Help a Lefty choose a tactical folder

D

dondulah

Joined
Dec 24, 2009
Messages
61
Gentlemen,

Thank you for your expertise and feedback in advance. Here is the criteria I am looking for:
*tactical folder under 4"
*plain non-serrated blade
*blade finish: just plain stainless, I don't want a black coated blade
*Since I am a lefty it needs to be an ambi opener
*reversible pocket clip
*under $100

I am currently looking at the below knives and am hoping for your recommendations in making a selection. Thanks for your help!

*Buck Vantage Pro
*Benchmade Griptilian 550HG
*Spyderco Endura 4
*SOG Flash 2
*SOD Aegis
*Cold Steel Voyager
***I know I did not mention any Kershaw but it seems the reversible clips are hard to find on those. Thanks again and Merry Christmas!
 
I would not go for the SOG's it's really really hard to close the AO onces with the left hand. The pocket clip is reversable on it but it's not exactly lefty friendly. I think the Griptilian would be a great choice because the Axis lock is fully ambidextrous so that will be easy for you to use as a lefty. My other choice would be the Endura 4, you can pick up the ZDP-189 or G10 one for a great price now :thumbup:
 
I don't think the Cold Steel Voyager has a reversible pocketclip.

Spyderco and Benchmade seem to have the largest selection of ambidextous knives out there, and I don't hesitate to recommend several from Spyderco's line. The Stretch, Endura, Delica, any folding Salt.

Don't rule out Kershaw, though. Their 1900ET External Toggle and KS1910 R.A.M. have ambi clips and are simply amazing. Their KS1735 Zing has a reversible clip as well and its striated multi-bevel hollow grind makes the neatest noises breaking down cardboard.

Actually, don't rule out most right-handed knives, either, so long as the blade can be opened and closed with your left hand. At least one knifemaker and knife modifier; STR on the forums; can put a pocketclip for left-handed carry on many folding pocketknives for a fair price.
 
Spyderco Endura 4's or Delica 4's. Spyderhole is ambdexterious and back lock is too. VG-10 or ZDP-189 are excellent steels and you can now find Endura 4's really cheap as they're emptying stocks for next years new model with full flat grind I hear.
 
Thanks thus far and please keep the feedback coming. So far the voyager is out. I like the idea of being able to customize the clip if necessary, so I appreciate that, did not know, but probably will stick to a stock reversible clip.
Looks like the Endura 4 g10, BM Griptilian 550HG, Kershaw RAM are the front runners. Am I missing anything else?
 
You can get a Benchmade 710 for roughly $100.

Ambi opener and lock, reversible clip, satin D2 blade, G10 handles, great blade to handle ratio, etc.

A 710 of one flavor or another was my EDC for several years--also a lefty.
 
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Open your budget a little more and get a LH millie.
 
From that list, I'd get the Spyderco. Benchmade makes some excellent ambidextrous knives, but IMO, the large griptilian feels kinda cheap in the hand. The above mentioned 710 and 14205, while a bit more expensive, are both incredible knives though, and I feel they're totally worth the extra cost
 
I'm a lefty and have several of the same concerns. You've done well to eliminate the ones that you have. It sounds like you have eliminated all the righty liner locks -- many lefties have no problem with right-handed locks, but to me this is an unsafe and unnecessary compromise. A knife needs more than extra clip screw holes to be ambi.

I really like my RAM with aftermarket olivewood scales. The Hawk piston lock is surprisingly lefty-friendly. I consider it ambi because perhaps unintentionally and unlike a liner lock, the piston is just as easy, comfortable and safe to use lefty as righty. The RAM is the only one of your finalists with a comfy choil.

A lefty cannot go wrong with a Benchmade Axis lock. The 550HG is a great choice.

The FFG G-10 Endura would probably offer the best actual cutting performance of the 3, and I prefer VG-10 to 154CM or 14C28N by a small margin.

All 3 of your finalists offer tremendous value for what you pay. I'm not sure what your "tactical" needs are or how that criteria would steer you among these finalists.

To throw a wrench into it like dinozzo: I've had my LH Military for about a month and man, what a treat! I got mine for $119 new -- one recently went at auction for two digits -- and it is on the larger end of your specs, but they won't be around forever. Just something to consider.
 
im a lefty & i have 2 reasons for not buying a true left handed knife; resale; if you ever want to get rid of it, it is a lot harder to do. second;i have gotten so use to knives with double thumb studs that otherwise are set up right handed liner/framelock wise,like duel lug sebenza,mcusta,kershaw, that a true left handed knife would feel strange with the liner on the opposite side.axis lock definitely solves this problem,& a flipper like the zt0200 is pretty universal. i also keep the clip set up righty,i dont have a problem with it. ive done it this was since the early 90's, so i am so used to it....
 
SOG trident has ambi thumb studs and easy open with either hand. I researched the same thing and I will be picking one up next. 3.5 inch blade and is between 55-65 bucks depending on which color you want to go with.
 
goldie said:
im a lefty & i have 2 reasons for not buying a true left handed knife; resale; if you ever want to get rid of it, it is a lot harder to do.
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I've never had a problem selling dedicated LH knives - my LH Kershaw Random Task and LH Sebenza both sold quickly for fair prices. I will be listing a custom LH folder before long and I anticipate the same. [want]WDZ Infidels[/want] sell within hours of being posted.

Yes, it's a smaller market, but there is a proportionately smaller supply of LH knives and IME, LH buyers are motivated/eager for LH knives.

The OP may very well want to sell whatever he selects. After all, how many of us found the "right" knife after our first "Recommend me a first knife!" thread? However, all of the knives he is considering are popular and would resell easily.
 
Benchmade Griptillian or Spyderco Manix 2/Endura 4. They're all ambidextrous, should work great for you. I own a Griptillian and Endura 4, they're great knives.
 
spyderco endura4 or delica4 with the emerson wave. both are awesome knives, and the spyderhole is great, and the clip can be moved to either side. also, the wave feature allows for quick and easy opening for left or right hand.
 
Zero Tolerance ZT-0350 hits the bullseye on every point except for the black blade, but I would consider that a *very* minor point (and one which is probably not all that difficult to overcome)....S30V steel, grippy G-10 scales, flipper that`s *real* easy to use with either hand, even with gloves on, and a 4-way clip, all for $100....
 
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