Show me how you carry your tips

[RLDubbya]

Recently went down on a bike, with PM2 tip up, IWB of board shorts. Hard landing and a roll. Knife stayed closed.

Most innovative scar of the year award! Freakin' awesome!

[Surfingringo]

I'm really surprised anyone (Lance/modded Military) would carry any knife IWB with tip up. That seems like the most likely way to have a knife open accidentally because gravity will want to pull the blade open. At least in a pocket you can clip it so the blade is up against the side of your pocket. With tip down the blade can only open so far and gravity won't pull it down and open.

FAR safer than tip down IWB if carrying at 1:00-1:30 like I do. The spine of the blade rests in the fold between abdomen and thigh and the thigh acts the same way as the seem of a pocket. The act of walking is constantly putting pressure on the spine and keeping it closed (or closing it if it were to partially open). Even sitting down with a partially open blade is relatively safe as your thigh will naturally push against the spine of the blade (depending on carry position and body type).

Tip down, on the other hand, is a totally different ballgame. If the knife breaks detent, (lets be realistic, this is going to be caused by a jostle or impact, not by gravity) and the knife is partially open then the tip will be pointed directly at the genitals. There is no natural body movement that is going to correct the issue and you probably won't even notice until you sit down. :eek:

I suppose that one could cut themselves carrying a knife IWB regardless of tip orientation but the likelihood (the way I carry) is higher with tip down and the consequences are FAR more dire.

All that said, I think the more important aspect of safety is the type of lock/detent and my tendency to carry IWB is one of many reasons I favor lock backs.

[Evil D]

So when you carry are you clipping it diagonally?

[Surfingringo]

So when you carry are you clipping it diagonally?

Yes sir. The pivot angled slightly inward so that the spine rests right in the seam between abdomen/thigh. Aside from feeling it to be safest, I find this to be the most comfortable/least obtrusive position for IWB carry too. I don't know, others will have different ideas but I feel safe carrying that way, even when jumping and scrambling in and out of the kayak. (Backlock only for that type of activity though)

[Evil D]

So when you carry are you clipping it diagonally?

Yes sir. The pivot angled slightly inward so that the spine rests right in the seam between abdomen/thigh. Aside from feeling it to be safest, I find this to be the most comfortable/least obtrusive position for IWB carry too. I don't know, others will have different ideas but I feel safe carrying that way, even when jumping and scrambling in and out of the kayak. (Backlock only for that type of activity though)

Diagonally makes sense especially if you're sitting down in a kayak.

[toeterbaas]

Recently went down on a bike, with PM2 tip up, IWB of board shorts. Hard landing and a roll. Knife stayed closed.

Thats a nice one :)

[Doc Dan]

Back locks for me. On a longer knife I usually like tip down, but it depends on how I am carrying it. If in the waist band, then I will modify according to where I am carrying the knife on my body. (I like clip options)

(I have had liner locks come open on me with little seeming provocation and I got cut a couple of times. Thankfully, not badly, but still, it is not as safe as a back lock. In fact, this is one issue that brought me back to Spyderco for a pocket knife. The frame lock I was using as a pocket knife came open on me a couple of times and though I did not get cut on these instances, I knew it was a matter of time, so I bought a back lock Spydie of the same dimensions and never looked back.)

[RLDubbya]

Back locks for me. On a longer knife I usually like tip down, but it depends on how I am carrying it. If in the waist band, then I will modify according to where I am carrying the knife on my body. (I like clip options)

(I have had liner locks come open on me with little seeming provocation and I got cut a couple of times. Thankfully, not badly, but still, it is not as safe as a back lock. In fact, this is one issue that brought me back to Spyderco for a pocket knife. The frame lock I was using as a pocket knife came open on me a couple of times and though I did not get cut on these instances, I knew it was a matter of time, so I bought a back lock Spydie of the same dimensions and never looked back.)

Yes, I was hoping you would chime in, good sir. I remember you mentioned this. Have you looked at the Szabo with "forced closure"? Thoughts?

[ZrowsN1s]

This is how I carry most of my "clipped" knives (my Yojimbo 2 is "clip-less" and sitting horizontal as well out of view in the coin pocket, it's a very wide and deep coin pocket you could fit a cell phone in it)

[Surfingringo]

.....I will modify according to where I am carrying the knife on my body. (I like clip options)

^This for the win! We all have different needs. This debate comes up from time to time and it is definitely one of those topics where there's no right or wrong as how you carry depends on SO many factors. I wish all knives could be made with 4-way clip option.

[brj]

I don't like fobs or lanyards on my knives, so I tend to purchase/use models with longer handles. I carry either tip down in the right front pocket (usually a Millie) while wearing jeans, or tip up IWB at 3:30 (usually a Pacific Salt) while wearing shorts.

I've only had one Millie opening up on me, but it was one of the older models (with a somehow looser detente) and I jiggled it all day long in one cargo pocket. No harm done and from the looks of it, tip down was the safer carry option in this instance.