Question for Bob on ambidexterity

S

SB

Joined
Oct 4, 1998
Messages
637
How difficult is it to make your folders so that it has ambidexterous thumb stud and having the lock release on both sides?
 
Mr. Taylor is away 5/10-5/17. There is a post below explaining where he will be. I'm sure he will answer your questions when he gets back.
 
I have talked with Bob on this subject, he says it isnt a big deal, I imagine one just has to think backwards while doing it! ha ha.
 
Well, if it isn't a big deal, I'd like to see it done on all of their knives please. I can work with the lock being on one side, but not having ambi thumb stud is kind of a downer when I have to switch hands.
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It seemed like it wouldn't be too difficult. It probably wouldn't cost much to make the knife ambidextrous (lock release on both sides and clip holes on both sides). Pretty easy to allow left-hand and weak-side carry. I noticed BM took the opportunity to do this on the Axis, was wondering why REKAT didn't.
 
Making the Rolling Lock ambidexterous is possible but at a price. To the end user it would be $10.00 thats because of doubling parts and the extra cost to put them together. A ambidexterous thumbstud is in the works but a ways off. We also went to a coil compression spring which in time will show it's advantages.
I know I have stated this in the past We are a very small company with far more limited resources than Benchmade and the other big boys. For know your going to have to live with right hand and left handed models.

Bob Taylor

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Some days it's not worth chewing through the restraints and escaping.
 
Is the ambidexterious option available upon request?

Perhaps as a long-term strategy, it may be useful to have the technology and resources on hand to make knives ambi. Not only would it benefit southpaws (which represents 1/10th of the population), but also those who carry two of the same knives. Judging from the success of Spyderco's Endura/Delica 98 line, I assume the demand's there.

Or, I could just be talking nonesense. Regardless, thanks for listening.
 
Titan

Here is a point to ponder. The lock lever is so you can disengage the lock and close the knife. Personal opnion is I care more about opening the knife quick and deploying it. How fast you can close it isn't going to effect your ability to use it as a defensive tool. A shoulder holster is a pain in the butt to reholster but they can be quick on the draw.
We make about 5% in left handed and they move slow. Sal Glesser has told me that they move slow for Spyderco. I have read that 17% are in their right minds but either you southpaws are not knife nuts or are used to right handed knives.
Steven Dick is a southpaw and we have to ask if he is doing a pitcular article.
Making a knife ambidexterous is not an issue. The Axis lock was designed by McHenry and Williams to to be ambidexterous and the design lends itself to that. It is a excelent design and I have all the respect for both these outstanding knife makers.

Bob Taylor


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Some days it's not worth chewing through the restraints and escaping.
 
I am left handed, and agree with Bob- I'm more concerned with opening the knife than closing it. I'd much rather have an ambidexterous opening mechanism (or at least one that's lefty friendly), than have a lock specifically for my dominant hand.

Of course, in the best of all worlds, I'd have both, incorporated into a lightsaber or something, but reality and what I want are often two seperate things.

Spark

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Kevin Jon Schlossberg
SysOp and Administrator for BladeForums.com

Insert witty quip here
 
Bob -- thanks for the additional context. Right, its more important to open than to close a folder.

I would gladly shell out the additional $10 for a fully ambi rolling lock folder, though. Its like getting my cake and eating it too.
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