Looking for a fully left-handed edc
The image is my current EDC, it is close to 30 years old. I cannot remember where or when I first got it. I do like the knife, but it is 100% right-handed. The image above shows how far I can open it one-handed before I have to place my thumb on the blade to finish opening it.
I am looking for a knife that is 100% left-handed, not ambidextrous. Those knives always have some part, typically the blade lock, that most be made for either left or right and right always wins.
I would like something with the same kind of blade, minus the serrations. I hate sharpening this thing because of them.
The handle is decently thick, I would like to stick with something like that. I have a Ken onion knife that has a really thin handle and I do not like it.
I would like to keep it under $150, but for the left blade that is negotiable.
You do want a knife that's ambidextrous, but the root of your problem here lies with looking at liner lockers. You will want practically anything but a liner locking knife, because those are by default designed with the lock on the left when looking down the channel, appropriate for right handed users, because obviously the majority of potential customers are right handed. (I suppose this would also exclude Spyderco's "compression lock," and basically all button lockers.)
There are vanishingly few specifically left handed knives, but there are many with the lock mechanism on both sides. Part of your problem here is also that the manufacturer of your knife elected to put a thumb stud only on one side of the blade, apparently just to be assholes. Better options will have a stud on both sides or some other opening aid.
Almost anything with a back lock or some manner of Axis/crossbar/toggle lock will be unlockable from either side. The blade you have there is a drop point profile which is a pretty popular option. You'll also want something with a reversible clip, which is sometimes a curiously missing feature from knives that would otherwise be suitable for left handed users. Even so it should not be difficult to find something that will fit the bill for you.
I'm going to suggest the Kershaw Iridium just for grinsies, because I think it will work and I don't yet own one so it won't look like I'm shilling my own writeups right out of the gate.
Otherwise, in broadly chronological order (mine, that is), consider:
The SOG Ultra XR
The QSP Penguin Glyde (one of my top picks of 2025)
The Ganzo D727M
Or if you want to get really strange...
The CRKT Daktyl
Or if you want to declare the heck with it with the lock entirely...
The Svord Peasant
Of course as your attorney I advise you to get into balisong knives instead which are universally inherently ambidextrous.
Another vote here for the QSP Penguin. Grabbed one this year to replace a Benchmade, and I love it!
I have a couple and a trainer... But not good for EDC from a legal standing. Although i need to look into the legalities of a trainer.
Fellow lefty here. I carried a child stone knife for something like 10 years. I then finally lost it and had to get something new. Went with a civivi yonder and I love it. It does seem to still a bit quicker though.
I recently started carrying a Yonder as well. I was going to make a post here about it. It's excellent. The action is very smooth and the thin blade geometry is proving even better than my previous EDC, the CJRB Maximal. The crossbar lock, like all crossbar locks, is perfectly usable in left or right hand (and the pocket clip, as you know, is reversible).
I was hesitant with the crossbar lock since I never had one before, but yonder performed like a champ. One handed opening and closing it's buttery smooth, and the luck is super secure. I love the thinner blade compared to my last edc, but I do baby it a little more too. My last blade got hit with a hammer too many times to count lol
The crossbar lock is my favorite by far. I was glad to see the Benchmade patent expire and other manufactures able to give it their own twist. Even Walmart put it on their $10 Ozark Trail knives!
Same with the Spyderco Compression lock. You see a lot of "top liner lock" knives now because their patent expired as well.
I don’t have an answer, but as a fellow lefty, I have a lot of empathy for you. Ambidextrous items are still usually built for right handed folks. I’ve been replacing everything I can with left handed items; cooking utensils, really sharp scissors, garden shears, etc. It’s not easy to find everything, but having things built to be used in the left hand is a game changer.
Hope you find a lefty knife! I’ll definitely check out what other folks recommend:)
The problem I am running into is they are all:
Or
I used to make do with right-handed or ambidextrous items, but I am sick of "making do".
I feel the same way, I’ve been switching as much as I can to proper left handed tools. Changing to proper left handed scissors made a huge difference, I’m sure a good lefty knife would too.
You are not alone in your frustration!
$68 for the left-hand Liong Mah designed Eutektik Binary at KnifeCenter.com. There are both left and right-handed versions and both are liner locks if that's your thing.
I'm not sure where you have searching but you might try dedicated knife stores like Knifecenter.com or BladeHQ.com or WhiteMountainKnives.com
Lefty here. Kershaw Iridium is great, fully ambidextrous, and the clip can be mounted on either side. I also used to have a Spyderco Dragonfly 2 that was excellent and small, a great everyday knife to keep in the watch pocket of my jeans. Wish I knew what happened to that one!
And if you’re feeling more…frugal…I still regularly use this Gerber EZ-Out Skeleton that I bought in the year 2000. The steel is nothing special, and I don’t think the clip is reversible, but otherwise also good for lefties:
An ambidextrous knife, by definition, works exactly the same for right or left handers, with no compromises.
For example, any knife that uses a cross-bar style lock works exactly the same no matter what hand is holding it. The lock exists through the body of the knife and is accessible from both sides.
By definition, yes. But by execution all that i have looked at are not full ambidextrous, be it the lock, the clip, or the ergonomics of the handle.
See @[email protected] 's post below. I am not aware of any knife company (this is different than a retailer) marketing knives as ambidextrous that are not so.
If you're looking for a left-hand only, Spyderco makes a couple. Example:
https://spyderco.com/products/para-military%C2%AE-2-left-handed
Another option is any knife with a back lock.