Question for the lefties?

S

Southern1

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Feb 8, 2010
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I am left-handed and about to pull the trigger on a Sebenza. However, I've used right-handed folding knives for so long that I'm not sure if I should get the LH Sebbie.
Just to be specific - I use all knives in my left hand but I'm used to deploying them with my right. So should I get a leftie model and learn to deploy it or stick with rightie model and put it in left hand after deployment?
Great forum btw!
 
I open all my one hand opening knives with my left hand. I tend to buy ambidextrous ones as a rule. I can easily open/close my RH SnG with my left hand. Unless you have a knife that has a RH stud type opening method only, most knives are easy enough to handle with either hand I've found.

Having said all that, I have a left hand Sebenza and it works well for me. It's what you get used to I guess but I don't think you'll have a problem with a LH one and you'll probably grow to prefer it.
 
I had a lefty large sebenza for a little bit. I was a lefty carry only person at that time. I then decided it was too hard to find knives that were ambidextrious, so I just up and switched to right hand carry, and I havent looked back yet.

My only advice to you is this. If you are comfortable with right hand carry/deployment, then get a right handed sebenza. Lefty sebenzas are much harder to find. If something should ever happen to your right handed seb, god forbid, it could be easily replaced as opposed to finding another lefty sebenza.

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This probably doesn't help you...I do most knife tasks and carry LH...I have had almost no trouble with RH linerlocks and framelocks EXCEPT Sebenzas and the Umnumzaan...so my three Sebenzas and my now-sold Umnumzaan were all LH. FWIW, YMMV.
 
I also usually open folders with my right hand and then switch it to my left hand for cutting... this is pretty inefficient so I'm trying to teach myself to stick with left hand carry/open with my bigger/heavier duty folders. For small EDC blades, I actually like them in my right pocket for some reason.

So, with that being said, if I were to buy an expensive framelock or linerlock, I would definitely want it to be lefty if given the choice. At the very least, it would be more unique and customized for me. I think most lefties are, by necessity, more ambidextrous than righties - certainly when it comes to knives which are often designed exclusively with righties in mind. Your level of proficiency with each hand should determine what kind of knives you buy but as a lefty, I'd urge you go with with the lefty Sebenza :cool:
 
Excellent replies and good perspective from the left-handed Sebenza owners.
Much appreciated.
I think I'll try the LH model.
 
I think the big reason I want a Sebenza (or other high-end folder) is that it is available in a LH version. I hate having to "make-do" with something designed for righties. For that kind of money, I want exactly the right (or left) knife.
 
A left-handed one will be more difficult to sell if you end up selling it.

You could consider a dual thumbstud option.
 
I'm also right brained, I'm thinking about ordering a left hand Sebenza also. It just makes sense you'll be faster with your main using hand. Once you use/carry it for awhile. Also like the man said you only live once,get the one made for you. :thumbup:
 
Southern1 said:
I use all knives in my left hand but I'm used to deploying them with my right. So should I get a leftie model and learn to deploy it or stick with rightie model and put it in left hand after deployment?
Great forum btw!
Click to expand...

I used to do this for years since most of the cheap knives I could afford didn't have thumbstuds for a lefty and were liner locking knives.

Every time I wanted to make a cut it went like this: Take knife out of right pocket, open, put into left hand, make the cut, put into right hand, close, put back into pocket.

It got to be a real drag, once I got into more expensive ambidextrous knives I found using knives to be a much faster, more enjoyable affair. Today I'm carrying a Spyderco Military with a left-handed liner lock, so I'd say go for the lefty model. Re-sale value is a red herring. There lefty market is more limited but so are the production pieces, resale value is generally not affected to any appreciable degree. Buy what you want and don't settle because something may affect you in the future.
 
ditto to spoonrobot, try a sog spec elite. i'm right handed but this one opens so easily left handed that i thought my cerebral hemispheres had reversed.
 
I opt for dedicated lefties when I can get them. I'm left-handed. Why saddle myself with trying to deal with a right-handed tool? I carry my EDC in my left front pocket. I deploy it with my left hand. I use it with my left hand. When I buy I knife I don't worry about what I'm going to do with it 20 years from now or worry about losing it. I think about how I'll use it today and tomorrow. And that's left-handed.

I use left-handed tools in the kitchen (which really throws my right-handed friends when they try to use them. Pouring spouts are on the 'wrong side.' Serrations are on the 'wrong side,' etc.) All my one-handed folders are either Spyie hole or left-handed thumb stud. It removes one step in the using process.

Stitchawl
 
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Southern1 said:
So should I get a leftie model and learn to deploy it or stick with rightie model and put it in left hand after deployment?
Click to expand...

If you're not in too much of a hurry to pull the trigger on a Sebenza you might consider getting an ambidextrous knife first to see if you like carrying it on the left side. I used to carry in my right pocket too but after getting one with a reversible clip I won't ever go back. A Benchmade with an axis lock or a Spyderco lockback would be ambidextrous and give you an idea of what would be better for you before dropping the $$$ on a Sebbie.

p.s. I'd go for the LH model if it were me:cool:.


stitchawl said:
I use left-handed tools in the kitchen (which really throws my right-handed friends when they try to use them. Serrations are on the 'wrong side,' etc.)
Stitchawl
Click to expand...

:D That's pretty funny. Most righties don't understand how hard it is to use something that was designed for the other hand. It's really annoying to use a knife with the serrations on the wrong side. It wants to twist when you use it and you end up cutting crooked. I think that's part of the reason I've never liked serrated knives. I haven't had the chance to use a lefty version before.
 
You know its kind of like a left handed person using a power saw made for a right handed person, which most power saws are made for. It throws the saw dust right in your face. Its not designed for a lefty. So I'd say go left handed with your knife choice, its actually made for the left handed person. In a right handed world. ;)
 
dannyp said:
:D That's pretty funny. Most righties don't understand how hard it is to use something that was designed for the other hand. It's really annoying to use a knife with the serrations on the wrong side. It wants to twist when you use it and you end up cutting crooked. I think that's part of the reason I've never liked serrated knives. I haven't had the chance to use a lefty version before.
Click to expand...

I outfitted my kitchen with a double set of tools; one for me and one for my right-handed wife. Lefty measuring cups have the markings on the right side, lefty ladles have their spouts on the right side so you can pour with your left hand, lefty can-openers, lefty grinders, even a nice Japanese lefty sushi knife!!

I use spiral notebooks made for lefties; the metal spiral doesn't get under my wrist when I write but the three-rings are still in the correct place. My rulers read from right to left instead of left to right. Much easier for a lefty. The only left-handed device I don't, and can't, use, is scissors! Too many years spent using right-handed ones to change now.

But for knives... even the knife I had made for my by Randall is not only grip cut left-handed, but angled in the handle to line up with my forearm bones when held in my left hand. Holding it in the right hand angles the point off to the side.

Stitchawl
 
One thing I was amazed to discover the first time I went to a gun club to have a look at clay target shooting, was that they made shotguns for LH people. :)
 
For 15+ years I carried a knife in my right pocket because it was about my only option. When the LH millie came out I knew I had to have one (love da millie) but when I started carrying it, it felt awkward and I had a hard time performing all the actions I could do with my right hand. Its taken time to form the muscle memory but its starting to feel more natural and right hand knives are now the ones that feel awkward.

Get the lefty you will be Very happy you did.
 
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