Tried Tip down carry today

LeathermanGX -- btw...didn't realize that was you on post #53 until I looked again but, when you get a chance, would you please post the name or order number of that Kobalt torx rig you have...and where you picked it up? That's about the slickest I've seen and I want one. I assume you like it.
 
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I carry in the pocket thats inside the right pocket, whats it called? Zippo pocket? Doesn't matter tip up or down. I prefer tip up blade opening toward front and use the lanyard to pull it out.
 
whp said:
I agree with this. If I find a knife I really like that is assisted opening, I try to discover on the forums if it can be deassisted before I buy it.
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I prefer manual one-hand opening or flippers, but A/O can be nice (although I can't think of any reason to really NEED to deploy a knife so quickly).

That said, I AM glad one-hand opening in general is a "thing" these days. I like slipjoints and manual two-hand knives, but to my detriment. I use a cane and unless I'm sitting, opening a two-handed knife is very awkward (although I like them enough that I find myself carrying them often, regardless).
 
ev13wt said:
I carry in the pocket thats inside the right pocket, whats it called? Zippo pocket? Doesn't matter tip up or down. I prefer tip up blade opening toward front and use the lanyard to pull it out.
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That's generally the pocket into which a gentleman's pocket watch would go.
 
EChoil said:
LeathermanGX -- btw...didn't realize that was you on post #53 until I looked again but, when you get a chance, would you please post the name or order number of that Kobalt torx rig you have...and where you picked it up? That's about the slickest I've seen and I want one. I assume you like it.
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Sorry it took so long to reply. I couldn't find it online. Web pages suck when you're looking for something specific. I had to get to the store for the item numbers. I bought it at Lowes in Monroe Washington. Hope you can see the numbers on the pic okay.
http://www.lowes.com

 
I prefer tip down on any knife pushing close to 4" or more, as it makes for a lot more smooth opening.

But I don't like assisted opening, so that helps.
 
I carry tip up and my Sebenza got me one day. Not sure if I didn't close the blade all the way but put my hand in my pocket and it got me. Not bad, but enough to always make the blade is closed fully. I don't carry any thing in that pocket any more either.
 
Have a Pro Tec auto and went to get some change from my pocked and needed stitches in my finger. Tip up carry. Just need to be more careful with knives that open so easy.
 
I carry some tip up and some tip down. It depends on the pocket and the knife.
To the OP, I also frequently carry a zt350 in M390, and I carry it tip down, but I always carry it with the knife spine against the seem of whatever pocket it's in.
 
I would never carry an assisted flipper folder tip-down, that's just an accident waiting to happen. I think people sometimes get confused since more and more knives these days are drilled out for all four carry positions. The only safe way I can imagine to carry an assisted flipper tip-down, would be if you carried it in your back pocket, or if you reversed the clip orientation e.g. clipped for LFP tip-down but carried in your RFP. Even without a flipper, accidents can happen carrying assisted knives tip down unless they have a safety mechanism like the one SOG uses. No matter whether you carry up or down, the spine of that blade should always be sandwiched against your pocket seam to avoid accidents. With unassisted knives, there's not as much need to be picky, it's all up to personal preference. Even manual flippers, like the CRKT M16 & M21 seem to be okay for tip down carry because of the ball detent. The problem with assisted knives is that they usually are held closed only by pressure from a torsion bar, which can pop the blade open with very little pressure. I can only speak to my own experience, but I bump into door frames & other obstacles with my hips often enough that this sort of accident would really worry me.
 
I think people sometimes get confused since more and more knives these days are drilled out for all four carry positions.
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Confused?! I've been carrying tip down for 25 years.
The only safe way I can imagine to carry an assisted flipper tip-down, would be if you carried it in your back pocket
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I learned my lesson against back pocket carry 22 years ago. Busted off 2 plastic clip Enduras. Straightened out a metal clip. I'll never carry back pocket again. As for assisted openers, I have 8 and none of them have the option of tip up. My only manual flipper too. Your argument makes no sense to anyone that carries tip down.
 
So I switched the ZT to tip up carry like all my other knives (non-assisted) and it still didn't give me a lot of confidence. The spine of the knife is against the seam, however being AO, it could easily push some of the pants out of the way, and at least partially open. The flipper being on the side where my hands/keys/etc. are going, could easily activate.

I'm thinking I just need to de-assist this one. I've never been a fan of assisted openers to begin with, and this is the only knife I own that has it.
 
ijustdontknow said:
Try using a flipper with tendonitis in your elbow. I love AO.
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I operate my flipper with my first finger. My elbow isn't involved.

And that particular knife is only tip up unfortunately for me. Today I'm carrying a Benchmade 581, which is also only tip-up. Someone watching closely when I pull it out would be amused- I pull it out by the butt end then I have to toss it up in the air and catch it in the correct orientation for opening otherwise I would have to use 2 hands to open it.
 
Dunno if mentioned already, but while I like my large Gerber Harsey Air Ranger II, it's tip-down. The lanyard hole is deep in my pocket so it doesn't aid in anything except looking cool if I put a nifty lanyard with a fancy bead or something on it (which I would do). My old Cold Steel Voyager was tip-up but as I carry in my back pocket it was never a problem, though I did wonder about accidentally opening on drawing if it caught on the seam of my pocket. Not relevant anymore, though, as my wife's great-aunt stole it from me when we stayed at her house once (yeah, the old thing horked my knife, can you believe it?).

For me now, It's a lanyard issue, though.

Zieg
 
ijustdontknow said:
Try using a flipper with tendonitis in your elbow. I love AO.
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I actually struggle with AOs more than any other mechanism...although I do struggle with flippers too if the flipper isn't a primary design and more of a secondary add-on. I find AXIS the least painful mechanism to use for both open and close (especially after I take it apart and tune it to how I prefer it to be), and Emerson's Wave and the SpyderHole easiest for open (but all Emersons and many Spydercos much harder to close). Frame locks are kind of the red headed step child given I find some super easy and others eternally frustrating.
 
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