Tip up or tip down--pro's and cons

S

Swedge

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Dec 23, 2008
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What are the pro's and cons of tip up vs. tip down carry. I ask because I see comments from time to time about a particular knife that the poster wouldn't buy because the tip is carried the wrong way with the clip.

I know that some knife makers make their knives with movable clips so the user can choose up or down (and sometimes left or right as well), and some say that on a particular model, there was room only to do it one way.

But what is it about the tip being carried the "wrong" way that bugs people?
 
For me it all depends on the knife :o

I know that for a knife such as the spyderco military, I couldn't imagine it being carried any other way than tip down. Then again, since I carry my EDC on my right front pocket, I tend to lean towards tip up carry.

This is because to me/myself/and I, it seems that if the knife is clipped to the corner of my pocket it is less likely to open up and cut my hand when digging in my pocket.

Some knives, even with four way carry, are either bulky on one end or thinner on another. I know that the ZT0301 was really bulky to carry tip down, plus the A/O made me uneasy to have it clipped to where the blade might accidentally open. I placed the clip for that tip up so that the blade rested on the corner of my pocket and made reaching in for stuff easier as the end of the handle is slightly slimmer than the pivot end.

I hope that helps a little bit, J. :D
 
Why can't you imagine carrying the Millie any other way than tip down?

I placed the clip for that tip up so that the blade rested on the corner of my pocket
Click to expand...

Closer to the center of your body?
 
I carry tip up preferably, because when I reach into my pocket the knife comes out how I want to hold it.
 
Swedge said:
Why can't you imagine carrying the Millie any other way than tip down?

Closer to the center of your body?
Click to expand...

The military's curved handle design makes it great for tip down carry, but if it were to be tip up, the arc of the spine would stick out further in the pocket. Plus, it just feels nice that way.

When I said I moved the clip to tip up carry, it places the blade so that it rests on the corner of my right front pocket. Thus, making it a little tougher to open by accident since it's against another surface so it can't just spring open as if it were tip down carry in the same pocket position.
 
It doesn't really matter to me. The only tip down knives I don't like are some of the Spydercos that have a corner of the tang sticking out when closed. It's irritating to reach into the pocket and get scratched by that.

One thing that I made sure of before buying an Endura was that it was tip up only (and it is) because I didn't want to get scratched all the time.

As long as I'm not going to get scratched by a sharp edge that isn't a cutting edge, I don't care which way the tip is oriented.
 
I agree with J's. It does depend on the knife you carry. Although it does seem that tip-up is consistently more popular for the reason that the blade will be in your hand in the correct position when you pull it out of your pocket. Its just the fastest way to open your knife. There are other factors too. For example, I carry the Cold Steel Ti-Lite, and like the Cold Steel AK-47, it features a quillion on the extended tang of the blade that is designed to snag on your pocked upon withdrawal and open. This simply would not work in a tip-down carry.
I suspect that one of the only reasons that tip-down would be necessary is in the shape of the knife. If it is awkward to pull out of your pocket in a tip-up position, then switching the carry is logical.
 
I carry both tip and tip down but prefer tip up. If my big Skirmish which is tip down, opens somehow in an accident, and not that it would ever happen, but it's aimed right at my man stuff.
 
tip down for me, i can draw and open the knife faster this way, i dont have to rotate it in my hand before i open it. another pro would be the blade is up against the side of your pocket so it cant open in your pocket.
 
I was reminded again today why I prefer tip down. I had my small sebenza in my back pocket by my wallet, and as I was fishing around for my wallet the sebenza opened partially. I cut my index finger to the bone. This is not the first time this has happened, and not just with the sebenza. For me, a tip down with a hole is much safer. The thumb studs sometimes get caught and cause a partial opening.
 
Tip up--just like drawing a gun. It's natural for me. I've had knives open up in tip-down mode. Tip up, against the seam, and all is cool with me. :thumbup:

Tip down lefty pocket for right hand crossdraw though.
 
lambertiana said:
I was reminded again today why I prefer tip down. I had my small sebenza in my back pocket by my wallet, and as I was fishing around for my wallet the sebenza opened partially. I cut my index finger to the bone. This is not the first time this has happened, and not just with the sebenza. For me, a tip down with a hole is much safer. The thumb studs sometimes get caught and cause a partial opening.
Click to expand...

Never had this happen on a properly adjusted knife, but then I either sheath carry or have the knife positioned towards the rear of the pocket so the blade is supported by the pocket's edge. I find I have to adjust my grip before I can open a tip-down with a thumbstud or hole
 
Tip-up is nice simply because if you have it clipped in your pocket, it'll stay closed cause it has no room to open. However, I prefer the grip I get from tip-down carry, as is seen in the Benchmade Dejavoo. It just feels more comfortable.

I guess if one cares about that wave feature, tip-up would work better for such a situation, but since I usually carry slipjoints these days, my point is moot.
 
I too almost always EDC my knives in a sheath, so having them open in my pocket isn't an issue. Though I do have a little Delica that occasionally gets clipped onto my pocket if I'm traveling light. Everything gets carried tip-up, because (as others have said) it comes out in the right position for use. I carry a gun too, so speed of drawing my knife isn't an issue, but it's better having the knife in your hand in the position you want to use it when you pull it out, without having to fumble around.
 
Tip-up and tip-down is a distinctively personal preference. THe preference is developed, usually, after considerable experience in using both.

Even when my pockets are empty, I have enough "in there" to not want a medium-sized or larger folder in them. So, I carry mine in-the-waistband to the right of my belt buckle. Tip carry? Down. Anytime I purchase a folder, one of the primary consideration is tip orientation. I'll buy a tip-up, but it'll be painful for me.
 
Tip down on liner locks. Tip up on lock backs and Axis locks. I have had quite a few liner locks open partial in my pocket. I had a Sebenza open before Chris put clips on them. On the Sebenza I was carrying it in my back right pocket next to my billfold tip up. What was happening? I would use my billfold and when putting it back in to my pocket I was catching the thumb stud and partial opening the knife. I have had Emerson and Benchmades open in my pocket although BM are tip down. I never had a Spyderco open either tip up or tip down. Might be something to the Spydie hole that it does not catch on things. I like the hole in the blade a lot! I now carry most knive IWB for concealment purposes as the clips stand out so much to me now that I look for them. And so do LEOs. My one thing I don't like about liner locks is that many knife companies and makers do not put a strong ball bearing detent on knives.

RKH
 
It is a very personal preference. I carry several knives at a time, and I prefer tip down carry. For those who say tip up places the blade against the corner of the pocket so it can't open, I have two things to say.

One, you are assuming front pocket carry, which is not a good assumption. I always have a knife in the front corner of my back pocket, where tip down places the blade against the pocket seam.

Two, unless you are even less active than this old fat man, knives don't always stay put. I have had knives slide away from the edge of my pocket, I have had tip up knives open in my pocket after they shifted away from the pocket seam, and I have cut myself on the exposed edge. More than once on all counts.

Speed of deployment is a very low priority for me in general, but grasping a tip down Spyderco by the hole, pulling it out of my pocket and flicking the handle down to open it is fast enough and requires less shifting and fumbling than tip up deployment does for me. That may simply be because I've gotten used to tip down carry.
 
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