Lefty Carry Options

EveryDayCoastie

EveryDayCoastie

Joined
Aug 30, 2013
Messages
80
This is for all us lefties,
When you're looking for a new knife, is no LH clip option a deal breaker for you? I i have always carried LH tip up in my front pocket and thats just where i'm used to it being. Sometimes i'll buy a knife and immediately take it home and drill/tap for left side clip. There are knives i drool over but won't buy because i cant bear the thought of drilling into it. What are the ways you carry you're EDC blade and how does it affect your knife buying habits?
 
If there's no LH clip option, I don't even bother. I recently swapped my EDC folder for a small, pocket-friendly fixed blade, and am very pleased so far. No clips to mess with, and no gritty joints to keep clean. I am down to three folders at this point, a SAK, CS Voyager XL, and an old Uncle Henry that I used for work and now has sentimental value.
 
Being left handed, I've learned that clips are little more than an unnecessary nuisance. I have no problem getting a knife out of the bottom of my pocket when I need it. I don't have to deal with bent clips, broken clips, clips on the wrong side, or clips getting snagged on something and pulling the knife out of my pocket.
 
I don't mind no clip if my knife was the only thing in that pocket, I just don't like reaching into my pocket for my knife and pulling out my keys, lighter, phone, etc. with it. El Bandito, how do you secure the sheath in your pocket? I'd like to try that out for a week or so.
 
I'm ambidextrous with a tendency towards lefty, and I just make sure I have an ambidextrous knife to clip to the left pocket, and a ambi or right hand clip for the right pocket. I often keep my Izula in my pocket, just pull it out and remove the sheath. The only "right hand only" knife I have is the Kershaw Blur.
 
I only buy true lefty knives at this point. They are out there, you just have to search. Axis locks and back locks are good to go too.
 
The only clip poisition I cannot stand is right hand tip up. Both left handed positions are easy to get used to, and right hand tip down is pretty much the same as left hand tip down if you just learn to twist your hand when you grab the knife.

Plus RH tip down allows for the spine of the blade to push against the seam of your pocket, so it can't open by accident. An exception would be particularly large or pointy flippers, which catch on every damn thing you try to put in your pocket if the knife is like that.
 
To be honest I dont care about the clip options. I throw it clipped to the left pocket anyway. The only thing that sways me away from a blade is if it isnt lefty friendly opening and closing.
 
If there's no lefty option on the knife in front of me, I'll pass...there's plenty of good blades out there that DO have the option. Can I carry right-handed? Certainly....but there's no reason I should :)
 
mwalle6 said:
I only buy true lefty knives at this point. They are out there, you just have to search. Axis locks and back locks are good to go too.
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I don't have any problem with RH frame and liner locks, the only lock i can't deal with is the Spyderco compression lock. But i do always find myself reaching for one of my axis knives daily, either the 940 or the doug ritter ...or both!
 
I can't stand the compression lock either. But, I imagine how awesome a left handed comp lock would be!
 
Severe lefty here, I just require the clip option. If I can't have a left hand tip up option, I don't want it. I did, however, get my first custom lefty... can't get this thing out of my pocket... and just because this thread needs pics:

 
TSF makes the Beast in a lefty version?

That might make my list down the road... not too many lefty framelocks out there. Though I do like the few I've got quite a bit.

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As a lefty I find the compression lock easy to use and is one of my favorites along with the ball bearing lock and a back lock. Left hand clip option is strongly preferred but not necessarily a deal breaker but I would opt to remove the clip and use a sheath (pocket or belt) rather than RH clip carry.
 
ok, so i have a PM2 that i don't carry much because of the lock, do you use 2 hands to close it? bc when i try to disengage the lock with my left thumb i feel like i'm going to drop the knife
Brisket said:
As a lefty I find the compression lock easy to use and is one of my favorites along with the ball bearing lock and a back lock. Left hand clip option is strongly preferred but not necessarily a deal breaker but I would opt to remove the clip and use a sheath (pocket or belt) rather than RH clip carry.
Click to expand...
 
I rock the Kershaw rainbow leek. All day everyday. I carry it in left pocket just like it is. Not sure if that is point up or point down, open its point up closed is point down lol.

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EveryDayCoasti - I use one hand and tilt it to the left as I disengage the lock. Practice over a soft landing until you get the hang of it.
 
On one hand openers I insist on lefty friendly designs. If the manufacturer doesn't want my business that's ok with me. There are plenty of great designs out there by manufacturers that do want my money.
Are you listening Kershaw? You have a bunch of designs that I would love but until you make them lefty friendly you are losing out on customers.
 
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