Lefty Rant: Sheaths!!!!

N

ndterminator

Joined
Feb 1, 2006
Messages
36
Being left handed, I'm extremely annoyed that literally no fixed blade knife other than customs and Randalls can be had with a left hand friendly sheath.

The last production sheath that could be used for both left-right carry that I can recall came with the Gerber LMF. I loved that sheath too, kind of a well made ballistic nylon version of a Sullivan Model C.

I have a Hattori HA6-2 that I was given by my wife a year ago and have yet to carry, as the right handed sheath is not only awkward, but the edge forward when carried on the left side is a safety hazard when drawn. I finally bit the bullet, and am having Jay over at Sunrise River Custom Knives make me up a left hand sheath for this knife.

Unfortunately, it's just not feasible to have a custom sheath made up for everything...

Sorry for the rant, just venting extreme frustration...
 
And the lefty sheaths that are out there aren't so hot. I've got a Camillus MkII with the aftermarket kydex. It is lefty friendly but it's not that great. I've got an Ontario PSK and the stock leather sheath is lefty friendly, but again, not that great. Better than the kydex that came with my Camillus but still not great. I lucked into a Gaucho knife that came with an honest to god lefty sheath. And I switch the frogs around on my khukuris. The karda and chakma end up on the wrong side but that's a pretty minor gripe.

I understand some of the Beckers come with ambi sheaths. I think the Ka-Bar Impacts do, as well. The Spyderco Morans are ambi. I think Swamp Rats can be ordered with lefty leather. Some of the plastic handled moras do. But that's a pretty small list and not all of those are what I would call great sheaths.

I've passed on knives I would have otherwise picked up because the sheaths were right hand only. I feel your pain, brother.

Frank
 
The older kydex sheath for the SOG Seal Pup was "lefty friendly." One simply had to move the sheath and re-orient the knife to convert from right side carry to left side. That was a much better sheath than the new "groove" crap. If you want a good production knife with a left-friendly sheath, get an older Seal Pup.

TheSurvivalist
 
Hey Guys...

Ahhh a Subject Near and Dear to my Heart..

Being a Lefty and Knife lover for as long as I can remember, I as well passed on many knives because of poorly made or right handed sheaths.
I actually got into the habit of asking to see the sheath for a particular knife,,long before I even handled the knife..If the sheath was Crap,, I passed on the knife, no matter how much I liked it.

One of the reasons I started On/Scene Tactical was because of the lack of left handed sheaths, as well as the general poor quality of OEM (factory) sheaths.

When I found Concealex it was like a godsend, and now I was finally able to make a sheath for a particular knife the way I wanted it made, and how I wanted to carry the knife.

Yes, having a custom sheath made for every knife you own can get expensive, however having a nice knife thats not used, or worse yet, a knife with a poorly designed or made sheath is even worse.

On the other hand, having such a wide variety of talented sheath makers at your disposal is a bonus, and never seen before at such a scale in the knife industry...

I seen about a dozen or so talented sheathmakers come aboard since I started back in 1999 both in leather and kydex.

It's a buyers market, so when you start shopping for a custom sheath maker, pick one that makes the designs you want, has Experience in the field, and a selection of knives. Most often, your knife may not even have to be mailed away.

Theres lots out there folks,, take advantage of the talent and get something made that works the way you need it to work.

Your other option is to wear a knife designed for a right handed user,, and never get the full potential out of your favorite knife.

ttyle

Eric....
 
I'll second everything Eric posted! Well, in leather instead of kydex. ;) I'm yet another lefty that was fed up with bad sheaths. Oh, and folders with single thumb lugs! Well said bro. :D
 
ndterminator said:
Being left handed, I'm extremely annoyed that literally no fixed blade knife other than customs and Randalls can be had with a left hand friendly sheath.

The last production sheath that could be used for both left-right carry that I can recall came with the Gerber LMF.
Click to expand...

Benchmade Offsider, completely symmetrical & ambidextrous. If you don't like combo edge, get one now - they're discontinuing the plain edge. I believe their Fixed Griptilian, Fixed Presidio, CSK, and H&K Snody all have that sheath style as well.

Others I'm sure of are the Spyderco Ronin and MOD Razorback.

Look harder. :)
 
I've dabbled with leatherwork for about 15 years. The reasoning being, I'm also a lefty and feel we southpaws are discriminated against with knife sheathes. I've given up on one hand folders because they are made for the right handed knife buyers. If you want anything left handed you pay extra, especially left handed bolt action rifles.
Scott
 
I'm a lefty and I own a number of knives with ambi sheaths. I usually wear my knives on my right side though, because I'm usually wearing a gun on my left side.
 
I'm a lefty, that's how I got into sheath making. I've got to do some for a bloke because he's a lefty & was a bit concerned. When I told him I was a lefty ihe seemed more comfotable.

I agree withe Scott you can pay more for lefty folders. I mostly carry slipjoints or lockbacks. If you want a true left linerlock(custom) you really have to shop around for a maker who won't charge extra took me awhile when I did.

Normark mades a good point I like to see sheath as well. I hate when you see a good knife & it has "comes with leather or kydex sheath" well show it.
That's enough out of me.

Mitch
 
Well add another lefty to the list. But I try not let it annoy me. However there are times when I get really frustrated with things. John Wooters wrote about and enjoyed knives though his main articles were about hunting, especially whitetail hunting. He wrote if you're right handed you should wear your knife on your left hip to keep the rifle from banging it when your rifle is slung. Lefty shooters should have theirs on the right hip for the same reason. I don't mind having my knife on the right hip until I have to put it back in the sheath. Then things can get hairy if I'm not paying close attention.:D I look at folding knives from custom makers but am not interested in buying if I see it has a stud for right handed people. With the demand for folding knives I don't think it hurts their sales at all and I'm glad for them.
 
For everyday use I carry my knife just behind my left hip. When hunting and/or on horseback I move it directly over my left hip. Because I carry my 44 mag in a crossdraw holster, this feels more natural......

On my tac belt (I lead a High Risk Entry/SWAT Team), I carry my fixed blade on my left hip, just behind my holster.

I seems to me that it would be just as easy if not more so, to sell fixed blades with an either side sheath like a Sullivan Model C/ the old LMF sheath...
 
This sheath thing has come up recently for me as well. Although I am not a lefty I am very comfortable using my left hand for a number of tasks from sorting through keys on a ring (always in my left front pocket) to driving stakes (like surveyors use) into the ground with a three pound drilling hammer at work (that hammer can wear out both shoulders, believe me). I recently added a rather large bowie/butcher knife to my field kit (to make quartering easier). I was thinking about carrying that big knife on the left side of my "Bat belt", hoping that it would kind of help balance out the weight if my pistol on those long walks through the field. The sheath that came with the knife is not all that great and there is no way that I will be able to thread a full width pistol belt through the belt hole (or is it a loop?) that was provided. So I will have to come up with an adapter to get it onto the belt, and then I will have the edge facing the wrong way. I guess I could live with all that, but with the thumb break facing forward into danger (as it will) I can just see all the little mesquite trees, cactus, cedar saplings, etc. grabbing for that little leather strap hanging out. Now after reading that it was once standard practice for right handed people to carry their large field knife on the off side to protect the finish on their long guns I am baffled that the manufacturers dont make all sheaths so that they can be carried on either side with the edge facing either way. I almost jumped on one of those BM Offsiders when I saw how that sheath was so addaptable (we'll have to see if it haunts me). Is the thumb break on the BM sheath reversible? Well, I just had to get in on the Sheath Rant regardless of handedness.
 
I just ordered a Cold Steel R-1 and to carry it, bid on & won a new Sullivan Model C for a Randall Model 14 on eBay. This can be used either right or left handed, and I got it for considerably less than a custom copy would cost to make.

While I was at it, I bid $5.00 on a 5.5" Blackhawk Airborne Sheath and won it. It just came the other day, and much as I dislike nylon and kydex sheaths, I have to admit it impresses me. It can be worn either left or right handed, the thumb break snap can be adjusted to fit about any diameter/length handle, AND can be reversed for left or right hand use.

Might have to find one for my 7" Camillus...
 
Am a fellow lefty. These work for me:
Becker utility knives
SOG Seal Pup, Northwest Ranger and Mini Pentagon
Spyderco Fred Perrin fixed blade sheath and Temperance sheath
Camillus boot knives, large and small; Camillus Arc Lite
Tekna knives from the 70s and 80s.
I feel yo pain.
 
My buck 110 sheath doesn't care which side it is worn on...me either...and yes,,I can open one with either hand. One handed... Takes a little pratice.... Not been cut....yet!
 
Anyone else a righty who prefers his knife on the left, or weak, side?

Being an upland hunter, I've gotten used to carrying long-guns in a way that makes them quick to mount/shoot. I don't like hardware on the right side of my belt and/or vest at all.

(Whoops: Just read mr.rims and swollenshoulders' posts. That's how it is with me ... I want the gear on the opposite side of the gun.)
 
I LOVE having my knives on my RIGHT SIDE!

After all, my GUN is on my LEFT SIDE!

I can't imagine being right handed and having to CHOOSE between wearing my gun OR my knife! I guess the righties are just out of luck and have to go and get custom LEFTY sheaths made since they shoot with the wrong hand!

It's GREAT being a lefty!

Vanguard.45
 
I picked up a little Jimmy Lile (with a dot) hunter not too long ago. Here is a shot of the sheath that came with the knife. I've never seen one like this before. As you can see it is a righty or a lefty. I am right handed but get really picky about my knife sheaths. They must be high quality with a secure fit. It is kind of a hassle and an additional expense but Normark is correct. There are some real leather (and kydex) sheath artist out there. Don't despair all you leftys.
 
I don't mean to be sarcastic, but it's not a bad idea to develop the weak side.
Many do it for shooting, why not cutting. I made a mistake in a purchase reently, and I'm forcing myself to cut with my right hand. I bought a full set of Shun kitchen knives, and discovered too late that they are ergonimically designed for righties. Being bi-dexterous{not ambi dextrous} helps me to a certain degree. I'm having fun with it. I still agree that lefties have a shortage of options in life.
The saving grace is that we are superior human beings.
 
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