There are no left unfriendly knife locks

M

mike_mck2

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May 19, 2005
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I have not encountered a knife lock yet that cannot be manipulated just as easily with the left hand as with the right. Using the left does not require much if any more dexterity than using the right, in my experience.

Some are even safer to manipulate with the left hand in their righty configuration, like liner & frame locks.

Axis locks
Ball bearing locks
Lockbacks
Liner locks
Frame locks
Compression locks
Rolling locks

I have never used the Phantom lock, but it also looks to be ambidextrous friendly as well.
Being left handed, which I am, is not a detriment to easily releasing knife locks. Getting hung up on "right" & "left" handed locks is pointless, in my opinion.
 
mike_mck2 said:
I have not encountered a knife lock yet that cannot be manipulated just as easily with the left hand as with the right. Using the left does not require much if any more dexterity than using the right, in my experience.

Some are even safer to manipulate with the left hand in their righty configuration, like liner & frame locks.

Being left handed, which I am, is not a detriment to easily releasing knife locks. Getting hung up on "right" & "left" handed locks is pointless, in my opinion.
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100% correct (from another lefty)!

To take this one step further, I prefer a right-hand, tip down clip to a left hand set-up. As long as there is an opening hole or an ambidexterious thumb stud, I'm set.
 
mike_mck2 said:
I have not encountered a knife lock yet that cannot be manipulated just as easily with the left hand as with the right. Using the left does not require much if any more dexterity than using the right, in my experience.
.
Click to expand...


Here's one tyoe you would probably not find lefty friendly.....
Scale release auto, like my protech magic or my diminutuve tbark.
 
mike_mck2 said:
...Some are even safer to manipulate with the left hand in their righty configuration, like liner & frame locks...
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What are you talking about?

I do not agree with you at all and it is up to every Left Hander to decide for themselves.

I would NEVER recomd a right handed liner lock or frame lock to a Left Hander.

When you close a right handed liner or frame lock with your left hand your fingers are in the path of the closing blade. :eek:

As pointed out above right handed scale and bolster release autos are VERY difficult for Left Handers.


I hope other Left Handers don't believe this BS.
 
Being ambidextrous, I don't really agree with Mike, some true right handed knives can be a little tough for lefties. Just my opinion.
 
Seems to be an interesting topic. Being a lefty I haven't had any trouble,mind you in Oz lockbacks, linerlocks framelock & slipjoints about it. The rest you probably wouldn't get past customs. As I'm not concerned about quick opening knife I prefer a nail nick than a thumbstud.

In regards to a lefty being cut by right hand model. Any knife can bite if your not careful whether left or right handed.

I think this topic is a very subjective 1 & there is no right or wrong, use what you feel is apporpriate if you find a knife you are happy with use it!!!
Just my thought
Mitch
 
RGRAY said:
What are you talking about?

I do not agree with you at all and it is up to every Left Hander to decide for themselves.
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Of course it is. That would go without saying.

However, believing that a lock is not for lefties just because it's been designated a "righty friendly" lock is not particularly useful.

When you close a right handed liner or frame lock with your left hand your fingers are in the path of the closing blade. :eek:
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Do what? How would your fingers be in the path of the blade?

The only digit that would be in the path is your thumb, and being that you are using the left hand, you would actually be pulling it out of the path of the blade, whereas using the right your are pushing it across the path.
Using the left you just keep on pulling once the blade starts closing, and using the right you reverse and start pulling it out of the path once it starts closing.
That is exactly why a "right handed" liner/frame lock is safer to use for a lefty.

As pointed out above right handed scale and bolster release autos are VERY difficult for Left Handers.
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That could very well be. I have no experience with them at all, just as I have no experience with the phantom lock. If I ever decide to pick one up, I'll then be able to comment specifically on those types as well.

Nobody has to blindly "believe" any BS. All they need do is try it for themselves, with an open mind, and decide for themselves.

If you have never manipulated these locks and have no preconcieved notions about right & left hand friendly, none are harder to use with the left or right hand, from what I have peronsally experienced.

I hope other Left Handers don't believe this BS.
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Yes, I was hoping they would just believe whatever I said here on the internet and blindly slice their fingers off somehow with these dangerous righty only locks.
 
BladeGoblin said:
Being ambidextrous, I don't really agree with Mike, some true right handed knives can be a little tough for lefties. Just my opinion.
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What is an example of a true right handed knife?
 
MikeH said:
100% correct (from another lefty)!

To take this one step further, I prefer a right-hand, tip down clip to a left hand set-up. As long as there is an opening hole or an ambidexterious thumb stud, I'm set.
Click to expand...

Yes, I very much prefer right handed locks, and what is generally considered to be a right handed clip, in that when clipped to the rear pocket the blade is snugged up against the outside seam.
 
mike_mck2 said:
What is an example of a true right handed knife?
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Mike since you asked that question (the answer is more than obvious) I can see your only intent is to argue. I have more important things to do, not going to waste my time.
 
That's okay by me.

As you can see from my other responses, all I want to do is argue, obviously.

Maybe someone else can can give a simple example of a true right handed knife, since it's so obvious.

Sorry to have wasted, or having atttempeted to, waste your time.
 
Sebenza's might be a good case of a right handed knife.

Cut out for the framelock is set up so that it is easier to access with your RIGHT hand.

Thumb stud is set up so it is easier to open with your RIGHT hand.

Just one example. If you go scan through some distributors Spyderco selections look for the LEFT hand versions of some Spyderco knives. By the very fact of these being LEFT handed versions denotes that the standard version is a RIGHT handed version.

As you pointed out in your last line of the original post "...in my opinion." Sure a left handed person can learn to use a right handed knife but not every left handed person wants to have to make those adjustments as they all have different opinions. I can speak with some knowledge on this as I was born left handed (with a good degree of ambidextrous) yet due to surgery, radiation treatments, and scarring now use my right hand because of only 15% use in my left arm an hand. The world is a friendlier place to Right handers. No smeared ink from writing left handed like I did with erasible ink. No spiral binder marks on my hand from righting in notebooks. Easier to use most scissors. Lock cut outs an opening studs are set up for right handers. Sure some models have ambidextrous locks an thumbstuds, ie. Benchmades Axis locks, but others don't.

Well, if you were looking for arguments then there is my opinion in response to your opinion.
 
Halfneck said:
Sebenza's might be a good case of a right handed knife.
Click to expand...

but there are lefty's Sebenzas as well, which one do you mean? ;)

mike_mck2 said:
...clipped to the rear pocket the blade is snugged up against the outside seam.
Click to expand...

I know this is a little bit off the main topic but I always thought that rear pocket is the worst possible place to wear a folder. IMHO it's very easy to get the knife stolen or lost when it is clipped this way.
 
Try a Spydie Meerkat. The lefthand scale of the knife pushes outward when you open the blade; the harder your grip the knife (to exert more force on the blade) the harder it is to open.

It does have a hole and a reversible clip though.


We lefties mustn' t conform to the righties of the world. I will write left handed with pride and honor for we are special and we will one day RULE T3H WoRLD!!!
 
I dunno about ruling the world and all, but I carry a second (okay, actually a fourth or fifth) knife in my left pocket, and I have no problem accessing and opening it with my left hand. It's a Crawford/Kasper CRKT at the moment, RH lock, RH tip-down clip. Am I ambidexterous? Not at all. So, well, there's that. :rolleyes:
 
I agree that most any knife CAN be manipulated by a left-handed person if they practice and try hard enough, but it is obvious that certain knives are much easier to operate for a right-handed person.

So I disagree that there are "no left unfriendly knife locks".

My wife is a lefty, and while I CAN cut with her lefty-scissors, they are definitely right unfriendly.

Allen.
 
Consider liner locks and frame locks it really depends on the knife for me.

If the knife is small or the lock sticks, it really is a pain.

But a good working liner can be reached by turning the knife upside down.

What makes me sick is if there is no removable clip.

No, i don´t wnat to grab for a turned around knife. Hell not if it is tip up.

AFCKs, Millies, Paramillies, Crawford - Kaspar Folders..... are better carried in pockets if the clip can be mounted on the other side.

Its the clip, first of all, then the lock.

Than it is Axis coming into play. An absolutly non discriminating lock and clip.
 
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