tip up/tip down carry question

brewmeister bill

brewmeister bill

Joined
Dec 9, 2011
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90
I tried a search with no luck, and I am real curious...
Who caries their knife "tip down", and how do you deploy it quickly (not counting autos)? Many of the knives I've owned have come in that configuration, but I could never get any sort of rhythm down, and swapped the clip (when there was an option to) for tip down carry...
My intent isn't for a "which is better" question, just more out of curiosity
 
Flipper tang makes it easy to deploy quickly even tip down. I pull with my thumb hooking inside my pocket on to the side scale of the folder, and my index + middle fingers on the outside of the pant pocket. When it clears the pocket, I invert my hand and use my index finger to press down on the flipper tang.

I don't have any folders that aren't flippers though, so I can't help ya on studs, thumbholes, etc.
 
The majority of my old BMs are all tip down and I actually prefer that type of carry. My thumb (right handed) goes into my pocket (similar to harkamus' description) and when I pull out the knife my thumb is on the stud or button immediately (and prior to the knife being out of the pocket all the way). All of my newer BMs and other knives are all tip up and I need the whole knife out of my pocket and in my hand to manipulate the stud or button. It has taken a while to get used to tip up and it is still not my preferred carry. I like the feeling of my thumb on the stub before I even unclip the knife from my pocket.
 
I only carry tip up, unless there is no other option. If you practice one will be no quicker to open than the other.

The only knife I will carry that is tip down is the Spyderco Military, and may have a tip up clip put on one of mine one day.
I don't like my hand touching the blade side of the knife when putting hand in pocket. When the blade is facing seam of pants(tip up) my hand slides in pocket much better, doesn't hit jimping, and if the tip of the blade did come out a bit you can't get cut with tip up.
 
I like tip down. For me it's easier to pull it out and open it faster then having to pull it out and flip it over first. If it isn't spring assisted, have a thumbstud, or have a thumbhole I'll carry it tip up cuz I can't open it fast anyway. :p
 
Ken44 said:
I only carry tip up, unless there is no other option. If you practice one will be no quicker to open than the other.

The only knife I will carry that is tip down is the Spyderco Military, and may have a tip up clip put on one of mine one day.
I don't like my hand touching the blade side of the knife when putting hand in pocket. When the blade is facing seam of pants(tip up) my hand slides in pocket much better, doesn't hit jimping, and if the tip of the blade did come out a bit you can't get cut with tip up.
Click to expand...

That's how I always wind up...with my ZT's, with my index finger on the flipper it's scary fast opening, and its in the right position (don't need to re-position). I have tried a few times (and studied some videos), but like Totin with tip up, I cant get used to the tip down...It was just something I was curious about (whether there was a large group that preferred tip down).
Meh...it's the same reason they make vanilla and chocolate ice cream I guess :)
 
I only carry tip down just what I am used to. I use my thumb and middle finger to pull the knife from my pocket and let it rotate into my hand. No need to reach into my pocket or adjust the knife just pull it out and deploy it.
 
I'd only carry tip up if I had a knife with the Emerson Wave feature...since I don't currently, I always carry tip down for the same reason a few others have said. I like to have my thumb on the thumbstud or thumbhole as I'm drawing the blade out of pocket. Tip down works very well with flippers as well, right when I pull the knife out my index finger is on the flipper ready to deploy.
 
harkamus said:
Flipper tang makes it easy to deploy quickly even tip down. I pull with my thumb hooking inside my pocket on to the side scale of the folder, and my index + middle fingers on the outside of the pant pocket. When it clears the pocket, I invert my hand and use my index finger to press down on the flipper tang.

I don't have any folders that aren't flippers though, so I can't help ya on studs, thumbholes, etc.
Click to expand...

This exactly.

In fact, it works even with other blade styles as well (or at least thumb studs). I keep my knife clipped to my RR pocket, and its easiest to reach in there and grab it with my thumb. Once it is in hand and pulled all the way out, I just push with my thumb :).

And I like tip down because there is no chance I can reach into my pocket and have the knife cut me. I understand that isn't terribly common, but to me tip down feels much more natural.
 
Ramiel said:
I'd only carry tip up if I had a knife with the Emerson Wave feature...since I don't currently, I always carry tip down for the same reason a few others have said. I like to have my thumb on the thumbstud or thumbhole as I'm drawing the blade out of pocket. Tip down works very well with flippers as well, right when I pull the knife out my index finger is on the flipper ready to deploy.
Click to expand...

All my folders are waved. Tip up for me.
[video=youtube;2TWCbd3_sCI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TWCbd3_sCI[/video]
 
ocnLogan said:
And I like tip down because there is no chance I can reach into my pocket and have the knife cut me.
Click to expand...

With tip up there is no chance you can reach into your pocket and have the knife cut you unless you have the clip on the wrong side of the knife, or the knife in the wrong pocket.
 
I see what you're saying, but have you never had your knife move from where it is clipped? I'm just saying that things tend to move around a bit, and I like knowing I won't get bit when I reach into my pocket. I know the likelihood of it happening are fairly low with a decent tip up knife, but with it tip down the chances of getting cut are practically and almost exactly zero.

And I know its a personal preference thing, I'm just throwing out my reasons for how I carry.

Also, how exactly would RR pocket carry work with tip up? I'm sitting here trying to figure out how I would reach into my pocket and pull a tip up knife out of there while keeping a flipper or thumb stud near enough to open it without a regrip, and while keeping the blade so it is less likely to open.
 
i carry my leek and other flippers tip up because i can draw and deploy them much faster that way.

the way i draw it is to put my thumb on the inside of my pocket resting on the scale of my knife, with my pointer finger on the spine of the knife outside the pocket and the rest of my fingers gripping the knife. that way when i pull it out of my pocket my finger sits right on top of the flipper and im ready to go right away.
 
KB3UBW said:
i carry my leek and other flippers tip up because i can draw and deploy them much faster that way.

the way i draw it is to put my thumb on the inside of my pocket resting on the scale of my knife, with my pointer finger on the spine of the knife outside the pocket and the rest of my fingers gripping the knife. that way when i pull it out of my pocket my finger sits right on top of the flipper and im ready to go right away.
Click to expand...

^ thats how I do it.
Thank you all for your replies, I'm actually surprised that my tip up carry seems to be in the minority...
 
Doesn't that mean that you are no longer carrying the knife in the "approved" safe style for tip up carry (aka, the blade would have to open into the pocket seam)? Or does this only work when you carry in your front pocket?

Just wondering because I really have been wondering how in the world I would use tip up in my RR pocket while keeping the blade safely against the seam.
 
ocnLogan said:
Doesn't that mean that you are no longer carrying the knife in the "approved" safe style for tip up carry (aka, the blade would have to open into the pocket seam)? Or does this only work when you carry in your front pocket?

Just wondering because I really have been wondering how in the world I would use tip up in my RR pocket while keeping the blade safely against the seam.
Click to expand...

I meant front left for me (unless you didnt mean me...in that case, disregard)
I did try back pocket wear, since it was brought up, and if you put it "flipped" (for me, the clip would be switched over to where it would be for a righty) and it goes up against the seam..it's still pretty easy to draw (tho I'm sticking with FP)
 
I was asking you, but also anyone else in general.

Like I said, I've tried to figure out if I could do tip up carry because it does seem that more of the "high end" knives feature it, and thought there had to be some reason for it. But for how I like to carry my knife, I can't for the life of me figure out how I would keep the blade against the farthest right side of the RR pocket (to keep from sitting directly on it), while still making it so the knife would have to open into that seam and yet not require me to regrip before I could open the knife.

Since I really have no experience with that, I was just voicing my question and seeing if anyone more experienced had anything to say.

Looks like its still just preference though :D. Anyway, I appreciate the thread, its been informative.
 
ocnLogan said:
I was asking you, but also anyone else in general.

Like I said, I've tried to figure out if I could do tip up carry because it does seem that more of the "high end" knives feature it, and thought there had to be some reason for it. But for how I like to carry my knife, I can't for the life of me figure out how I would keep the blade against the farthest right side of the RR pocket (to keep from sitting directly on it), while still making it so the knife would have to open into that seam and yet not require me to regrip before I could open the knife.

Since I really have no experience with that, I was just voicing my question and seeing if anyone more experienced had anything to say.

Looks like its still just preference though :D. Anyway, I appreciate the thread, its been informative.
Click to expand...

Yea, this is one I glad I posted...I was worried it would be a stupid question.

For your pocket, try putting the knife in there as if the clip were on the left grip of the knife, then slide towards your 4 o'clock. If you put your thumb inside, index on outside of pocket, it will be right where the flipper will be when it clears denim...I don't know if thats how the regular RR carriers are doing it, but that seems to work well for me. I can see it being more convenient if you got stuff in F pocket, but a little more manuvering involved
 
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