Ambidextrous locks with right-only clips - Bleargh!

[thombrogan]

I'm left-handed. Rather, I'm not right-handed. My motor skills for the left handed probably qualify me as anti-dextrous.

Anyways, it ticks me off when I see a knife with an ambidextrous lock (such as a Compression Lock, lockback, Stud Lock, or Axis Lock) and the knife doesn't have reversible pocket clips. When I bought Benchmades, that made Osborne's 77x series no good for me unless I wanted a weak-side gent's folder. There are tons (I've weighed them) of Spydercos I admire from afar when I'd rather have them in my pocket for cutting fun (the Centofante knives, Schemp Persians, Lil Temperance, and Paramilitary come to mind) and then Ken Onion pretty much turns the screws with every Offset, Spec Bump, and Mini-Mojo leaving their respective shops.

Any other southpaws share this aggravation?

 

[Dune]

That is the main reason why I own a 551 Grip. Reversable clip and an axis lock. They aren't the most classy looking knives out there, but if you're looking for a normal EDC to wear when you aren't dressed up. I wear my buck 112 when I'm dressed up, either in a pocket or with the belt sheath, depending on how I feel that day (I started liking the 112 so much that I EDC it with my grip now to use around people I'm not sure won't freak out if I pull out my black coated, partially serrated Grip).

 

[T.K.C.]

The Spyderco D'Allara 2 DP has a clip that you CAN switch to the other side for left handers. And it has the ball bearing lock, that I can open and close with either hand.

 

[mrd74]

I have to agree, I will not buy a knife that doesn't have a clip that converts for lefties. I don't get it, why go to the bother of making an ambi knife and then lose the lefty market for the sake of drilling and tapping a few holes? I will say, that Spyderco seems to finally be waking up to ambi clips, maybe the other manufacturers will follow suit.

 

[thombrogan]

Spyderco and Benchmade make the largest number of ambidextrous locks with ambi-positionable pocket clips and have done so for quite a few years, but it's so frustrating when a lock and opening mechanism (hole, studs, disc) are ambidextrous, but the clip is only on the right-hand side. You hear people ooh and ah about the Spyderco Persian or the Kershaw Mini Mojo and just "D'Oh" away like a beer-less Homer. On the plus side, the current Keating Chinook II (the hollow-ground one) does look a lot like a dressed down Persian.

 

[T.K.C.]

That really stinks for you guys! I am truley sorry.

 

[orthogonal1]

It's sad to say, but it is probably a cost thing. All the extra drilling, machining, etc. Then you also have people complaining about the extra un-used holes.

Statistically, there are 10 percent of us who are left handed. Figure even less are knife buyers.

Then, too, I suppose we could go back to the old days when they would wack your left hand with a stout stick if you tried to write with it. Made righties of many a lefty, I've read. Bit cruel IMO.

But, ...

I sometimes carry a knife set up for left handed use. So, I find the versatility desireable.

 

[STR]

On pretty much anything that is aluminum, titanium or G10, Micarta, FRN lined I can drill out and thread the liners for south paws. I've done it for myself on many occasions since I like having a lefty knife as well as a righty being ambidexterous like I am.

Sometimes I've managed to get a stainless lined knife threaded but they are so risky that I rarely try it. At least if I break a tap off in a titanium liner I can pour acid on the tap and not have to worry about the titanium but that luxury doesn't exist with stainless lined knives. You break a tap off in one of those you just hope you can get it out without permanently damaging anything.

STR

 

[rebeltf]

I too am a southpaw , forced to live in a world made for those darn righties , lol.
Oddly enough though it really hasnt affected my knife carrying or buying habits , while I prefer an ambidextrous clipped knife , I have a ferw that arent and thus have learned to carry in my right front pocket and open with my right hand , although sometimes I find myself transfering to my left hand to open.
This holds true for firearms too , none of mine are ambi's , all are made for righties so that too took some getting used to , but with my 9mm I can operate it almost as good as if it was made ambi' , after practicing enough.