I have had a 291 for a couple weeks now and it has definitely found a place in my EDC rotation. Lightweight, quick as a snap to open, and the ATS-34 is everything it should be. To answer some of your questions.... the Tip Up puts the bottom of the blade (the part you pull to open the knife) right at your fingertip - no fumbling - its there! (And BTW - it is actually part of the blade you pull to begin the opening process. It is not a "blade release." Once you begin to open the blade, by either pulling on the back of the blade, or using the thumbstud, the spring kicks in and finishes the opening process.) The Cam Lock does not engage automatically. You must manually lock the knife. But once locked, it is just as easy to un-lock as the Cam is postioned right at your fingertip, thanks to the Tip Up carry. The lock-up is solid on mine - no wobble side-to-side or up and down. All in all, it is a knife I have recomended to several guys I work with without hesitation.
My only "complaint," if you want to call it that, is that I have found occasionally, when closing the knife, the spring gives enough resistance and I have to think about what I'm doing. With my other liner locks closing is almost an automatic function. I open, I cut, I close - so routine that it happens almost without thought. But this is something minor, to me, and does not detract from the knife enough for me not to carry it.
If you are asking for a review prior to purchasing.... go get one now!! You will not be disappointed.
