It’s 2021 and Hinderer is still discriminating

[J85909266]

You are absolutely correct that the end users of Hinderers are not happy with his knives. He struggles to sell knives and has no fans. Probably due to him only making two colors in one 3" model

Fantastic strawman. Only picking the weakest part of the argument to reply to is super tight.

 

[Lodd]

Why are left-handed people here going to beg Hinderer to make a lefty knife? Why would they prepay? I'm a lefty, and I would like to remind you all that there are plenty of lefty-friendly options in the knife world. No need to debase yourself for a company that clearly doesn't want you as a customer.

 

[Anderdale]

Why are left-handed people here going to beg Hinderer to make a lefty knife? Why would they prepay? I'm a lefty, and I would like to remind you all that there are plenty of lefty-friendly options in the knife world. No need to debase yourself for a company that clearly doesn't want you as a customer.

I don’t think Rick doesn’t want a left handed person as a customer. I just think he is too busy with his current workload to fit us in. However, if he was to see the amount of interest, maybe he’d be able to fit a run in sooner than later. I wouldn’t call that debasing ourselves.

I sent him a beautifully poetic email. If I get ignored then yes, I’ll take it as a hint and let it go.

 

[Lodd]

I don’t think Rick doesn’t want a left handed person as a customer. I just think he is too busy with his current workload to fit us in. However, if he was to see the amount of interest, maybe he’d be able to fit a run in sooner than later. I wouldn’t call that debasing ourselves.

I sent him a beautifully poetic email. If I get ignored then yes, I’ll take it as a hint and let it go.

I've scanned through a few pages of this thread and I think we're past the point of merely asking, right? It's been asked multiple times in the past. The response has been some vague allusions, but nothing concrete yet. Some people have also used the term 'begging'. Also, prepaying for a knife is a delicate matter, there may be situations where it is called for, but imo it is definitely NOT called for when right-handed people don't have to prepay.

Being too busy with his current workload would be a choice. His current businessplan or method of operation clearly doesn't involve serving left-handed customers. Maybe that choice works for him, and it's fine for him to run his business how he sees fit, but it's also fine if those choices have consequences.

Also, I'd like to point out that this is not a binary thing. There a different levels. Sure, you could go the whole distance and do seperate runs of left-handed models (like Chris Reeve) or revamp your design process from the ground up so that every knife is ambidextrous to start out with (Benchmade). But something as simple as tapping your knives so the clip supports all 4 carry positions would already go a long way. As an added bonus, the latter would also benefit right-handed people. I really don't see why that would have to be so hard? Also, the added cost would be negligible in comparison to the already high prices his knives sell for.

TBH, when a knife company doesn't do the bare minimum I consider it a flaw and it counts against a decision to purchase.

 

[Korean Hog]

I don't have much interest in Hinderers and I'm right handed.
Still seems a little unfair though, granted it's his company and he can do what he wants.
I wonder how much more it really costs and how difficult it is to swap things around for a left handed person.
Once everything is swapped or reversed, I would think it'd be the same measurements and process from there.
I'm guessing Chris Reeve Knives has decided that the extra cost is justified by the extra customers they pick up
who are left handed. The two companies both seem pretty popular, I would think there's enough left handed people
that want a Hinderer knife.
Left-handed people should write in to Hinderer directly until they start offering left handed models.
Or buy Chris Reeve left-handed models and ambidextrous Spydercos.

 

[unwisefool]

If Rick was really smart, he'd just make a run on opposite day so the knives would automatically come out of the knife machine as left-handed. Simple and elegant solutions are always the best.

 

[ferider]

But something as simple as tapping your knives so the clip supports all 4 carry positions would already go a long way. As an added bonus, the latter would also benefit right-handed people. I really don't see why that would have to be so hard? Also, the added cost would be negligible in comparison to the already high prices his knives sell for.

The ranch does that. The only problem being that the respective conversion kits are out of stock, like anything RKH has released more than a couple of months ago.

 

[Lodd]

The ranch does that. The only problem being that the respective conversion kits are out of stock, like anything RKH has released more than a couple of months ago.

I can't seem to find the knife in question on google (only the fixed blade version), but if you need a conversion kit, then it's not included in the original product. And probably needlessly expensive for the customer. Why?

 

[ferider]

I can't seem to find the knife in question on google (only the fixed blade version), but if you need a conversion kit, then it's not included in the original product. And probably needlessly expensive for the customer. Why?

The kit above is for the XM-18. Why it's not part of the original product, expensive and unavailable, are - IMHO - different questions reg. the business model, much like why I can't buy today - say - a 3" XM-18 WC, as was available at dealers only a year ago ... not a question of discrimination (I have to admit the term feels a little annoying in that it identifies a luxury good customer victim group ).

 

[Rat Finkenstein]

Knives not being offered for left hand carry saves me money all the time

 

[Lodd]

The kit above is for the XM-18. Why it's not part of the original product, expensive and unavailable, are - IMHO - different questions reg. the business model, much like why I can't buy today - say - a 3" XM-18 WC, as was available at dealers only a year ago ... not a question of discrimination (I have to admit the term feels a little annoying in that it identifies a luxury good customer victim group ).

Yeah, I admit the term grates somewhat.

But it boggles my mind? Why can't hinderer just tap? A lot of budget knives do. It really doesn't add much in the way of cost. It's cheap to tap some extra holes while you're at it. This is almost just a normal industry standard. And doesn't Hinderer go for the premium market?

I just found the conversion kit for $100. $100 extra for a 4-way tap! Are you kidding? That's more expensive than the left handed sheaths they sell for the Ranch fixed blade!

I can't figure out if Hinderer themselves make this, or if it's after market. If it's the former, it would be even weirder. It would mean they've got this production process set up, but they choose not to use it on their knives. And then they choose to make you pay $100 extra to get those extra holes tapped in the most roundabout way, and you have to disassemble and reassemble the knives yourselves!

Are you guys gaslighting me? I can't be the only one who sees how absolutely bonkers this whole situation is, right?

 

[ferider]

It would mean they've got this production process set up, but they choose not to use it on their knives. And then they choose to make you pay $100 extra to get those extra holes tapped in the most roundabout way, and you have to disassemble and reassemble the knives yourselves!?

Pretty sure they make the kits themselves, and I agree with you.

Keep in mind though, a Hinderer pocket clip costs >= $50 these days. I'm a fan obviously, love to use the knives, and have more than a user would need. But from a bird eye's perspective, they are not so different from Louis Vuitton hand-bags.

 

[NorthernSouthpaw]

Honestly, I have zero desire to spend full price for a knife that I can't use properly. Then spend an extra $100 for a clip swap.
YMMV, but I despise using righty frame locks. They just don't feel right and look like absolute crap with the clip in what is obviously the wrong spot aesthetically. If I'm gonna shell out over $600 on a luxury product. It should not only look and feel luxurious, but it should damn well be built for me to use properly.
Besides, I know I wouldn't want any extra holes in the show side of my lefty knives. I highly doubt that most rightys would enjoy it either. All those screws and plates everywhere would just look kind of dumb.

 

[dannyp]

Paying extra to have three filler plates, six extra screws, and a wrong handed lock on a $400+ knife? Ehh....no thanks. FWIW, I'm not a big fan of RHK and probably wouldn't buy one even if they did start making left hand versions though.

There are plenty of options for ambidextrous knives that cost less and have high end materials. Once you get into this price range you are paying for the small details IMO. Glad to see Shirogorov start making some lefties and as far as US makers, the one I'd really like to do it is Olamic.

 

[Dcdavis]

Knives not being offered for left hand carry saves me money all the time

Ain’t that the truth

Paying extra to have three filler plates, six extra screws, and a wrong handed lock on a $400+ knife? Ehh....no thanks. FWIW, I'm not a big fan of RHK and probably wouldn't buy one even if they did start making left hand versions though.

There are plenty of options for ambidextrous knives that cost less and have high end materials. Once you get into this price range you are paying for the small details IMO. Glad to see Shirogorov start making some lefties and as far as US makers, the one I'd really like to do it is Olamic.

Olamic does make lefty’s, some. I think they’re full customs and only a few models. I talked with them a few years ago but I don’t fully remember all the details. They’re easy folks to contact and talk to tho