Tip-up carry accident

I realize that I am guilty on several accounts here. I'm a bit ticked off at Spyderco for making the torx screw on the left-handed side of the Sage impossible to unscrew! I had to keep the knife right-handed because I didn't want to strip that screw.
Secondly, I was carrying a right-handed knife in the left pocket--again, if you are a lefty you will understand the ever-present dilemma. Now I have to consider the ridiculous option of carrying in my right pocket, removing knife with right hand and switching it into the left:rolleyes:.
How hard is it for the knife manufacturers to just set a knife up so it is left side friendly? At that point, I wouldn't worry much about tip-up carry because the blade would not easily open into the hand.
Lastly, it could have been worse, and if you guys don't know about Yunnan Paiyao, you need to.
Go to your local Chinese grocery store and ask for it. It comes in a small vial and is a powder that has a quick clotting effect. Within the cap of the vial, rolled in cotton, is a very small red pill. In the directions (written in Chinese and English) it states that in the event of a gunshot wound or deep knife wound, you should swallow that little red pill.
I'm serious. It's cool stuff.:D
 
Hi WoodenChicken,

I am sorry for your cut. Our knives are very sharp and cuts are always inconvenient.

We'll look into the screw issue you mentioned. It should be easy to switch from right to left. You can also send it to us and wer can switch it out for you.

When making knives, the self close is always a question. A strong self close has safety advantages. That's why we make so many lock-backs. The strongest and longest self close can be done with lockbacks.

The market often likes knives that are easier to open than lock-backs offer. That's why the Walker Linelock and the Reeve Integral Lock became so popular.

The ball bearing detent created by Michael Walker to keep a Linerlock closed is always a compromise issue. We can make the ball bearing detent so tight that it is difficult to open. We can also make it so soft that the knife is easily inertia opened, which is illegal in many jurisdictions. On our ball bearing detents self close, we try to find that balance where the knife stays closed well, but is still capable of being opened safely with one hand.

As some have mentioned, when carying knives tip up with a softer self close, the blade should be against the back seam of the pocket. In that method of carry, the position of the carry also helps keep the blade safely in the closed position.

Again, sorry for the cut, I hope it heals quickly.

sal
 
Mr. Glesser,

Really appreciate your personal response. In my original post, I considered not mentioning the knife brand, because I figured it was my stupidity (right side knife in left pocket). But I recalled another thread where someone had the same problem with the Sage. Probably will send it back to have Spyderco switch it out because that torx is not budging.

But since I've got your attention, may I ask this question? Why are so many of the Spyderco knives (other brands also) not more lefty friendly? I'd love to own a Centafonte and Persian, but hesitate because they aren't ambidextrous.
Thanks again.
 
My experience dates back a year or two. I carried MOD Mark II at that time clipped to my belt. It was a manual with opening pins on the blade. I snagged a pin and pulled open the blade, pointing it right into my belly. Luckily I didn't need to stoop down before I noticed what happened. The thing is an automatic version is fixed in a closed position, but not a manual one. This is what I found out by writing to MOD. Since then this knife sits in a thick but soft leather pouch for pistol clip. Suits it perfectly. And no chance of opening until pulled out of the leather holder.
 
I've had the same thing happen with another tip-up knife - the axis lock is great, but not worth stabbing myself in the hand.

I now only carry tip-down, IWB. As I lift it out and rotate my wrist, the handle falls naturally into my grip, with my thumb on the hole/stud.
 
I regret the OP was hurt. I have no use for a clip, as a knife, to me, is a tool - and rests in the bottom of a pocket. The first step when I get home with a new knife here is to remove the clip. I've never had one of my Kershaw assisted openers, the Ken Onion series Chive, Scallion, Leek or even the Blur, open at the wrong time in my pocket. Sal is correct, his lockbacks, and my Bucks, close with authority, while requiring some dexterity to attempt single-handed opening.

I usually have a Buck 110 laying in my back pocket - and either a Spydie Native or a SAK, Kershaw Blur, etc, in the left front pocket with my keys. I have been carrying a Surefire E1b Backup clipped at that inside pocket seam. I guess if I perceived a need for a defensive knife, I'd likely go fixed blade, where legal. My right front pocket is reserved for something louder anyway, when legal.

The whole concept of a clipped & partially exposed knife seems odd to me. Maybe that's a legal requirement some places - but it seems to me that displaying what's in your pocket like that may be a belligerent sign to some. I guess that is why they are supplied in a removable form. I hope the OP has no nerve damage - and heals quickly.

Stainz
 
WoodenChicken said:
Mr. Glesser,

Really appreciate your personal response. In my original post, I considered not mentioning the knife brand, because I figured it was my stupidity (right side knife in left pocket). But I recalled another thread where someone had the same problem with the Sage. Probably will send it back to have Spyderco switch it out because that torx is not budging.

But since I've got your attention, may I ask this question? Why are so many of the Spyderco knives (other brands also) not more lefty friendly? I'd love to own a Centafonte and Persian, but hesitate because they aren't ambidextrous.
Thanks again.
Click to expand...

I understand that some of the early Sage pieces did have permanent lock-tite
on the clip pivot, my apoligies. I believe there are ways to loosen the glue, heat gun, I thought, but I'd like some more input from others. We can do it at the Golden plant.

Most of our models are ambi, certaily the ones that Eric and I design. My wife, Gail, is left handed, so it's a non-issue. The models like the Military and Para military with curved clips also cannot be left handed without re-designing the clips, which is in-the-works for some models.

Some of the custom collaborations, like those mentioned, are also up to the designer.

Also, if they're stamped clips that are screwed in, steel liners are necessary to have a firm base for clip screws.

We've been making changes as they are refined and new tooling is required. For example, the new sprint run of the JD smith model is ambi. We try to take care of the lefties when we can.

sal
 
I am left-handed (but somewhat ambidexterious), and am firmly convinced that a right-hand clip, tip down, opening hole or dual stud set-up is ideal for a left-hander. Carried clipped in the left pocket, it is simple to draw and open it with your palm facing rearward, and it is also readily accessible to the right hand crossdraw in an emergency.

I have Sebenza that I will not carry because it is tip-up.
 
If you're carrying a righty clip in your left pocket, try clipping it more forward in the pocket. (Instead of the rear seem, rear of pocket, try a lot closer to the front of the pocket.)

I do this sometimes when I am carrying a dedicated righty (millie) or when I'm too lazy to change the clip. ;)

I'm also ambidextrous, so neither bothers me. I firmly believe that tip down is the only way to carry the knife. Tip up is like playing with a loaded gun, or Russian roulette with a semi-auto. :( Bad ideas.

However, I do love the clip on the D'Allara. The exception that proves the rule. :D
 
i stopped carrying knives in my pockets for this reason and others.
tip up, side carry in belt sheath, lifter leather or tad gear canvas pouch if i'm in nyc
 
I was carrying a spring opener tip up, right hand clip in my right hand pocket in my walking shorts and the blade opened. It cut my shorts but luckily not me. I am carrying a tip up in my right pocket now that is made to be carried in the left pocket. I am right handed and I like this way to carry it. I think if the blade does open for some reason, it will just push against the outside seam of the pocket. Only time will tell...
 
DRod said:
I've heard of this kind of accident alot but I cant quite picture in my mind how something like that happens. When I put a tip up knife, say my new 943 in my pocket. The spine of the blade is touching the rear seam of my pocket. When I reach in my pocket, my hand runs down the spine of the handle and down in my pocket, no where near the blade. I guess I just have larger pockets.
Click to expand...

That is the way I carry also. I had one come open in the pocket on me some years ago. BTW, I'm left-handed and carry in the left front pocket.
 
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WoodenChicken said:
Yeah it was loose, and I tightened it. That is something I do not want to experience again.:(
Click to expand...

If the screw has a habit of loosening up, you should use some blue thread lock and keep that screw where you intend for it to be (Just make sure your happy with the tension when you let it set).
 
Hey Sal
I carry a variety of Spydercos daily.. Manix is in rotation now..

I'm a lefty and allot of times I buy a Spydie because it's lefty friendly.. Keep us in mind and Just keep doing what your doing Sal!

Eric
O/ST
 
Only once....some pointy Buck that was purchased at Wally World. Ouch.
Now, it's all tip-down (regardless of brand/locking mechanism).

As a lefty, I am satisified with front right-hand pocket carry as I've yet to encounter a situation where I must quickly retrieve/engage a folder.

That said, my CCW stays on my strong side. ;)
 
WoodenChicken,

Other than YunnanPaiyao, I think Peru Balsem (a form of Balm) stops bleeding quickly and makes the healing very nice. I've cut badly catching a dropping balisong and it got bit by blade, and the handle close upon it :)

I'm not sure if you can find it there, but in local pharmacy, it's quite common
 
I forgot about the fact that the blade rests against the back of the pocket since it is carried fully in the rear of the pocket opening. I love my Swamp Rat 'Rat Trap' folder even though it is 'tip down' but it gets in rotation along with my Para Military, Military and the old standard Delica.
 
that's one reason why I try to buy tip down knives. My buddy had a Cold Steel Recon (One of the first ones that were pretty good) in his pocket. Back then he used to get me to sharpen his knives because I was teaching him and he wasn't quite as good as me yet. The point is... the blade was very sharp... He reached in to his pocket to get his keys and the blade went about 1.5 inches into the meat of his palm. Said he almost threw up it was such an awful feeling. I own a rukus... but everything else is tip down. And I rarely carry the rukus... I just leave it in my truck.
 
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