Southpaws unite!

PayetteRucker said:
I love all these southpaws (I'm a lefty so I guess I have some input) that insist on using only left hand specific gear when many times it's just as easy to learn to use it right handed or find some other way to adapt to use the tool as intended. I understand things like golf clubs and rifles being specific, but I've never been picky about knives, even one sided thumb studs. Alot of times a bit of pressure against the spine in the right spot and a flick of the wrist is enough to open a blade, though with things like the spidey hole, double drilled pocket clip mounts and ambidextrous thumb studs it kind of amazes me that this is still an issue in the industry. For the most part I carry fixed blades and traditional folders anyway...
Click to expand...

I've played Bass guitar right handed for fifteen years... that doesn't mean all of a sudden I'm going to like using right handed scissors.

KnifeKnut66 said:
When I can find lefty specific or lefty friendly knives/ gear that's what I'll spend my hard earned cash on. Why shouldn't I? It's easier and more comfortable to use properly/ safely for me. If I can find a maker or dealer that caters to lefty's that is who will get my business. If you want to compromise that's your perogative, but why should I if I don't have to?
Click to expand...

Same.

Liveitloud said:
Those are the folks I want to spend a day having their car ashtray on the wrong side, their gear shift on the left side, the button on their camera being on the wrong side and most of all opening a liner lock on the wrong side.
Click to expand...

What I wouldn't give...

VR4 said:
I really wish Kershaw would add just one lefty frame lock to their ZT line (or do a limited run) but they're probably the least 'lefty friendly' company out there so I'm not holding my breath.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it is a bit irritating that they have every whiz-bang-pop-bam knife and can't be bothered to just flip the frame pieces on a single popular knife. The only thing that would need to be done is mirroring the CNC program for the scales and reverse grinding the lock bevel on the blade. They wouldn't even need to cut different frame pieces.

I do have to say though, the flippers they love so much are one of the more left-friendly methods out there.
 
Liveitloud said:
Those are the folks I want to spend a day having their car ashtray on the wrong side, their gear shift on the left side, the button on their camera being on the wrong side and most of all opening a liner lock on the wrong side.
Click to expand...

Every right handed person driving a RHD car is dealing with the car ashtray and gear shift on the "wrong" side. I'd think that because you grew up with the layout the way it is, camera button included, it would be natural to you whether you're right or left handed.

As a kid I remember some arcades had a second player control layout that was mirrored (joystick on the right, buttons on the left). I don't think lefties found that more natural since everyone grew up with the standard joystick on the left and buttons on the right. Everyone would play those cross-armed. :D
 
TurboScooter said:
Every right handed person driving a RHD car is dealing with the car ashtray and gear shift on the "wrong" side. I'd think that because you grew up with the layout the way it is, camera button included, it would be natural to you whether you're right or left handed.

As a kid I remember some arcades had a second player control layout that was mirrored (joystick on the right, buttons on the left). I don't think lefties found that more natural since everyone grew up with the standard joystick on the left and buttons on the right. Everyone would play those cross-armed. :D
Click to expand...

Let's get back to the OP's original intent. This is about lefty's uniting not about bashing us. Thanks.
 
When I first started seriously getting into knives I bought whatever caught my eye regardless of ease of use for me. I have since thinned out my collection to knives that are comfortable for me to use and carry as a lefty. This has dwindled my collection down from about 30 knives to around 10-12 and currently they are all Spyderco's (minus 1 mini-grip with a round opening hole) just because I find them the most comfortable and convienent. Spyderco seems to cater to lefties more than most other companies.

I have 1 dedicated left handed folder, which is the Lefty Military, and this knife has quickly become my favorite. I had a HEST/F lefty pre-ordered, but decided to cancel after seeing RYP's true colors here on the forum (that is another story for another day). I am seriously considering a lefty sebenza although I find the price very steep. I appreciate the effort that manufacturers make to cater to the minority left handers and will buy a product from them whenever I can.

I can easily adapt to using most right handed locks and opening methods, but why should I? It seems to me that left handers are so used to adapting that we feel we have no other choice but to conform to whatever is available. I do understand that it is not financially reasonable for manufacturers to make every model in a left hand variety, but the few that do usually get my business.

I think it is the left handers ability to adapt that has evolved us into smarter, more athletic, more creative, and downright better looking people than our right handed counterparts.

That last part was a joke....kind of.
 
I am a lefty and really like Benchmade's AXIS lock folders with the thumb-stud on both sides of the blade. I just switch the clips to the other side. I also prefer to carry my fixed blades in left-hand sheaths, but I always end up having to get them made or something because most places don't offer them.

Funny thing, even though I am left-eye dominant, I still shoot handguns right-handed and so I carry right-handed. I am working on switching over, though. My wife is a lefty also and she does most things right-handed but the essentials left-handed. She's more ambidextrous than I.
 
I shoot right handed as well, and play most sports right handed, but I write left handed so that't why i prefer to use my knife in my left hand.
 
If you want to start out a knife company you should see if you could contract with like sanrenmu to start. They can make great products and for really cheap. After you get more established you could do US made.
 
you know , I'm a lefty.

Over the years I have gotten so used to carrying my knife in my right pocket , opening with my right hand , that I've begun to unconsciously use my knife with my right hand , until my brain wakes up then I switch to my left. :D


I actually feel odd carrying in my left pocket , and my right hand is much more adept at flicking , thumbing etc a knife open.


weird huh ?

Tostig
 
No depending on what I'm doing depends in which pocket i carry or what hand I use my knife. Wish everything else was as easy
 
Won't work! We "Righties" will crush the insurrection. A knife fight will ensue and we will win because you won't be able to get your "correctly" engineered knives open.
Just kidding.:D

Cool idea, Call it "West Coast Choppers" ;)
 
mwalle6 said:
I shoot right handed as well, and play most sports right handed, but I write left handed so that't why i prefer to use my knife in my left hand.
Click to expand...

Me, too. I'm right eye dominant, so tend to use the right hand for aiming sports (shooting, golf, casting, Pool, hammers, etc.) but Left hand for eating, writing, drawing,etc.
BUT, knife use gets really confusing for me. I carry in my right pocket, and would use the RH for defensive use, but use the LH for opening boxes, following straight edges, whittling, slicing food, etc.
I would like to try a LH Frame lock to see how it would feel. Esp for left pocket use.
 
DoctaD said:
Me, too. I'm right eye dominant, so tend to use the right hand for aiming sports (shooting, golf, casting, Pool, hammers, etc.) but Left hand for eating, writing, drawing,etc.
BUT, knife use gets really confusing for me. I carry in my right pocket, and would use the RH for defensive use, but use the LH for opening boxes, following straight edges, whittling, slicing food, etc.
I would like to try a LH Frame lock to see how it would feel. Esp for left pocket use.
Click to expand...

Holy Cow Doc, there is a meeting 7-9 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month. You may wanna start coming.:)
 
iandh said:
I am seriously considering starting a knife company called LHK Co. (Left handed knife Company), that makes awesome knives, and caters ONLY to left handers, just to stick it to all of the righties enjoying preference for all this time. Please post your knives (or knives that you like) that cater to the strange that is left handers.

I must say, the Kershaw flippers are quite nice, even though the liner lock is right handed, it still is usable lefty. I also like the benchmade axis lock models with opening hole for ambidextrous goodness. I believe Emersons are also ground on the correct side for lefties.
Click to expand...

I'm right handed, and I would buy a quality left handed liner lock or bolt lock for my left front pocket.

Handedness issues are why I favor lockbacks and axis-type bolt locks these days.
 
probably my most friendly ambi folder is my benchmade mini-grip. I also use a Para 2 which is also really easy to use lefty. Fortunately, despite the fact that many of spyderco's models don't offer ambidexterous locking systems, they still offer for all of the pocket clips to be switched to all the sides. The G10 and all of the Delica series is really good for that stuff.




 
I didn't think the para 2 was so easy to operate left handed.....maybe I didn't practice enough.

"South Paw Choppers" may work plus you probably won't get hit for copyright infringement.
 
If I was a righty I would have many more knives. There are a lot of knives, guns and gear that I like, but I don't buy because they are not lefty friendly. It is good for my wallet, but I want more lefty friendly knives!

BTW, does Kershaw hate lefties? All of their knives are right handed liner locks. They are missing a big part of the market by doing this.
 
For me, most linerlocks and framelocks work fine with either hand. The only dedicated LH knives I've got are Sebenzas. Backlocks, Axis locks, ball bearing locks, etc., are all totally fine in either hand. The truly excellent Spyderco compression lock, for me, really doesn't work left-handed but some of the knives are worth dealing with that issue.

Reselling LH knives is a PITA... :( I buy RH knives if I can make them work at all.
 
rubiconss said:
Won't work! We "Righties" will crush the insurrection. A knife fight will ensue and we will win because you won't be able to get your "correctly" engineered knives open.
Just kidding.:D

Cool idea, Call it "West Coast Choppers" ;)
Click to expand...

Actually, Left Coast Choppers might be kinda cool.

I'm only partly serious, I have run a successful manufacturing business in the past, but I am way too tied up with my day job atm.

Tsujigiri said:
Never knew there were so many angry left handed people here...

lol
Click to expand...

Try being left handed for a while... ;)

JNewell said:
For me, most linerlocks and framelocks work fine with either hand. The only dedicated LH knives I've got are Sebenzas. Backlocks, Axis locks, ball bearing locks, etc., are all totally fine in either hand. The truly excellent Spyderco compression lock, for me, really doesn't work left-handed but some of the knives are worth dealing with that issue.

Reselling LH knives is a PITA... :( I buy RH knives if I can make them work at all.
Click to expand...

Ideally, I'd come up with a knife design that was reversible, if it wasn't altogether ambidextrous. That way it would still respect the needs of us lefties, without cutting out 90% of the market (although it would be sweet, sweet revenge to create a left handed knife so awesome, that righties had to buy it anyways and suffer :D).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top