Tip up vs Tip down

Weekend Open Thread: A bunch of savages in this world

H. Clay Aalders
Question of the Day
·8 Comments··9 views

But none quite as bad as this guy.

I figured I would mix things up a bit and toss out a Question of the Day in this week’s open thread. It is probably the (distant) third place debate in knife circles, the first being Benchmade vs. Spyderco, and the second To Baton or Not Baton. This debate is more or less settled, as the sales speak for themselves. There are very few exclusively tip down designs, and many knives don’t even offer it as an option.

The argument has been around for a while though, as evidenced in medieval manuscripts…

It goes back even further into human evolution…

And those that do frequently remove themselves from the gene pool…

Or die an early death…

The only knife I routinely carry tip down is my Kershaw Leek. I have the blackwashed D2 composite one, so it is either my gentleman’s carry, or I am carrying it in addition to my Kim Breed or other fixed blade.

How about you all?

This is the Open Thread, so comment away on tip up vs. tip down carry, the latest WuFlu WTFs, or whatever else suits you. I am still waiting on the Artisan knives, and have reached out to some other companies in case things fall through. I talked to Russell this week about a piece I was writing for Knife News in the August print issue, and he assures me they are on their way.

We will be giving away a copy of Frank Trzaska (et. al)’s Military Knives a Reference Guide to this week’s open threader.

Military Knives: A Reference Book by Trzaska, Silvey, Windrum, et al.

It is a collection of the best pieces on military knives from the archives of Knife World, our predecessor publication. I have poured through my copy for hours. Mark R. is sitting this one out. He is the winner of the Goin’s Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings from last week.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. just don’t be this guy…

 

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H. Clay Aalders

H. Clay Aalders is a lifelong edged tool user. He spent the past 20 years as a woodworker and fishing guide in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Idaho, and Tennessee. While guiding in Idaho, Clay worked part-time writing for a local newspaper, and upon moving to Tennessee began writing for the blog The Truth About Knives - spending his last 5 years there as Managing Editor. His background is in fixed-blade hunting and bushcraft knives, but has jumped into the world of vintage slipjoint collecting with both feet since coming to work at Knife Magazine. Clay’s primary role is as Digital Editor, curating and creating new content for our website and blog, as well as maintaining the Knife Magazine social media accounts (FB/IG: @theknifemag, Twitter: @knifemagazine). He is also a contributor and Associate Editor of the print magazine.

8 Responses

  1. Never has been a big issue for me. I carry a knife in my pocket most because I always have a slip joint knife on me. About 80% of the time I have my Leatherman Wave on my belt in a sheath. When I carry a knife with a clip, which is about 60% of the time, it is usually tip up but if the knife is designed for tip down I carry it tip down. Being left handed and carrying in my left pocket I’ve found that the knives I own which were designed for right hand tip up carry get left in the storage case. So I now do not buy any knives designed for right side tip up carry only.

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  2. Always tip up when possible.
    Having said that, I do have some knives that I carry that are tip down only.

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  3. It just depends on the knife. Most I run tip up. There are some larger knives that I run tip down with the clip setup for left hand use, but I still put it in my right hand pocket. This offers the benefit of keeping the knife accessible for easy use with my right hand while providing a bit of extra safety having the spine of the knife pressed up against the seam of my right pocket. Additionally, and this only works for some knives, having the clip positioned this way can greatly improve the ergonomics since the clip is not touching any part of my right hand.

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  4. Sorry Clay, just not a topic I’m that eager to fight about! Carry your knife however you like!
    I ,too, have a Leek. A gift from my wife. It is one of my favorites. The Leek is about the only pocket clip I carry often. I have a few others that came from the factory one way or the other. It was never so important that I felt the need to alter them. I’m left handed, but generally carry right front pocket. Speed drawing just isn’t happening!
    Weekends, especially if I’m in the yard, it’s an Opinel. During the week it’s most often the Leek, or a SAK. I’ve got a Buck the pocket clip worked its way loose, I carry it without the clip! I’ll occasionally carry a Trapper or a Stockman for a change of pace. I grew up with slip joints. So it’s generally tip sideways! And like Holy, TP is over the top!

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  5. Toilet paper is “over the top'” in my world. Makes sense to me. Keeps my fingers away from the wall. Downside is that “The Cat” sometimes “spins the dangling end”. All my belt-worn fixed blade sheath knives are “tip down”. Aar-g-hh, Hocky humor! My usual EDC-clipper ,Spyderco Dragonfly II (Wharncliffe), is tip up. Other than the Dragonfly, I do not carry a clip-style knife. A slip-joint like my venerable Kabar 1026 jack; a barlow or a stockman is pocket carried everyday and used everywhere! Now to gardening . . . got some rain last night. I got forearms like Popeye from toting 5-gallon buckets of water to the vegetables and fruits. By late July, I should be harvesting some Lemon Boy, Better Boy, Black Krem, cukes, zukes, okra and pole beans. Silver Queen by mid-August. Re the Bill Moran Foundation, I got word that the Annual All-Forged Knife Show is schceduled for October 17, 2020. That’s about 100 days from now. As Carly Simon once sang, “Anticipation”. Clay: Does or Can knifemagazine.com be used as a knife forum? I would like to post pictures of knives, ask questions, etc. Perhaps, the ‘Newsfeed” element of your website offers this avenue for subscribers to share information and learn. Till later, Hocky

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  6. I carry my ZT 0561 tip up because I actually use it, repeatedly, throughout the day. Carrying any flipper tip down would really make it tougher to open unless your hand is on upside down. Normally when I see a dude carrying tip down they’re also wearing a $49 Highpoint 9mm open carry, have their cap on backwards, and a Vols T-shirt that says ‘ maybe next season’.

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  7. i remember a couple guys on ttak that disowned children over this. my first clipped knife was a kommer full throttle; tip down only. it just forced you to draw it into your hand a certain way. when i heard of the debate i didn’t even know which mine was. here i thought i was all groovy and then this. i’ve since come to slightly prefer tip up and configure the configurables that way. but it for damn sure wouldn’t sway a purchase decision the way country of origin would.

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    1. It has taken me forever and a day to get back in touch with you, Clay and the old guard at TTAK, nice to know everyone is well. Congrats to Clay and his new gig, great fit for him. I also see David is having fun with Knifecenter on Utube. You cant keep a good man down!

      Agree, country of origin is getting top of the list, so obviously Sweden gets the nod there.

      Reply

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