Tip up vs tip down carry

If it happens to open where do you want it... up in the air.. or down on your leg :)
 
I like tip up, but truth be told, I don't really care a whole lot.
 
Couldn't really care less as long as it doesn't open when it shouldn't, like in my pocket.
 
I prefer tip up carry. I actually had a little incident with my HK Mini ascender this weekend. It is geared for tip down carry only. I was wearing some rather light, basketball type shorts doing some things in the backyard carrying the mini in my right pocket. Kneeling and getting up and so forth. Somehow, the blade on the knife opened and cut through my shorts! Luckily I had on a paracord bracelet on my right wrist that got caught on the blade. Nearly cut through one of the paracord strands. Anyway I looked down at what my bracelet caught on and I see about a 1/2 inch of blade sticking out of my shorts! I shudder to think of what else that blade may have cut... my hand being the least of my worries :D Anyway tip up is better for me :thumbup:
 
I carry in which ever orientation is more comfortable when I stick my hand in my pocket. Seems tip up is most comfy for me.
 
No pros and cons, just preference. The design of some knives will favor one or the other, like waved blades for instance. Some makers also choose to have one type of orientation in their designs, but that doesn't bother me. I'll carry them tip-up, down, left, right, its not hard to adapt.
 
I always carry tip up, except for the Subrosa which cant. Easier to draw and deploy ready for use. Or maybe its just what I'm used to.
 
Tip up is the only way to deploy a waved knife. Tip down is the only way to go for flippers and assisted openers, methinks.

It really is all preference. Mine? I have none. Both are fine in my book.
 
Scurvy092 said:
Whatever works best for you. Top down gets a lot of hate but if you know the proper method for drawing it works just as well, if not better than tip up. It's also the only way to carry back pocket.
Click to expand...

Tip up carry in the back pocket is very do-able. RH tip up goes in back left perfectly. Waves out very nicely from there.
 
Charlie_K said:
So as someone who doesn't understand the matter all that well, what are the pros and cons of each carry method with regard to everyday utilitarian purposes, and in cases where your pocket knife also serves as a defensive tool?
Click to expand...

OK, I'll tell all... most of this is geared towards right-hand carry in your front pocket.

With a long knife in tight jeans, tip-down positions the knife in your hand better for opening. With a short knife or large pockets it doesn't matter so much. A waved knife only works if carried tip-up.

If you like to use lanyards to help with your grip or to help with drawing the knife then you have to carry tip-up.

Security- tip-up in a righthand pocket positions the blade against the side of the pocket and can hold the blade closed. This only works in the right-front pocket. Tip-up in any other position can allow your hand to hit the sharp blade if the blade opens in your pocket. Tip-down doesn't hold the blade closed but also doesn't expose your hand to injury if you put your hand in the pocket while the blade is partially open.

I prefer tip-down carry but I have some knives that only operate tip-up. I've never had a blade open in my pocket. YMMV.
 
Odin's Son said:
Tip up puts the knife in proper hand position when drawing it from your pocket.
Click to expand...

I have short wide hands. There are a few knives...heavy and long handled Spydies, LARGE knives without Wave where I can't reach the opening mechanism or gravity deploy... that work well (best?) for me tip down. I personally don't buy knives limited to this option, and have sold dozens of them once I got religious about it. It's sad too...so many gorgeous knives that are on my "restricted" list. I was bummed that the Ti Military wasn't tip up.

EldoEsq said:
Tip down...that is how my Blur came 7 years ago, and what I became used to!
Click to expand...

It's interesting how things work...I went tip up after I accidentally triggered the Speedsafe on my first Blur pulling my keys out of my pocket and hopping in the car...and nicked my leg close to, um, my best friend. :)

Much like anything...try it all and do what works best for you.
 
Last edited:
Odin's Son said:
Tip up puts the knife in proper hand position when drawing it from your pocket.
Click to expand...

I've tried this many times and I don't get it. I've watched videos on youtube and the only people I found that made it work seemed to be wearing pajamas while they made their videos. I don't wear pajamas even IN my house, much less outside of my house and I can't make tip up carry work with my tight jeans. I'm carrying my Spyderco Vallotton this week which is tip-up only and I don't mind carrying it so much but it takes several additional steps after I pull the knife out before I can open it. With my tip-down knives when they come out of my pocket my thumb is right on the opening device. With my tip-up knives the closest I can get my thumb to the opening device is about 2 inches so once the knife comes out I have to squirm around for a few seconds before I can open it.
 
I prefer tip up, but it is not a deal breaker if a knife is tip down only. Tip up is more natural, quicker, and has less of a chance of me dropping it. I was carrying my Leek a couple weeks back and drew it kind of fast. It slipped out of my hand and I pretty much threw it down the aisle I was working on (grocery store). (I know the Leek can be tip up, but I stripped the screw taking the pocket clip off once)
 
Scurvy092 said:
Into the reverse grip?
Click to expand...

Yes sir. Works like a charm. Probably more consistent from pants to pants because back pocket configuration doesn't change a whole lot. Front pockets are all very different depending on brand and cut. At least in my limited pant wearing experience.:D
 
I had a negative experience with a tip down knife, so I only carry knives that are tip up since the blade rests against the back of your pocket. I carried a Benchmade Aphid that slightly opened in my pocket without my knowledge. When I reached in my pocket to grab my keys, my hand was spiked by the blade. It could have been much worse, so I stopped carrying tip down.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top