through the scales.

If the XM is carried "tip up" (pivot down), you will most likely collect a little pocket lint over time that may require an occasional blast of compressed air. However the working parts will be protected deep in the warmth of your pocket. This experience has taught me "Tip Up" carry for me!
 
agreed. tip down carry makes me feel like an old man for some reason. the reason i like tip up is because when you pull it out of your pocket, its already oriented in the position that you hold it when opening. with tip up, you have to re-orient the knife in your hand to open it. i cant think of any practical reason for tip down carry but im open to suggestions
 
I just do it so there's no chance I could get bit when pulling my hand out of my pocket....for a righty it's just the safest way.
 
Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I got bit "good" yesterday carrying my new 3" XM tip up. I made the mistake of clipping it high and left in my right front pocket of my loose shorts, leaving the blade lots of room to fall open. I was helping coach my son's baseball. After 40 minutes of being behind the plate I went to grab my keys-OUCH!! Never mind the nice slice I have in my shorts. OUCH!

It was my fault for placing it where I did. My intent was to have it not as viewable by being high and covered by my shirt rather than low and completely visible. All the squats I did behind the plate surely opened it up. Man was I stupid.

Lesson learned for me, and for you, if you choose to accept...

I highly recommend, if carrying tip up in your right pocket, that you keep the knife in the far right of that pocket, so the right seam helps keep it closed.
 
Hadn't seen this thread!! Joe makes a valid point. And hopefully your cut wasn't too bad
 
Wouldn't be a thread without a kwazyjuice's 2 cents, can't believe you almost missed one. Anyway's the 3 inch xm-18's definitely open easier in the pocket compared to the 3.5" in my experience. I tightened my 3" up and put loctite on the pivot, the action sucked but it would not open on it's own. In a few short months my blade has broke in nicely and the blade stays closed tip up in my pocket.
 
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