Clip placement

To me it depends on the type of opener. I have a crkt that's tip down only and opens with a flipper, I've never had a problem using it quickly. My spydercos and benchmades are tip up, with a hole or thumb stud, and to me those knives I would not like as much tip down.

That being said, my paramilitary2 did ship with the clip installed for tip down. I had to move it. So I reckon spyderco thinks it should be tip down but they threw them extra holes in there to cater to weird folks like me that want to move it
 
N NC Transplant I prefer tip down as well and carry a Spyderco Military or Gayle Bradley 2 tip down. For larger knives, tip down is my preferred because the hole ends up roght where my thumb is as I draw. For smaller they are all tip up. The GB2 is about the size where I prefer to switch them to tip-down.

There are some knives that dont even have the option, like my Les George VECP, so I just make due. I wouldnt mind it tip down though. I have actually thought about sending it to Les to see if he could drill it for tip down.

Spyderco makes many 4-way clipable models. I strongly recommend the two I mentioned above. Paramilitary 2 also if the Military or Military 2 is too large

The Microtech Socom is tip down. Im not a fan of microtech though


Stay safe brother.
 
Blues said:
I only worked in plainclothes and happily carried in front or back pocket, either way...tip up or tip down

That said, what knives were your regulars? Maybe the crew here can help you find models to your liking from names you prefer or might enjoy getting to know.

(I transplanted to NC 20 years ago after working in NYC and Miami during my LE career.)
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I also carried back pocket, TD, working narc. Not sure if it was purely habit by then, or if I hadn't really been introduced to TU at that time. Spyderco was the preferred "cop" knife during most of my time working but I am looking outside the brand for something diffferent. I appreciate the suggested models in the responses, and also the input on preferences
 
So I'm seeing Artisan Falcon, Ontario Rat, CRKT M16 as possible options based on the specs, price, and recommendations received from various sources. Higher end option is Hogue Sig K320. Thoughts?
 
I definitely subscribe to the notion that people should carry however they please, and that it's really nobody else's business anyway.

That said, I also can't at all wrap my head around how people can argue that tip down is somehow more efficient. The knife is backwards in the hand when pulling it out of the pocket if it is tip down.

I have no need to be tactically prepared to fend off a ninja or bear attack, so an extra second or two to turn the knife around really doesn't matter to me. But still can't see how people can defend tip down as being more efficient. It's not.
 
20yard said:
I definitely subscribe to the notion that people should carry however they please, and that it's really nobody else's business anyway.

That said, I also can't at all wrap my head around how people can argue that tip down is somehow more efficient. The knife is backwards in the hand when pulling it out of the pocket if it is tip down.

I have no need to be tactically prepared to fend off a ninja or bear attack, so an extra second or two to turn the knife around really doesn't matter to me. But still can't see how people can defend tip down as being more efficient. It's not.
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This video does a decent job showing that there is less manipulation required to draw and open a tip down knife. i.e., tip down IS more efficient than tip up. Also not worried about the time, just the convenience.👍

 
20yard said:
That said, I also can't at all wrap my head around how people can argue that tip down is somehow more efficient. The knife is backwards in the hand when pulling it out of the pocket if it is tip down.
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Think about it .... Back pocket ... meaning hand might be "backwards", too, i.e. thumb will be in the clip. Anyways, to each his own like you said.
 
Reswob said:
This video does a decent job showing that there is less manipulation required to draw and open a tip down knife. i.e., tip down IS more efficient than tip up. Also not worried about the time, just the convenience.👍

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That video is very very flawed, IMO. Because he didn't actually have the clip installed for tip-up. He was just simulating it without the clip being available in this configuration. Had he actually had the clip properly installed for the tip-up demo, his fingers would have used the clip to naturally choke up on the knife at the same time as he was removing it from his pocket, and this would have positioned the knife correctly in his hand immediately upon removal from the pocket. There would have been no "scooch, scooch, scooch" necessary, as he put it.

Try it (while actually having the clip installed properly) and you'll see.
 
ferider said:
Think about it .... Back pocket ... meaning hand might be "backwards", too, i.e. thumb will be in the clip. Anyways, to each his own like you said.
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I just tried it several times. Nope...

There's no reason to awkwardly twist your arm around 180° to put your thumb on the clip unless the person has something really weird going on.
 
20yard said:
That video is very very flawed, IMO. Because he didn't actually have the clip installed for tip-up. He was just simulating it without the clip being available in this configuration. Had he actually had the clip properly installed for the tip-up demo, his fingers would have used the clip to naturally choke up on the knife at the same time as he was removing it from his pocket, and this would have positioned the knife correctly in his hand immediately upon removal from the pocket. There would have been no "scooch, scooch, scooch" necessary, as he put it.

Try it (while actually having the clip installed properly) and you'll see.
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Video is dead on. Perhaps YOU need to try it and see. Pulling on the clip can't get you far enough up the handle on a medium to large folder to avoid having to reposition once out of the pocket. Especially with the damn deep carry and short clips these days. In contrast, tip down works with any size knife👍
 
I have and carry knives that have both types and people should carry whatever works for them either way. I prefer tip up 90% of the time and only prefer tip down on the rare occasion I do carry in my back pocket.

And as far as either side of the arguement goes one being better than the other ... it's all dependant on how you reach for and draw a knife and about the way you've trained your muscles to do it.

So I don't truly believe either way has enough advantage in itself to label as "best" or "the right way".
 
I’m having a hard time understanding why I should even care how someone else prefers to carry their knife:rolleyes:???
 
Reswob said:
Video is dead on. Perhaps YOU need to try it and see. Pulling on the clip can't get you far enough up the handle on a medium to large folder to avoid having to reposition once out of the pocket. Especially with the damn deep carry and short clips these days. In contrast, tip down works with any size knife👍
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The video is not dead on. It can't be dead on. Because he didn't have the clip. It was a completely flawed demonstration. There's reality, and then there's that video.

I tried it several times with folders the same size as—or bigger than—the Military. Your finger naturally pushes up on the end of the clip to choke it up in your hand as you are removing it.
 
20yard said:
The video is not dead on. It can't be dead on. Because he didn't have the clip. It was a completely flawed demonstration. There's reality, and then there's that video.

I tried it several times with folders the same size as—or bigger than—the Military. Your finger naturally pushes up on the end of the clip to choke it up in your hand as you are removing it.
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Confirmation bias won't allow the guy asserting how his preferred method is superior to come to any honest or logical conclusions.

Really razzle his brain and throw in waved tip up knives 🤣


 
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Tip down is fine for left hand carry.

Right handed...the knife comes out backwards.

The spine needs to be placed against the back of the pocket.

To have the knife spine facing the larger open area of your pocket is not super safe.

Folders can sometimes have the detent defeated by just moving around in your pocket.

Not an area I want to have exposed to a blade...

😬
 
These type of discussions can go on forever, I think all are good points and enjoy reading these threads because they are informative. I carry whichever way the knife comes configured , if I can flip the clip I do . Otherwise I carry a fixed blade or a side arm. I know which position there coming out…….jajajajaja.
Good thread
In the end one has to be flexible with practicing your draw, things get snagged on thread seams etc.

In the end I don’t really have a preference tip up of down , but then again I don’t focus too much on it, getting the blade out as quick as posible in a given situation has way more variables. In my opinion of course.
 
Drawing a knife or gun efficiently or quickly is dependent on practice, repetition and familiarization. What works best for one person may not be best for another. Carry what and how you prefer and be comfortable with it.
 
We have these threads frequently. Knife forum member seem to consistently prefer tip up about 75% of the time. Some people just don't care how fast or slow it is, some people like to have to blade against the side of the pocket so it won't open in their pocket, some people want to use a lanyard or a wave opener, some people don't wear grown man's clothing, so many people get by just fine with tip up. When I first discovered knives with clips they all seemed to be tip down, the Spyderco started producing knives with the clips molded onto the handle and they had to make those tip up for manufacturing purposes. For a long time I only looked at knives in one orientation then I realized I was missing out on a lot of good knife designs so I started buying both kinds. I can carry and operate both kinds but one orientation is clearly better for large knives, for small knives there is no difference for me except I don't carry small knives.

>Anything 4" and up is great tip down and always will be

I had the same experience. I could operate a knife smaller than 3" either way but something like a PM2 worked better tip dow.

>"Tip up is actually harder to use" for who? Not me, I prefer tip up. So I, and anyone else that actually prefers tip up is being fooled by some internet conspiracy? You seem to think that manufacturers giving buyers what they want is "folding to peer pressure"? Come on, it's a personal choice and it just so happens you are in the minority.

On knife forums tip down is the minority. I listed some of the reasons above. I tried doing tests both ways and could not find a situation where tip up was faster. My usual carry is either a PM2 tip down or a Manix 2 tip up, I have long fingers, and I always wear jeans. For me tip up is harder to use. I pull my Manix 2 out and my thumb is 2" from the thumb hole. I can inch my way down the knife but that takes a lot of time so I just turn loose of the knife, quickly move my hand down to line up with the hole and grab the knife. I haven't dropped it yet but this might not be 100% secure if I was working up on a ladder or something like that. I've tried to learn how other people did it and in watching videos I found that some people weren't wearing what I consider normal man's clothing. One person was demonstrating how fast he could pull his knife out while wearing pajamas. Some people mention using the clip- if I try to grab the clip to pull the knife out it sandwiches the clip against my clothing and keeps the knife from coming out. If I put the tip of my finger under the tip of the clip and push up on the tip sometimes it works but most of the time my finger slips off. This is not fast or efficient.

>That said, I also can't at all wrap my head around how people can argue that tip down is somehow more efficient. The knife is backwards in the hand when pulling it out of the pocket if it is tip down.

Hold the knife in your hand like you are using it- your thumb is close to the pivot. If the knife is tip down the when you grab it to pull it out of your pocket your thumb is right there close to the pivot. If your knife is tip up then when you pull it out your thumb is right there next to the lanyard hole.

>Video is dead on. Perhaps YOU need to try it and see. Pulling on the clip can't get you far enough up the handle on a medium to large folder to avoid having to reposition once out of the pocket.

I frequently carry a Manix 2 and sometimes a Manix 2 XL. Either one of those is almost impossible to pull out if I pull on the clip.

>I’m having a hard time understanding why I should even care how someone else prefers to carry their knife

You should not. But like I said these threads come up several times a year and it is usually the tip up crowd telling the tip down crowd that they are wrong so 75% do seem to care.
 
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