Which CRK's are the most friendly to lock side opening?

Driften

Driften

Joined
Oct 21, 2010
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I am used to carrying in my left pocket but am right handed. I can't 100% open my right hand Inkosi with my left hand. Some days I can go 10 for 12, others 0% unless I use a pinch grip to use my index finger to start it open to give it enough clearance for my left thumb to get to the stud. My other Sebenza's are single studs right now and I can't open them from the lock (non stud) side of the blade. It seem like the small 21 does not have any more clearance then the lock side of the Inkosi. I now Lone Wolf had modified a Sebenza lock with jewelers files to increase the clearance to the stud. But with out going that way is the Regular, or Classic any better then a 21?

We can leave some knives out of the discussion. The Ti-Lock has no issues opening with either hand.

Can an Umnumzaan be opened with the "wrong" hand? The lock side on that covered more of the "stud" then the right side do to the way the lock bar works.

It would just be nice to know which ones are more friendly to "wrong" hand opening.

This is really a case of opening. I can unlock all of them with both hands easily. I actually like the right handed models better when unlocking with my left hand.
 
The large Sebenza isn't that hard to open with the left hand. The small is much harder. That said-be very careful carrying right handed tip up knives in your left pocket. They can easily open to the inside of the pocket and when you reach in you will find nothing but blade edge. The right pocket is much safer pinned to the far right corner.
 
Left hand opening of a right hand knife is very easy if you use your middle finger on your left hand to push on the thumb stud to get the blade partially open and then just use your thumb to finish the rest of the way.


 
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Steel_Addiction said:
Left hand opening of a right hand knife is very easy if you use your middle finger on your left hand to push on the thumb stud to get the blade partially open and then just use your thumb to finish the rest of the way.


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That is how I can open my Inkosi reliable but it would be nicer to be able with out having to start with my index finger. I can sort of do it with my small 21 but the small really needs the second stud. Just wish some model had proper clearance on the lock side to use the lock side the same as the normal stud.

So far only the ti-lock has been equal from both sides for me.
 
Peter Hartwig said:
The large Sebenza isn't that hard to open with the left hand. The small is much harder. That said-be very careful carrying right handed tip up knives in your left pocket. They can easily open to the inside of the pocket and when you reach in you will find nothing but blade edge. The right pocket is much safer pinned to the far right corner.
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I totally agree about the carrying part of the equation! I have had other brands open in my pocket forcing me to move the clip to the other side which we can't do on most CRK's. The Mnandi clip is actually reversible not that a Mnandi has much chance of opening in a pocket.
 
Sounds like you need to get a left handed Sebenza.
Being left handed, I could not open a RH Umnumzaan with my right hand. When I got a LH model, I still can't open it with my off hand. I prefer double lugs, it makes it easier with either hand. The smoothest with either hand so far has been a 21 Insingo. The first two were RH and the one I have now is a LH. All three, out of the box have been extremely smooth with either hand.
Once the initial break in period is over with my 21/25's, they are easier to open with either hand.
 
Actually I have a left hand small 21 with insingo blade and then its all cool in my left hand and left pocket. I then when I hand off to my right hand to do any cutting. A few times I find I have forgotten to open it before the hand off then I miss the stud for the right hand ;) I will send it for double studs.

Ajack60 said:
Sounds like you need to get a left handed Sebenza.
Being left handed, I could not open a RH Umnumzaan with my right hand. When I got a LH model, I still can't open it with my off hand. I prefer double lugs, it makes it easier with either hand. The smoothest with either hand so far has been a 21 Insingo. The first two were RH and the one I have now is a LH. All three, out of the box have been extremely smooth with either hand.
Once the initial break in period is over with my 21/25's, they are easier to open with either hand.
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I'm right handed, and carry my .45 on my right hip, CRK in left front pocket, always a large or UM. Shift to right hand to open. Just used to it. Used to carry a lefty, but got out of the habit. When I visit the Peoples Republic of Calif. I shift to my right pocket and go naked ( no .45)
 
Righty here. I can operate my RH Umnumzaan with no problems left handed. Took a Sunday morning on the coutch watching tv but my muscle memory caught on fast.
 
Lefty here....

Figured Id hop in on this thread....

Does a knife thats clipless pocket carried suffer from the issues of popping open in the pocket? I come across so many beautiful knives that id love to own but are nigh impossible to find lefty. I carry clipless in the left pocket, and would hate to invest in a RH knife to find out it hates living in LF pocket and makes efforts to cut its way out :D

Im okay having to use two hands to open it if I cant make the necessary off handed motion to open one handed, but Im not down with getting cut just retrieving my knife from the pocket. Id love to pick up nice plain slab damascus but really dont wanna find out the hard way all it wants to do is bite me.

Whats lock security like off handed? Am I going to need to worry about offhanded use making the lock less secure in use?
 
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Maven said:
Lefty here....

Figured Id hop in on this thread....

Does a knife thats clipless pocket carried suffer from the issues of popping open in the pocket? I come across so many beautiful knives that id love to own but are nigh impossible to find lefty. I carry clipless in the left pocket, and would hate to invest in a RH knife to find out it hates living in LF pocket and makes efforts to cut its way out :D

Im okay having to use two hands to open it if I cant make the necessary off handed motion to open one handed, but Im not down with getting cut just retrieving my knife from the pocket. Id love to pick up nice plain slab damascus but really dont wanna find out the hard way all it wants to do is bite me.

Whats lock security like off handed? Am I going to need to worry about offhanded use making the lock less secure in use?
Click to expand...

No carried in the bottom of your pocket it should not matter unless the knife is spring assisted. Also it should not matter which side the lock is on. I actually find it easier to unlock right handed knives with my left hand then left handed models. Also on a knife with a clip if its tip down it really does not matter which side you clip it.

Really the only worry about getting bitten is a tip up carry clipped to the "wrong" pocket for where the clip is setup.

If you want a smaller CRK a Mnandi's clip can be moved from right hand to left hand carry. There are lots of damascus models, and if you find an old nail nick its easy to open one handed with either hand. That said its slightly easier to open with the side the its made for. The lock sticks up on the side blocking the nail nick a little. If you want something bigger in a CRK you will be happier with a left handed model for you, but if not clipped it is going to be safe even if its right handed. You might still want to get it fitted with dual thumb studs.

One more thing. You can always order any non-dealer exclusive direct from CRK. You might have to wait a while but they will build you a left handed damascus knife.
 
Thanks for the info. Ive got a lefty plainjane Small 21 coming tomorrow for everyday/work use, but the stuff CRK puts out is so nice theres just no way Im gonna be able to avoid getting more.
 
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