Why are most cheap knives tip down only?

Maybe it wasn't against the seam. I am not sure and it was a few years ago. But, I assure you it did open up and stab me!
I don't carry big folders hiking now clipped in pocket anyway, they go in a belt sheath, because I've had brush hook the clip and yank them out.
 
If you carry tip down clipped in your pocket, you grasp the knife with your thumb and your crook'd index finger. As the knife comes out of the pocket you just naturally grasp it with the rest of your fingers, your thumb is on the thumbstud to flick it open. Leastways it is with the cheap clip knives that I carry daily.
 
jill, I know you said you weren't sure, but as for the rest of you: how were you carrying your tip up knives that they poked you? Were they against the seam? I just really can't see how it could poke you with the blade snugged against the edge of the pocket. I can look at a tip down configuration and see immediately how it has the potential to open in a pocket and cut your hand as you draw it back out.
 
I don't see this relationship.

I prefer tip-down on my larger knives, as it is the fastest for me (size 10 (Large) hands), but I also like tip-up on my smaller knives.

When I draw the knife from my pocket by pinching on a tip-down knife, I'll just flick the handle into my hand (pendulum action) and open the blade as per usual.
When pinching the knife from the pocket on a tip-up knife I suppose I do it like everyone else, but if the handle is larger (longer),
I must re-grip or juggle the handle in order to reach the thumb-stud, opening-hole or whatever, so it's slower. If it's a smaller knife, it's faster than tip-down (for me).

Sometimes I do find though, that tip-up knives can snag on their thumb-studs (if they have them and depending on how much they protrude) and open much like a Emerson or wave-modded knife, which I DON'T like.
Sure, one can mind this, but I never need to worry about that particular issue with a tip-down knife.

I have around 15-20 folders and they have their equal share of either setup. It depends on the knife. I get with it, just like I do when driving a car with stick-shift or one with an automatic transmission. I prefer a stick-shift in a agile car and an automatic in a commuter. Doesn't make any of them cheaper than the other.
 
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stoffi said:
When I draw the knife from my pocket by pinching on a tip-down knife, I'll just flick the handle into my hand and open the blade as per usual.
When pinching the knife from the pocket on a tip-up knife I suppose I do it like everyone else, but if the handle is larger (longer),
I must re-grip or juggle the handle in order to reach the thumb-stud, opening-hole or whatever, so it's slower. If it's a smaller knife, it's faster than tip-down (for me).
Click to expand...

No matter which orientation, tip-up or -down, I have to "hike" the knife in my hand a bit before I'm ready to open it, with the exception of most flippers, which I can usually open without much shifting, regardless of how it clips to my pocket.
 
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