Compression Lock...lefty friendly?

I'm a lefty and the Compression Lock is very lefty-friendly. Have that lock on an ATR, Yojimbo, Salsa, and Superhawk and it's just my favorite lock-type so far. Looking to get a ParaMilitary 2 (already placed an order with SpydercoVT) and maybe even a Superleaf (kind of repetitive after getting a Para2, though, so possibly not) and the Compression Lock is part of the reason why.
 
Thom,

Was there a learning curve involved with manipulating the lock with your left hand? I'm so used to true lefty liner locks and the like. Can you post some pics of how you manipulate the lock?

Thanks.
 
The only learning curve was for opening the blade and not getting skin pinched on my palm. For closing, it's just sliding your left thumb against the side of the lock and pushing ever so slightly to the left and then closing the blade the same way you would a lockback, linerlock, axis lock, or other non-slipjoint folder.

Will see if I can take some pics and post them tonight.
 
catamount123 said:
I'm a lefty, and find the comp lock very easy to unlock with my left hand, using my thumb. Some fellow lefties disagree, but I think of it as a left-handed lock, and wonder why many righties like it so much.
Click to expand...

I'm a right-hander. Here's why I like the comp lock on my Para.

For me, it feels 'natural' to grip the knife in my right hand with blade pointed away, edge down, my thumb tip on the lock tab, my index finger in the hole of the blade, my remaining three fingers wrapped around the handle w/fingertips on the non-clip side. With my fingers positioned as described, I use my thumb to unlock the lock tab, then use my index finger to pivot the blade to half-closed (about 90 degrees to the handle). The jimped choil will contact my middle finger at that point. I then rotate the knife so the blade tip (at half-closed) points upward, edge towards me. I then move my middle, ring, pinky fingers out of the blade closing path, so they are now resting on the clip (my thumb is now on the non-clip side). I then position my index finger on the 'bump' above the hole on the blade, and push the blade closed.

I know that sounds wordy & complicated, but it didn't take long for me to make the whole process feel completely natural, as if the knife was designed to be closed this way. It's automatic for me now. Takes maybe 2 seconds to close this way. Everything is done only with my right hand. Don't have to 'flip' the blade to close, don't have to nudge it against my leg, etc.
 
Here are the pics for Collucci:

comp_01.jpg


Photo 1 shows clip moved over for left-hand carry.

comp_02.jpg


Photo 2 has no purpose. I just like this knife so much, I'll even show an unnecessary and overly blurry picture of it.

comp_03.jpg


Photo three shows the lil locktab your thumb will easily close when you're done with knife funnings and taskful uses.

comp_04.jpg


Photo four shows thumb in cutout of right scale pressing leftwards against righthand side of locktab. This is how a lefty's lock is supposed to work.

comp_05.jpg


Photo five shows index finger moving towards Spyderhole to assist thumb with closing blade.

comp_06.jpg


Photo six is just because.
 
Excellent! Just what I was looking for! Thanks!
 
Just tried Thom's pictured technique with my Para (in my left hand). Works pretty good, even for this right-hander! I'm a little uncoordinated with my left hand, but I'll just have to remedy that with some practice. Very good! :thumbup:
 
Looks like a Para 2 is next on my list. :)
 
wongKI said:
Hm ok. I was trying out the one at Sheares a couple of months back. Tore up my thumb real bad. I was able to get it "half unlocked" though, with a lot of force.

Perhaps I'm doing it wrong?
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure I didn't need enough force to tear up my thumb. I have 2 of them and both were easy to manipulate. Hand ergos may have a part to play though. Hand size in particular may mean you grip it differently than I did. I'm surprised Sheares has them last I went there was 2 years ago and there weren't many Spydies on display. Those that were on display were priced insanely high.
 
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