Tip Up / Tip Down ?

Trojanargus

Trojanargus

Joined
Aug 23, 2004
Messages
150
This is kind of a newbie question, but no apologies ;)

I like to carry folders with a clip tip up so that when I put my hand on it my hand goes straight to the hole or stud for opening without turning the knife.
If you carry tip up how do you draw the knife and open it without juggling? :confused:

cheers

Bob
 
I have and do carry both types of knives (tip-up and tip-down), and I don't juggle or have a problem with either style.

I also don't see any measureable difference in the speed of deployment.

My four favorite knives are:

Spyderco G-10 Police (tip-down)
Benchmade 551 (tip-up)
Spyderco Micarta Calypso Jr. (tip-down)
Benchmade 556 (tip-up)

Good luck,
Allen.
 
I've tried tip down and was able to make it work, but never felt as comfortable with it as I did with my tip up knives.
 
I think it makes little difference.

If rapid deployment for self defense is your criteria, it's probably more important to just settle on one carry knife that you are thoroughly familiar with, for consistency in deployment.
 
I prefer tip up myself. I try to always put the clip on the same place on the folders I make (lock side so tip is up when it sits on your pocket.) unless someone asks for it to be mounted elsewhere.

I think many companies put the tip down configuration on their knives for safety reasons in case the blade were to open in the pocket. At least that is my guess. I have knives by Kershaw, Ka-Bar, Buck, Bench Made, and other high end folders as well as my beaters a Fury 17050 and the cheap Wichester from Wal-Mart and all have tip down pocket clips. Some utilize the pivot pins to mount the clip on the lock side of the knife and some make it easier to actually move them by using two to three little screws. By pulling out the little screws and re-tapping and threading the handle I can put it where I want on these knives.

I think more knife companies should offer the option. It would be a nice feature to see more knives like the old Spyderco Qs that had the body of the knife set up so you could put the clip in any of the four possible positions you wanted it.
 
I prefer tip down. I am left-handed, and I carry a knife with right-handed
tip down clip and dual studs. I find that it is simple to access and open the knife in this position with either hand. It is a simple matter to turn the back of my left hand inward and draw the knife with my thumb at the stud. Reaching across with my right hand to the left pocket, it is a simple operation to draw the knife and drag it into my palm with the thumb again positioned correctly. I have never understood the big deal about obtaining left-handed knives, since the right handed tip down knife in the left pocket is so handy for left-handers.
 
My Benchmade 943 gets carried tip up, that is the only way it can be carried with the pocket clip. I used to carry tip down but then I got this knife and I think that tip up is a little quicker to deploy. :D
 
I've got plenty of both and favor tip up by about one bean's worth, if that. But then I've never had a tip up open in my pocket. :eek:

My Chinook II can be tip up or down, right or left side.

I'm not sure what you mean by juggling on a tip up draw. :confused:
 
I prefer tip down.

With tip up, I will slide my index finger and thumb into my pocket as far as they will go and draw the knife. My thumb invariably ends up about 1 inch short of the thumb stud, so I will then have to try to juggle the knife to choke up on the handle before I can open it.

With tip down, I can draw the knife by grasping just the top of the knife by my thumb and forefinger - I can rotate my hand during the draw with a slightly loosened grip, allowing the knife to rotate into my palm. Once the knife hits my palm, my thumb can open the knife with no further adjustment. It's all one smooth, continuous (and very fast) motion. I also like the idea that I am less likely to slide my thumb down onto a half-opened blade in my pocket.
 
Trojanargus said:
This is kind of a newbie question, but no apologies ;)

I like to carry folders with a clip tip up so that when I put my hand on it my hand goes straight to the hole or stud for opening...

Bob
Click to expand...

I just checked this observation.With tip down(Spyderco Milie) I drew it from clipped in pocket and was at the hole end,rotating a little over 45 degrees to open. Then I tried an Endura (tip up) from clipped position had to slide thumb,fingers then thumb again to get to the hole and open.I don't see any problems with either method of carry but I can see for waving,either factory or home-made,tip up would be needed.tom.
 
Thanks guys. Clearly its me being cack handed with tip down. Guess more practice is in order! (Isn't it always?) :grumpy:

cheers all

Bob
 
Tip up, Tip down doesn't make a lot of difference to me for speed of deployment. However depending on the knife design, up or down can make a comfort difference. For example, Spyderco Paramilitary carries tip down, exposing an aggresive thumb ramp outside ones pocket. This is guaranteed to remove a little bark from ones hand whenever it is in the vacinity. If it was tip up, this knife would be close to my perfect EDC.
I don't know why manufacturers dont make their EDC's with both up/down and both sides to cater for all preferences.
 
It has a moveble clip for tip up, down, right and left side. Ive found it to be very safe of tip up carry even though it comes with a package insert warning against it. It has a ball bearing that must be overcome to open it, so its never open accidentally on me.
The flipper makes for quick deployment too.
 
I prefer tip down only cause it keeps the pivot further from the lint and dirt in my pocket.
I have both types tho.
Tom
 
TOB9595,

You're right!
I've never thought about the lint issue before.

I swear, I learn something everyday here on the forums.

Allen.
 
I prefer tip down, it just seems to lend itself to a smooth draw and open motion. But my tip-up folders don't bother me much.
 
If fast one handed deployment for SD purposes is your criteria then you need new friends :D

Tip down for me. A scramble down a loose slope with a slip and a roll (it got 9.8 from the russian judge :) ) and having a tip up knife open in my pocket, dangerously close to my crown jewels and my femoral artery made me a tip down convert for life.
 
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