Leftie knife woes

afultz075

afultz075

Joined
Sep 2, 2006
Messages
486
Any other lefties out there disappointed in the fact that a lot of knives out there don't have ambidextrous (sp?) pocket clips and/or thumb studs? I have dealt with non-leftie nail nicks and liner lock traditional folders all my life, and it has never bothered me, as I can open a nail nicked knife with ease and i'm not comfortable closing a liner lock one-handed anyway, so it doesn't matter if they're leftie-friendly or not.
I'm to the point where I simply won't buy a pocket-clipable knife if it isn't drilled for left-hand carry, no matter how much I like the design as carrying a right-hand clipped knife in the left pocket is very awkward to draw and open. Part of the reason I love Benchmade and Spyderco so much is that many of their designs are so leftie-friendly, the axis lock and spyderhole in particular along with spyderco's love of lockbacks. But I just can't understand why some knives aren't drilled for lefties, for example, I love the Spyderco Jess Horn ZDP-189, which is a lockback, but I can't understand why in the world they couldn't drill it for leftie carry, especially being a $70 knife. I was just about to order one when I noticed.
-Andrew
 
Something we have to live with, unfortunately.

Same thing with guns. My favorite knife company is Benchmade, which is pretty Lefty friendly, as you mentioned. My favorite gun company is HK, which is also very Lefty friendly. Ambidextrous ergonomics are a big part of what I look for in both guns and knives.
 
Hey.....Frank Beltrame, Italian Stiletto maker, offers a 9 " lefty model.....I was amazed when I saw them....everything is made in reverse.....
 
That's one of the reasons Spyderco gets my money. I won't buy another right handed knife and try to "adapt". I did that for enough years. If there were no lefty friendly one handers I'd go old school and carry a Buck or Boker folding hunter.

Frank
 
Well said everyone. I will blatently not buy any knife it is not completely left handed.


*exceptions may include ridiculously good prices on custom knives.
 
I suppose a good side to the leftie handicap is that it helps keep my wallet a little fatter. My knife want list would be about 1.5 times greater if I was a rightie. :)
 
Hey Aful...

Yaa sometimes being a Lefty is hard..
One of the Major reason I started making sheaths...

The Spyderco Waved Endura and Delica are drilled for both left/right..
Awesome Knives....

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
I am right handed, but this thread has got me thinking - what if I couldn't use my right hand. If I had a right hand only product I'd be pretty screwed, especially if it was an emergency.

Fortunately I have just bought a Spyderco and have been practicing opening and closing with the left hand.
 
afultz075 said:
Any other lefties out there disappointed in the fact that a lot of knives out there don't have ambidextrous (sp?) pocket clips and/or thumb studs? I have dealt with non-leftie nail nicks and liner lock traditional folders all my life, and it has never bothered me, as I can open a nail nicked knife with ease and i'm not comfortable closing a liner lock one-handed anyway, so it doesn't matter if they're leftie-friendly or not.
I'm to the point where I simply won't buy a pocket-clipable knife if it isn't drilled for left-hand carry, no matter how much I like the design as carrying a right-hand clipped knife in the left pocket is very awkward to draw and open. Part of the reason I love Benchmade and Spyderco so much is that many of their designs are so leftie-friendly, the axis lock and spyderhole in particular along with spyderco's love of lockbacks. But I just can't understand why some knives aren't drilled for lefties, for example, I love the Spyderco Jess Horn ZDP-189, which is a lockback, but I can't understand why in the world they couldn't drill it for leftie carry, especially being a $70 knife. I was just about to order one when I noticed.
-Andrew
Click to expand...


I too am a Lefty , when I bought my first ever knife with a pocket clip (I think it was a Gerber) I thought it was dumb that they didnt offer the clip on either side but then we Lefties are too few....
Anyway I got so used to keeping my knife in my right pocket that on my current EDC's (which are ambidextrous clipped) I still carry it in my right pocket , lol.
I'm adjusted well to not only carrying , but opening and using with my right hand.
I think this stemmed though from when I bought my 9mm Astra about 10 years ago , it was totally made for Righties , after some practice I got used to it and am as affluent with it as if it were made for Lefty's.
 
I am primarily left handed, although somewhat ambidexterous, and won't buy a one-hand opening knife without dual thumb studs or preferably a hole, but, I prefer a right hand clip with a tip-down carry in my left pocket. The reason? It is no problem at all to draw and open it with a reversed left hand position, and it is also very accessable for a right-handed cross-draw.

If you prefer tip up, however, this arrangement won't work at all.
 
I believe that Chris Reeve is the only company that still offers dedicated left hand models. They aren't cheap but they are great knives and that is why I have no problem buying their knives. I highly recommend that lefties support them. I sure do. CRK has a loyal customer in me.:D
 
Ray U said:
I am right handed, but this thread has got me thinking - what if I couldn't use my right hand. If I had a right hand only product I'd be pretty screwed, especially if it was an emergency.

Fortunately I have just bought a Spyderco and have been practicing opening and closing with the left hand.
Click to expand...

i am a southpaw myself and this is why i carry and use my knives right handed.
there is no doubt that i can use my left hand to operate the knife, regardless of clip placement or lock. but my right hand has become just as good because of me carrying right-side.

being able to safetly handle a tool as potentially dangerous as a knife, in my off-hand is a worthwhile ability IMO
 
I am right handed but while at work, I carry my knives on my left side. I am in and out of a car constantly at work and a knife carried in my right rear pants pocket will end up sitting in the car seat in no time at all. Therefore my larger knife is carried in my left rear pants pocket. I would love to find some knives that are left hand friendly with either flippers or assisted opening. I guess I will either have to try drilling and tapping the handles myself or send them to STR and have him fix them for me. It looks like a company could dril a few more holes or even market a line of "lefty" knives and do well.
 
I am also very left handed and have decided that I will not buy a knife if they do not offer and true left handed version. Chris Reeve does offer full left handed versions of some of his knives. Also check out ADV, he offers full left handed versions. If you are not looking to spend that kind of money you could check out Emerson. He will drill certain knives so you can change the clip over to the "lefty" side, however the lock bar is still set up for right handed people.
 
Frankly the problem is really only apparent in two large respects: fixed blade sheaths and frame lock folders.

With the presence of lock backs and AXIS, you have true ambidextrous choices, however, learning a righty liner lock is easy so long as the pocket clip is reversible. Frame locks are a whole other animal, with certain makers refusing to even drill and tap the "presentation side" for a "wrong" pocket clip.

Far more inexcusable are righty only fixed blade knife sheaths. This "traditional" approach is just plain stupid. The user should be afforded the option of where the knife gets placed.

I know plenty of right handers who dislike the idea of openly wearing a pistol and knife both on the dominant side when hunting. I know I prefer my knife on the right and holster on my left personally, but when only wearing a knife I want it on the left. Oh well. I won't any longer buy knife with a right hand only sheath.
 
Scott Dog said:
I believe that Chris Reeve is the only company that still offers dedicated left hand models. They aren't cheap but they are great knives and that is why I have no problem buying their knives. I highly recommend that lefties support them. I sure do. CRK has a loyal customer in me.:D
Click to expand...


:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top