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Thats right...the tip down down carry thread!

P

Puer Aeternus

Joined
Dec 29, 2013
Messages
39
You read that right, I changed the Clips on my Fave EDC's to tip down carry. Shocking I know, but I wont be bullied into tip up carry any more, I am proudly coming out of the closet and proclaiming myself a tip down carry from now on!

Over the years I got comments from other knife collectors that I oughta be carrying my knife tip up, easier to deploy I was told, I soon learned that it was a popular way to carry it and to do otherwise one got a lecture. So I switched to tip up for the last 10 years. In regards to deploying, I can pull it out and open equally fast either way, in fact, the way I grab the knife out of my pocket tip down makes it a tad easier to open, its likely in the way I grab it but my finger reaches the flipper easily as the handle angles into my palm. I also never liked having the clip resting against the palm, its a hot spot for me. When I change the clip position, the clip is out of the way and only handle is resting in my hand, feels a lot nicer in the hand.
kidding aside, its really just a preference, but I find it funny that (in my experience) you get funny looks for not following the crowd and going tip up.

So, anyone else prefer tip down carry and dont give a rats A$$ what others think?
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I prefer tip up carry for flippers since I'm right handed and it seems safer. The flipper is at the bottom front of your pocket and is in a more difficult position to accidentally depress and the blade rest up against the back of the pocket which prevents it from opening very far. That being said, I've never had a flipper open accidentally on me.
 
I carried tip-up for a very long time just because that's the way most of my knives came from the factory. Never questioned it, never went with the crowds, just carried the knives. One day I bought a Sanrenmu 710 (which is a tip-down) just to throw in my truck as a spare.

I went to an event which called for more of a gentlemen's folder so I grabbed the 710 and ended up using it a couple times through the night and realized it was more comfortable and faster for me. I just place my index finger under the clip and place my thumb on the scale nearest my body, pull up, rotate my hand with the butt end of the knife pressed against my hip and the knife is where I want it to be - Every time. Doesn't matter what size the knife is - it works every time. Never looked back.

With smaller knives I find it doesn't really matter as I can usually get a good purchase with tip-up, but with flippers and larger knives, tip-down just makes more sense to me now.

I just wish all knives came with 4-way positioning because now it's something that I consider when purchasing. My ZT 770 doesn't get carried because of the tip-up orientation. So, now I have to drill and tap holes for tip-down when I get around to it. It breaks my heart because I REALLY love that blade.
 
I carry on my left hand or "weak" side, because I carry a firearm in my right front pocket. I have been stabbed numerous times by tip-up knives that magically open themselves in my pocket. More than I can count. Within the last week, a Caly 3.5 stabbed me in this manner. So I try to carry tip-down, or if tip up, with the blade situated in a manner where the back of my pocket prevents it from opening.
 
I like the tip-up. Though it doesn't make any sense to me to carry tip-up with the blade pointing in towards your body (away from the seam), that's just asking for trouble.
 
Tip down with larger spyderco knives is the logical answer for me. It's easier to reach into my pocket putting my thing into the spyderco hole, pull out and open. But it's not a deal breaker for me. I can adapt to either or on a regular basis.
 
My preferred carry is a larger knife, tip down in my right rear pocket. Extraction and deployment is a piece of cake. Smaller knives I will carry tip up in my right front pocket but I prefer back pocket carry if the back pocket is suitable for it.
 
Having had two different tip-up folders come open in my pocket and cut the crap outta my hand when I reached for it... I've debated switching to tip down. But I haven't yet.
 
For me having the clip near the blade annoys my grip especially during extended hard cutting sessions.

As for deployment I don't think it matters much, if you really want super fast deployment, it's a fixed blade in kydex, for me I find both acceptable. I only carry knives with VERY solid detents (after learning the hard way!) so I don't worry about accidental opening anymore. I don't see much difference between cutting my fingers on a tip up carry, or cutting my leg with tip down, I've seen both, I prefer to avoid both. It's one nice thing about the dedicated knife pockets that some cargo pants have now, they do a pretty good job of extra blade security, though some are too narrow.

It also depends on the clip, handle, scales, some clips have an aggressive bump in them, I find that tends to be difficult to easily remove and it gets caught on like a jeans pocket seam etc. Some handle scales are super grippy/aggressive and that impacts how easily they come out of the pocket. My strider clip is that way, there's a lot of times I need two hands to remove it from a thick pocket but that's more because the pinch point of the clip, is right on top of a sharp edged cut out/relief for the liner lock. Usually that's easy to fix by just bending the clip a bit.
 
It also depends on which pocket the knife is in. I put my knife in the right front pocket. I only go tip up, even on my Military. It has absolutely nothing to do with how fast I am able to deploy my knife. The box is not fighting back usually :D It is all about safety. Tip up right front puts the blade against the outside seam of my pants. That knife is not opening unless it gets forced over enough and then opened. Good detent or not I have dropped knives on the ground and had them pop open (never fully locked just about halfway normally). I figure a similar opening could happen if I had my knife tip down RF pocket and I fell down. I would not want my Military coming open in my pocket. Secondly and not as importantly most knives are a bit more comfortable to hold with the clip at the butt end of the handle. It has the possibility of being out of the way down there, whereas tip down gives you no chance of grabbing handle only. I am very picky when it comes to clips and where and how they function. You should certainly do what makes sense to you and not just blindly follow what others say you should do.




The Military actually has threaded inserts in the G10
 
It's mostly tip up right front pocket for me, but occasionally I do carry tip down right rear pocket if the knife is tip down only.
 
theoriginalspaceman here on the forums makes them. He should have some available again before the end of the month. They are pretty nice, and a good price.
 
Tip-up carry....hands down. I've done both and the deployment of the tip-up is perfect for my hand and needs!
 
Tip down, right rear pocket carry here.

I won't consider a knife if it has Tip up carry only. Sadly, the Spyderco salt line of knives is beginning to interest me as now I live in Coastal CA, but the tip up carry only is a deal breaker for me.
 
I have always been a tip up guy, but I have to tell you...I just got my first Sypderco Military (in S90V). This is the only knife I own that does not have the option to change the clip, and can only be carried tip down. I too have found I can deploy equally as fast carrying tip down. It's starting to grow on me. However, I think I still like the look of a knife better with the clip in the "tip up" position, so I am at a cross roads I guess.
 
I do tip down carry with all of the knives that accomodate that. (BMs only allow tip up.)

It's just what seems to work best for me.

Yay tip down!
 
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