lefty newb needs help

M

murseman

Joined
Oct 20, 2011
Messages
2
I've lurked but haven't found what I'm looking for, so here goes:

I'm a newb getting a little more serious about everyday carry. I've carried a Swisschamp for years but would like to add a folder. I'm lefthanded and I'm having a tough time finding the right knife. I'm looking for:


[*]3-4" blade

[*]reversible clip

[*]lock back preferred

[*]one handed opening

[*]<$100


As I said, I'm a newb so be kind. I fear I'm searching for the Holy Grail...
 
If you're looking for a lockback, there's a lot of good options. Cold Steel Voyager, Spyderco Para 2 (not a lockback, but a compression lock on the back, IIRC), there's a lot of options out there.
 
Welcome aboard, I'm a lefty too. The Spyderco Native might fit your fancy. I carry tip up clipped to my left pocket, works pretty nice for me.
Then of course there is a lefty Sebenza. That will run you close to $400 new, and if you think you wont get one, see what happens if you stick around here long enough.
 
LH spyderco military, little over $100 but worth every penny.
 
Liveitloud said:
Spyderco Delica or Endura would meet your specs and both could be had for 50-60 bucks.
Click to expand...

I'll second that.

If you haven't tried the Axis Lock or Ball Bearing Lock, give a Benchmade Griptillian or the Spyderco Manix 2 a peek. I'm a lefty too and both of those are very lefty friendly.
 
murseman said:

[*]3-4" blade

[*]reversible clip

[*]lock back preferred

[*]one handed opening

[*]<$100


As I said, I'm a newb so be kind. I fear I'm searching for the Holy Grail...
Click to expand...

Don't worry, there's plenty of choices out there with everything you're looking for. As far as lockbacks that fit the bill, Spyderco has a lot of options:

Delica/Endura (Endura's just a little bigger)- Can't go wrong here. Won't break the bank, has all the feature you listed, and there's a lot of variations available.

Native- Not as many variation's as the Delica & Endura, but still plenty. Wal-Mart used to (and may still) carry an FRN handled version with S30V steel for I think around $50. Worth checking there so you could handle one; see if it agrees with you.

Stretch- More expensive than the others, but you should be able to find one well within your budget. Haven't handled one personally (I don't usually gravitate toward lock-backs), but from looking at pictures/specs, I really can't find anything I dislike about it. Seems like an excellent knife.

Caly 3/3.5- A little above your budget, but definitely worth considering. Great knives.

I'd also reccomend just browsing Spyderco's website, and see what jumps out at you. For good modern lock-backs I don't think any other company comes close to the number of models they have.

On crimsonfalcon07's recommendation of the Paramilitary 2, it's an excellent knife (There's one in my pocket now). It might not be quite as lefty friendly as a lock-back though. It's not hard for me to close left handed, but it is just a little awkward. That said, I'm right handed so most knives are a little awkward to close left handed for me. I'd check one out if you can, see how it feels for you. Or maybe a lefty could chime in with a little more insight.

Sorry if this seemed like a big Spyderco ad. Like I said, I don't usually gravitate toward lock-backs, and Spyderco's are just the one's I'm most familiar with.

If the preference for a lock-back was mainly ease of use left handed, there's a lot of other lefty friendly locks out there aswell: axis lock, ball-bearing lock, left handed liner and framelocks etc. Not trying to push any of them over a back-lock, I know a lot of people prefer them, but it's something to consider.

Have fun on the search, and welcome to the forums.

Edit: Oops, sorry for the repeat suggestions. Got sidetracked for a while in the middle of my reply and didn't check for new posts.
 
I'm not a lefty, but I do learn how to close my folders with my left hand. For an inexpensive liner lock, I found the Kershaw Chill very easy to open and close with my left hand. It was less than $ 20.

Ric
 
Spyderco Delica, Buck Vantage (any of the 3 types), and if you are willing to wait a little while the Kershaw Echelon. I am also a lefty, so I have had to research what is available (and cheap but good).
 
As lefty myself, I can understand the difficulty. All too often I see a wonderful knife, but it's only available in a right handed lock and right handed carry!

The Spyderco Delica/Endura is a good recommendation, as is the Spyderco Stretch. The VG-10 versions will be more affordable than the ZDP-189 versions, but if you look hard enough you should be able to find one for well under $100.

On a related note: how, and with what, do you sharpen your knives? A good knife sharpener is worth the money several times over.
 
All good suggestions so far...a Benchmade Griptilian would fit the bill also.
 
Also check out A G Russell, KaBar, and Buck. They offer lockbacks in your price range with reversible clips.
 
Uhhh.. Buck 110??
Now I'm right handed so this is foreign waters to me, but it seems like lockbacks, and any variation on them, Triad, Axis Lock, Arc Lock, and so on, will be friendly for either hand.
For under fifty, I'll go with the Spydee guys, but the ones I've owned have had what seemed to me like very thin blades. I can be a little hard on gear, and I choose my EDC with that in mind.
CRKT makes a few lockbacks, and depending on your needs, some of them might fit the bill.
 
Thanks for all the replies. I know I'm not the first to say it but I find it hard to believe that it's not cost-effective for manufacturers to make models with reversible clips. I think I'm going to go with a spyderco. Just have to decide on the model.
 
murseman said:
Thanks for all the replies. I know I'm not the first to say it but I find it hard to believe that it's not cost-effective for manufacturers to make models with reversible clips. I think I'm going to go with a spyderco. Just have to decide on the model.
Click to expand...

I hear what you are saying. Another lefty here. All the suggestions are good ones murseman. Personally I have a lot of Spyderco knives because a) they are damn good knives and b) they (to me) are more thought out for lefty's than most other knife manufacturers. Whatever you decide, you really can't go wrong.
 
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