The Martialist: The Magazine For Those Who Fight Unfairly

Drawing Tip-Up and Tip-Down Folders

By Phil Elmore

DISCLAIMER: USING A KNIFE IS INHERENTLY DANGEROUS. The Martialist disclaims all liability for accidents that occur while working with knives. Train safely with appropriate equipment, including dull training knives where applicable.

One of the features that defines the tactical folding knife is the pocket clip. Similar to the clip on a pager, the pocket clip on a folding knife makes it easy to attach the knife inside a pocket or waistband (or to virtually anything thin enough to accommodate the clip). One of the eternal debates within the knife enthusiast community is summed up by the question, "Tip-up or tip-down?"

As seen in the picture below, the pocket clip can be oriented one of two ways (and can be removed and mounted again in either position on some knives). When the knife is clipped inside a pocket and the tip of the closed blade points up, it is a tip-up knife. When the knife is clipped inside a pocket and the tip of the closed blade points down, it is a tip-down knife.

The knife on top is "tip-down," while the
knife on the bottom is "tip-up."

Fans of tip-up folders often prefer them because they believe these knives are quicker and easier to draw and deploy. Those who do not prefer tip-up carry will counter that they've stabbed themselves in the fingertips drawing tip-up knives that opened slightly in their pockets. I won't lie to you -- I have received such an injury and prefer tip-down carry for that reason. Still, the question of draw need not be the deciding factor. Drawing tip-up and tip-down knives with speed and efficiency is really just a matter of how you position your hand for the draw. A tip-up knife allows for a somewhat more natural draw, but a tip-down draw is not much more difficult.

When drawing the tip-down folder, you must position your hand to draw the knife up and out with your thumb pointing forward.

When drawing the tip-up folder you can use a more natural hand position. The thumb points to the rear as you draw the knife up and out.

To practice drawing tip-down and tip-up folders, you must first obtain a relatively safe practice tool. A regular folding knife that has been ground dull is fine. There are a number of model-specific "drones" on the market, too, as well as no-name generic training folders.

Inexpensive "generic" training folders are useful for safe practice.
Use such tools the first time you learn skills of the type described here.
These knives even appear to be serrated, but their edges have not
been honed. (They're still far too sharp for safe sparring, however.)

Drawing The Tip-Down Folder

With the knife clipped to your right front pocket and using your right hand, follow these steps:

Step 1: Reach for your knife. As your fingers touch and "index" the clip on your pocket, shift your hand to the thumb-forward position.

Step 2: Grasp the knife with your thumb behind the inside surface and your fingers outside the pocket. Your fingers will touch the exposed portion of the knife and with the clip itself.

Step 3: Draw the knife. Your thumb should naturally move to the thumb stud (or thumb hole, thumb disc, etc.) as you pull the body of the knife into the palm of your hand for a more secure grip.

Step 4: Thumb the blade open and let it lock. The knife is now open and ready.

Drawing The Tip-Up Folder

With the knife clipped to your right front pocket and using your right hand, follow these steps:

Step 1: Reach for your knife. As your fingers touch and "index" the clip on your pocket, curl your fingers to grasp the knife. Your hand should be in its natural position.

Step 2: Grasp the knife with your thumb behind the inside surface of the knife and with your fingers outside the pocket.

Step 3: Draw the knife. Your thumb should naturally move to the thumb stud (or thumb hole, thumb disc, etc.). Tighten your fingers, which are already naturally positioned on the handle, for a more secure grip.

Step 4: Thumb the blade open and let it lock. The knife is now open and ready.

As with so much where weapons and tools are concerned, the choice of tip-up or tip-down is more a matter of personal preference than anything else. With practice you can learn to deploy your knife in a single fluid motion, quickly and efficiently.

Train safely.