Tip up? Tip down? advice please.

ismaris

ismaris

Joined
Jan 17, 2013
Messages
338
Please excuse me in advance if this seems a bit elementary. I have a number of knives with pocket clips, some flippers, some assisted openers. School me in the points to consider when deciding to carry tip up or tip down.
 
I prefer tip-down because when I pull it out of my pocket, my thumb is in the position to open the knife. With tip-up, I have to move my hand up the handle a bit and it's not as easy. Smaller knives probably work better with tip-up. Obviously tip-up is the only way to go with waved knives.
 
Its all personal preference. With flippers/assisted i find tip up works best because you can depress the flipper as you clear your pocket without having to adjust your grip. I carry my knives tip up. its just what im used to and i can get my PM2 out pretty quick like this but ive seen people get tip down out just as fast/faster. Its all a matter of practice and preference. As for waved and flippers i think tip up is the way to go. Anything else carry how you'd like just practice your deployment.
 
Like already stated, It's all personal preference. I prefer tip-up, because my finger is already close to the thumbstud/flipper. I find that when I have a knife tip-down, I'm fishing around for the thumbstud/flipper.
 
Really just go with what comes natural to you.
Either way there isnt a considerable difference.
I tip up carry just because thats what I'm comfortable with never had a reason to do so just what I liked
With that said the only argument someone has made for tip down that I can see would make a difference is that if the blade opens up while inside your pocket and you carry tip up you will hit the blade when you reach to your pocket.
Ive actually gotten a few cuts this way but meh
 
I wish I could help, but the first thing I do when I get a new folder is take off the clip. :)
 
Tip up. When you insert your hand in pocket to get other things your hand will slide in easy on the back of the handle. With tip down your hand will slide across blade spine, and jimping on the blade.

I can also open my knife faster with tip up, but either is plenty fast with practice.

The only knife I will carry tip down is a Spyderco Military. You can't move the clip on one, but its no biggie for me.
 
Tip up generally (always) for me. The only time I'd say no...is if your knife did not have a good detent, which would allow blade to slice your hand if you put your hand into pocket. Actually, the weakest detent I ever had...was on the most expensive knife I ever bought. Go figure.
Sonnydaze
 
Two words - "personal preference". Tip up allows swift Emerson notch like opening on knives having the Emerson notch or a zip tie (possible with blades having a hole). I do tip up.
 
I've tried both ways and find tip up works best for me. I'd say try both ways some and see what you like best.
 
I can go earthier way. I flexible with knives and have some with tip up and some tip down. I always carry tip up if I have the option, but I not going to not buy a knife because it is only tip down
 
For small (e.g. Caly 3) to medium sized knives (e.g. Para 2) I think tip up works better than tip down for having the knife in a good position to open it quickly. For a larger knife like a Military, I think tip down makes more sense.
 
See, this is why I prefer tip down.

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When I reach for the knife my thumb is in the correct place, and I can open it as I'm pulling it out.
 
I want the spine of the blade against the back of my pocket so it can't open.

This is really only practical with tip up.

Just try both and see what feels better to you. There's no right answer.
 
As several others have stated it is mostly a matter of personal preference.

I've read strong arguments for both sides.
One knife designer with many years more experience that me stated the in his opinion tip down is the ONLY safe way to carry.

Personally, I prefer tip down. Really no practical reason I would argue except my mind frets over going into that pocket and encountering the tip or edge of a partially opened folder.
I know there are ways to minimize the chance of that happening, like the position in the pocket and good detent, but stuff happens and IMHO Murphy was an optimist :D.
 
Sonnydaze said:
Tip up generally (always) for me. The only time I'd say no...is if your knife did not have a good detent, which would allow blade to slice your hand if you put your hand into pocket.
Click to expand...

With tip up the blade is away from your hand, and against the leg seam of pants. I don't see how you could cut your hand this way while inserting hand in pocket. Unless the knife is in the wrong pocket, or clip on the wrong side of knife.
With tip down your hand is exposed to the blade, and you could get cut if the blade came out because of a week detent.
 
One main problem I discovered about tip-down is the pocket clip is mounted on the knifes' pivot end.....right where you wrap your forefinger around it while using it. That's a very inconvenient place to have the clip right where you grasp the knife.
 
for smaller knives I don't really care, I can go either way easily. For knives with larger handles like the spyderco military tip down is the only way that makes sense, you have to completely reposition your hand to open the knife when it's out of your pocket if you carry tip up. I have one knife with a larger handle that is tip up only and it gets on my nerves.

I don't really care about speed of opening, just overall simplicity and ease.

Ken44 said:
With tip up the blade is away from your hand, and against the leg seam of pants. I don't see how you could cut your hand this way while inserting hand in pocket. Unless the knife is in the wrong pocket, or clip on the wrong side of knife.
With tip down your hand is exposed to the blade, and you could get cut if the blade came out because of a week detent.
Click to expand...

not everyone Carries in their pocket. my spyderco knives are almost always clipped to my waistband at about 3 or 4 o clock. (at right hip, or slightly behind). the only time I ever had a problem was when I dropped my pants to use the restroom, my tenacious opened a bit, and when I pulled my pants back up I got poked. no blood was drawn though.
 
Ken44 said:
With tip up the blade is away from your hand, and against the leg seam of pants. I don't see how you could cut your hand this way while inserting hand in pocket. Unless the knife is in the wrong pocket, or clip on the wrong side of knife.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Its what I've been told by numerous folks who prefer that method. With blade side to the rear most part of the pocket, it would seem to make accidental opening unlikely.

With tip down your hand is exposed to the blade, and you could get cut if the blade came out because of a week detent.
Click to expand...

:confused: How would your hand be exposed? Unless you meant if it fully opened.
Seems more likely it would partial open and then you might get stuck in the thigh (ouch!).

hiwa said:
One main problem I discovered about tip-down is the pocket clip is mounted on the knifes' pivot end.....right where you wrap your forefinger around it while using it. That's a very inconvenient place to have the clip right where you grasp the knife.
Click to expand...

I hear what your saying and its a valid consideration. It does depend on the knife/clip and opening method. In some cases the clip can actually improve the gripping or opening, or at least not interfere with it.
 
This has come up many times; for sometime I was adamant about tip down; then got an Endura that was tip up, after carrying it a while I ceased to worry about up or down; it is just not a big deal.
 
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