Southpaws!

[DeadManWalking]

Let me state for the record I'm a righty.

BUT I've been evaluating my EDC and realize it favors the right side an awful lot. Seems natural I guess but I have been thinking about what would make a good knife to carry on my left side.

The only thing I can think up is a Spyderco of some stripe or another... some of them have reversible clips and I assume a Spyderhole is about as ambidextrous as one can get.

But instead of pretending I'm left handed why not ask someone who actually is left handed? What are some folders that work for you? I'm just looking for a general trend is all; what features about it makes it easy to open with the left hand versus the right, or possibly what makes a good ambidextrous knife.

Of course it may be a bit of a faulty comparison as I'd have a great deal of difficulty using say a left handed framelock but I'm curious nonetheless. A left handed person using a left handed tool is a considerably different scenario from a righty trying to use something in his left hand.

 

[glockman99]

I'm a lefty, and I carry Benchmades. Pretty much all of the Axis-lock Benchmades are totally ambidextrious, with switchable clips, dual thumb-studs (or a "hole"), and the Axis lock can be used on either side.

 

[JD Mandrell]

I'm a lefty, and I carry Benchmades. Pretty much all of the Axis-lock Benchmades are totally ambidextrious, with switchable clips, dual thumb-studs (or a "hole"), and the Axis lock can be used on either side.

I'll second that...my mini-griptilian is the most "ambi" out of the box knife I have owned yet...and the blade opens so smoothly that it should be no trouble to open it with your off-hand.

I give great praise to the axis-lock BM's I am a lefty and my right hand is missing one finger and the others do not bend well, but I can use any axis-lock Bm with no trouble. The Ken Onion assisted stuff goes good for off-hand carry also.

 

[Droppoints]

I'm a southpaw and the A G Russell "One Hand Knife" is totally ambidextrous. The hole in the blade and the release tab don't care which hand you use. I have the "Lightweight" version in ATS34 and couldn't be happier with it.

The $20 K-Bar "Dozier Design" folders have reversible opening studs and pocket clips so they can be made completely left-handed. The newest model with the opening hole in the blade would be even better as I'm not crazy about the studs on any knife. BTW, these things are the nearest to a screaming deal on a good quality knife I've seen in years. BTW, these are the nearest thing to a screaming deal on a good quality knife I've seen in years.

 

[MikeH]

I am left-handed and have never understood what the fuss about left-handed knives was all about. Any knife that I have tried with a Spyder-hole or an ambidextrous stud has worked just fine. Actually, a knife with clip set up for a right hander but with an ambidextrous stud or hole seems to me to be better than a knife designed for left-handers. Carried clipped in the left front pocket, it can easily be accessed by a simple twist of the hand so that the palm is outward, and it is also very easily accessed by the right hand if necessary.

 

[rdg]

I use a Buck 110 with a One-Armed Bandit. No clip to worry about. Pack in a sheath of my own design and making.
I also have a true lefty Spyderco Police. I use a righty Endura (old one with plastic clip). I think the new ones with a reversable clip would be nice.
I've been looking at the Chinook II, but it's so similar to my Buck I don't think I'll go for it.
My favorite is the Buck. It's just so comfortable to use and takes such a nice edge. I've got a BG-42 blade on the one I carry daily and I'm getting ready to have another one converted to that blade.
Bob

 

[DeadManWalking]

I am seeing a general pattern:

Lockbacks or Axis lock
Holes for opening

Makes sense really... I can see why a framelock or a liner lock would be undesirable. I can also see how most thumb studs wouldn't work either.

 

[glockman99]

I am seeing a general pattern:

Lockbacks or Axis lock
Holes for opening

Makes sense really... I can see why a framelock or a liner lock would be undesirable. I can also see how most thumb studs wouldn't work either.

Thumb-studs work just fine as long as they are dual...In-fact, I like thumb-studs better than "the hole"..