Instruction needed

Joined
Jun 17, 2001
Messages
52
Oh great and all-knowing Knife Knuts. A poor and humble man requests your help. It may sound silly, but I really am having trouble, For at least 12 yrs, I have carried a Spydee Delica. I am trying to switch to a Paragee which has a tip down carry. Maybee I am just slow, but I have not figured out the proper moves to smothly, and quickly open a tip up carry knife. If someone could take the time to explain this, I would really appreciate it. Thanks in advance. slewis36
 
The difference is which way you have your thumb pointing and how your wrist is bent when you remove the knife from your pocket. Also, if it's tip up, thumb is down, goes in the pocket and pulls the handle out, while the rest of the fingers are outside the pocket waiting for the handle to come out. That's how I do it anyway. Just try different ways and see what feels best for you.
 
Comrade Change,
Thank you for trying to help, but you are dealing with a senile old man. I asked for help with a tip up, and I need helpo with a tip down carry. Please excuse. I got pretty smooth with the Delica(tip up), but I keep messing up and dropping or otherwise embaressing myself. with my Paragee.
 
Same here man. I am used to tip up, and I really do beleive it's faster, all things being equal. Of course all things aren't equal, and you get good at what you practice. I like tip up when I'm wearing, say jeans, that hold the knife in place as you reach into the pocket and grip it. I find though, that during the summer, when wearing shorts and light pants, that using this technique moves the knife out of position, so I either have to go slower, or use more force. Tip down, even with lack of practice, seems fast in these types of clothes, cause you can sort of push the knife sideways, towards horizontal, and draw it by continuing this motion, which puts your hand in a good position to open the knife. I hope thats clear. Just my observations, not necesarily the best way.
 
Tip Down

I'm pretty confused much of the time. For a year and a half, I carried tip down exclusively. THen, became a Spyderco fan, and have had to learn to deal with tip up. I have to admit that tip up was easier to learn than I expected, and that I like it better than tip down, except for my CRKT M16 -- that flipper makes a real difference.

I use a thumb/index finger pinch on the butt end of the knife. Of course, the nature of the clip placement determines whether that end is above or below the pocket edge. As the knife clears the pocket, I sort of roll my remaining fingers under/around the knife and into the palm of my hand, while the knife rotates between my thumb and finger, until the thumb is pointing towards 12:00. I sort of gather the lower handle with my pinky and ring finger as I change the position of the knife from the original position from which it leaves the pocket.

Once into a good grip, the thumb then moves over to the left (on right-handed knife) to the thumbstud. I push the thumbstud up towards the pivot end of the knife. Hardly outward at all. Once the blade is locked open, then the grip must be shifted until in a comfortable, appropriate grip.

The drawback to the tip down, as I see it, is that the initial grip uses only 2 digits. On tip up, where the thumb had been inserted deep into the pocket, the fingers grasp the knife as it emerges from the pocket. Much less shifting of grip is necessary to get the blade open and locked. Then, much like the other draw, the knife must be shifted to another, more appropriate grip.

I would guess that your "dropsy" of the knife has something to do with the 2-digit grip/pinch. The second thumbstud may be catching on the lip of your pocket. Much as I love them, some of CRKT's knives really are troublesome in this area. Can slow one down, perhaps fatally. But, if one is using the same knife all the time, and not rotating with any regularity, then it all becomes muscle memory/habit.

Speaking only of my own copy of the EDC, the detente ball is super strong. Too strong. Hard to get the blade moving, then it jerks almost all the way open. If yours has the same problem, that could be causing some drops.

Given the metal handles, don't quite understand why 2 sets of holes weren't used, giving users the option, or at least ambidexterity.
 
Myself, I prefer tip up.
For tip down, try this: Grasp knife between thumb and index finger. As you draw from your pocket, let the knife pivot into your palm. This should position the knife so your thumb can reach the stud.
Start slowly until you get the hang of it. Speed will come with practice. Good luck.

Paul
 
Paul is right on, here. One tip, regardless of how the clip makes the knife ride on the pocket, draw it with the thumb and index finger on or near the pivot point.This will keep you from having to reposition the knife in your hand as you open it.As you draw the knife from the pocket, just rotate your hand to the right, postioning the knife in the palm, and just slide your thumb to the stud or hole and open as always.With a minimum of practice, this will become second nature. I really prefer " tip down" since learning these tactics.Quick and secure.
 
I agree with Paul and AC, that was the method I used, too. I carried tip-down folders for six years, before buying one that carries tip-up (which I much prefer). Now I won't buy a tip-down folder:barf:-saves me alot of money, too;)
 
Kind Souls, I thank you one and all. I am now trying to pratice these tips. I really like my Paragee, and hope to get competent with it. With arthritis, I don't expect to get quick, I just find it very embaressing to pull my knife out, and drop it. Even my Chihuahua is starting to laugh at me. .........Steve
 
I carry tip down most of the time; but when it's time for action, tip up is the only way to go!:D
 
I think you should see if your Chihuahua can do it any better. That should keep him from laughing at you. Or, he might laugh more if he can.:p
 
Dirk, You may be right, and that is scarey. I would never have any piece. Everytime she wanted a snack, or to go out she would pull a knife on me, and outdraw me......Steve:D
 
Hey Guys..

Lewis...
There is No help for Tip down....
It's a pain in the a$$...

What I don't understand is why Soooo many makers of otherwise Great knives,, put the Frigging clip on the wrong end ??

It seems as though it's too mauch work putting a couple of extra holes in a knife....

Actually i'd really like to see manufactures put clip holes on both ends and Both sides of a knife...

One of these days us Lefties are going to Revolt and go Postal about being Always left out of the Fun!!

Half of my knives I've had to send away to get the clips put on the proper end,,and side...

I also wonder when you Righties are going to get tired of Chisel Grinds made for Lefties ?? :)

ttyle

Eric....
 
Whereas I usually draw a tip-up carry knife straight up or backwards out of my pocket I've found the best way to draw a tip-down knife is forward out of the pocket. On my AFCK I hook my index finger in the middle of the curve on the pocket clip, my thumb will end up right across from the opening hole on the handle, as I draw the knife out the back of the handle(by the tip) rolls over the edge of my pocket and turns the knife in my hand so the handle is fully in my grasp, then I just flick it open like a tip-up knife. Obviously the normal problem is still there to some extent, in that there's a time when you don't have a very good hold on the knife. It shouldn't be a problem unless you get ahead of yourself and try to open the knife before you have a good hold on it, just don't get ahead of yourself(I know, easier said than done).

What I don't understand is why Soooo many makers of otherwise Great knives,, put the Frigging clip on the wrong end ??

I'm afraid there seems to be no rational explanation, it would seem that putting the clip in the right place would be easier in the first place(you don't have to worry about the pivot screw), and it certainly seems to be better. Tip-down does keep the blade in the handle, but if the knife is a quality knife then obviously there's no problem with the blade opening in your pocket anyway.

I also wonder when you Righties are going to get tired of Chisel Grinds made for Lefties??

:) Already there. It still cracks me up to read EKI's explanation of why they put their chisel on the wrong side. "Certain goverment agency" LOL. :rolleyes: BTW, I'm not trolling, I'm an Emerson fan. In fact the CQC7 has been my favorite knife ever since I bought my first one, but it would be an even better knife if the chisel was on the other side. I suppose not a concern if you're just planning on choppin' bad guys with it, but some of us have to use the knife for other things in between choppin' bad guys(not that I don't carry 1 or 2 other knives, NO NO NO!). ;) It's still OK for utility use, just a bit more difficult to use.
 
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