Noobie here w/ question (tip-up vs. tip-down)

bobobama

bobobama

Joined
Jan 15, 2017
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I've been watching this forum from the sidelines but feel it's time to jump in with a question that I'm curious about. My preferred method of EDC is appendix carry on my strong side, inside the waist band, with my folder du jour. Been doing this for a number of years and it's like second nature to me. A tip-down clip on the folder suits this way of carry perfectly. However, tip-down carry seems to be going the way of the dodo bird.
For example Benchmade, one of my preferred brands, only carries three models with this option. What is the deal with tip-up carry? For me it puts my hand at the wrong end of the knife when I draw it, requiring extra maneuvers on my part to get it positioned properly. In addition, it also seems to present a safety issue, if the blade were to slip out of the locked position. Why is tip-up carry so popular, and why isn't tip-down more readily available?
 
Well I always thought it was just preference. But tip up isn't a safety issue because the blade is against the seam of your pocket, so it can't really open.
 
I prefer tip up because the clip does not bother me very much when grabbing the handle.
 
I prefer tip down. I've been stabbed by a tip-up knife that came partially open. However, it's really not that big a deal. I can get used to either option.
 
I too prefer tip down carry and agree it's frustrating. I can pull a tip down blade and have it open without adjusting in my hand and open much quicker than tip up.

I've also been cut by tip up blade--no fun.
 
I don't own any "tip up" carry knives.
I am used to pulling my Protech out of my right pocket and deploying the blade from a tip down attitude. Not that I need lightning fast deployment but it works for me.
 
I think this needs some video or pics. I have always carried tip up because the knife comes out of my pocket ready to open. Where is others are saying tip down works this way for them. When I grab my knife I put my thumb down the spine and wrap it around to the presentation side of the knife. I put my pinky, ring and middle finger on the clip. As I pull the knife out my pointer finger is perfectly on the spine and ready to flip it open. This method works on flippers and non flippers that open smooth with the thumbstud. I just have to move my pointer finger slightly more around. Regardless I have found it to be the safest way to carry and easiest way to deploy.

I might work on a video with this tonight. Might be the best way to get feedback.
 
I prefer tip down because they are more convenient and safer to draw and use. Not everyone is interested in convenience and speed of use, and not everybody carries right front pocket. Knives shorter than about 3" blades seem to work easier either way, much longer knives are the ones that are harder to operate tip up.
There have been polls and about 2/3 or 3/4 of responders prefer tip up. The reasons stated for tip up are: safer in right front pocket because the blade can be against the side of the pocket, the clip doesn't hurt your hand when gripping the knife, if you use a lanyard it only works tip up.
The first clipped knives I ever used were always tip down. Then when Spyderco started doing FRN knives with clips they had to mold them the other way so the clip wouldn't interfere with the pivot. I suspect that a lot of Benchmade models that are tip up are because they do a lot of knives with the axis lock.
I buy the knives that I like without regards to clip position. Until recently about half of my EDC knives were tip up and the other half were tip down, so I adapt to operating both ways.
 
whitty said:
When I grab my knife I put my thumb down the spine and wrap it around to the presentation side of the knife. I put my pinky, ring and middle finger on the clip. As I pull the knife out my pointer finger is perfectly on the spine and ready to flip it open.
Click to expand...

I carry both ways and I've worked on operating both ways. No matter how far I put my thumb into my pocket it doesn't come close to the thumb hole of a knife the size of a PM2. If my thumb is against the back of the knife and my fingers are on the outside of my pocket, I'm squeezing the clip against the pants material and that makes it hard to pull the knife out. If I put a fingertip on the end of the clip and try to push it upwards sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't. But it's real difficult to pull a large knife out and have my thumb close to the blade hole or the thumb stud. I have to then do some dangerous gymnastics to flip the knife around so my thumb can open the blade. I say dangerous because I have to release my grip on the knife and I might drop it. When I pull out a tip down knife I grab the end of the knife between thumb and firstfinger and pull it out. My thumb ends up close to the blade hole and ready to open the knife.

With a PM2 tip down- pull the knife out by the end, the knife rotates into the palm, thumb is right next to blade hole, ready to open the blade:
DSC_1559b_zpsfrtywsdh.jpg

DSC_1560b_zpss06svtqj.jpg

DSC_1561b_zpsehxiiq8k.jpg

DSC_1562b_zps9j5vhsc2.jpg

DSC_1563b_zps6npzmfho.jpg


Now try the same thing with a Manix 2 tip up- grab end of knife and pull out, thumb is at wrong end of knife for opening, have to somehow flip the knife completely around in the hand in order to open it:
DSC_1564b_zpstm6egxu9.jpg

DSC_1565b_zpsiyd3z9v3.jpg

DSC_1566b_zps4q7hxvuz.jpg

DSC_1567b_zpstcafnt46.jpg

DSC_1568b_zpspqod89yh.jpg

DSC_1569b_zpsfimekyou.jpg


OK so some people say they don't do it this way, they stick their HAND deep into their pocket. With my normal jeans I'm not getting anything in my pocket other than my thumb. When I pull the knife out this way my thumb is still pretty far from the blade hole and requires some tricks before opening the blade.
DSC_1570b_zpsk91c8zxt.jpg

DSC_1571b_zpsrdk20jvn.jpg
 
SoCalEDC said:
I don't own any "tip up" carry knives.
I am used to pulling my Protech out of my right pocket and deploying the blade from a tip down attitude.
Click to expand...

OK, now I'm curious what ProTech folder model(s) you have that carry tip down...?
 
Last edited:
With a flipper tab, tip up is a safety feature in itself; so the flipper tab doesn't catch and deploy the blade.

Otherwise, and I'm in the minority here I think, I don't have a preference overall. It depends on the knife. I like my Mini-Grip tip up, but would hate a Spyderco Military with tip-up. It just wouldnt work for that knife.

Whatever makes the most ergonomic sense.
 
gzb,
I'm on a 16 hour day today at work. I meant tip up..I prefer tip up.
Man..I'm losing it :-/
Don't own any tip down.
 
bobobama said:
I've been watching this forum from the sidelines but feel it's time to jump in with a question that I'm curious about. My preferred method of EDC is appendix carry on my strong side, inside the waist band, with my folder du jour. Been doing this for a number of years and it's like second nature to me. A tip-down clip on the folder suits this way of carry perfectly. However, tip-down carry seems to be going the way of the dodo bird.
For example Benchmade, one of my preferred brands, only carries three models with this option. What is the deal with tip-up carry? For me it puts my hand at the wrong end of the knife when I draw it, requiring extra maneuvers on my part to get it positioned properly. In addition, it also seems to present a safety issue, if the blade were to slip out of the locked position. Why is tip-up carry so popular, and why isn't tip-down more readily available?
Click to expand...

I think it has more to do with the brands that you prefer, than tip down going the way of the dodo bird. I just did a quick look at my knives. I found 11 different models with pocket clips. All of them are either Kershaw or ZT. 10 of the 11 came tip down. The one that came tip, is drilled and taped for tip down.

Walter
 
I prefer tip down on a large knife like the Military. For smaller knives I take the clip off and drop the knife in my pocket. However, I do sometimes carry in the waistband and for a small knife, tip up, a large knife, tip down. Tip down is especially needful for a liner/frame lock that depends on a simple detent to keep it closed (ouch!). A good back lock causes no worries.
 
I own a couple of knives that I would never carry tip up. On some knives it just works better tip down. My M16-02z and Prowler from CRKT are two examples. I guess it all depends upon the knife, your clothes, and you.
 
I prefer tip up carry, and most knives come out of my pocket ready to open. While I do put my thumb in my pocket, it is primarily to stabilize the knife... the actual lifting is done by my middle finger on the end of the clip. As it clears the pocket, my fingers grasp the handle & the knife is in position.

The knife I have in my pocket right now is an old one, from before the days of options for clip position. It is set for tip down carry... and I generally don't have a problem removing it by grasping it between my thumb and forefinger, so it is properly positioned.
 
bdmicarta- Great pix. That demonstrates the exact problem I'm having with tip-up carry-it just requires too much manipulation to get the knife in position.

Having said that, I understand that it's a preference and will be effected by the way you carry and what you carry. I just wish the manufacturers gave us more options on this.

I'd love to change things around on my particular knife like razor-edge-knives suggested, but how do-able is that? I mean, those holes the clips screws go into are pretty darn small. Obviously the factory can do it (I tried to see if Benchmade's custom shop would do it for me but they said no-go), but the layman?
 
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