Tip up / Tip down?

Danke42 said:
I see the confusion here.

I think as group we need to remove Tip up/Tip down from the vernacular and instead use Knife off/Knife on so it's clear for everyone.
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I think your Knife off/Knife on is still confusing terminology to me.

I agree that the tip up or tip down nomenclature is confusing and in the past I have essentially asked the same question as the OP. I got answers that I found almost not understandable. Lapedog Lapedog answer with the photo in Post ##8 is very clear... That is tip down. Or do I have it totally backwards? You see the confusion.

I use knives with the tip up or down as I have little preference one way or the other. But with the tip down carry, the knife is less likely to open cutting the owner (worst case) in this orientation when removing the knife from the pocket.

If the knife was a fixed blade, only a fool would carry it with the tip up even in a sheath.
 
22-rimfire said:
I think your Knife off/Knife on is still confusing terminology to me.

I agree that the tip up or tip down nomenclature is confusing and in the past I have essentially asked the same question as the OP. I got answers that I found almost not understandable. Lapedog Lapedog answer with the photo in Post ##8 is very clear... That is tip down. Or do I have it totally backwards? You see the confusion.

I use knives with the tip up or down as I have little preference one way or the other. But with the tip down carry, the knife is less likely to open cutting the owner (worst case) in this orientation when removing the knife from the pocket.

If the knife was a fixed blade, only a fool would carry it with the tip up even in a sheath.
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Used to carry a lot of fixed knives tip up. But of course if you're not careful you can loose it at the worst time.
 
Danke42 said:
Used to carry a lot of fixed knives tip up. But of course if you're not careful you can loose it at the worst time.
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Neck knife carry is the only place I could see tip up with a fixed blade.... I really don't like neck carry at all and would only do it when I have little other choice such as in a canoe or kayak where I might want really quick access to a knife in an emergency.
 
22-rimfire said:
If the knife was a fixed blade, only a fool would carry it with the tip up even in a sheath.
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I must be a fool, I carry upside down fixed blades all the time. It’s my preferred method. With a secure sheath, it’s great.
 
22-rimfire said:
:D The fool term may have been a bit harsh as we all have our ways. :D
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Ha. You should try inverted carrying sometime, in a nice secure kydex/plastic sheath. It can be secure, comfortable, and quick to access even when wearing a coat.
 
jux t said:
Ha. You should try inverted carrying sometime, in a nice secure kydex/plastic sheath. It can be secure, comfortable, and quick to access even when wearing a coat.
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I was thinking in terms of inside a pocket with the tip up rather than on a belt. The tip up would work when wearing a coat for belt carry. I am a little uncomfortable carrying my Blackjack 155 neck knife with the tip pointed toward my neck.
 
22-rimfire said:
I think your Knife off/Knife on is still confusing terminology to me.

I agree that the tip up or tip down nomenclature is confusing and in the past I have essentially asked the same question as the OP. I got answers that I found almost not understandable. Lapedog Lapedog answer with the photo in Post ##8 is very clear... That is tip down. Or do I have it totally backwards? You see the confusion.

I use knives with the tip up or down as I have little preference one way or the other. But with the tip down carry, the knife is less likely to open cutting the owner (worst case) in this orientation when removing the knife from the pocket.

If the knife was a fixed blade, only a fool would carry it with the tip up even in a sheath.
Click to expand...

The picture in post #8 is tip down.

It is possible to carry a fixed blade tip up in a sheath. Look at the Charlie Mike carry which is growing in popularity. A sheath has to have very good retention though to carry this way or the knife will fall out due to gravity.
 
Lapedog said:
It all just depends how you first grab the knife. Particularly on longer handled knives tip up can leave the thumbstuds or flipper tab quite far away when drawn leading to one needing to reposition their hand to access them.
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Agreed. It also depends upon the knife's ergonomics. My CRKT Prowler is tip down only and I would not carry it any other way because of ergonomics. It is one of the few knives I carry tip down.

I've been using my daughter's Endelica 4. It came to me tip down. After a few days, I moved the clip so the knife is tip-up, right side. I think it is better tip down.
 
I carry my folding knives "tip-sideways." That means it is partially deployed and sheathed in the flesh of my thigh. I holds the knife secure and ensures the edge does not cut vital things like my tube of Carmex or roll of breath mints I carry in my pocket.

On a serious note - When I was in the Marines, I carried my Kabar tip up on my H-harness in an after-market sheath.
 
YellowSwiss said:
I carry my folding knives "tip-sideways." That means it is partially deployed and sheathed in the flesh of my thigh. I holds the knife secure and ensures the edge does not cut vital things like my tube of Carmex or roll of breath mints I carry in my pocket.

On a serious note - When I was in the Marines, I carried my Kabar tip up on my H-harness in an after-market sheath.
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You're dating yourself. Me too. They have not used the H-harness for years.
 
i remember moving into a new apartment in the late 1980's, and when i unlocked a window, the top window frame came down fast and caught my finger between the two frames and cut into it. it came down with such force that i could not pull the top frame up to free my finger. if i had not had a blade on me to pry up the window frame, i would have been stuck waiting for someone to cross the parking lot below to yell to for help. that being said, if i have to draw my knife from inside waistband or pocket clip carry in an emergency situation, and i was carrying tip UP, and the knife opened slightly and you know what happens next, that could have been avoided by carrying tip down. in my mind, i would rather stick myself accidentally when putting the knife away after an emergency situation, than during it.
 
I carry against the seam of my right pocket, so I only have tip up knives. The one knife that I did own that was tip down was a Benchmade Aphid. After carrying it for a few months, it somehow partially deployed in my pocket. When I went to grab my keys and pull them out of my pocket, I got slightly spiked by the blade.

Never again.
 
I think tip up being more dangerous is a function of weaker detent knives.

For IWB, I'd LOVE to carry a benchmade bugout... but with that axis lock "release", I'd never feel comfortable there.

In a pocket, against the seam.. sure... Less of an issue.

For IWB, a strong lockback would the only way I'd feel comfortable.

Other knives, like a CRKT M16 flipper, are great tip down, as when you pull it out, your index finger is right there, ready to deploy it.

It all depends on the opening mechanism, ergonomics and lock type, for me.
 
Lapedog said:
I agree. This is one of those things where there is no right answer for.

Just do whatever works best for you.
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Mostly what I was after was what the term meant because with folding knives the term was confusingly ambiguous... I got my answer in the first few replies, everything past that is "Philosophy"
 
Allan DeGroot said:
Ok if that is the case then tip up seems more practical as when the knife is unclipped it is already in the most usually used orientation, rather than "reversed in the hand" for an "overhanded stabbing motion"
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As others have mentioned, it really depends on the pocket location and opening mechanism. Up against the rear seam of a front pants pocket, tip up tends to work well for most people. In the breast pocket of a shirt or jacket, tip down feels very natural and is especially good with a flipper tab.
 
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