Tip up vs Tip Down: Does it matter, and why?

I like tip-up in a pants pocket but tip-down in a shirt pocket. It has to do with how I draw the closed knife and where my finger is relative to the flipper tab.
 
@TheFactor ---> I noticed that most of the tip down models are usually automatics or AO folders, it probably make sense to be that way because when you draw the knife out of the pocket, the thumb falls very close to the opening button and you can bring your hand with the knife up without worrying about locking, the spring locks the blade much more reliably than the human factor... :D
On the other hand when I draw a folder out of the pocket via fob, I like to ride the opening tab/disk and open the knife by my leg, bringing it up after it's locked, it's easy to do this also if you just flip it and use the gravity...
I draw knife tens of times every day, always like to ride the blade to positive feedback that it's locked and than bring it up and use it. Honestly I don't have any issues with hole for opening mechanism, but prefer thumb stud or disk for the simple reason that it gives me much better positive feedback on my thumb phalange when dirty/wet/cold (not much in FL ha ha ha...) than to rely on the feeling of my tip of the thumb... I guess different people use it differently, I apply most of the safety rules for firearms to my knives as much as this can look weird...
In my case fobs helps me tremendously because I'm used to grabbing it with my pinky and ring finger and draw the knife regardless if it's a waved blade ( that I prefer) or any other knife. I'm using one knife few months, current Manix LX S90V will round almost a year I think, and than I "retire" them, but putting the fob on the clip helps me not to deal with it when disassembling the knife to clean it, my knives get dirty a lot...
It was interesting thread here about a year or two back, about all the fobs and such people attach to their knives.:thumbsup:
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POCEH KOCEB said:
I noticed that most of the tip down models are usually automatics or AO folders, it probably make sense to be that way because when you draw the knife out of the pocket, the thumb falls very close to the opening button
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I have the same experience- when I pull a knife out my thumb is right on the end of the knife that was sticking out of the pocket. So if it was an automatic yes my thumb would be very close to the opening button, but for my typical knife with blade hole it follows that my thumb would be on the hole. If the knife is tip up then my thumb is on the wrong end of the knife and I have to let go of the knife, let it drop down into my hand, and then grab it as it falls in order to get my thumb on the opening hole. In normal use this is second nature and not a problem. If I was up on a ladder or otherwise stressed or in a precarious position, this would not be completely safe and I would be at risk of losing the knife. Therefore tip down is faster and more secure for me. I still carry my Manix 2 tip up though.
 
I don’t really care much either way.

What makes my decision is how strong the detent is.

I honestly don’t like how easy a lot of modern folders are to open. I personally prefer a knife that stays shut until I’m opening it with intent. I still use them, but for those I carry tip up, right side.

It also makes a difference to me how comfortable the knife is in relation to the clip orientation.
 
I prefer tip up. But really it just matters how well I like the knife. Also if it carries better/deeper tip down as a handful of knives do
 
I like tip up for longer knives and tip down for short.

For short, when I reach in my hand is in position to grip the knife right away. With a larger knife, I'll have to readjust regardless and can get it open quicker because my thumb is at the opener right away.
 
I usually prefer tip up for front right pocket and tip down for rear right pocket
So I depends on the ergonomics and size of the knife and where I prefer to carry it
 
Tip up. Has nothing to do with blade orientation, but with how the clip feels in my hand. I don't like the way a clip feels when under my index and middle fingers, it feels better and more natural under my ring and pinky.

Other than that, tip down is fine. I actually carried tip down for a while until I got a knife that was tip up. Then I started swapping all the clips!
 
I like tip up now but it depends on the knife. Many years ago my family ordered me a custom knife for my birthday. The maker, who has done designs for a major knife mfg., delivered the knife on schedule. The knife was tip up and it had gimping on the blade. As the knife was drawn from my jeans the gimping grabbed the jeans and the blade partially opened. Almost got cut badly. Went to see the maker and show him my issue. He had me leave the knife and in about 1 week called and said my knife was ready to pick up. He replaced parts and made it tip down. I might have the only knife of this model made by him with tip down. Since then I have purchased other knives with tip up and have not run into this problem. So like I said it depends on the knife. Love the knife by the way.
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kreole said:
when I reach in my hand is in position to grip the knife right away
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Reach into what? Reach into your pocket?
When I have a knife clipped in my pocket I can't put my hand in the pocket to grab the knife, so I have to grab the part of the knife that is sticking out of the pocket.
If I could put my hand in my pocket I don't know how that would help though because the knife would be up against the back of my hand and my fingers don't bend around that way. Maybe rotate my arm around so my palm is facing outwards?
 
Most of the time I prefer tip up, but it's not necessary a deal breaker. For me, it mostly depends on the shape of the knife closed. The wider/taller side goes to the bottom of the pocket most of the time. And that's so I can reach in my front right pocket easier for my wallet or keys.
So mostly for comfort. I never really have trouble opening a knife from tu/td position.
 
bdmicarta said:
Reach into what? Reach into your pocket?
When I have a knife clipped in my pocket I can't put my hand in the pocket to grab the knife, so I have to grab the part of the knife that is sticking out of the pocket.
If I could put my hand in my pocket I don't know how that would help though because the knife would be up against the back of my hand and my fingers don't bend around that way. Maybe rotate my arm around so my palm is facing outwards?
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I can see how that's confusing. I didn't write it well. What I meant was for a smaller knife I stick my thumb in the pocket and rest of the hand grabs the knife from the outside, basically in place how it will be used but with the pant material between hand and knife. As I pull it out, my hand is already in place.
 
Depends on the knife. Some I won't want tip-down. My Mini SOCOM auto, for example, is tip-down only, and it's opened itself a few times in my pocket, once cutting my finger (not badly), and a couple times cutting my pockets, with a scratch to my leg once. I've wanted to get it drilled for tip-up carry. My Kershaw Speedsafes (a few Leeks, a Blur) all get carried tip-up for the same reasons.

Other knives, I don't care as much. I prefer tip-up, and carry all tip-up that give the option of tip-up or tip down (Sydercos and Kershaws mostly). I don't mind that my Calypso Jr. is tip-down only, since it rides so low in the pocket. I didn't like that the Military was tip-down only, but probably wouldn't have cared as much if it didn't stick out of the pocket so high (and any fold-over clip would make it uncomfortable). I kinda want a Police LW K390 (I don't need a pocket sword, but that doesn't mean I don't kinda want one), and I'll have to try it both ways, and with a deep carry clip.
 
If you carry tip up the blade must be secure from coming open.
Learned that the hard way when a CRKT M16 opened in my pocket and received a nasty cut going in to my pocket.
As far as tactical advantage....... Never been in a situation that the box I was
opening or anything I was cutting was going to attack me.
 
I prefer tip up. I don't like having the clip at the front of the knife where it can interfere with my grip and I don't have to reposition it as much to open it.
 
i prefer tip down, all my microtech are tip down. my bugout is the only knife i own that is tip up.
 
The only time I really thought about it is when I had a knife with a back flipper tip up in my pocket, I reached my hand in and must have pushed the flipper or somehow it got pushed, so the blade was open and it poked my hand....just a little. Then I realized it had opened before because it put a small hole in my pants leg. So now I think more about tip down carry. That is if it has a clip. Most of mine are in a slip or small nylon pouch.
 
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