Tip up or tip down, any difference in speed of opening?

magilla

magilla

Joined
Dec 15, 1999
Messages
381
I just received a Calypso Jr. This will be my first tip down carry knife. I am excited about the new knife, but it feels weird drawing it from my pocket.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Mike
 
Once you get used to the different carry methods, I personally don't see much of a difference in the drawing speed of tip up and tip down knives. You might want to check out this thread where I tested a couple of knives, including a Calypso Junior Ltwt: www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/002712.html

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Cerulean

"The hairy-armed person who figured out how to put an edge on a suitable rock made it possible for us to be recognizably human in the first place." - J.K.M.

[This message has been edited by cerulean (edited 06-28-2001).]
 
Cerulean,
Thanks for the post and the great information. It is very nice of you to share your results, scientific or not.
Be safe,
Mike

I'm sure I will like the Calypso Jr. it really feels good in my hand. Also, I thought it would be heavier because of the Micarta but it seems almost as light as the Delica.

Thanks again.

 
Different strokes for different folks. I prefer tip-up which gives me a slight speed advantage but I've seen others go the other way. It's all about muscle memory.

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Karma is only justice without the satisfaction
 
Tip-up seem to work best on smaller knives. To start the draw, I first stick my thumb into the pocket and try to position my thumb into/onto the thumb opening device (hole, stud, or disc) while simultaneously (or immediately thereafter) wrap my remaining fingers around the handle as I draw the knife out. With larger (longer) tip-up knives, I am not able to reach the thumb opening device on this first move and must use additional time consuming movements to position my thumb.

With tip-down carry the thumb opening device is near the opening of the pocket and can be easily reached and pinched between the thumb and index finger as the knife is drawn out of the pocket. IMO that is why I think larger/longer knives can probably be drawn faster if it is designed for tip-down carry.

This is just my observation based on my personal experience; your results may vary. I hope this helps.
 
Generally speaking, for a fast, controlled opening, I think it's roughly equal between tip-up and tip-down. For me, what distinguishes tip-up from tip-down is not speed of opening, but security. With tip-down, you will necessarily at some point in the draw be holding the knife in a more-precarious pinch grip. With tip-up, you'll have your hand wrapped around the knife the entire time.

I've personally never dropped either format during opening, but I wonder a bit about panicked tip-down opening under stress.

Joe
 
Ordinarily, I prefer tip-up, but Spydies are made for tip-down. Grab that hole and Spydie-drop!
 
I have a Cold Steel Vaquero Grande, and I cannot figure out why they made it tip-up. You have to change grips to open it, slowing down the opening time. On the other hand, with such a large knife, you can also flip open it.
I prefer tip-down even in smaller knives.
 
Just goes to show that it's a very individual preference. I'm really disappointed my Calypso Jr. lightweight is tip down (very happy with this knife otherwise, though). I can open my tip up knives so easily compared to tip down. I won't buy any more tip down knives.

I'm just happy the Wegner is tip up. BTW, this is too good a knife to discontinue! Perhaps some better marketing, such as renaming it "Our Best Knife, designed by Wegner" would result in more attention to its quality from the public.

[This message has been edited by JohnnyLightOn (edited 06-29-2001).]
 
Well, the newest version of the Wegner (the one that almost became known as the Lynx) should offer a choice of tip up or down, left or right. And that, IMHO, is a good thing...:D

Leo
 
Another very important note about tip-up, which I'll remind you that I generally prefer.

Tip-up always has the risk of the knife opening in your pocket -- and if it does, you'll reach into your pocket right into the knife point, and can cut yourself badly. I've found that this is not at all an issue for lockbacks and other highly-sprung lock types (like the axis or arc lock). Liner locks rely on the ball detent system to hold the knife closed, and there are very many badly-done ball detents out there; likewise, there are many, many stories of tip-up liner locks opening in pockets and causing hand injuries.

If a maker is going to configure their liner locks tip-up, it behooves them to get the ball detent right! A proper ball detent does not just hold the blade securely in the handle. For the last 1/4" or so of closing the knife, it should actually suck the blade into the handle.

Joe
 
Owning only tip down for nigh onto 2 years, I was convinced that tip up carry was total folly. Then, I tried it.

Two of the 4 tip down knives I have are lockbacks. The Wegner, of course, is a liner lock. The Wegner's detente ball is plenty strong enough that I can relax about it. 3 of the 4 are Spydercos. The 4th is my Sebenza. All are quite safe, IMO. After carrying them for awhile, I almost think I prefer tip up. But, I agree with Joe that safety is an important consideration.
 
i prefer tip down carry for safety reasons and accessibility. I can't imagine a ready position faster than a tip down withdrawl and a wrist flick to open the blade. Even my sogwinderII was able to open with a wrist flick after a couple of days. Since spydercos are much smoother, you can get very fast draws with minimal movement (telegrpahing), and effort.

i just grab hold the knife from my back pocket like a pen (only by the scales, blade up). pull it out, and give a little outward flick of the wrist. not TOO much, just barely enough to get a lock up. it's a two-finger hold, with the forefinger running lengthwise on the top of the clip. instantaneous presentation, lock-up and the blade falls properly into your grip.

just as an aside, is there some law that states that you aren't allow to open your knife this way? just wondering since I don't see too many people expounding on this opening method...

toast
 
just as an aside, is there some law that states that you aren't allow to open your knife this way? just wondering since I don't see too many people expounding on this opening method...
Click to expand...

I think you're talking about an inertia opening. As far as I know it's entirely legal. I've heard Canada is trying to ban all knives that can be flicked open in this manner, but it's legal at the moment. I do wonder if someone might stretch their interpretation and term any knife that will open like that as a "gravity knife". Kinda like the thing with the Emerson Wave... If they do ban knives that can do this they'll have to ban just about all folding knives(not a pretty picture of the future). I can inertia open ALL my folders, even the cheap ones, and the Kershaw Ken Onions, which open via a torsion bar which holds the blade in the handle very well. The only thing wrong with opening a knife that way is it's rumored to wear the locking mechanism out a lot faster.
 
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