Tip up or tip down EDC folder?

Gaspumps

Gaspumps

Joined
May 14, 2012
Messages
302
I have been carrying my EDC clip folders tip up for so long (primarily because of the lack of other options on most of my knives) I forgot any benefits to tip down carry. What do you see as benefits/drawbacks of each style?
 
Tip up:
-Advantages: I like it

Tip Down:
-disadvantages: i don't like it

honestly its all personal preference, and most knives are made with 4 way clips anyhow.
 
Both.

I have knives which are tip up, and some which are tip down.
Some of them are changeable position clips, but are far more comfortable in on position than in the other.
I don't really have a preference overall.
 
Tip up allows you to open it as soon as you withdraw it from your pocket. Tip down requires you to invert it before you can open it. The only benefit to tip down that I can think of is perhaps that it helps prevent accidental deployment.
 
I know im not the only one who's been bitten by a tip up EDC.
And speed of opening depends on a lot more than tip up / tip down carry.
Anyone can get used to opening either way, but I find most of mine are tip down...especially flippers.
 
all of my clipped knives have tip up config, except my Spyderco Military. It gets a pass. :thumbup:
 
I prefer tip up. And if I get a knife that is only in tip down carry I usually remove the clip, add a lanyard, and carry it in my pocket.
 
uchinanchukg said:
It's really personal preference.
I tend to back pocket carry so tip down works better for MY uses.

KG
Click to expand...

I carry in my back pocket as well, and tip up gives me the fastest deployment. May I ask how you open yours from that position? I have a Spyderco Harpy that is tip down only and I can't really figure out how to pull it out and open it in one smooth motion like I can with tip up knives.
 
My Spyderco Stretch gets carried tip up but thats only because when I run my hand into my right front pocket (where the stretch is) i run my hand along the back side of the handle and its more comfortable that way also the bulge for the finger hole kinda fits nicely into the corner of jeans pockets
 
Tip up, I get too much dust and dirt in the pivot with it exposed, and my keys and such get in to the tip otherwise (with open frame).
 
Depends on the size of the knife for me, but I generally prefer tip up. Some of my larger knives get carried tip down because I carry them in my back right pocket and I like the spine of the blade against a seam. Smaller knives that get carried in my front right pocket are tip up for the same reason.
 
I prefer tip down. I mostly carry larger knives and I hate having to inchworm my way down the handle to open them. I've also had tip up knives open in my pocket. That has never happened to me with my tip down knives. *shrugs* For the most parts, it's personal preference.
 
sja2249 said:
I prefer tip down. I mostly carry larger knives and I hate having to inchworm my way down the handle to open them. I've also had tip up knives open in my pocket. That has never happened to me with my tip down knives. *shrugs* For the most parts, it's personal preference.
Click to expand...


This kind of discussion is bordering on a religious war. I have almost always carried tip-down and I usually refuse to buy a knife that isn't tip-down. I did carry a mini-grip for awhile and I noticed that for a small knife like that tip-up did work OK. But for a bigger knife it doesn't work. I have contended that people that carry tip-up are not telling us the whole story. I have fairly large hands and long fingers, and I typically wear tight jeans. When I carry a large knife tip-down and pull it out my thumb is right there on the thumb stud or thumb hole and I can open it right up. If I carry a large knife tip-up then when I pull it out my thumb is a long way from the thumb stud/hole and I have to do the inch-worm trick to get to the other end of the knife before I can open it. I would like for someone that carries a large knife tip-up to draw their knife slowly and describe where their hand is positioned on the knife and how far their thumb is from where it should be, or show how they got their thumb to where it should be.

photo391c.jpg
 
Right now, for instance, I have my PM2 in my back pocket, tip up. I pull it out by sliding my thumb into my pocket along the scale and applying pressure with my thumb on the scale as I pull up, letting friction do the work. As soon as it's out of my pocket, my ring finger falls right into the Spyderhole, and I flick it open with it. If I am carrying a knife with a thumb stud, I slide my thumb over to the stud to deploy the blade. If it's a long-handled knife, I may have to adjust my grip a bit to get my thumb to reach, but it's practically second nature for me at this point. When I carry my only tip down knife, a Spyderco Harpy, I have to rotate it around in my hand to get my thumb in position. It's cumbersome and it takes longer than with a tip up knife.
 
I carry my ZT350 on my belt in a Maxpedition sheath horizontally. Saves room for keys, wallet, small pocket knife, change, etc. in my pockets. Makes the knife very accessible. I also have a SpecOps sheath for my ZT560 which works great.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top