Folder on a clip: point up or down?

[cbach8tw]

Which pocket was it in?

Front left pocket. I carry my knife there even though I am right handed. No pic of bleeding hand, just poked it quickly.

 

[Bob Denman]

Thumbs-up to tip-up carry!

 

[GIRLYmann]

clip carry is one thing.
its the blade user's opening method or style of deployment
which makes all the difference
between a tip up or tip down
clip carry as a preference.
and that such a choice
is perhaps far more relavant
for quick single handed
blade openings..
and so i would rather
have a spring loaded blade
accidently flip outwards
and upwards in a pants poccket.
make that a tip down.
sitting snug
in a 5th pocket (watch pocket)
just my 2 cents.

 

[HexY3co]

I've used both and I prefer tip up. Tip down is much harder to open quickly. I agree with others about the need for a strong closure system with tip up. I like the strength and action of my axis lock, it holds quite well.

 

[Chronovore]

It depends on the pocket. In my right pants pocket, tip-up makes sense and the reasoning has already been covered. However, that same reasoning indicates tip-down if the knife is to be carried against the right seam of a rear pocket. Tip-down can also make sense in shirt, breast, or vest pockets depending on the knife.

 

[stabman]

Really depends on the knife.
Some are better tip up, some are better tip down.
On some that had holes for all four clip positions (up, down, left , right), I tried putting it from up to down and it was ALL wrong.
Sat in the pocket wrong.
Opened weird.
Clip bit into my hand during use...the knife was obviously designed for tip up.

On the other hand, look at the Spyderco Military.
Sits in pocket perfect.
Opens like lightning from the hand of Zeus.
Feels great in the hand.

 

[bdmicarta]

I'm not sure what the pros and cons are...

You will find a lot of threads and a lot of arguments on clip position. Among people on knife forums it seems that at least 75% of people prefer tip up. The first knives that I ever saw with clips were made for tip down, then when Spyderco started making knives with molded handles they had to be tip up so the molded in clip wouldn't interfere with the blade pivot. Today there are a lot of knives made both ways. I found that I can't be picky with respect to clip position because it keeps me from buying a lot of good knife designs. I do buy and carry knives both ways, but with blades in the 3.5" range I can deploy a tip down knife safer and faster. My comments below will be regarding carry in the right front pants pocket.

If you carry a long knife with some types of clothing such as the tight jeans that I wear, it will be faster and safer to deploy a blade tip down than tip up. I own both types of knives and I've done experiments using my knives plus my hands plus my clothes. With blades under 3" there is no difference for me. Not everybody seems to be concerned about speed of deployment.

If you want to use a wave opener, or if you want to use a lanyard, then you pretty much have to use tip up. Some people like the increased safety of tip up carry since the knife can be positioned with the blade pushing against the outside of the pocket where it has no room to open. If you have a knife without much blade detent then this can be an important consideration. All of my modern knives have enough blade detent that opening in my pocket is not a concern, but I've had older knives that would open too easily. Some people like tip up because it puts the clip in a spot where it doesn't affect the comfort of their grip. I have knives both ways and I don't really notice any difference for me.

 

[Danny Linguini]

I carry tip up because that's how my Mini Grip is set up.
My wife came from a long line of tip down carriers, going all the way back to the 1700s.
I've been run out of my inlaw's house on more than one occasion.
They even take the time to prepare torches.

They must bring out the belt-fed weapons if somebody questions which way they hang the TP.

 

[EngrSorenson]

They must bring out the belt-fed weapons if somebody questions which way they hang the TP.

Oh… oh man… I didn’t even think to check. They make me go outside.

 

[NebulaMask]

I don't mind much either way, left hand carry is a deal breaker, tip up or down usually isn't. How I like to carry it depends on the knife, mostly depending on the size. Smaller knives I almost always carry tip up. Larger ones it depends more, but generally tip down. I just go with what I find easier to get to the thumb stud or whatever when they're pulled out. Tip up on larger knives often has me scooching my hand up the scale more to get to the opening mechanism vs if it was carried tip down.

 

[helobite]

My folders are carried inside the waist band. Leaves more room in my pockets for other things.

This knife can only be carried tip up

That thumb stub is an ambi thumb stud. And it is a problem. On several occasions it caught on something, be it under shirt, or seam in the waist band, the knife blade deployed. And I did not notice it once, till the point cut through the pants!

When I looked at some of my older Cold Steel folders, I noticed, no ambi thumb stud!

no thumb stud on opposite side

I guess there was a reason Cold Steel did that. So, I ground the Koroman pants side thumb stud down as much as possible, and made it domed shape so it is less likely to snag.

I had a CH flipper knife, not this exact model

open while in the waist band. I am not sure what partially opened the blade, but it was being carried in the only orientation allowed: tip up. I cut a finger trying to feel what was happening. I am of the opinion frame lock flipper knives are easier to accidentally deploy than knives with a thumb stud and back lock.

If something does not feel right in the pocket, or in the waist band, be very careful when inspecting. Tap the side, open your belt, be cautious, or you will get a very bad cut. I remember a warning from an AG Russell monthly, of the number of incidents reported to them when folding knives with pocket clips have opened accidentally and the wearer deeply cut.