Tip-up, or tip-down carry

**KevinF** · 13-06-2010, 20:57

I've always carried folders in the tip-up position - to tell the truth, I never even considered tip-down carry to be a possibility!

Recently, however, I've increasingly become aware of the fact that many folders are only available with a carry clip in the tip-down postion, whilst others - SOG as a noticeable example - now make provision for either tip-up, or tip-down (in addition to right or left side) carry.

Does anyone have any experience or opinions regarding the pro's and con's of these two modes of carry?

**SGB** · 13-06-2010, 21:07

I prefer the tip up carry, it allows for faster deployment.

**Bundu Ric** · 13-06-2010, 21:08

Would the tip up or down carry not depend on the speed at which you want to dpeloy and the actial design?

Why would you say tip up deploys faster? Only with some blades or all?

**ikor** · 13-06-2010, 22:34

I'm with SGB...tip up for me.

**andy_760901** · 13-06-2010, 22:40

hi there Kevin, i have caried a few diferent knives and have mostly preferred the tip up carry method, i am right handed, so the market being flooded for tip up right handers suits me just fine, i did carry a CRKT Crawford Casper for some time, which goes against the masses and is a non-reversible tip down carry. And ill be honest, i am just as fast with this as i am with most other tip up carry knives, i think that more important to the tip up/ down carry argument, would be the manner in which the knife is designed to open the blade. Tip up/ down can be learnt, and both can be equally fast to draw with, but the mode of opening i find can lend itself to being the most problematic on knives, if not a tryed and proven system, or one that does just not mate with your hand or finger size, etc etc.

In short i do not think that tip up or down matters as much as what you have practised with and are familiar with. I own a lot of top end knives now, thanks to my buying spree, some go for R400-R500, some retail for R6K. In the end it is not the most expensive that necessarily will be best for you. I think that Benchmade and Gerber and so on are good, but for me first prize is Cold Steel. you should find something to suit you in their wide range of knives and im sure you will find that most knives are making provision for tip up and down carry on the left and right side of the handle, what can not be customized on these knives is the manner in which the knife is designed to deploy. Find a good quality knife with a decent locking mech. that you can reliably and quickly open every time, even under stress, and then chose the manner in which to carry i.e. tip up / down as it suits you personally. remember what works for me, may not necessarily work for you. Good luck and sorry for the long winded response... they say that this is the difference between an intellectual and someone of diminished intelligence, is that intelligent individuals take a sentence to say what idiots take an essay to explain...

**marthinus** · 13-06-2010, 23:35

Search youtube for Tip-up vs Tip-Down. Cutlerylover goes over some key aspects one can keep in mind.

**Lone Ranger** · 14-06-2010, 00:24

please remember that when choosing a knife for a particular reason, the features of the knife must suite your needs. Also remember that not every knife is made for self defence. My gerber for example is an excellent blade, but its a took. It carries well but is deployed slowly. For self defence, quick and easy deployment of the blade is crucial... Hence, you'll most probably be lead back to a tip-up carry blade... Or a fixed blade

**mussolini** · 15-06-2010, 08:41

tip up anytime...

**HoggerNaut** · 15-06-2010, 11:04

Tip up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**Optimistix** · 15-06-2010, 12:06

hi there Kevin, i have caried a few diferent knives and have mostly preferred the tip up carry method, i am right handed, so the market being flooded for tip up right handers suits me just fine, i did carry a CRKT Crawford Casper for some time, which goes against the masses and is a non-reversible tip down carry. And ill be honest, i am just as fast with this as i am with most other tip up carry knives, i think that more important to the tip up/ down carry argument, would be the manner in which the knife is designed to open the blade. Tip up/ down can be learnt, and both can be equally fast to draw with, but the mode of opening i find can lend itself to being the most problematic on knives, if not a tryed and proven system, or one that does just not mate with your hand or finger size, etc etc.

In short i do not think that tip up or down matters as much as what you have practised with and are familiar with. I own a lot of top end knives now, thanks to my buying spree, some go for R400-R500, some retail for R6K. In the end it is not the most expensive that necessarily will be best for you. I think that Benchmade and Gerber and so on are good, but for me first prize is Cold Steel. you should find something to suit you in their wide range of knives and im sure you will find that most knives are making provision for tip up and down carry on the left and right side of the handle, what can not be customized on these knives is the manner in which the knife is designed to deploy. Find a good quality knife with a decent locking mech. that you can reliably and quickly open every time, even under stress, and then chose the manner in which to carry i.e. tip up / down as it suits you personally. remember what works for me, may not necessarily work for you. Good luck and sorry for the long winded response... they say that this is the difference between an intellectual and someone of diminished intelligence, is that intelligent individuals take a sentence to say what idiots take an essay to explain...

This is good advice (as well as the youtube reference), the rest as far as I am concerned are merely personal comments ...