Lefties assemble

DarkPatriot

DarkPatriot

Joined
Aug 12, 2011
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221
Just curious to see which of my fellow forumites are lefties. Have you adapted to right handed knives or do you mainly buy ambidextrous/ left handed friendly models? What do you edc. Just for fun and curiosity. For the record, I'm left handed and my edc folders are the benchmade 551 spec ed, 581, 950 and the zt 560, all left hand friendly.
 
I'm left handed, but I don't really EDC modern folders. Mostly slip joints, friction folders and lock backs. They are all ambidextrous.
 
Southpaw here. I mainly buy ambidextrous folders, so far have never bought a left hand version of a knife. I currently EDC a ZT0560BW.
 
I buy only fully left handed knives (i.e. left handed Sebenza, Umnunzaan, and Military) or fully ambidextrous knives. I don't like "lefty friendly" as they seem to only have features like an opposable pocket clip (sometimes in only one position!) that are more of an afterthought to try and get lefties to buy them.

Vote with your money.
 
Right handed knives are more lefty friendly than left handed knives in my opinion. I only carry knives in my left pocket, although I am more or less ambidextrous knife-wise. Liner/frame locks to me are easier to sweep to the outside with my thumb than push across the path of the blade. Either way is easy.
 
As long as it has thumb studs on both sides and isn't right hand tip up only, I can manage. I do have a Lefty Umnum that is very easy to close, but not any easier than my Gayle Bradley or ZT560.
 
Rat Finkenstein said:
Right handed knives are more lefty friendly than left handed knives in my opinion. I only carry knives in my left pocket, although I am more or less ambidextrous knife-wise. Liner/frame locks to me are easier to sweep to the outside with my thumb than push across the path of the blade. Either way is easy.
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I'm having a hard time picturing that.

I'm a lefty who has used strictly slipjoints for some time. When I did use a one-hander I used it right handed. I do a number of things right handed. Since I gravitated to slipjoints, I gravitated to using my left hand.

I finally ordered a Sanrenmu 710 to see what all the fuss was about. I'm wondering how my left-handedness will affect use of it now.

So, how do you open them left-handed? (for dummies)
 
I'm a left handed and carry traditional slipjoints and SAKs, thus no problems here.
 
dogstar said:
I'm left handed, but I don't really EDC modern folders. Mostly slip joints, friction folders and lock backs. They are all ambidextrous.
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Actually, I find that a lot of slipjoints are still designed with right handed people in mind. I often find myself holding onto the handle with my right hand when opening up the blades/tools on them and then switching hands after opening because it's easier that way. It's also very obvious when using the can opener tool on multitools, especially the 4+ Victorinox knives. I have to bend my wrist inward at a 90 degree angle to use them.

I'm currently EDCing a Spyderco Gayle Bradley Folder. Waiting on a Spyderco Sage 3 currently. Going to order a CRKT Swindle and a ZT0801 down the line. Not sure how often I'm going to carry the Sage 3. I found that I prefer carrying liner locking knives over others (not sure about framelocks yet) and that I'm not all that fond of lockbacks. Kind of so-so on bolt action/ball bearing/axis type locks, since they're difficult to take apart and I like to take apart my knives.
 
davek14 said:
I'm having a hard time picturing that.

I'm a lefty who has used strictly slipjoints for some time. When I did use a one-hander I used it right handed. I do a number of things right handed. Since I gravitated to slipjoints, I gravitated to using my left hand.

I finally ordered a Sanrenmu 710 to see what all the fuss was about. I'm wondering how my left-handedness will affect use of it now.

So, how do you open them left-handed? (for dummies)
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You hold the knife the same no matter what side the lock is on, it just seems more logical to be moving the lock in the same direction you have to move your thumb after it is disengaged and out of the path of the closing blade. the index finger pushes on the spine of the blade after the lock is released. Lock pulls to side instead of pushes across the handle. Either way is super easy to accomplish.


Fuss about the Sebenza knockoff? I would throw it in the trash with either hand. :D
 
I am a lefty and some frame locks are easier to open from the left side but they also can feel weird opening because I can feel the bar moving.
Most BM Axis knives are very ambi and I can close most liner locks one handed also.
The only knife I own that has thumb studs only on the right is a Dozier Kabar and for the price I can deal with it.

I think most lefties have become accustomed to living in a world designed for right handers.
 
My working knife is clipped to my left pocket and it is must be tip up carry.
It has been either a Gayle Bradley or ZT 0350 for the last few years now.

Soon I will be getting a left handed Sebenza,
I've never owned a lefty specific knife or gun before. It might ruin me.
 
XiaolongJackson said:
Actually, I find that a lot of slipjoints are still designed with right handed people in mind. I often find myself holding onto the handle with my right hand when opening up the blades/tools on them and then switching hands after opening because it's easier that way.
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Just the opposite for me. Every slipjoint I own I hold in my left hand and open with my right.
 
Just become accustomed to right handed and don't really care for lefty stuff as it just confuses me now. I carry right (support/reaction) side anyway to keep my left hand free.
 
lefty here

most folders work for me

if you want a crusader forge or chris reeve for example (thumb stud on one side only) you will have to get a dedicated left hand model (good luck with that) (great products though)

:)
 
willc said:
The only knife I own that has thumb studs only on the right is a Dozier Kabar and for the price I can deal with it.
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Which model? All of my KaBar Dozier folders, can be reversed for southpaws, I've done it to mine.
 
Pretty much an ambi myself.....but left eye dominant....so i shoot left handed. feels better....but can do righty if need be. Being a lefty on shooting is no big deal with right handed guns.........but knives for me are allot harder, imho. i find using my left hand awkward at best with one hand opener types. once opened with my right i just switch hands.....if i want to use it in my left..and do the same for closing. All said and done.....I find being a righty easier for most one handed opening knives. So I typically use my right hand.
 
jbmonkey said:
Pretty much an ambi myself.....but left eye dominant....so i shoot left handed. feels better....but can do righty if need be. Being a lefty on shooting is no big deal with right handed guns.........but knives for me are allot harder, imho. i find using my left hand awkward at best with one hand opener types. once opened with my right i just switch hands.....if i want to use it in my left..and do the same for closing. All said and done.....I find being a righty easier for most one handed opening knives. So I typically use my right hand.
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http://www.wikihow.com/Determine-Your-Dominant-Eye

I'm left eye dominant and my lefty daughter is right eye dominant. I think that she just thought the left was cooler while I was teaching her stuff.

Rat Finkenstein said:
Fuss about the Sebenza knockoff? I would throw it in the trash with either hand. :D
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Also got an A148 coming with it. I'll have to start a thread asking about this company when they arrive. I'm seeing some angst there. Is the 148 a copy of anything?
 
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