Tip Down / Tip Up ... Your Reasons Behind Them

[Mark W Douglas]

I always preferred my blades to be a tip down blade while positioned in the pocket so as to not having to worry about cutting my hand when putting it in the pocket to snatch a coin or something while the knife is attached in there too. If the blade were to come slightly out of the handle while in the closed position, the tip would be right there to bite ya!

But, if the knife's blade while in the closed position and attached to the pocket is facing the seam side or outer side of the pants pocket, then tip down or tip up wouldn't matter at that point. Even if by a long shot the blade were to not be completely closed, your hand wouldn't come into contact with the point of the blade because your hand would be on the backside of the knife's handle instead.

So logic tells me that the safest way to carry a knife attached to your pants pocket would be tip down and the blade facing the outer or seam side of your pocket. At least tip down!

Knowing this, why do some of you still prefer tip up carry of your knives? Curious mind wants to know! Am I all wet here with my logic?

Mark
AKTI Member #A000003




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"THERE IS NO FEELING LIKE AN APOGEE FEELING!"

 

[e_utopia]

'Cuause I only carry Axis locks, and those have no trouble staying closed, and tip up is faster. If I was carrying a linerlock, I guess I would have to check each one individually to see if I would trust it tip-up; if I had any reasonable doubt, tip-down it would be.

--JB

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e_utopia@hotmail.com

 

[Chang]

I prefer tip down, but I just got my 730 and it is tip up. I'll probably get used to it.

-Chang the Asian Janitorial Apparatus

 

[Smoke]

I'm the exact reverse, I like tip up but carry tip down as I'd like to be able to draw and open with my opposite hand. Highly unlikely but reassuring.

[This message has been edited by Smoke (edited 05-19-2000).]

 

[Elvislives]

Mark-

YOU CARRY OTHER THINGS IN THE SAME POCKET AS THAT APOGEE?????

Sorry about that, I just see that beautiful Apogee floating around a pocket with a bunch of nasty quarters, dimes, nickels, and no no no not those pennies....

I prefer tip up so I can deploy the knife immediately upon removal from the pocket. Course I'm thinking GG sheath for my Sebbie, so that might not be a problem for very much longer!

Brandon

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I've got the schizophrenic blues
No I don't
Yes I do...

 

[dogboye]

For large knives especially, like the Spydie Military or the BM 710, I prefer tip down carry. Yeah, I know, the 710 is tip-up only, but I just have to live with that. The reason is that I have rather small hands, and with tip-down carry, grabbing the pivot end, pulling it up, and then rotating my hand down, puts the knife in the perfect position. Quickly. Much more awkward with tip-up, where I have to slide the knife up through my hand to get to the opening "device."

On small knives, Native or so, either way is fine.

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iktomi

 

[PhilL]

Why don't we ever have this debate with Fixed Blade knives? Then I would say Tip Down is the way to go, of course some would disagree. We are talking about folding knives, and the KEY here is FOLD, in that case by all that is logical TIP UP makes sense. Why? Because that puts the knife in your hand in the position it was meant to be used, without turning it over. I have carried a Tip Up knife in my pocket every day for about two years, the spine of the blade rests against the seem of my right front pocket. It has never opened in my pocket by accident, and I have never cut myself. I have nothing against tip down carry, I just ordered two production knives from Mark at MJS knives, and I never bottered to ask where the clip is. I know I'll be able to make the adjustment. If I were ordering a custom and I had the choice, Tip Up! Or none at all.

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"Will work 4 Knives!"
Homepage: http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=254126

[This message has been edited by PhilL (edited 05-19-2000).]

 

[e_utopia]

rockspyder, just a hint to make you happier with that 710. Loosen the pivot, then hold the knife horizontally, open-side-down, then retract the lock. The blade should swing out. Tighten a little at a time until the blade won't swing out any more, then flick it open and closed a few times. It will now swing out, so tighten again, and repeat until it will no longer drop. Now, when you pull it out of your pocket, reach for the lock instead of the thumbstud, retract the lock and give it a flick. Opens as fast as an auto (although you don't have to flick the auto, so it still has an advantage if it were legal). You can close it the same way. Practice for a while and you will forget that the blade swings; it's either open or closed, but ceases to exist in between.

--JB

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e_utopia@hotmail.com

 

[Gus Kalanzis]

I guess this tip up/down refers to clips

(I might be second to Bill on hating them)

If forced to carry a knife with a clip, I would go tip up since my index finger would most likely have a better perch on the handle.

I have never handled a knife with a clip that felt better in my hand with the clip on it rather than off, but I am willing to try suggestions.

Of my many using folders I own one knife with a clip integral to the handle (a Spydie Harpy that I use and like the feel of). The others that I carry either do not have a clip or they have been removed. They run the gammut from Crickets to Leopard Cubs to SOCOMs none of them feel better with a clip to me.

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" I am continually reminded of the rewards of dealing with custom knife makers and the custom knife community." Jeff J.

 

[OWL]

I agree with PhilL almost word for word...but will add:

Fluidity of motion, same reason I prefer frame mounted safeties on pistols, like on my Beretta 84.

 

[TheMartialWay]

"The reason is that I have rather small hands, and with tip-down carry, grabbing the pivot end, pulling it up, and then rotating my hand down, puts the knife in the perfect position. Quickly. Much more awkward with tip-up, where I have to slide the knife up through my hand to get to the opening "device." "


Rockspyder said said it all for me with the above statement. Thanks Rock

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Louis Buccellato
http://www.themartialway.com
Knives, Weapons and equipment. Best prices anywhere.
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"only the paranoid will survive"

 

[Professor]

A lot of the reasons advocating tip up carry I can think of have been mentioned already. I'm a BM705S nut, so I'd agree with the fact that a smaller knife works better tip up.

The BM705S can be snapped open by using the index finger and transferred quickly into the reverse grip ala Keating (edge in).

Also as aforementioned, the reverse spring tension nearly eliminates the possibility of the blade opening in your pocket; not to say it can't happen because it happened to me one time and one time only. I've still got my fingers though, praises be in the highest.

Truth be told, if my favorite folder was tip down-configured, then I'd be just as competent with it.

Professor.

 

[Moving Target]

Well I have carried knives in both configurations and, I'm sorry, but this endless debate about which is "faster" or "safer" is a dead issue. It all comes down to personal preference and what feels comfortable to YOU. My current favorite folder is a REKAT Carnivore(tip up), but a close second is my most recent purchase, a CRK&T Kasper (tip down). I have found them to be equally comfortable and fast on the draw after the initial adjustment period. I have often read the comment that: "tip up folders open into your hand in the natural position to grip...". Personally, I have found that both configurations come into the hand ready for action - it is only the initial grip/draw of the knife that differs. With tip up you have to grab a little deeper and flip the stud down. Tip down you make a shallow grab and flip the stud up. What's the big deal? Do a search and you'll find that variations of this topic have been covered...and covered...and covered...

 

[PhilL]

Originally posted by Moving Target:
my most recent purchase, a CRK&T Kasper (tip down). I have found them to be equally comfortable and fast on the draw after the initial adjustment period.

Thanks MT, I just found out from you that my new knives will be Tip Down, because the CRKT KFF are the two knives I just ordered. I'm sure after a couple of days I'll be fine with it.

 

[Moving Target]

Sure thing! I'm sure it won't take long to adjust, if you play around with your folders as much as I do. Enjoy.

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It is Us against Them. Whoever they are.

 

[Sergiusz Mitin]

I want to joint Rockspyder and TheMartialWay. Although I have rather medium-sized hands tip-down carry allows me to draw my knife faster and more comfortably, especially the large tactical folders. This concerns both rear pocket or inside the waistband (left side) carry.
On the other hand I like more how the clip designed for tip-up carry fits my hand. Really hard to decide

But one thing I can advise strongly: do not change your carry mode, especially if the knife is intended for self defense. When I replaced my BM AFCK (favorite carry!) with BM 730 Ares I turned it upside down each time I drew it although fortunately I had no opportunity to draw it under high stress. The muscle memory is a great thing, don't disregard it

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Sergiusz Mitin
gunwriter
Lodz, Poland

[This message has been edited by Sergiusz Mitin (edited 05-21-2000).]

 

[crazy_horse]

Tip up is my carry preference for the main reason that when you pull it out of your pocket you do not need to turn it to get it in the proper position in your hand. except for very recently, I've only carried a tip up endura by spyderco during the last five years. not once have I had it open in my pocket. I just purchased a Emerson CQC-7 and have been carrying it tip up for the last week and it has not opened in my pocket either. when set up for carry on the right side pocket, the blade edge is against the edge of the pocket and so it is not possible for any right handed tip up knife to open in the pocket. So, to paraphrase the original poster, "Knowing this, why do some of you still prefer tip down carry of your knives? Curious mind wants to know! Am I all wet here with my logic? "

I will say that I can adapt to tip down if i must and my carry knife lately has been a MT socom with tip down. I've praticed enough that I can open it as quick as any tip up knife, it just feels wierd to do the little twist.

 

[SB]

http://www.sbx.f2s.com/thoughts/faqs/fkfaq.htm

 

[evasion]

It really doesn't matter that much to me. I can draw both of them fast. Tip down is safer and when I put my hands on the knife my fingers reach the opening stud/hole right away. With tip up I have to reach further down into my pocket which can sometimes take more time.

 

[Mark W Douglas]

Hmmmm, seems like it is close with the preferences, but maybe tip up is a little ahead. Ahhhh, now I see why both tip downs and tip ups are made!

Elvislives: NO, I don't carry anything in my pocket with my Apogee, other knives I did, but not with this one. My change is in the pocket with my Swiss Army Knife. But I do put my hands in my pockets even with the Apogee clipped in it when standing at times!

Kinda weird, but I carry my Apogee in my left pocket, but use my knife with my right hand! Weird huh?

PhilL: Fixed blade?! LOL

Either tip up or tip down would be hazordous to your health! ouch! Put it in a sheath man!

Mark