Tip Up vs. Tip Down

H

HoosierQ

Joined
Feb 9, 2010
Messages
2,327
I see merit in both orientations. I do this:

  • Tip up when I have it clipped in the pocket far to the right. Rationale: I want my hand to go into my pocket against the backside and I don't want to pull my hand up against a blade that might be open a bit.
  • Tip down when I have it clipped in the pocked of a backpack or something that I will not be reaching past. Rationale: I don't want my hand to go down onto a blade that might be open a bit.

So I have my knives configured in both orientations depending on the intended method of carry. And yes, for the backpack carry, I have one knife deployed in the tip-down configuration and an identical (or equivalent) knife stored away in tip-up orientation in case I need to move it to my right front pocket.

I confess all this because in order to live with my OCD, I must confess them. My name is Quentin and I have OCDs.

Thanks for being a part of my recovery (which will fail on this OCD).
 
My first clip knives were the original Spyderco models with the clip molded into the FRN grips. The design was right side, tip up only. I carried one of those knives for over 10 years and tip up became second nature to me. Tip down feels wrong, like trying to use the knife backwards with my weak hand. I will no longer buy a knife that's only tip down for that reason.
 
HoosierQ said:
I confess all this because in order to live with my OCD, I must confess them. My name is Quentin and I have OCDs.

Thanks for being a part of my recovery (which will fail on this OCD).
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Don't feel bad. When it comes to knives, the majority of people on this forum have OCD. :D

Tip up - Tip down. Whatever floats your boat, mate. There's no right or wrong, just whatever works for you.
 
Tip down on a large folder has advantages for me because I feel its easier the grab and deploy the blade. I would have to creep my hand up the handle which is annoying for me.
 
Two of my folders are tip down.

Mini Skirmish- it only comes that way.
Skyline- I hate how pointy the handle looks sticking out of the pocket tip up. It only needs to sit 1/4" lower in the pocket and it would be perfect. So it is tip down now.
 
I completely understand the overthinking and OCD tendencies of how to carry your knives. I've settled into tip up as my preference for all but one case - clipped at the seam of my back right pocket. A Spyderco Military or Kershaw Leek carries well with the blade against the outside pocket seam, draws and opens in a smooth motion, and the tip of either knife then cannot be caught when reaching for a wallet. I'd be curious if your Mini Skirmish, jkwithawave, would be comfortable that way.

Cheers!
 
BenchCo Spydermade said:
Never trust people who carry tip down...EVER. Horrible human beings. No exceptions.
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I feel the same way about under-rollers (those freaks that put the toilet paper roll on so the paper emerges at the bottom, along the wall, instead of over the top).

If you carry tip down because a cool knife only comes that way, I'll permit it. If you carry tip down because you prefer it, I assume you have dozens of other signs of mental illness as well.
 
Generally prefer tip up in right pocket, but tip down on the Military just works and I prefer it that way.
 
Tip up always for me, military included. No need to walk the hand if you put your thumb deep in the pocket while grabbing it. Whatever makes anyone else happy is fine with me though.

 
Always tip down for me. Tip up just seems inherently dangerous. Even took the pocket clip off of my Kershaw Crown and pocket carry it. Won't buy a knife that is tip up carry as the only option.
Rich
 
Depends on the knife for me. Today, I'm carrying my Kershaw Knockout Elmax. I carry that tip down because it just feels more natural on that knife. The taper of the handle combined with the closed width at the pivot end make it feel like a guy dangling from a cliff by his fingertips when carried tip up (I'm not sure that makes sense, but it's how I feel about it). My Spyderco Delicas and Enduras are always tip up. Here's an interesting one. I rotate an Ontario Rat I and ESEE Avispa through my rotation. They're extremely similar designs, right. Rat always goes tip up, Avispa is always tip down. The reasoning for that is the Avispa's design. Tip up on the Avispa pushes the clip against the lockbar and makes opening and closing harder.
 
Depends on the knife but I prefer tip-up carry for modern one-handers. More comfortable with the spine against the seam of my pants when digging in the pocket for my keys or change. Tip-down feels better to me though if clipped to a vest, pack harness or inside a jacket pocket...

-Brett
 
evilgreg said:
I feel the same way about under-rollers (those freaks that put the toilet paper roll on so the paper emerges at the bottom, along the wall, instead of over the top).

If you carry tip down because a cool knife only comes that way, I'll permit it. If you carry tip down because you prefer it, I assume you have dozens of other signs of mental illness as well.
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Haha. :thumbup:
 
I will normally carry tip up because many knives come that way standard. Most spyderco wire clips are only tip up. Benchmades are mostly tip up, except frame locks which seem to be the opposite. I don't back pocket carry because my wallet goes in my RBP, and when I carry a knife with my wallet, the wallet gets torn up by the knife.

Two things that I would like to +1 so far.
One is the tip down for larger knives. My Contego is tip up, and it can be difficult to reach the studs without creeping up the large handle (deep carry clip with a 5+" handle). I would probably leave the a Military tip down for this reason (haven't owned one).
Second is the tip down due to lack of options. It is NOT a deal breaker for me, and I will not pass up on knives like the Mini Skirmish and LFTi and possibly others because they are too nice of knives to worry that much about clip placement.

Also Flippers are always tip up, except for Kershaw Leeks, because I think they look weird tip up. Tip down flippers work, but aren't as natural when tip down IMO.
 
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