Why point up ?

[yog]

Probably a simple reason, but I can't think of one.

Why are some knives designed with their clips orientated for point up carry ??



OK, it's going to take a lot of jumping around on rough terrain for the knife to partially open in your pocket, but why risk it ?

The thought of reaching into a pocket and finding a partially open spydie doesn't bare thinking about.

[dePaul]

Well Yog, maybe there are guys who´d prefer to cut fingers than some other <i>sensitive </i> parts, if you know what I mean <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

Then there is the issue of deployment. Some people find it easier to unfold their tip down knives whereas some other feel the tip up models are swifter. It has to do with your own preferences.

Edited by - dePaul on 5/23/2001 3:27:14 PM

[knifenerd]

Yog: Many people find that it is easier to deploy the blade rapidly with a "tip-up" carry due to the fact that the grip does not have to be adjusted as much.

This is strictly a matter of personal taste.

Dick

[vampyrewolf]

It's all personal taste:

Flat vs Hollow grind
Tip Up vs Down
big vs small

Thats why the choices are there.

I carry a tip up, midrange; tip down, small, no clip(ladybug), small...
they all get used the same.

I'm heading out camping this weekend, and will be using my Delica, Cricket and ladyBug, as well as my leatherman(for the saw). They will all need sharpening, and I expect this.

Clip position is simply a question of how much, and how fast, you are going to need to use a knife. Get a configuarion that suits your needs. Try them all to find one that works best as most of us do...

I prefer a right/left-tip up knife, as it sits to the right of my spine, lower back.
I reach back and grab it. I have my delica on left handed carry, so I reach back, pull up, and my thumb is ready to open, without and turning. My pocket gets the right hand, tip up... I carry a tip down, IWB, and pull up and open, with my hand in the right position.

Test them, they have thier uses.

[The Stare]

I think it likely that for many of us who began with one style or the other, and practised a lot with it, that then changing to the other may prove a bit difficult.

For nearly my first 2 years of "serious" knife ownership, all I had were CRKTs, all of which were tip down. Now am carrying a Goddard Ltwt. I can get at it reasonably quickly, and I think the fact that it is the first Spyderco I've carried helps in the transition, but I still "feel" that tip down is the way to fly. I don't like having to reach so far down into my pocket to grab the knife. Am used to just grabbing the top inch or so, then turning it into my hand as my thumb finds the stud. In particular, on my M16, I'm reaching for the flipper with my index finger before it has cleared the pocket. Though I know that one should go to retention position, I practised a long time to be able to do a thrust as the end of the draw with the M16. Am sure I might regret that someday, but got my muscle memory working against me now.

Stare

[Jeff/1911]

Stare - Same here; re: reaching for the Carson flipper on my M-16 real early-like. Jeff/1911.

[Clay Kesting]

I actually believe that it is less dangerous carrying a knife tip-up than tip-down. When the knife is tip-up the blade rests against the seam of the pocket which will prevent it opening far and, in any case, when withdrawing the knife, the thumb goes down beside it well away from the tip. OTOH I know of several people who have received nasty cuts to the thigh when a tip-down knife opened while they were running. I carry both. I prefer tip-up if I'm going to be using the knife a lot as I find it more convenient to draw and replace. However tip-down seems to have less knife showing and and is useful if discretion is called for.
Just my AUS$0.38.

Clay

Don't worry that the world might end tomorrow, in Australia it's tomorrow already.

[br44]

I'm right handed but like the clip on the left and the tip up for one in the back pocket. There's not many knives that have that configuration. My keychain knife must be tip down, which right now has changed from a cricket to a Harpy. And then for a neck knife it has to be tip up to be ejected like my Starmate from a Sastre rig.

[Mancer]

Yeah I like the tip-up on knives I need up n out then and there, as in ones for defending oneself such as the Matriarch.
When I grab the blade out my pocket its facing the correct way and is in the perfect position to flip it open with the thumb.
The tip-downs tho get pulled out in the wrong facing the wrong way if its done the same, with them I normally grab the spydie hole and flip the handle open, but still for light blades like the Matrairch I love the tip-up, have it out in a sec.

Seeya all l8tr

MaNcEr

It's Time To Kick @$$ 'N Chew Bubble Gum

[Paul D.]

I must be the only Spyderco fan that doesn't care one way or another whether the knife is tip up or tip down. I own, or have owned, several of each variety. I've never had one come open in my pocket (clipped or unclipped), and I've never had any trouble finding the hole. I guess I'm easy to please, in this one instance any way.

Paul

[Guntaholic]

Paul D., You have company! It really doesn't matter to me. I find both methods fast and easy to deploy...

[yog]

Ah, an intresting thread.
So the only difference is "speed" and personal preference.
Speed isn't really an issue for me. How often is a fraction of a second going to make a difference opening a working knife.
As for personal preference, I like to put my hand to my pocket and imediatly feal the opening hole or stud under my thumb.

BTW
Depaul is now in my bad books for making me paranoid about how close my spydie is to my crown jewels <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

Edited by - yog on 5/26/2001 6:38:22 AM

[dePaul]

<b><i>LOL </i> </b>
You know Yog, you have 10 fingers to cut but only one joy stick <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

[br44]

Kinda lonely over there in Sweden?