Some Do’s and Dont’s

Tip Up or Tip Down carry?

  • Tip Up

  • Tip Down

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Hackenslash said:
Tip up for me. Not for ergo or quick draw reasons but because of where I like to carry my knife; right front pocket against outside edge. Tip up let's me keep the spine of the blade SAFELY pressed against the outer seam of my pocket.
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I get your (safety) point (no pun intended) but my Millie is carried the exact opposite of what you describe (i.e. tip down blade away from pants seam) and I cant see, how that is an iota less safe.

Further more, when you need it, you can draw the Millie and open - OPEN - it PDQ, should that need arise.

It opens as fast, naturally and with ease, as one could wish for (not that I ever have had the need to open the Millie in an emergency, where 'millie-seconds' counted (see, what I did there)).

Not referring to you, Hackenslash but IMO this tip up/tip down conundrum is a 'non-problem,' with exactly the samme issues (or lack there of) rehashed every time such a thread comes along.
 
I prefer tip up for simple convenience. "Deployment" is not a concern b/c the knife is carried as a tool. The folders I like have flippers as the means of opening. When carried tip up, your hand is in a natural position to open the knife when you retreive it from your pocket. Carried tip down, you would have to turn the knife around first. Big deal? Not at all--simply an isuue of fluidity of motion.
 
Dadpool said:
All of my knives with clips are configured for tip-up carry. I'm sure I could learn to make deployment feel just as natural tip-down, but with tip-up I like the security of knowing that in the unlikely event the blade pops out in my pocket, it's up against the seam and has nowhere to go.

I've never bought a knife that could only be carried tip-down, and don't plan to. That could change for the right knife (the Millie has always been tempting), like any of my other knife preferences. ;)

One of the littlest things I'm happiest to see on a knife I like, selfishly, is when it's only tapped for tip-up, right-hand carry, so there are no little holes I don't need all over the handle. :D
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I never understood this arguement that only tip up (assuming right handed carry) gets the benefit of the pocket seam holding the blade closed. If you just move your tip down knife to the opposite corner of your pocket now the opposite seam (closer to zipper) will hold your tip down knife closed. Its only an issue if you are wearing those pants with diagonal type pockets like we find on slacks.
 
W. Anderson said:
No, see posts #8 and #13.
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Thanks...was just trying to figure out if the "throw like a girl" thing was "sarcasm" too.

Maybe Aquaholicc Aquaholicc can explain it. Between that and the neanderthal thing there's a lot of similes in this thread and I don't want to miss any point he is trying to make.

Don't want to miss what he is saying. :thumbsup:
 
I go tip up. I have a few wave opening knives and also in general just to have consistency in opening my folders the same.
 
Perhaps we are missing a variable, and tip up/tip down might depend on opening mechanism?

I use flippers, and tip up naturally has your hand in position to open. For a thumbstud or Spydie hole, tip down may put your thumb in the natural position to use the thumb opener. Just speculation though
 
Your thread title should contain the essence of what it's about . Maybe get fewer grumpy posts from all these old burnouts .

I much prefer a waved opener , so mostly tip up . But , if speed is really a concern , diligent practice will allow most folders to draw fast enough . I still carry old models that are tip down only , with only mild anxiety .
 
marcinek said:
Thanks...was just trying to figure out if the "throw like a girl" thing was "sarcasm" too.

Maybe Aquaholicc Aquaholicc can explain it. Between that and the neanderthal thing there's a lot of similes in this thread and I don't want to miss any point he is trying to make.

Don't want to miss what he is saying. :thumbsup:
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This is all posted light heartedly my friends.
 
Lapedog said:
I never understood this arguement that only tip up (assuming right handed carry) gets the benefit of the pocket seam holding the blade closed. If you just move your tip down knife to the opposite corner of your pocket now the opposite seam (closer to zipper) will hold your tip down knife closed. Its only an issue if you are wearing those pants with diagonal type pockets like we find on slacks.
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I think whether or not this works depends on the pants/shorts you wear.

My jeans pockets have a curve in that spot, which makes knives hang weirdly. On top of that, there's a good 1" between the "corner" of that pocket on the outside and the actual seam on the inside -- plenty of room for a blade to accidentally emerge just far enough to snag the family jewels. :eek:
 
OTFs: Tip Down

Liner and frame locks especially a flipper: Tip Down.

Back locks, axis and etc..: No real preference will run it however the maker sends it to me.
 
DocJD said:
Your thread title should contain the essence of what it's about . Maybe get fewer grumpy posts from all these old burnouts .

I much prefer a waved opener , so mostly tip up . But , if speed is really a concern , diligent practice will allow most folders to draw fast enough . I still carry old models that are tip down only , with only mild anxiety .
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Yeah I spoke with my co worker about it and he adapts pretty well. Yes your adding another motion to the deploy but, like others have posted speed isn’t the upmost important. Hopefully I never find myself in a situation that seems otherwise.
 
Lapedog said:
I never understood this arguement that only tip up (assuming right handed carry) gets the benefit of the pocket seam holding the blade closed. If you just move your tip down knife to the opposite corner of your pocket now the opposite seam (closer to zipper) will hold your tip down knife closed. Its only an issue if you are wearing those pants with diagonal type pockets like we find on slacks.
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Which type of pants commonly warn have no angle on the pocket that would allow what you describe? Is there a seam on the inside near the crotch?
 
Ratman79 said:
. When carried tip up, your hand is in a natural position to open the knife when you retreive it from your pocket. Carried tip down, you would have to turn the knife around first. Big deal? Not at all--simply an isuue of fluidity of motion.
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In regards to fluid motion, the aforementioned Millie positions your thumb exactly at the hole, when you draw.

You draw, open, close your hand round the handle and point your knife at the object you want to cut/slice - be it a length of rope or salami or what ever - in one fluid motion with no change of hand hold.

IMO there are few 'knifes' which offers more instinctive, natural and 'economy of movement' opening than the Millie....

.....but again, tip the other way is equally fine with me.
 
craytab said:
Which type of pants commonly warn have no angle on the pocket that would allow what you describe? Is there a seam on the inside near the crotch?
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I'm talking about jeans which have a more horizontal front pocket opening. For example on the right side pocket there are two corners one closer to your hip, one closer to your zipper. If you clip a right hand tip down knife to the righthand pocket, but to the zipper side now the blade is being held shut by the pocket seam on that side.

The other common type of pocket like found on slacks has a diagonal cut so the knife will usually naturally sit at the lowest part of that diagonal pocket cut out.

I personally think people should just carry whatever way they are used to and enjoy and maybe buy a knife where you don't have to worry about it opening in your pocket beyond a rare fluke. I was just pointing out that the whole arguement that tip up is safer because the pocket seam isn't even necessarily true.
 
Dadpool said:
I think whether or not this works depends on the pants/shorts you wear.

My jeans pockets have a curve in that spot, which makes knives hang weirdly. On top of that, there's a good 1" between the "corner" of that pocket on the outside and the actual seam on the inside -- plenty of room for a blade to accidentally emerge just far enough to snag the family jewels. :eek:
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Oh, maybe my jeans are different.

Here is a picture of me carrying my right hand Inkosi tip up in my left pocket, but using the inside seam to hold the blade shut. (It makes it easier to draw if I carry righty tip up knives on this side.)

CMdRWg8.jpg


Edit: I kinda got used to this position from reverse waving knives. It seems to work best from this position.
 
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