Frame lock for a lefty

COrider

COrider

Joined
Jun 7, 2013
Messages
16
I need some advice from the group. I am trying to decide between a Reeve Umnumzaan Lefty or a Spyderco Southard Flipper. I am left handed but have always opened and closed knives right handed. I am trying to decide if the Reeve for the extra hundred and fifty or so is worth it for the lefty hand advantage. The Southard can open with either hand with the flipper. I wand an EDC knife that can be used for odd tasks (office), hunting, fishing, hiking/camping. Any thoughts between the two. I know they are both awesome knives but just not sure what direction to go. Thanks for the help.
 
Go for the Umnunzaan and never look back to right handed knives. It really makes a difference.
 
The Southard is completely not lefty friendly. The milling for the thumb hole leaves almost none of it exposed on the lock side, and it is not drilled for a liefty clip. The lefty Sebenza, on the other hand, is made lefty. It has a left side lock, left side thumb stud, and left side clip.

If you want something stout and ambidextrous, you could check out some of the more stout Benchmade Axis lock models, or a Spyderco Manix 2.

For the record, I am a lefty. We gotta stick together.
 
I'm right handed but am ambidextrous and own some lefty knives as well.

If your looking for some awesome Custom lefty knives take a look at "Southpaw Knives".

I have two models(Rescue One & Damascus Dolphin) from Ira, both liner lock flippers and they are amazing in every way.

Ira also makes a bunch of Frame Lock models as well and def worth checking out.
 
The ZT 801, a Todd Rexford collaboration, is very lefty friendly. Super flipper, the ones at Blade were smooth..
 
JB yea everything I've heard about the 0801 has been great.

The minute I saw it I knew I needed one in my collection.

I'm a lil pissed, one just sold on the Exchange earlier tonight.

Had I been a little quicker I def would have scooped it up without hesitation.

I'm assuming the seller had Pre-ordered it and had just received it.

Which I'm hoping means retailers will begin to stock them real soon, I'm not a patient person and I've been waiting long enough for it lol.
 
Pre orders will be filled first, hopefully they are making a sizable run of 801's. It should be worth the wait.
 
I'm ambidextrous and find myself using both hands for cutting things, depending on which hand is holding the object. I have two Spyderco Military's, one of them a dedicated left hand model. It's a complete mirror image of a normal Millie, including a reverse liner lock. I find myself using the left hand model more than the right.

I know it's not a frame lock, but Knife Center still has them in stock. Since it was a limited production model, and the price is great, you should eye getting one before they are all gone.
 
A month or two ago I bought my first left handed knife and unless I can switch out all my knives to LH it will be my last.It just feels weird !
 
I just got a lefty sebenza 21 it's truly amazing and worth every penny, ill only be buying sebenza a from now on though I do want to try dpx hest 2.0 lefty titanium framelock
 
Since I got my first lefty frame lock that's all I buy now. If you want a fairly inexpensive one to try I suggest the DPX HEST/f lefty.
 
I wish I could understand, I have been playing with frame locks from the beginning and even though my left thumb has no bend, I can open and close them equally well with either hand.

Not all liner locks work as well left as right, but most of those I have tried do.

A. G.
 
I'm a lefty and until recently owned a carried a Sebenza 21. The lock, opening, and closing actually make almost zero difference to me. I don't really even have a preference for left handed knives over right handed in this case. I find them equally easy, albeit different, to do all of those things. The biggest difference for me is how they carry in the pocket. If its right handed tip up only, I basically have to carry in in my back left pocket. Tip up/tip down right handed only I usually go tip down in front left. If its left/right, tip up/tip down generally tip up left handed is my preference. All of that being said, unless I'd be willing to carry the southard in my back pocket it wouldn't be right for me.
 
I'm also a Lefty. While I don't currently own any left-handed frame locks, I have a custom on order. The idea of "pulling" vs "pushing" the lock bar is one of the reasons I want a lefty... not that I haven't adapted to using right handed knives, but there is a reason why right handed knives are, by design, set up so the user pushes the lock bar to disengage... I think it's a little more comfortable and natural.

I also like the idea of holding the knife in my hand and being able to fulling appreciate the beauty/design of the knife when the blade is deployed... looking at the lock scale and pocket clip on many of the righty knives is a bit of a bummer. Again, not a deal-breaker but a reason for me to choose a lefty version if available.

Lastly, for me, I want to feel good about the knife I'm using and the investment I'm making. I want to be able to use my knife for a lifetime, and be able to appreciate the Craftmanship and design. I want to feel like I'm using it the way it was intended to be used, and I want to feel like the maker truly considered what it'd be like if I had to use this knife for a lifetime. Buying a knife specifically made for left-handed use gives me those feelings of satisfaction.
 
A. G. Russell said:
Nj,
That is exactly why, wherever possible I am now putting 4 locations on clipped knives.
Click to expand...

And that is wonderful thing. I understand the aversion some makers have to the extra holes and how they affect the aesthetics, and in a pure art piece I agree, but for my money the increased functionality across the board makes it worthwhile. I can offer more examples, even from the right handed perspective, but suffice it to say 4 way movable clips make lots of knife carriers happier.
 
I have actually found that a standard frame lock works great for a lefty. When you hold it in your right hand, your fingers naturally position (unless otherwise trained) to resting on the lock bar, adding too much pressure. The same knife held in the left hand puts your fingers resting harmlessly on the non locking scale, keeping them out of the way and leaving the knife opening smooth and easy. Just find one that is drilled for non locking side carry.

It works perfectly for me, and opens my options from limited runs and customs to many production knives (the better ones being the ZT 0550 and 0560, and Spyderco Sage 2).
 
It's a compromise, but some framelocks are better suited than others. An ambidextrous clip and good access to whatever the opening method utilized are a necessity.

I prefer a left hand framelock.
 
I sometimes carry a right handed knife on my left side. Just remember, when doing so, rotate your hand 180 degrees clockwise. This puts your index finger on the inside and your thumb on the outside. Positions your hand to properly grip a right hand knife left handed. Works for both tip up and tip down carry.

I do have four knives that are true left handers, so do not have to use this method much these days.
 
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