Lefty Needs a New Knife

Joshua M. Smith

Joshua M. Smith

Joined
Feb 2, 2007
Messages
30
Hello,

I recently misplaced my Spyderco Wayne Goddard Clipit that I've carried for over 20 years.

I'm sure I'll find it again, but I'd like to retire it. While it's lost is a good time.

What I want is fairly specific:

I'm a lefty, so I need a reversible pocket clip

Prefer assisted opening this time

The blade should face down, if open, while in my pocket.

I prefer a trigger on the back of the blade to a thumb hole or thumb stud

I'd like the blade to be between 2" and 3".

That Spyderco is tough to sharpen. It about requires diamonds for that ATS-55 steel. It holds an edge forever, but i shave with straight razors and so hone a lot anyway.

I prefer $50 to $65 or so. It's to be carried daily and I'd prefer something that won't break me if I lose it.

Suggestions are welcome.

Thank you.

Josh
 
Emre said:
What about a Delica?
Click to expand...

Hello,

I considered it. They're good knives.

However, spring assisted knives became legal in Indiana since I last bought a serious-purpose folding locking knife. I'd prefer an assisted opening knife this time.

There's a knife by Kershaw called the Freefall.

That knife is almost the exact style I have in mind.

However, it's a $20 knife and I don't have a lot of faith in $20 knives.

Do you know any knife along that design, of better quality?

Thank you.

Josh
 
I've had assisted openers in the past and never really liked them. They tend to be a little stiff, especially when closing. Also makes disassembly for cleaning/maintenance a little more of a hassle (but it's not too big a deal).

Check out the Nick Shabazz YouTube channel. He recently did a series of reviews on low-budget folding knives. There was a Kershaw he really liked (I don't remember the model number). It was an assisted opener and cost $35-40 or so.
 
After the new wore off and I got tired of the hassel of preventing them opening in my pocket, I stopped carrying assisted knives. Most assisted knives use a liner or frame lock, and while they can be operated with the left hand, it is not as easy as with the right. Locks that are truly ambidextrous are back locks, axis locks, ball bearing locks, and their ilk. Benchmade does make axis lock assisted knives but not in your price range.

Kershaw has committed to the assisted knife and the Blur is a decent knife for the money. The knife starts around $45 and goes higher, depending on steel choice (of which there are several).
 
Get the $20 one, and see if you really want to carry an assisted opener... Then, if if the novelty wears off, you're only out $20, and if it doesn't, you can spend a little more time finding what you really want.
 
I can only speak for myself, but I'm pretty much done with assisted folders and automatics. I can carry anything I want here in Arizona, and I have. But I have zero assisted knives and only one automatic (for sentimental reasons).

What I do have though is ambidextrous Spyderco backlocks and Benchmade AXIS locks. In your price range, you'd be looking at the basic FRN handled Spydercos like the Delica or Endura or Dragonfly, whichever size you prefer. With Benchmade, if you stretch your budget, you can get a Griptillian. With the AXIS lock you can flick open very easily with your thumb, even easier with just a wrist-flick, or extremely easily by pulling back on the lock and flicking it. The most important thing though is that you can flick it closed the same way. I could probably open and close my BM940D2CF 10 times in the time it takes you to open and close your assisted liner/frame lock. It's fun too. A great "fidget" knife. One handed, and no digits are in the path of the blade. How many times have you cut yourself trying to close your frame/linerlock one handed?

You can kinda do the same with a backlock Spyderco, but it's kinda awkward, especially if it's a smaller one with a light blade.

I can't really help you with assisted because I don't care for them anymore, so I don't keep up on them.

Sorry if I wasted your time with my ramble.
 
As a lefty, the Delica is great.
The Paramilitary 2 and many other flippers work well too.
I believe there'll be a left hand version of the PM2 coming out this year also.
 
Lefty Para2 AND a lefty Military are due to be released fairly soon.

But to answer the OP
Budget assisted flipper of choice for me would be the Kershaw Link.
However, AFAIC the best assisted production knife for a lefty is the Benchmade 581 Barrage. Not a flipper, but the assist is strong and authoritative. Also, once the novelty of the assist wears off (and it will). You can de-assist the knife and it becomes even better! I still carry mine quite regularly, and I have some really nice customs too.

Best of luck in your search!
Dave
 
Kershaw Link is a good choice if you have wiggle room on the 3" blade, link is 3.25".
(HouseofBlades still has their exclusive model w/ s35v blade available in red/blackwash for $83)
Kershaw knockout is also 3.25" with 12c28n steel

The Kershaw Dash is another good choice at 3.5"
N690 blade and available multiple colors.
-The smaller version called the "Hype" is listed at 3.125"

Kershaw Dividend is 3" even, 420hc
- as is the Kershaw Camber, but s30v is a bit over you $ limit

All are in the Kershaw, U.S. made line-up, and all are lefty/tip-up adjustable. If you are set on assisted opening, then especially within your budget Kershaw's speedsafe is the most reliable a/o on the market. There are many other cheaper, non US made Kershaws as well that fit your criteria, you could buy 2 or 3 different ones and switch 'em up, or just to have a backup; Showtime, Intellect, Dimension in titanium, Eris, Cryo, Spline, Shield, all lefty/tip-up adjustable, any one will suit your needs.
 
3 other options to consider, if you're willing to go slightly above budget, and want excellent edge retention with a classic backlock instead of fanageling a liner/framelock as a lefty:
Cold Steel Holdout III and Mini Recon 1 are both 3", the mini lawman is 2.5", all accommodating lefty/tip-up carry.
 
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