Not quite a rant...

[Cynic2701]

Benchmade? The AXIS lock is one of the best ambi locks on the market.

I have my own woes with the Axis lock. I'm not knocking it, because I can attest to its reliability; I've had two broken Omega springs. I just got turned off by it.

But no, I'm referring to all of their very fine frame amd liner locks. I'd probably even pick up a Bradley Alias if it was made left handed.

If I can get a LH Sebenza, arguably one of the finest knives on the market, I have no desire to spend money on wrong handed knives. I would buy more knives, but I've made a decision to only buy knives that I don't need to compromise an integral part of who I am for.

 

[ponte]

Good to see I'm not alone. I'm a lefty that shoots right also. I feel your frustration with the lack of carry options. I have made it a point to support those makers who go out of their way to make a lefty friendly product. I own a lefty SNG, a millie, a couple of sebenzas, a lefty HEST folder and a Yuna and I'm not done. I do appreciate that although Kershaw's aren't lefty friendly, ZT makes many knives with multiple carry options. Just wish they would make a lefty framelock!

 

[stevekolt]

Drilling holes for pocket clips on BOTH sides of a pocket knife can't possibly be that much more of a burden (either time wise or financially wise)!
So far I have yet to meet a liner-lock or frame lock that cannot be manipulated with a right or a left hand.
I'm ambidextrous but i tend to carry knives left handed so understand the lefty perspective.

My point exactly. I carry my knives lefty, since when I can legally carry my gun I carry it on my right side. It would really be a minor change (a couple more holes drilled, as ZT does) to allow for lefty carry. It would seem that adding 11% more to your customer base would be worth drilling the extra screw holes to allow the buyer the option...I am not asking for a total reworking of the knife, just the ability to carry it as the buyer chooses. I own a large lefty "dog paws" Sebenza, a lefty small Sebenza with black micarta inlay, and a lefty Mnandi from CRK. All my Benchmade are ambi, and now my ZT 0301, and 551 can be carried lefty. In this economy, I would think that manufactrurers would LOVE to grow their base by 11%.

 

[Cynic2701]

I own a lefty SNG, a millie, a couple of sebenzas, a lefty HEST folder and a Yuna and I'm not done.

Whoa! A lefty SNG? I didn't know that they made those.

That might just be my next purchase.

 

[jbmonkey]

But again as I said originally, just being able to relocate the pocket clip would be a great step forward (or should I say to the left ) Retooling a pistol so it ejects cartridges to the opposite side would be a lot more costly than drilling a few extra holes to change the clip placement.

yep, holes shouldn't be a hinderance to costing to not open up potentially 11% more sales of said knife. couldn't agree more.

on firearms though, it's not the shell ejecting that is the issue, for me anyways, it's ambi safeties that are. as any good lefty shooter knows, and i already have..... adapting to the mag release and ignoring the slide release are easy enough, but a safety is always an issue when it's not ambi....all pistols that have safeties should have ambi-safeties to accomidate not only lefties but righties who might need to use their other hand at some point. never say never.

spyderco has allot of left side holes, and some other makers as well. there is hope for a lefty folding knife user. now sheaths on fixed blades...that's another problem, we may never see a fix on..........

 

[dannyp]

As a lefty and former clipped knife user I understand the frustration of finding a knife that you like and it isn't left hand friendly. If you try to look at the positive side, there are more ambidextrous knives now than there have ever been. It seems as the majority available are in the mid-range price though. Once you get up into the more expensive stuff, I can understand right handed people not wanting a high end knife with a lot of extra holes in it. I know that if I'm going to spend a bunch of money I want the knife to be aesthetically pleasing as well as functional. I do have to give credit to the few production companies that have made dedicated left hand knives. Retooling for a short run has to be a major cost for little return.

now sheaths on fixed blades...that's another problem, we may never see a fix on..........

Easy fix................................custom knife. The only production fixed blade that I will ever likely buy again is a Mora, which is so cheap I don't care if the sheath is right handed.