Tip Up vs. Tip Down

JoHnYKwSt · Oct 20, 1999

CRK uses tip up because there is no room on the pivot end to put a clip. Many have asked to have their sebenzas modified for tip down carry and were turned down at every turn. Chris also believes tip up is more natural--draw and flick--than tip down.

Personally, I prefer tip up. I tried tip down and it didn't work out. However, on a larger folder I'd prefer tip down.

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Johnny
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David1967 · Oct 21, 1999

I would like to add one more question:

Why there is a lanyard hole in the handle of for example BM Stryker, when it is a tip down knife and the hole is deep in the pocket.

I have always thought that the string is there to allow faster drawing from the pocket.

David

PS: To answer the first question: I like tip up carry. I think it it more convenient.

ToddO · Oct 21, 1999

I much prefer tip down for two key reasons.

It sounds like most people clip carry in a front pocket. For this group, tip up may have an edge for a fast and secure draw. But what about waist band carry, opposite side carry, back side carry, or breast pocket carry? For all of these (front strong side waist band is my favorite), it seems as though tip down has the advantage. This is because you don't have to get half of your "properly aligned" hand down into the burried knife location. You only need to be able to pinch it between your thumb and forefinger at the exposed top of the knife.

The other advantage I see is once you have mastered your draw, it's always basically the same. Quite the contrary, with a tip up you will likely draw differntly for different blade lengths and carry positions. Front strong side pocket would be hand in with close to final grip position and thumb reference for openning. Waist band carry would be pinch draw, then ackwardly shift the knife. This is because you can't get your hand wedged between your belt and waist band and your thumb properly referenced down you pants). So on and so on...

Best Regards, ToddO

Brian_Turner · Oct 21, 1999

Mark me down for tip-up. The hand follows the handle straight down to the opening mechanism for standard openings, and the pinch-grip for drop openings is, IMO, impractical. This is why they wind up across the room.

HJK · Oct 22, 1999

For me, tip up. I generally carry right front pocket. Theoretically, something can be said for tip down, but tip up is more natural for me and I'm much faster and secure that way. My visceral memory is already set and I don't have another 10 years to change my ways. Arf, arf, cough, cough, arf. Re the risk of a partial opening in the pocket: I try to carry good knives and keep them adjusted. Chacun son gout.

storyville · Oct 22, 1999

I want to ditto David1967's question:

What's up w/the lanyard hole opposite the clip on tip-down folders?

Sure, the hole is theoretically for a lanyard in case you're working over "open water" or some other where dropping it means "forever." But in practical terms, it's more routinely used (for tip-up folders) for drawing -- a la Sebenza fob. (Yes, I'm one of those who keeps it on. More, I *replaced* the black hangman's fob w/a freckled blue nylon cord...)

Glen

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The piano has been drinking -Tom Waits

Corduroy · Oct 22, 1999

If you are using a lanyard to withdraw the knife from your pocket, why have a clip at all?

The lanyard serves three possible purposes:

1) Allows the knife to be carried loose in the pocket with the lanyard hanging out to retrieve it.

2) Secures the knife to the wrist so it may not be lost if dropped.

3) Can be wrapped around the lower fingers to prevent the hand from sliding onto the blade.

In the first case, a lanyard replaces the function of the clip. In the second two, their functions do not interfere with one another.

-Drew

clocker · Oct 22, 1999

I can say I've "lost time" on the opening when I change from tip down to tip up (now, what was it I had today? Or was that yesterday.)

I think it's just what a person gets used to having. I love the ones that have holes on both ends, everybodys happy, just move the clip or take it off.

Oh, if I had to choose I'd go with tip down.

cerulean · Oct 22, 1999

I agree with Corduroy and ToddO that hand size and knife size can make a difference with tip up carry. The point though, is that these variables don't effect tip down carry. Hand size and blade size don't matter with tip down carry, because the opening device is always located at the top of your pocket. On the other hand, if you have a large knife or small hand, tip up carry may be difficult and a "scoot" may have to be performed when drawing.

I also have to agree with Joe T. that the argument is somewhat overblown. When you're talking about differences in draw time, you're talking about fractions of seconds. And when you talk about the danger of a knife possibly unfolding in you pocket with tip up carry, your talking about something that rarely, if ever, happens to the average user. There ultimately isn't that big of difference.

Carl Jacobsen · Oct 22, 1999

I agree that the difference in opening time is not really substantial; then again, I'm not using the knife to defend myself, let alone trying to out-draw a rabid hummingbird or a rattlesnake in mid-strike

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I have, on the other hand, had occasion to cut myself reaching for a knife that had slightly opened (years ago, an old-style Delica, after vigorous exercise). The problem is, something else in your pocket may conspire to assist the knife in opening, and it only has to get the tip of the knife to clear the handle by a few millimeters, before it can either a) damage the hand reaching for it, or b) catch on your pocket/waistband on the way out and open further -- a slightly open tip-up knife will tend to open more when drawn, a slightly open tip-down knife will tend to close.

A tip-up knife carried against the pocket seam gets around much of this problem, but if it doesn't have a reversible clip, then by this logic it is limited to carry in the right front pocket. And I tend to resist carrying tip-up knives in my waistband for the same reasons. So I find tip-down knives to be more versatile for me than tip-up knives.