I have noticed in some recent [and past] posts, that some spydernuts prefer the 'tip up' carrying position while others find the 'tip down' method more comfortable/useful. I was just curious as to WHY you would prefer one method over the other. This is just a 'perk' of mine, to try to better understand the many different ideas of other Spyderco-intoxicated people out there, as to their input and views on their knives. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>
This is NOT a test...<img src="tongue.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle> [Ahh, I always wanted to say that...<img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>]
Thanks for your input!
~Spydernut
Your Preference: Tip Up vs. Tip Down
When I was first introduced to clip knives it was via tip-down. Once I tried tip-up I made the switch 100%.
When you withdraw a tip-up knife from your pocket, your thumb is already in the hole, and you pull the closed knife right into your hand, already in the correct opening position as you draw. I find this to be the fastest and most secure way to carry.
With tip-down I have to pinch the top of the handle to withdraw the closed knife, let it pivot into my hand as it clears the pocket, then shift my grip and move my thumb to the hole so that I can open it.
Edited by - Carlos on 1/13/2002 12:19:27 AM
When you withdraw a tip-up knife from your pocket, your thumb is already in the hole, and you pull the closed knife right into your hand, already in the correct opening position as you draw. I find this to be the fastest and most secure way to carry.
With tip-down I have to pinch the top of the handle to withdraw the closed knife, let it pivot into my hand as it clears the pocket, then shift my grip and move my thumb to the hole so that I can open it.
Edited by - Carlos on 1/13/2002 12:19:27 AM
Through circomstance I have always had until reciently tip down, and because speed draws have never been needed it has never been an issue.
Reciently I got my first tip up. Surprisingly, because I have always had tip down the draw, open and swivel is so instinctive I don't even think about it and I have yet to be able to do it any faster with the tip up.
I'm yet to be convinced of the speed increase in a tip up knife, but I do aknowledge that in a "tactical" situation it affords a more secure grip straight from the draw.
In tip down carry the hand doesn't have to move so far as it is just gripping the top of the knife, but on the draw the grip needs to be light so the knife can swivel into position.
On tip up the hand needs to move slightly further into the pocket for the thumb to be near the opening hole, which means the arm needs to make a bigger motion to clear the pocket. The advantage is that the grip never changes throughout, so the knife is always secure.
As far as I can tell all these differences in speed / arm movements are VERY slight, and have yet to notice a real difference.
"Walk softly, but carry a big stick."
Reciently I got my first tip up. Surprisingly, because I have always had tip down the draw, open and swivel is so instinctive I don't even think about it and I have yet to be able to do it any faster with the tip up.
I'm yet to be convinced of the speed increase in a tip up knife, but I do aknowledge that in a "tactical" situation it affords a more secure grip straight from the draw.
In tip down carry the hand doesn't have to move so far as it is just gripping the top of the knife, but on the draw the grip needs to be light so the knife can swivel into position.
On tip up the hand needs to move slightly further into the pocket for the thumb to be near the opening hole, which means the arm needs to make a bigger motion to clear the pocket. The advantage is that the grip never changes throughout, so the knife is always secure.
As far as I can tell all these differences in speed / arm movements are VERY slight, and have yet to notice a real difference.
"Walk softly, but carry a big stick."
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Clay Kesting
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- Location: Sydney Australia
I prefer tip-up. The draw is much more secure with the whole of the knife already in the hand when it is drawn and it doesn't need to be rotated (I prefer to thumb open). I've often seen it written that a you are more likely to cut yourself if a tip-up knife opens in your pocket. Personally I can't see it, your thumb runs down the back of the knife well away from the tip and, in any case, the seam of the pocket should prevent the blade opening. OTOH I've seen several instances of people being cut when a tip-down knife opened when they were running. Of course this only aplies to other brands which don't have a decent ball indent, it'd never happen with a Spydie <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>.
Having said all that I carry both tip-up and tip-down. One advantage of tip-down is that the knife is usually less conspicuous as there is less knife showing above the clip.
Clay
"The trouble is that you think you have time."
Having said all that I carry both tip-up and tip-down. One advantage of tip-down is that the knife is usually less conspicuous as there is less knife showing above the clip.
Clay
"The trouble is that you think you have time."
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Sword and Shield
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- Location: USA
I think it depends on what you use your knife for, but I agree with mostly everyone here. I have noticed that tip-up makes it easier to open the knife as soon as you get it out of your pocket (Carlos explains it very clearly). I have not had to use one of my Spydies for self-defense yet, so once I do (hopefully never), I will let you know what I think in that context. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>
Kahz
Kahz
It depends on the size of the knife. Tip-up for small to medium sized knives. Tip-down for larger (longer) knives. As I grip the knife in my pocket, I want my thumb to reach and make contact with the opening device (whether it be a Spyderhole or thumb stud/disk). Tip-up or tip-down seem to work with most Spydercos since none are exceptionally large. On my Rekat Sifu and Cold Steel Gunsite (two large knives with tip-up clip configuration), I think tip-down would have been more effective. Sometimes, the design of the knife or materials used precludes one or the other clip placement (e.g. bolster and/or scale material). This is just my personal opinion and preference.
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aero_student
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- Location: Folsom, CA, USA, Earth USA
I prefer tip-up also, for the reasons others have mentioned ... what's great about Spyderco, though, is that the product line is split almost 50/50 between tip-up and tip-down models (I count 16 out of 34 knives in the catalog as tip-up). What's interesting is that most of the custom collaboration knives are tip-down, except for the Bob Lum models.