What would you do? A lefty's dilemna.

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beentrill

Joined
Jun 1, 2015
Messages
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Hello BF!

It's my first post and I'm sending out a call for the collective wisdom of the experts (you).

I have just purchased my first Emerson. My father was an avid Emerson fan and now I have contracted the same bug.

Problem (opportunity) is that I'm left-handed. I can't be alone in this predicament, so I wonder what others have done or would consider as a solution.

I have this brand new A-100, and while it is a thing of beauty, I really cant open it with my dominant hand. I know that I can send the knife in to have it drilled and tapped for left hand carry, so that's not a problem.

What I want to know is, how possible/expensive is it to have this thing modified to be a lefty version. Are there any folks who have done this? Anyone in specific who can handle the job?

Thanks a bunch, and stay sharp.

nVzpvsV
 
Welcome! While you could have it drilled and tapped for lefty carry unless you have the opposite side modified for easier access to the thumb disk it's not going to be easy to open left handed.

A over sized thumb disk from Emerson or monster thumb disk from Pete Gray might help some too.

You would have to have expensive mods done to convert to full lefty and I am not sure if that would be possible due to the blade tang being ground for lockup on the right side.

The only full lefty models from Emerson are the 7 and commanders.

Best of luck! The A-100 is a great blade!
 
This probably won't help you, but I am left handed & have never bought a lefty knife. I always carry mine in my right pocket & even open most all my knives better with my right hand (except my Hinderer) than my left. I just transfer hands. It's due to my age & all those years just dealing with a righty world . I'm just a freak of nature :)
I had a Mini A100, and it was a great knife. An Emerson classic.
 
Thanks for the input guys.

As much as I love it, I might have to catch and release.

But, if I were to decide to go the expensive route and have it converted, who are some trusted smiths I could call on for a job like this?
 
Two guys here have done heavy work on them. User ID nathawut and fastlt1nos.
 
Southpaw shooter here......so i sympathize with my lefty brothers. ....knives are much harder to adapt to than right handed guns being a southpaw that is for sure. Not what ya want to hear but if you cant adapt to a right handed knife id look for left handers only. Limited choices but much like my other southpaw shooters who cant figure out how to adapt to right handed guns they have to stick to guns with ambi controls.

I like to use my left sometimes with my knife but i learned to carry right handed and open and switch hands when i get the urge to use my left. Not great for quick deployment but i can still use my right so it works for me.

I found it best to work hard to adapt to right handed tools myself. It aint fair but it is what it is. Good luck on the hunt to get what ya want......
 
beentrill said:
Thanks for the input guys.

As much as I love it, I might have to catch and release.

But, if I were to decide to go the expensive route and have it converted, who are some trusted smiths I could call on for a job like this?
Click to expand...

THe problem with what you are thinking of doing is that you the person doing the work would effectively have to regrind the lockup ramp. That would essentially remove a lot of steel from a place that it shouldn't be. The cost would potentially mean you are spending more than what knife costs, in some cases by a factor of 2. You would really be better off with the lefty models if you absolutely need a true left handed knife.. The 7 is one option. It is available in left handed version.
 
I would send it back to EKI to have it re-tapped for left sided carry, and you might be able to contact someone to make a custom thumb plate that extends over so you can open it with the left hand. Honestly, this would be the better option IMO. Whatever you do though, don't get rid of your A-100. It's just too good of a knife to get rid of.
 
You lefties are so lucky being able to take full advantage of the chisel grind angle.
 
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