Southpaw gear

Mack

Mack

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First are there any other southpaws out there?
Second, where do I go to find gear built for a lefty?
Most knives are ground in a way that makes it natural to cut with the right hand. Some like my Myerchin rigging knives have the grind on the proper side but they are rare.
When I can afford one, will the custom makers make what I need?
Will they make a left handed sheath?
Of course I have adapted and can make do with right handed tools but if there are those made for lefties then that would make life easier.
 
Tom Krein can grind a left hand knife but are mostly chef's knives designed to break the surface tension when chopping vegetables. I'm happy with a double grind (hollow or flat) and can't recall ever having an issue.

Virtually every maker will fix you up with a left hand sheath.
 
I am a lefty too. The only thing I notice with knives is that many of the folders are for righties. I see more "Left vs. Right" issues with firearms than knives.
 
I'd love some of the Spyderco folders if they had a better lefty clip and lefty grind to their serrations.
As for firearms, I carry a series 70. The only mod being a ambi safety. I find the mag release to be better for lefties than righties.
 
protourist said:
Most knives are ground in a way that makes it natural to cut with the right hand.
Click to expand...


Southpaw here myself, and other than the occasional chisel grind, I can't recall noticing knives being ground left or right handed???

protourist said:
When I can afford one, will the custom makers make what I need?
Will they make a left handed sheath?
Click to expand...

Talk to Scott Gossman, he's a fellow southpaw and makes lots of left handed sheaths for himself and pesky repeat customers like me. :D

www.gossmanknives.com
 
Southpaw, lefty. I hate those terms. How come there aren't any similar names for "rightys?" How come the bad guy in the movies was always "Lefty?" Being extremely left handed myself I can say that we are the most ignored minority in the world. I'm here today to establish the NAALR, that's right, the National Association of Leftys Rights. Who's with me??? :D

(The above was all, well, mostly humor)

I'd love to find some left handed gear. It's amazing how many things in the world are actually designed for right handed people. Seems like I pick stuff all the time and think, "By God, this thing is right handed." Weird stuff too. Stuff you wouldn't think about... unless you were left handed.

I carry a Mcusta Take. A very nice folder with an ambidextrous thumb stud. As for sheaths, I was worried that if I bought a custom knife with a left hand sheath, I'd have a hard time selling the knife later on so I learned to make my own. I'll be watching this thread as well to see if anyone has something to offer.
 
I don't need another swiss army knife, but the Victorinox One Hand Trekker has a lefty liner lock. For under $30, it's a great deal on a sorta lefty knife.
 
Cool,
as for left handed grinds, next time you cut say, butter, notice how the butter knife wants to curve on you. The grind is designed for righty's. If you get a serrated knife you will see that the serrations are cut on the left. If you cut with your right hand this cuts straight. With the left hand it doesn't cut properly.
 
I wish they made lefty leathermans, the waves great, the surge is massive, epic almost, but a pain in the butt to open with the left. I don't generally have issues with fixed blades just the sheaths they supply. I might take more notice now, when I cut butter ;)
 
southern bigfoot said:
I wish they made lefty leathermans, the waves great, the surge is massive, epic almost, but a pain in the butt to open with the left. I don't generally have issues with fixed blades just the sheaths they supply. I might take more notice now, when I cut butter ;)
Click to expand...

Believe it or not I used butter as an example because you would think a cold stick of butter would be easy to cut. I have yet to see a lefty butter knife and I have yet to see a lefty that could use a butter knife to cut straight through a stick of butter. Use a knife with the grind on the right side of the blade and voila, straight cut.
Victorinox makes most of their kitchen knives with a left handed grind and once you use them you really don't want to use any knife with a wrong handed grind.
 
Now that I think about it, this is probably the reason I don't care for serrated blades. They don't cut right. The serrated blade on my rigging knife and my Vic kitchen blades cut like a dream though because of the side that the serrations are on.
Could this explain all the differing opinions on which knife cuts better?
My knife is shaving sharp but when you try to use it it doesn't cut right. The way we hold a knife or simply the hand we use changes the geometry?
I bet these things come into play when blades are sharpened for chopping contests.
Sorry for rambling, I really should have slept last night my cranial cavity is in need of coffee.
I'll shut up now.
 
I have an early Spyderco Executive that's a true left hand; the grind is opposite than a right hand knife. The early Police models were the same, IIRC. I also have several custom slipjoints with nail nicks on the opposite side, it does make a difference...especially on a knife with heavy spring tension.

I also only own left hand bolt rifles...

As to southpaw or lefty, I prefer "the sinister sixth" :)
 
protourist said:
Believe it or not I used butter as an example because you would think a cold stick of butter would be easy to cut. I have yet to see a lefty butter knife and I have yet to see a lefty that could use a butter knife to cut straight through a stick of butter. Use a knife with the grind on the right side of the blade and voila, straight cut.
Victorinox makes most of their kitchen knives with a left handed grind and once you use them you really don't want to use any knife with a wrong handed grind.
Click to expand...

The butter knife in our stainless flatware is ambidextrous...I noticed it when we got it as a wedding gift some 36 years ago.
 
I am a Lefty,no real issues other that clips on pocket knives or Guns other than that I am doing just fine.
 
JB in SC said:
I also only own left hand bolt rifles...
Click to expand...

I bought my first left hand bolt action last year and what a difference! For the first time I can rack the bolt without taking the gun off my shoulder or reaching across the scope-- what a concept!
 
I also only own left hand bolt rifles...

As to southpaw or lefty, I prefer "the sinister sixth" :)[/QUOTE]

Interesting as I only shoot right hand rifles. I have the stock made for left hand shooting but I prefer to cycle the bolt with my right hand. This keeps my left hand in battery for the next shot.
Same with the mag release on my Series 70s. I simply pull my trigger finger off and without adjusting my grip, release the mag.
Never having to adjust my grip with a bolt action or pistol seems to put the next shot out there quicker and more acurately. To me at least.
I've never quite understood why anyone would want to take his hand off the grip to cycle a bolt gun.
 
Texas Slim, are you takin apps for the National Association of Leftys Rights? If so, I'm in!

I've never had too much trouble with knives other than the fact that I would like to see more knives with ambidextrous pocket clips, gets annoying pulling the knife out of my right pocket then swapping it over to my left hand.

As for bolt action rifles.., I got pretty used to shooting right handed bolt actions. Just pulled my hand off the stock and racked the bolt with my right hand while keeping my left hand on the trigger. Even worked for me while standing or not using a rest. I got a pretty strong grip so I could hold most guns up with just my left hand.
 
fatheadhill said:
I've never had too much trouble with knives other than the fact that I would like to see more knives with ambidextrous pocket clips, gets annoying pulling the knife out of my right pocket then swapping it over to my left hand.

As for bolt action rifles.., I got pretty used to shooting right handed bolt actions. Just pulled my hand off the stock and racked the bolt with my right hand while keeping my left hand on the trigger. Even worked for me while standing or not using a rest. I got a pretty strong grip so I could hold most guns up with just my left hand.
Click to expand...

Another lefty chiming in.

Same here on the right hand bolt guns. Works very well on a bench and can be done from a standing position if the rifle isn't a bull barreled tank. Love the 1911 and the old top-eject Winchester 94's too. In fact, you can top off the Win 94's and other lever guns with you right hand without taking your strong hand off the grip.

As for LH knives with clips, the BM MiniGrip is outstanding. 4-way clip and the Axis Lock make for a true ambi knife. I've really had no issues with right handed knives that aren't liner locks. One of my EDC's is a Spyderco Centofante III carried left side, tip up.

Personally, I think lefty's are more prone to being somewhat ambidextrous that right handed people. Look at all the stuff you use every day with your right hand. Heat/Radio/shifter in your car or truck, can openers, cameras, number pad on the keyboard or ATM machine. All designed for the right handed and us lefties use 'em without too much trouble.

Just my thoughts,
Chris
 
You are right (pun clearly intended) we are more ambi than "they" are. Because we've had to put up with their crap for so long.
Thing is when I buy a sheath knife I want to wear it where it will be practical. When I am forced to turn it around before use it isn't practical.
Notice how many of us responded to this. The makers should take notice and make us some lefty gear.
Just my opinion of course. I will get off the soapbox and play nice now.
 
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