Tip up, tip down - what's the deal?

[znapschatz]

As for people seeing that I have a knife in my pocket, I prefer it. Either the emasculated sheeple can determine how I carry, or I can. I choose the latter.

It has been my experience that most people, if they notice the clip at all, don't recognize it as connected to a knife. If knowledgeable enough to understand, usually they know enough to not find it objectionable. In my case, if I see such I only wonder what kind of knife is in that pocket. There are places and circumstances, of course, where it would be a good idea to not attract attention, criminal or legal, so there should be some flexibility on the manner of carry.

 

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

It has been my experience that most people, if they notice the clip at all, don't recognize it as connected to a knife. If knowledgeable enough to understand, usually they know enough to not find it objectionable. In my case, if I see such I only wonder what kind of knife is in that pocket. There are places and circumstances, of course, where it would be a good idea to not attract attention, criminal or legal, so there should be some flexibility on the manner of carry.

Why wonder what they are carrying- I ask outright. It did almost get me shot in New York when I asked a police officer what he was carrying and his partner jumped out of her chair and reached for her gun. He just smiled, pulled out a CRKT and passed it over to me. I actually have always gotten a response and more times than not the person pulls it out and hands it over to me (a perfect stranger who just started a conversation.). Knife lovers seem to trust each other when confronted with somebody with knowledge.

 

[OldDude1]

Some feel that when carrying a knife both as a tool and to aid in weapon retention TIP UP on the non gun hand side might be best. When used as a TOOL there is usually no emergency need for a speedy grip and opening of the knife. If someone has a grip on your firearm, your gun hand or both then speed in producing an open knife and applying it where it will be most effective is of paramount importance. OldDude1

 

[mdauben]

I guess I don't get why to choose one over the other. What's the difference?

None? I know some people seem to have a strong preference for one or the other, but I have knives that clip both ways and unless I stop to think about it I don't notice either way.

The knife CANT open with the spine of the blade against the seam of the pocket.

Then why do I have a large scar on my hand from the nasty cut I got from a tip up knifes (not naming names) which was pushed right back against the rear edge of my jeans pocket as far as it would go? I hear this all the time and wonder what kind of pants you people are wearing? What you say may be true if carried in a "patch pocket" (like the rear pocket of a pair of jeans), but ever pair of pants that I own (dress, casual or jeans) has free-floating front pockets which provide absolutely no pressure to the back of the blade of a knife carried against the "seam" of the pocket.

 

[ousanas]

None? I know some people seem to have a strong preference for one or the other, but I have knives that clip both ways and unless I stop to think about it I don't notice either way.


Then why do I have a large scar on my hand from the nasty cut I got from a tip up knifes (not naming names) which was pushed right back against the rear edge of my jeans pocket as far as it would go? I hear this all the time and wonder what kind of pants you people are wearing? What you say may be true if carried in a "patch pocket" (like the rear pocket of a pair of jeans), but ever pair of pants that I own (dress, casual or jeans) has free-floating front pockets which provide absolutely no pressure to the back of the blade of a knife carried against the "seam" of the pocket.

weird, in jeans, carpenter jeans, cargo pants, dress pants, sweats, sweatshorts, cargo shorts, jean shorts. I've never had a knife tip up come open against the seam of my pants. I don't doubt you, but I can't imagine HOW it could happen.

 

[mdauben]

I've never had a knife tip up come open against the seam of my pants. I don't doubt you, but I can't imagine HOW it could happen.

Becuase in none of the pants I own, is there a fixed seam along the back of the pocket to restrict movement of the blade.

The front pockets of the pants I am now wearing (a pair of dockers) are simple bags that are only attached around the opening of the pocket (like the photo above). There is no fixed "seam" along the back edge of that bag, the fabric there is free to move and offers no pressure against the blade of a knife carried there. As far as I can see, all the pants I own (jeans, dockers, and dress) are like that.

 

[udtjim]

I guess it doesn't matter to me. I have been packing the same edc for about eight years and right now, I couldn't even tell you which end is up without taking it out to look.

 

[Dekz]

See I find the opposite. With larger knives especially. Smaller knives (3" and under) you can grab with your thumb extended down and with minimal shifting open the knife. I have problems with my BM 520 because it is tip up carry. Grabbing the knife means having to choke up on the blade before I get hit the thumbstud.

With tip up (on knives like the Stretch or Endura 4) I pinch the pivot and as I draw the knife I let it rotate back into my hand slightly, then my thumb is right next to the hole or stud.

I think you meant to say "down" there.

In which case I agree with this post completely. I've never understood all these tip-up people. How long are your thumbs!?!?!? When I have a tip-up knife clipped in my pocket, there is absolutely no way my thumb is anywhere near the "natural" position when I pull the knife out.

With tip down, it doesn't matter how big the knife is or what the opening method is. My thumb and fingers are right by the pivot so I can operate the thumbstud/hole/flipper. If anything I find that tip-up requires two movements (drawing the knife, choking up on the knife) whereas with tip down the knife rotates down 180 degress as I draw it.

All that being said, I prefer tip-down, but it doesn't matter to me all that much. Some pocket clips can be very uncomfortable in the hand in one position, yet you can't notice it at all in the other. That matters much more to me than which way it is oriented in my pocket.

 

[J_Curd]

Dekz, it's all about the flipper

Or the wrist snap lightning open

 

[PBJSIII]

Forget that "Mall Ninja" stuff.

The reason I have a one hand opening knife that I can get out and put in use is that when I need a knife I VERY OFTEN have the other hand doing something I can't let go of.

Tip up just makes it easier to use.

If I'm in a situation where I am thinking "tactical", I'll often have the knife in my hand.

 

[ousanas]

Becuase in none of the pants I own, is there a fixed seam along the back of the pocket to restrict movement of the blade.

The front pockets of the pants I am now wearing (a pair of dockers) are simple bags that are only attached around the opening of the pocket (like the photo above). There is no fixed "seam" along the back edge of that bag, the fabric there is free to move and offers no pressure against the blade of a knife carried there. As far as I can see, all the pants I own (jeans, dockers, and dress) are like that.

right, but even with that, I've never had a knife come open, they sit at the back edge of my pocket, and the pressure of the opening where it's clipped will keep it from opening. Now if it shifted forward in your pocket and you reached in behind it, I could see that, but as I carry it, it's impossible, even with pockets exactly like that, nothing I have has ever come even the slightest open, and nothing has ever cut me. *shrugs* Interesting that you have that issue. Also you are the first person who's ever come forward explaining what issues you've had with it instead of just mentioning that it's happened.

 

[ousanas]

I should also point out, that nothing I carry is loose enough at the pivot when closed to open on it's own without at least a decent amount of help from me. Now my para MIGHT have been loose enough, but nothing else I carry opens just being held tip up and even slightly assisted with a light flick.

 

[cave dave]

Nobody has mentioned the type of lock in the equation.

Both an Axis and a back lock have a have a good bias towards closure of the blade. If they accidentally opened they will spring themselves back shut. The backlock Spydercos I have all have an extremely strong bias towards staying closed. Many Liner locks will not do the same and if they pop open only a few milimeters they will stay open and perhaps catch on something and open some more.

If you have a liner or frame lock that opens easily and stays open I say Tip down. Spyderco back lock and Axis benchmade can be carried tip up just fine.

 

[CARRERA50]

i have never liked using a pocket clip inside a pocket, other than using it to clip inside a bag. even more so these days i don't like anyone knowing i've got a knife on me and that clip showing is a red flag.

so whatever position the clip is in when it comes out of the box, that where it stays...

Agree completely. I like blade down in a belt pouch over the
RF pocket. If I pinch the knife behind the pivot with my
index finger next to the belt it can be withdrawn quickly and
flipped open into a reverse grip.

Works great with a liner lock AFCK and a Benchmade soft sheath.

 

[tsiloics]

Becuase in none of the pants I own, is there a fixed seam along the back of the pocket to restrict movement of the blade.

The front pockets of the pants I am now wearing (a pair of dockers) are simple bags that are only attached around the opening of the pocket (like the photo above). There is no fixed "seam" along the back edge of that bag, the fabric there is free to move and offers no pressure against the blade of a knife carried there. As far as I can see, all the pants I own (jeans, dockers, and dress) are like that.

Interesting. Pretty much every pair of pants I own has the "bag" sewn into the lateral leg seam for the first 2"-3". I wear primarily LL Bean lined chinos and Carhartts (at least in terms of long pants). All the dress pants have been in storage for years, so not going to drag them out, but I think they are constructed essentially the same way. Even if not, and let's say the blade deployed for the first time in 15 years, the cutting edge is not going to be anywhere near my hand. I wouldn't even know about it until I advanced my thumb toward the stud - with the knife out of my pocket.

 

[Slidetechnik]

Personally I just bury the thing in my pocket completely. I don't use the clip as I find it slower most of the time.

 

[SIFU1A]

i prefer tip up and carry a tip up daily and have never had one come open in my pocket, matter of fact the only 2 which did have issues with coming open were tip downs ( a spyderco gunting a joht singh kalsa). if the knifes detent is working correctly opening in your pocket should never be an issue imho, and other than the 2 mentioned it never has been for me, and i edc either a emerson CQC13 or spyderco ti ATR every day and have for quite a while now, in fact i havent edc'd a tip down for a long long time ('00 or so a pat crawford kasper) so since then its been all tip up.

imho if ya practice drawing the things (you do practice, right?) its just whatever ya are used to,

as far as folks "making" the knife from the clip, so much stuff comes with clips now its hard to ay what the clips on, a knife, or a cell phone, or a ?, as long as the knifes legal and its legal to be carrying it who cares?