Why Are Lefties Forgotten By Most Makers?

T

tatfiend

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Apr 24, 2013
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I am right handed but have several left handed relatives. Why are so few knves designed to be fully ambidexterous or are offered in both right and left handed versions? The BM Axis Lock and the BM Axis Assist are the commonest fully ambidexterous knives I know of and even the BM Emissary Axis Assist has a right hand lock design. IIRC the Spyderco Ball Bearing lock also qualifies as fully ambidexterous.

It seems like an awful lot of knife makers are ignoring a sizeable part of the market including Kershaw who make no true left handed versions of their frame/liner lock knives that I know of. The market is there apparently as several bolt action rifle makers now make left handed versions of their rifles.
 
Because Lefties are genetic aberrations, born without souls, and as conduits for pure evil?



???





I don't know, probably because the tooling would cost some money to make.
 
My guess: since only 10% of the population is left handed, spending as much money, time, and tooling on something you can only sell to 9x less people doesn't make much business sense.
 
I'm a lefty and fairly ambidextrous like most leftys. Lots of lefty friendly knives available and those that are not get used by my right hand. To me its not as big a deal I just adapt.

As been stated, with only 10% of the whole being lefty that means less that 1% are knifenuts.
 
This seems to apply mostly to higher end knives. Most common knives by Spyderco, for example, seem to be lefty friendly, but once the price range gets to around the Southard Flipper and the Techno, you start seeing very few lefty friendly knives.
 
Spyderco used to do a number of LH knives, most particularly the CO7 Police. They didn't sell well and were dropped.
Phil
 
Honestly, a lot of us lefties just adapt to right handed knives. I don't own any left hand knives anymore even. Adapt and overcome.
 
Tooling costs, low sales volume, added risk for retailers of carrying an extra "model"...

I'm ambidextrous and use right-handed folders with both hands. For the most part it has not proved to be an issue.

Besides, fixed blades (and Axis-type locks as you identified) have no handedness preference.
 
One problem I see as a lefty is the ability to flip the clip over to the other side. The Benchmade Onslaught is an example. It has an ambidextrous axis lock but no holes for left hand carry. Several Kershaws are like this too.

I just pass and find something I can carry. I have started using a sheath so a clip wouldn't be necessary.
 
tatfiend said:
I am right handed but have several left handed relatives. Why are so few knves designed to be fully ambidexterous or are offered in both right and left handed versions? The BM Axis Lock and the BM Axis Assist are the commonest fully ambidexterous knives I know of and even the BM Emissary Axis Assist has a right hand lock design. IIRC the Spyderco Ball Bearing lock also qualifies as fully ambidexterous.

It seems like an awful lot of knife makers are ignoring a sizeable part of the market including Kershaw who make no true left handed versions of their frame/liner lock knives that I know of. The market is there apparently as several bolt action rifle makers now make left handed versions of their rifles.
Click to expand...

Because the market isn't sizeable. It's maybe 10% of the market. Compare the tooling and other production and distribution costs and it doesn't make a lot of sense - certainly not across a manufacturer's entire line. Don't get me wrong, I'm a left-primary user, but I understand why there are very few LH-specific knives.
 
I wish more guns were made lefty friendly. Knives are easier for me to adapt to. My wife and I are both lefties.
 
spyderco backlocks, ball bearing locks, benchmade axis lock, cold steel triad lock.

tons of ambidextrous models by big companies....
 
Look how long it has taken for the M1911 to become ALMOST ambi and for the AR-15 to have ambi fire control....
Personally I have never had any problem operating "right handed" knives. If it doesn't work for you, move on, adapt, or deal with it.
 
For most leftys its not that big of a deal, we have to deal with it with almost everything. I do buy knives that can be carried on left side.
 
I understand that lefties are 10% or less of the total population, But when I see threads like this it seems lefties are quite common in the knife nut community. It makes me wonder what percentage of knife buyers are left handed?

As others have stated, As a lefty I have adapted to right hand knives. So much so that true left hand designs are a little awkward. Having said that, Adding a few extra holes to the other scale for left hand carry would do almost nothing to production time or tooling. (in most cases)
 
I have no problem with RH locks but not having LH friendly pocket clip placement is annoying. I pass on most knives that are RH clip only. 4 way pocket clips are my preference so I can choose tip up or tip down, and then RH or LH people can have their preference.

The great thing about slipjoints is they're pretty easy to operate LH or RH.
 
goodeyesniper said:
spyderco backlocks, ball bearing locks, benchmade axis lock, cold steel triad lock.

tons of ambidextrous models by big companies....
Click to expand...

BM Axis knives are almost all superb ambi knives. :thumbup: Ummm, hey, can we get a lefty version of that emoticon??? ;)
 
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