Left handed users - chime in!

Kenix

Kenix

Joined
Oct 25, 2009
Messages
485
Looking to get a left-handed friend his first knife. What kind of locking mechanism do you guys find is most lefty friendly? A recommendation for a nice EDC blade with dedicated left handed configuration would be great too!

<$50
Locking folder
Stainless blade
3" blade, give or take a 1/4th"
Lefty friendly

I was thinking a mini-grip, any other ideas? Affordable is better :D
 
Im a lefty also and just picked up a Buck Vantage with a liner lock and it works just fine for me.The price twenty bucks.Cant beat that.
 
I'm a lefty and I find Spyderco lockbacks and Benchmade axis locks to be the most "lefty friendly". You can get a Griptilian for ~$60 and a Delica/Native for around 50.

They are easy to open/close and have left pocket clip option.
 
you are looking at benchmade and they do a good job. most thumbstuds are on both sides from what I have seen and if you get the axis lock it will be on both sides as well. the only thing you will have to do is switch the pocket clip. ( Luckily the guy I bought my 585 from switched it for me at the store)
 
I have used both the benchmade (axis lock) and spyderco, I have no complaints about the opening and closing of each blade using the left hand (which is what i use all the time). So if one of those models fits your price range then you could buy either one with confidence. You could always default to a fixed blade small knife like the Izula for barely over 50 with tax. (just throwing that out there too.)

Other than that i won't say because it moves into the realm of personal preference IMO.I have owned both folders and neither failed me horribly, if at all.
 
In my experience, I can operate pretty much any lock with my left hand. It's the clip placement or thumbstud that is usually the problem. Any Benchmade with an axis lock is ambidextrous. Also most Spyderco's with backlocks are lefty friendly. A Mini Grip, Delica, Native, or some of the knives in the Byrd line should work. If he doesn't mind using a right hand liner lock one of the Buck Vantage models or a Spyderco Tenacious are good values. There are some dedicated left hand knives out there but they are more than you want to spend.

Lately I've switched over to traditional knives for edc. They are completely ambidextrous. I've found that I personally don't miss the one hand opening or the clips, but you would know better what type of knife he's looking for. If you think he might like that type of knife you could look into a Buck 110 or a sodbuster. They are both simple knives with a classic style.

I have to say that he has a good friend. Not only are you going to get him a knife, you're also considerate enough to look for something that's easy for him to use as a lefty. Most people don't even stop to think about how hard it is for left handed people to use things that were designed for righties.:thumbup:
 
As a fellow lefty I carried Spyderco's for several years with great success, both the Delica and the Native. I have been carrying a slip joint for the last year and a half and like it too. I think that back-locks or Benchmade's axis lock tend to be lefty friedly as others have said. If I ever have the money, I will buy a dedicated lefty small Sebenza.
 
I'm not a natural lefty but I carry a left-handed knife to work most days because my pistol is in my right pocket. My current EDC for that role is a G10 Spyderco Delica, but I also have a waved FRN Delica and a Kershaw RAM set up in that role as well.

I think lock backs and axis/ball locks are the most lefty friendly. A Spyderco Delica with the 4-way clip is a truly ambidextrous knife----everything is exactly the same regardless of handedness.

EDIT: not that it really matters to me anyway: I just end up transferring it to my right hand as soon as I open it.
 
I am a lefty but have got used to opening everything right handed and carry my EDC on the right side...i find it odd to open a single hander with my left now but still use it left handed mostly.
 
Great responses! Thanks everyone.

I will most likely decide on a Spyderco lockback of some variety. First knife and first spydie in one shot :thumbup:

This friend played around with my knives yesterday and, pointing to the thumbhole on my grip, asked what it was for :D Then he pointed to a Centofante4 and a Endura4 Wave and asked if they were the same knife hahaha. This will be eye-opening, for sure.
 
I have the Victorinox One Hand Trekker and the liner lock is bass-ackwards and should appeal to lefties. Since I am a rightie, it takes some practice to close safely. Now I know what you guys go though. ;)
 
I have not found locks to be the issue with knives being used as a lefty.

My issues have always been one handed opening being difficult on many knives. Thumb discs and Spyderholes being the exceptions. Some knives are very difficult to open left handed because they are not scalloped on the scale on the correct side to allow easy purchase on the opening device.

More knives today are lefty friendly than ever before, though.
 
The Speed-Safe Opening is nice, and the lock is just the typical liner lock. Either the Leek or the Scallion will get the job done for EDC!

Vanguard.45
 
I'm a lefty as well. Some of the easier-to-open knives that I use (that meet your criteria) are...
Spyderco Delica.
Spyderco Persistence.
Benchmade Mini Griptilian.
Kabar Dozier series.
Byrd Meadowlark.
Kershaw Leek.
 
Buck 110 should be everybody's first good knife, with that said being a lefty grab him a lockback or axis lock the Griptillian is a great idea another way to go would be any of the Byrds with a lockback.
 
I'd have to vote for a mini-grip. Living in a right-handed world sucks for lefties: I seriously doubt that any right handed person could comprehend how ungainly a lot of activities are when you are a lefty.

That being said, I love the Axis lock - especially since you can easily manipulate it with one hand.
 
I am predominantly left-handed, and think that the left-hand option for knives is overblown. As long as a knife has dual thumb studs or an opening hole, I can accomodate to it.

A right-hand, tip down clip in the left pocket can be easily accessed with either hand. It is a simple matter to reverse-grip it with the left hand or reach around with the right. In fact if I hand a true left-hand knife I would carry it in my right pocket for either hand access.
 
FRN Spyderco Dragonfly. The 2010 Spyderco catelog is likely out within 2 weeks. Otherwise,

Mini-Barage Benchmade 585
Byrd Robin G-10
Al-Mar Hawk Ultralight
Spyderco Poliwog G-10
Blade-Tech Ratel. Note, Ratel is a great knife on the cheap. Delivery included about $23. Good knife. Very ambidextrous.

Can't go out without mentioning...

Spyderco Meerkat sprint run. Go through yourcornerstore.com
and take the clip off and put the grip tape on the SS Dragonfly, always an option. A little heavier and a clear f'up on Spyderco's part at not drilling holes for us lefties but... they've made up for it. so. Them's the choices. Happy holidays to you.

Verb
 
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