Comments on: 6 Reasons for Tip-Down Carry

By: John

John — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 16:07:40 +0000

In reply to Mike McKenna. Been cut twice with tip up after a key slightly tugged at the stud, giving me a 1/4" cut while reaching for the key ring. My PM2 & Fallkniven PXL carried tip down have never done that, nor has any non-locking folder that simply rests in the pocket. Tip up is dangerous, tip down is safer. Period. This ain't no gun, and I don't need a quick draw...but simply not getting cut by a very sharp knife in my pocket matters.

By: Dmcg1221

Dmcg1221 — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 23:11:23 +0000

In reply to Peter Winding. A lot. Sounds like you need to get out more.

By: Dmcg1221

Dmcg1221 — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 23:09:49 +0000

In reply to JAM.

That incident should have made you immediately switch to tip down. If somehow the detent fails on a tip down knife that isn’t spring loaded then gravity is just going to keep it in place in fact the detent Can’t Fail on a non spring loaded tip down knife because of gravity. If it is spring loaded which I don’t really endorse (because I’ve found a good knife will open like greased lightning without a spring) then it’s not going to really be able to do any damage because the Springs aren’t very strong in the first place and you’re immediately going to know there’s something wrong with your knife so you will be able to fix it right away. I really can’t condone tip up as a viable option for anyone in any situation. It’s just a less safe, slower to deploy option.

By: MikeTheWonderDog

MikeTheWonderDog — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 07:24:09 +0000

My normal working knife is a traditional 3-blade stockman. It gets called on to open packages, trim excess hardened caulk, cut off a piece of cloth, carve a stick for a quick stopper. Stays in my left back jeans pocket.

But I occasionally carry a knife for the possibility of dealing with social problems, and it’s one of several that I rotate carrying clipped to right front pocket, tip up. I practice quickly drawing/flipping them open. And that knife (those knives) NEVER are called on for any edge dulling task. They are to remain sharp for one and only one purpose.

I’ve never had to draw a knife for protection. It probably helps that I’m big and have one weird evil-looking eye. It probably also helps that the protection knife is slightly visible clipped to my pocket. People who might be inclined to cause problems tend to note such things.

By: Stephen R

Stephen R — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 12:15:33 +0000

I carry fixed blade every day now and only add a folder as sort of a after thought as a second or third knife. That means I’ll typically carry my Esee 3 on my right hip and my Izula in my off hand cargo pocket. My pocket carry would be in my off hand front pocket, tip up for now but that may change. Since my folder options are never primary carry and all small, I may just end up pouch or kydex carrying horizontal at 11 o’clock. In the past, before I switched to fixed blade carry, my folders were tip up. Sometimes with a clip, sometimes with out. Any knife that became too easy to open wasn’t carried anymore. No reason to stab myself just to carry a knife.

By: Austin

Austin — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 21:38:26 +0000

In reply to Mr. Prepared.

Lol you just compared EDC clip/tip preference with morally impacting decisions post-apocalypse, what an enormous jump to extremes – you might be putting up with Unpreferred* things in life in anticipation of a zombie take-over. My friend please enjoy yourself and try things you like rather than putting up with what you don’t like. Much love!

My 2 cents would be to carry what is most comfortable because accidents can always happen, just learn from mistakes and accidents to improve your experience along the way. The safest would be to get opposite carry clip and use tip down so a right handed person could have the knife pointed down and toward the crease in the pocket so it won’t ever be able to fully open, but you lose comfort. Somewhere in the middle is each of our own unique compromises. Everyone shall be different. For example I won’t ever be going clipless in the back pocket to look cool with the spydiedrop because I prefer tip up right handed in the right pocket. It’s just most natural feeling to me and maybe one day things will change, that’s the beauty of a preference. It’s up to you baby.

By: Joe S.

Joe S. — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 20:19:40 +0000

In reply to Chuck. The only way? And you’ve carried a pocket knife for 40 years?

By: Andrew Husser

Andrew Husser — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 15:11:02 +0000

I had a well known brand folding knife with a lattice type handle/grip. (I can’t remember and I don’t have the knife anymore) The spaces were too wide in the grip and one day I found I was bleeding after going into my pocket for change my finger was able to contact the edge through the lattice.

By: Scott Wilson

Scott Wilson — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 20:43:33 +0000

I just purchased a Kershaw Gaylean Launch 7. What a beautiful knife. I was not paying attention to which way was the tip pointing and in a lot of knives it’s reversible. This was one of my only knives I’ve purchased that was a tip up carry. I attempted many times to get used to pulling it out but it is such a long knife I had to change my grip to get to the launch button. Alas, what I found is Kershaw at this time makes no tip down automatics that I could find. They make beautiful knives so I had to send my knife back for a return and not start a search for another beautiful usable tip up automatic or a spring loaded flipper.

By: Peter Winding

Peter Winding — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 15:42:33 +0000

I wonder how many situations there really are where people have to draw their knife fast. Are all these knife people Rambo? I only have one pocket knife and since I mostly bring it to slice apples and bread and the occasional plastic/cordboard box, it makes no difference whatsoever. I get the one-hand action deployment is preferable in many work situations. But I have never been in a situation that required me to draw it like a gunman. Doubt I ever will. Mine goes tip-down btw.