Tip Up/Tip Down What Works For You?? 

Back right pocket tip down front right pocket tip up always. 😊

For the most part all my blades are typically tip up. The only knife that I can think of that is in a tip down configuration would be the Microtech Socom elite, which surprisingly doesn’t bother me to carry that way.

I run tip up now as well. Personally, I had a hard time with the transition at first, I couldn’t get my head around it. I like you carried the police Spyderco for ever before I finally switch to the para military 2, which was shipped tip down. I switched it to tip up, and can’t imagine carrying any other way than tip up. Great visuals in this vid.

I much prefer tip-down carry. I started that back in the day with several Spyderco Crickets, which I reverse flicked like you illustrated. I have a Kershaw Leek, that I carry tip-down (default configuration). It is so easy to swing the knife into my hand by pinching and pulling up on the pivot. The flipper tab ends up perfectly indexed, so I don't have to go hunting for it. It's a super-fast deployment. I have a Civivi Elementum II, which must be carried tip-up. I really don't like having to hunt for the flipper and completely readjust my grip to gain purchase on the knife. Never once in my time carrying knives have I been concerned about cutting off my junk while carrying tip-down. I have never had an errant deployment while in my pocket. Autos are illegal in my illustrious state, so that's not an issue. Honestly, even thought I love the Elementum II (button lock), I'm thinking about returning it and finding another knife I can carry tip-down. I wish more designers would incorporate the option to carry tip-down.

Had never thought about it. Thanks!

Dirk, thanks for doing this video. It was very helpful.

Thanks for explaining this Dirk. I don't have a lot of knives or experience with the different positions (also hadn't thought about it before) but seeing this I looked at what I have and realized I had both. After fiddling around with them for a bit I can see benefits to both but think I prefer tip up for easier deployment.

All of my knives are tip down, but never really thought about it before.

I’m so used to the paramilitary two with the tip down configuration. I started making all my para threes tipped down also.

I generally do tip up right hand. I really do appreciate designs that are fully ambidextrous with regards to clip, deployment, and lock though since I often carry a smaller knife in my left pocket too.

I always had a tip down knife, now I have a tip up knife as well. The biggest difference to me is with tip up, the clip is located where you can grip it with your fingers making blade deployment much easier vs tip down where the clip is higher and not grippable with fingers.

Great explanation!

Very cool topic... I honestly think both work fine. I guess it also depends on the knife. It’s an argument going on since the dawn of time. 😂 I think it’s subjective

Seeing that tip-down automatic blade pointed towards the groin gave me the willies but, in the tip-up scenario, it still seems like you have a risk of the tip of the blade cutting your hand as you reached into your pocket (assuming that the seam of your pocket doesn't totally stop the blade from deploying). Do you retrieve your knife from your pocket in a certain manner to avoid this risk?

Just seems to flow better when I retrieve from my pocket. I have 1 hand. I chopped off all my fingers on my left hand on a table saw accident about 5 years ago. So really I'm only right hand carry and tip up.

If I can't get to that one I go for my edc neck knife. I never leave home without it.

Up, always up

From what I understand tip up or tip down basically comes down to if you carry front or rear pocket. Tip up for front and tip down for rear pocket carry. It feels awkward pulling a knife tip up out of a front pocket. Not sure about rear pocket carry. I never carry anything in my rear pockets. Sitting on things aggravates spinal injuries. I also have limited use of my left hand from a neck surgery so I usually carry some flavor of automatic. Usually my Infidel.

Up up

Tip down doesn't bother me at all. I think people get caught up in everyone else's opinion about the matter. There's really only one knife that I care for that doesn't have the option for tip up carry. That is the Microtech socom elite and I love it and the tip down carry does not bother me at all.

I carried tip down until I bought a fang from wise men company for my paramilitary 2.

Neutral. I hate pocket clips an remove them all. Nice topic it polarized a lot of people.

Tip up

I carry tip up only. Besides just being used to it, to me it is an esthetical issue as well. To me personally, a knife with the clip configured tip down looks kind of wrong and not pleasing. That's as well the only reason why I never got a Spyderco Military.