Tip-Down Vs Tip-Up?

[yorik]

Can someone help me in understanding the functional differences between Tip-Down and Tip-Up?

[Carlos]

The virtues of tip-down:

1. With a large knife that that has a blade hole, you can use "the drop" opening technique. (You flick the handle downwards while holding at the blade hole). Not a technique to be used in front of sheeple.

2. Generally considered safer to prevent the blade opening in one's pocket since the hinge is at top. But I know of a couple of cases where the blade opened, and in one case causing injury.


The virtues of tip-up:

1. When drawing the knife, instead of using the "pinch" methods as with tip-down, you actually get a firm grip on the handle -- it is more secure.

2. Some claim that it is less safe, but once the spine of the blade is against the seam of the pocket it is 100% secure, whereas tip-down can still swing open (unlikely but possible).

3. My personal reason: Ergonomics. I find that on larger clipits (3.5" to 4" blade class), tip-up moves the clip to the back half of the handle, which for me is a thousand times more comfortable, and allows for a more secure grip as well.


Speed:

1. You will find people that champion each design as being "faster." There is no consensus.

2. I personally think it best to stick with one design after trying both. Drawing and putting away the knife becomes an autonomic skill, so unless you are a master like Sal, you will probably be faster by sticking to one method.

Just my 2 Yen.

Edited by - Carlos on 11/26/00 9:49:58 AM

[yorik]

Thanks for this educated answer.
Since I’m carrying my Rookie inside with the clip behind the belt, I presume that Tip-Down should be my way, isn’t it. (In the Rookie” I can switch between them)

[Carlos]

Hi yorik,

I think that IWB (in-waist-band) carry would definitely be safer with the tip down, since there is nothing to secure the blade against.

Clip position is a hotly debated topic, so there will no doubt be more responses and differing opinions soon. But since today is Sunday things are more quiet than usual. Give it a couple of days.

[yorik]

Thanks again Carlos

[cerulean]

Here comes the hot debate! <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

I think &quot;drop&quot; opening a tip down knife is clearly the fastest method; much faster than a regular tip up or tip down method. However, one could make a strong argument that drop opening is nothing more than a useless novelty technique. Drop opening is certainly insecure and it leaves you with a grip that's not very versatile.

I'm not sure where the argument comes from that a tip up draw is more secure than a regular tip down one. Unless I'm missing something, it seems like the draws are essentially done the same way. With a tip up knife, you slide your thumb into your pocket, press it against the handle, then &quot;index&quot; the clip (and/or the very small portion of the handle sticking out of your pocket) by grabing it with one or more of your fingers, and then withdraw the knife. That's exactly what you do with a tip down opening, except your thumb lands near the pivot and your fingers don't curl.

I reckon tip up and tip down draws are about equally fast and equally secure. If you want to argue the minutia though, you could consider that with a tip up carry, the opening implement, be it hole, stud, or disk, will always be farther down in your pocket, and therefore less accessible. If it's a large knife, you may have to &quot;scoot&quot; up the handle after you draw it in order to reach the hole with your thumb. Also, a knife that's carried tip up will, when fully open, have the tip pointing uselessly down. You'll have to turn it 90 degrees to get the tip pointing forward and 180 degrees to get the tip pointing up and poised for a slash or downward cut. A tip down knife opens into this position naturally.

Of course, all of the above arguments deal with extraordinarily minor details that only an insane knife knut would consider to be worth talking about. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle> Saftey should be a real concern though. It's true that a tip up knife only needs to open a fraction of an inch for the point to snick your fingers. However, if you carry the knife in your back pocket, this seems less likely because your hand doesn't come in on the blade side when drawing.

With a tip down knife, I just can't see any way to cut your fingers. You don't have to worry about keeping the blade firmly pressed against the seam, or having a good detent or strong backspring: gravity does your work for you. Even if it does open though, and possibly to a large degree, your fingers still aren't near the edge or point when drawing.

[yorik]

Thanks cerulean, I must say that after 3 years of using the Rookie, Tip-Down looks to me the most natural and safety way to carry the knife.