The differences between right- and left-handed pocket knives, and which ones are the best for southpaws.
In times past, finding left-handed knives used to be difficult for southpaws like myself. Today, it has never been easier to find a knife for us lefties. Why? Because more and more knives are being made that are ambidextrous. But it’s important to know the hallmarks for what makes a knife ‘truly ambidextrous’ or left-hand-only, and how to tell the difference. The answer is simple—it just takes a bit of know-how.
By the end of this article, not only will I walk you through how to distinguish between righty- and lefty-friendly knives, but what the people’s top choices are for left-handed pocket knives.
Let’s get started.
What’s the difference between right- and left-handed knives?
In the knife world, finding a knife that suits your style and works for your lefty needs is crucial. Can you just buy any knife and call it good? Yes! And no. While some knives are “created” ambidextrously, not all are created equally.
So, what’s the difference that makes the difference? What it comes down to is opening mechanism, locking mechanism, ergonomics, blade grind, pocket clips, and pricing.
Watch out, though. Some knives that claim to be ambidextrous might still have a right-hand bias. Pay attention to locks, handle ergonomics, and blade designs in particular. I’ll go over these later, so stay tuned!
Opening Mechanisms
From buttons to thumb studs to thumb slides, in the case of openers, some knives only have them on one side of the knife—and usually catered toward righties. You’ll see this on many single thumb stud knives. Don’t fret though, many openers are ambi friendly! When in doubt, get a knife that has its opener on both sides or just the right side of the blade for your left thumb to work with.
If you’d like to learn more about the different types of openers, check out our article on Pocket Knife Opening Mechanisms. Keep reading for our top picks for ambidextrous openers.
Best Ambidextrous Opening Mechanisms for Lefties
Flippers, thumb holes, thumb slides, and dual thumb studs are great options for lefties that are frequently found on ambidextrous knives.
Flippers
My first EDC knife was a flipper, and it is by far one of the easiest to work with. They’re just a no-brainer for me, and the blade deployment is speedy-quick. Because it’s situated on the blade tang, it is accessible from either the right or left side—making it an excellent choice if you’re also ambidextrous, like me!
Thumb Holes
At first, I was hesitant to get a knife with a thumb hole because they intimidated me so much. But now, I can’t get enough of them! My favorite show trick is flexing the reverse flick with my middle finger to all my non-knife friends. With some good bearings and a little blade oil, you won’t get enough of the buttery-smooth feel of a great thumb hole knife.
Thumb Slides
You’ll mostly find thumb slides on out-the-front knives. For me, finding a good thumb slide on my OTF knife makes a huge difference in how I enjoy the knife. If you’re a biter, you’ll love the slides with big teeth. With grip like that, you can be sure your thumb won’t accidentally slip. But if you’ve got baby bottom soft hands, look for something with less jag. To make your OTF knife left-hand friendly, look for ones without a pocket clip, a reversible clip, and/or that have the slide on the handle spine.
Thumb Studs
Thumb studs have been the most challenging opener for me to master, but oh I do love a challenge. They’re also one of the most widely recognized blade openers.
Pay attention to them, though. Some thumb stud knives will have slight divots on the left side of the blade near the opener so the right thumb can comfortably deploy it, but don’t have those same divots on the other side. This has been rare in my experience, but it’s good to know it when you see it. If this doesn’t bother you, carry on.
Locking Mechanisms
This will make or break your southpaw pocket knife experience. Having the right lock is paramount in not only enjoyment, but safety as well. If you need a brief introduction to folding knife locks, you can learn more about them in our Knife Lock Types Guide. But first, let’s go over locks for lefties.
Best Ambidextrous Locks for Lefties
Button Locks
On ambidextrous knives, button locks are a great choice despite the lock being on the left side of the knife. Simply use your left pointer finger to disengage the blade. It’s actually quite comfortable, and dangerously fidgety. Button locks are also found on left-hand-only knives. So, if you prefer to use your thumb, get one with the button on the right side.
Crossbar Locks & Bearing Locks
These locks are not only super secure, but they’re also truly ambidextrous. With the lock accessible on either side, you can use your thumb or other fingers. I personally like using my pointer finger to disengage the lock, flick my wrist to push the blade closed, and my thumb to hold the knife against my palm.
Shark-Locks
The fin of the Shark-Lock, invented by Andrew Demko, rests along the spine of the handle and is completely ambidextrous. The locks frequently have jimping on it for added grip. It’s super fidgety, and the lockup is solid. Plus, there’s just something so satisfying about the sound of the lock engaging and disengaging. Alarmingly satisfying, in fact.
Lockbacks
These locks have a long history and are one of the strongest locks you can find in folding hunting knives—thanks to the innovation of Buck Knives in the 1960s. My first pocket knife I ever got was my dad’s old Buck 112 from 1975, and I love that thing. If you’re looking for a more traditional feel to your everyday carry, the lockback won’t disappoint.
Best Left-Hand Specific Locks for Lefties
Liner Locks & Frame Locks
Every lefty who’s encountered right-handed liner locks or frame locks knows how much these locks can be a nuisance. You’ll find yourself twisting your wrist in weird ways to get this lock to disengage or use other fingers to compensate—and it’s not always comfortable. If you’re not careful, you might even experience the dreaded finger guillotine. For these locks, getting an authentic left-handed knife is best.
Compression Locks
On right-hand knives, you can technically close the lock left-handed with your thumb, but this may prove difficult for some. If I had to choose between a liner lock and a Compression Lock, though, it’d 100% be the Compression Lock. Simply put, it’s stronger. Luckily, many Compression Lock knives are available for lefties!
Handle Ergonomics
Knives are meant to fit into the contours of your hand just right to eliminate hot spots during extended use. With the endless variety of hand shapes and sizes, it can be difficult to achieve the perfect grip on a knife. With my small hands, I know this very well. This is why it’s important to keep comfort in mind when looking for your left-handed pocket knife. Fortunately, many knife makers design their handle scales symmetrically providing more options for ambidextrous pocket knives. What a blessing.
Blade Grind
Most knives are ground symmetrically with the edge perfectly centered on the blade. Having this 50/50 double bevel is ideal for both right- and left-handed users. For you, secondary bevels becomes a factor when working with uneven double bevels or single beveled blades, like some serrated and Japanese kitchen knives.
Serrated knives often have many small single bevel blade grinds, giving cutting preference to one hand or the other. When looking for a true left-handed knife, make sure the serrations are on the right side of the blade, and the flat side is on the left.
If you want to learn more about bevels or Japanese kitchen knives, let us know and we’ll cook up an article for ya!
Pocket Clips
Repeat after me. Just. Because. A clip. Can flip. Doesn’t. Mean. It’s. Ambidextrous. Be sure to look out for the things I previously mentioned so you don’t find yourself hating your new knife.
Pricing
Finding authentically lefty-made knives means they may come with the southpaw tax. This is why ambidextrous knives are so popular—and a much more economical option. However, if pricing isn’t an issue, I’ll toast to that!
What are the best left-handed pocket knives?
Now that you have learned more about which components check the right boxes, what is the best knife? Below, I have compiled a list of some truly ambidextrous and left-hand knives. Don’t just take my word for it, though. The people have spoken, and this is what they had to say.
The top picks for left-handed and ambidextrous knives came down to:
Spyderco Paramilitary 2 (LH)
The Spyderco Paramilitary 2 LH is the best all-around everyday carry knife for lefties. Hands down. It has exceptionally good ergonomics and meets our left-handed criteria. What really makes this knife stand out is the reversed Compression Lock mechanism. Trust me, you won’t regret getting the left-handed version of this fan favorite.
Boker Kalashnikov (LH)
This snappy automatic knife has great ergonomics, a deep carry pocket clip, and a great steel blade that’s super serviceable. The handle is designed for a secure grip, which pairs well with its fast action. It also sharpens easily, while retaining a decent edge. The Boker Kalashnikov LH is a great knife if you’re looking for an affordable yet effective EDC automatic knife. So good, I can’t even remember how many of these I’ve purchased as gifts.
Benchmade 940 Osborne (Ambi)
The Axis lock makes this a truly ambidextrous knife. Just switch the pocket clip to the other side, and you’re done! If you’ve been on the hunt for the perfect knife for a while—stop looking. You’ll get it once you hold an Osborne. It’s so slim it’ll disappear in your pocket. The handle doesn’t tell you where or how to hold it, yet you can fit all your fingers for a solid grip. Its blade is long enough to take on any task but isn’t threatening. It’s not too large or too small; it’s just right. This may be the only everyday carry knife you need. And if it’s not the Osborne, any Axis lock from Benchmade will do.
Demko AD20.5 Shark-Lock (Ambi)
If you like something fidgety, this knife is for you. The AD20.5 Shark-Lock has excellent ergonomics and a gratifyingly grippy handle texture. With its slender profile, you’ll practically forget it’s even in your pocket. Although, you probably won’t find it in your pocket much since you’ll be opening and closing it absentmindedly—like I frequently find myself doing. The sound of it locking and unlocking as you play with it is quite mesmerizing. It’s an exceptional EDC knife to be sure.
Microtech Ultratech (Ambi)
Microtech is the industry leader in OTF knives, with the Ultratech being the ultimate classic out-the-front design. The great thing about the Ultratech? You can easily make it left-hand carry by rotating the pocket clip. Of course, you can’t deny the fidget factor of OTF knives either. You’ll want to randomly pull it from your pocket to practice your stabby skills throughout the day. You really can’t go wrong with this knife.
Kershaw Iridium (Ambi)
Between you and me, the Kershaw Iridium might be the best budget-friendly ambidextrous knife I’ve encountered yet. The handle is sleek, the reversible clip doesn’t chew up your pockets, and you can add a touch of personalization with the lanyard hole. Its action is so smooth, I can hardly even believe it’s an inexpensive knife. Seriously. You’re making a mistake if you don’t have this knife yet.
Buck 110 (Ambi)
I love the hardy class of Buck Knives. I mentioned earlier that my first ever pocket knife gifted to me from my dad was a Buck. Buck changed the hunting knife game when the 110 came out and shook the ground we stood on with its modern lockback. It’s the perfect blend of a man’s man knife that knows how to clean up and put its best foot forward. You want reliability? Check. You want class? Check. You want it to last forever? Check. Just get the Buck 110; you won’t regret it.
Where to buy left-handed knives? A shameless plug.
Hopefully, now you feel more confident knowing which knife sidekick to add to your pocket. With the knife industry continually expanding and producing new innovative knife designs and technology, it’s only a matter of time before we see even more great left-hand knives.
Though I only covered a handful of left-handed knives, there’s plenty more to choose from! Blade HQ is the home for all things knives. If you have one in mind, search for it in our Left-Hand Knives collection. If it’s not at Blade HQ, reach out and ask! We’re more than happy to help you find your perfect knife.
