So, how DO you tip-up guys do it?

[kreole]

No doubt kreole index-flicks his Spydies, I've done so occasionally myself, especially my tip-up Military (STR mounted) and my trusty Delica 3.

Yeah that's what I was trying to say

I made a vid real quick for ya, FlaMtnBkr. First I did it with my thumb to show how that way you hold it away from your palm and then rotate it, and then I did the index-flick twice to try to show how the only movement required is wrapping your fingers around the handle after it's open. Anyway, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CWxqBz3UpQ

 

[Jason B.]

For me it seems to depend on the knife, I like tip down for my millie and because of its design I couldn't imagine it any other way but for a endura or delica I like tip up. 1st is technique, 2nd is design, and 3rd is preference or that at least how I look at it.

 

[yablanowitz]

With tip up, your thumb naturally falls right on the spydie hole as you grab the knife. This is how God intended it.

With tip down, you have to flip the knife 180 degrees for deployment.

I carry tip down, but its only because I carry the folder on my weak side. In this position, tip down is best because I have to transfer the knife to my strong side hand.

Yeah, like they said. Your thumb goes down the length of the blade before you retrieve it, as you draw it, the knife is already grasped in your hand ready to open. With tip down, you have to reposition the knife in your hand a bit.

However, I don't really find that much of a speed difference, or working difference. Once you're used to whichever method, at least. I have a few Spydies set up for tip up, and some for tip down. Doesn't really seem to affect me, though I do prefer tip up.

I hate tip down carry. I wont even buy it if theres not a tip up option. Or I would have to install a custom clip.

Tip up positions your hand directly where it needs to be to open the knife as opposed to tip down which makes you flip the knife around. I dont know how you tip down people can handle it.

+1

Just slide your thumb all the way into your pocket and pinch the knife. Comes out in your hand ready to be opened

What kind of baggy pants are you guys wearing? When I slide my thumb down the inside of the knife, pinch and pull, I give myself a wedgie because my fingers are on the outside of my pocket. Unless the clip is sprung to the point of uselessness, I can't get my fingers between the handle and my pocket. Tip up or tip down, I grab whatever portion of the knife I can get a grip on and pull. On tip up knives, that is usually fingers on the clip and thumb somewhere on the side, then shift the knife until I can reach the hole. On tip down, I can usually reach the hole, grip the blade there, pull it out and drop it open with a wrist flick.

And for the record, my thumbs are pretty long.

 

[FlaMtnBkr]

If you saw all the crap I carry around in my pockets you would see I have to wear either something a little baggy or with cargo pockets to hold it all. So some of the stuff I wear is a little baggy (or relaxed fit as they say on my jeans) but I don't look like a hoodlum or anything.

However, I will also wear some pretty snug jeans at times at the request of my girlfriend, and I am still able to pull a tip up knife the same way.

If I had some video editing software I would try to take a quick vid with my camera of how I do it. But I don't and the last time I tried the video was turned the wrong way on youtube.

 

[yablanowitz]

Shoot, every time I take a picture of a pocket dump, the most common responses are:

1) You've got to be kidding!
2) Why would anyone carry all that?
3) How can you possibly carry all that?

And that's from other knife knuts.

I was actually just razzing you all a little. I've been bit a few times by tip-up knives and greatly prefer tip-down carry. I'm rarely in a big hurry to deploy a blade, so speed is a low priority. I can deal with either method, but if I have my druthers, I'druther carry tip down.

 

[shangchi108]

I carry my large Spydercos (except for the Emerson Opener Endura) tip down. I can pop them open really fast, even under stress. I carry my smaller Spydercos tip up, since they usually don't have enough weight to do a 'Spyder drop' opening, and they also seem to draw better that way.

 

[goodeyesniper]

What kind of baggy pants are you guys wearing? When I slide my thumb down the inside of the knife, pinch and pull, I give myself a wedgie because my fingers are on the outside of my pocket. Unless the clip is sprung to the point of uselessness, I can't get my fingers between the handle and my pocket. Tip up or tip down, I grab whatever portion of the knife I can get a grip on and pull. On tip up knives, that is usually fingers on the clip and thumb somewhere on the side, then shift the knife until I can reach the hole. On tip down, I can usually reach the hole, grip the blade there, pull it out and drop it open with a wrist flick.

And for the record, my thumbs are pretty long.

Well, I don't carry tip up in my pockets, or just about any other knife in my pockets. They're usually all clipped on my waistband at about 4 o clock, not sure how much that might affect my technique, but still...

I gotta say, I'm leaning more and more towards tip down every day. Since I got my Centofante, and don't have small enough torx bits to change it to tip up, I've been carrying tip down. And it really does seem a bit easier to adjust the handle to your grip, with a firm grip near the pivot/hole....

like I said before, though. I find there to be little to no difference in real life application of both methods. One might feel slightly more awkward with a different sized knife, or clothing, but they usually all get deployed the same. for me.

 

[Ken44]

If its not tip up there is no way I'm going to carry in front pocket.


There was a poll in General not long ago, and tip up carry won hands down.



edit- found it...http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=649019&highlight=tip+poll
If not for several good Spyderco's being tip down, combined with a strong spyderco following here I don't think tip down would have even got 100 votes.

 

[mallus]

When the handle is small, both ways work ok. When the handle is big, tip down works better for me. For instance, it's much easier to pull the Para out of my pocket and drop it open than pull the Khukuri out and open it with my thumb "the regular way". The same applies even if I compare the Para to Saver Salt or Lava. Having said that, which ever way it is, tip up or down, it's not a deal breaker for me.

 

[yablanowitz]

Well, I don't carry tip up in my pockets, or just about any other knife in my pockets. They're usually all clipped on my waistband at about 4 o clock, not sure how much that might affect my technique, but still...

I gotta say, I'm leaning more and more towards tip down every day. Since I got my Centofante, and don't have small enough torx bits to change it to tip up, I've been carrying tip down. And it really does seem a bit easier to adjust the handle to your grip, with a firm grip near the pivot/hole....

like I said before, though. I find there to be little to no difference in real life application of both methods. One might feel slightly more awkward with a different sized knife, or clothing, but they usually all get deployed the same. for me.

The ATR taught me that tip up inside waistband carry is a bad idea. Luckily, it only cost me a shirt and not a kidney to make that discovery.

 

[The Savage Rabbit]

The other advantage to tip up carry, in my opinion, is that the heel of the knife tends to be shaped to faciliate access to my right front pocket. When I have a Military or Paramilitary in my pocket, the blade of my right hand grates agaisnt the top-rear of the blade. Sometimes I can't even get my keys out. Terrible.

 

[yablanowitz]

That sounds like a pretty good reason to carry your knife in your back pocket.

 

[spoonrobot]

I like to carry tip up in my front pocket. I've found the knife says in place better since the pivot area is usually wider than the tail end and isn't as likely to fall over horizontally. To draw and present is more ergonomic for me in this way as well. I slip my hand into the pocket, grip the knife fully and then slide it out, in such a position as my hand falls naturally into the opening process. The pocket clip also doesn't get in the way of manipulating the knife as much as it does when it's at the pivot end.

Although I think 4-way is always the right way to go. Keeps everyone happy except those obsessives who worry about the look of the extra holes. :foot:

 

[proud2deviate]

The other advantage to tip up carry, in my opinion, is that the heel of the knife tends to be shaped to faciliate access to my right front pocket. When I have a Military or Paramilitary in my pocket, the blade of my right hand grates agaisnt the top-rear of the blade. Sometimes I can't even get my keys out. Terrible.

This is why we have carabiners and belt loops