Tip Up or Tip Down

[donnord]

Sorry of this has been asked before, and I'm sure it has been. I'm in the market for a new EDC. My present is a Kershaw leek, which unfortunately has opened in my pocket 3 times. I carry the leak tip down, so the blade opens into important parts of my body, like my femoral artery. However, I think I have a natural tendency towards tip down carry as it seems easier to open that way. I am looking at a Microtech Amphibian which a tip up carry. Are there generally accepted advantages and disadvantages to either style. I guess can easily change the leak to tip up and see what I think.

 

[Danke42]

Tip up

 

[jmh33]

I have zero preference!!
However it comes out of the box is how it goes into my pocket!!
Just saying!!
John

 

[The Hawk]

I prefer tip up. That way the pointy end is facing away from me when I pull it out of my pocket.

 

[Barman1]

Up for me.
But if you're in the market for a Microtech check out the Socom Elite.
Tip down carry.

 

[The True North]

Depends in the size of the knife. Spyderco Military size and above get carried point down.

 

[snow and steel]

Always tip up

 

[EngrSorenson]

OH here we go again. Buckle up everyone!

Most of the time my knives go tip sideways- my old timey old man codger knives don't like to keep a vertical orientation in my pocket.

 

[guy g]

No preference here either.

 

[Landshark99]

Tip up unless the knife will only carry tip down, ie Microtech Socom Elite

 

[2edgesword]

If the knife is opening in your pocket the problem is the knife. I prefer tip up since when I draw the knife out of my pocket and open it the orientation is better for getting a grip on the handle

 

[jbmonkey]

the opposite of what everyone else says is the right answer......

 

[Ikhnaton]

Tip-up for me. I tried tip-down on a PM2 I ordered as a gift and really didn't like it, feels unnatural to me. When holding the knife the clip gets in the way and when pulling it out of my pocket it is easier for me to get a good grip to open it (mostly spydie-flick or slow-roll, I don't like flicking a knife open with my thumb)

 

[Drop bear]

No preference for me.

I am carrying tip up at the moment. But my knife has a detent that has kept it closed so far.

 

[jfk1110]

99.9 % of the time however it arrives is how it flies...... I've swappped one over from up to down just because of the location of the clip when held....

 

[Maximumbob54]

My present is a Kershaw leek

Swap the clip around. Or use the tip lock.

 

[Triple_D]

I take the clip off (if it comes off), and drop the knife in my pocket. It sits where it lands. Sort of like a coin toss.

 

[donnord]

The tip lock no longer works because I had to adjust the tip. Its probably going to relegated to kayak service where it will be clipped into a sturdy pocket in my life jacket.

 

[knarfeng]

Depends on the configuration of the knife. With some knives, I find tip up to be more ergonomic. With other knives, tip down works better.

 

[bdmicarta]

First of all these questions do come up very frequently. Roughly 3/4 of knife enthusiasts who respond prefer tip up.
For righthand front pocket carry- tip up theoretically offers more safety because the blade is against the outside seam of the pocket. Tip up also allows the use of a wave opener and/or a lanyard/fob if you like those. Some people say it puts the clip in a better position for comfort in the hand.
IMO for large knives in normal pants tip down is faster to deploy. In other clothing such as the guy demonstrating on youtube while wearing pajamas, tip up can be fast too.
I have my preference but that would knock me out of a lot of good knife designs so I carry knives both ways. My favorites for carry are the Spyderco PM2 (tip down) and the Spyderco Manix 2 (tip up).