since recently getting hooked on the BP world, I quickly see the same frustrating issues are here, that exist in the other fire arms areas. From the time I was shooting dad,or grandads fire arms,at the age where I wasn't much taller than the weapon its self, there have been certain things that the southpaw has to contend or "put up" with. First was the "oh your one of those wrong handed fellas aren't ya?" attitudes from our fellow hunters and fire arms dealers. Usaully in the friendly mannor but always present. Next was the fire arms themselves.Adapting, overcoming, and generally "putting up" with a piece of equipment that wasn't designed nor suited for a left hander to use. Stocks that don't fit,safeties that are unaccessable, hot brass or shells flying across our face and bodies instead of away from them, and then the most obvious of all, the bolt action rifle. Though quite impressive to watch a southpaw use one effectively.....BACKWARDS. The BP world theres, the stocks that don't fit, the flash, and explosion in front of then expanding across our face and bodies instead of away from them. And the lock that is directly in front our site picture. Certainly not all, but many right handers will try to trivilize these issues, for the obvious reason- they don't have to "put up
" with them. And for that I ask all the right handers reading this to try this. For just one day take your fire arms out, not just your beloved BP weapons but all your fire arms and shoulder them to your left and shoot them. Shoot and reload them, do everything the way a left hander would, look right down into the flash pan as you pour the powder on to it. Hold steady while that glowing amber, or hot piece of brass lays in the crease of your right forearm. And remember not to flinch when the flint strikes the frizzen,Right in front of your face instead of to the side. Ok don't get your feathers ruffled,you just got abit of a lefty attitude directed at ya, but welcome to the southpaws world.....for a day. But none of this holds a candle to the frustration,we wrong handers face when buying or repairing our fire arms. the common responses are- we'll have to special order that part, that item will take 4 to 6 weeks longer to come in, there will be an additional charge for that model,or most dreaded response of them all, We are really sorry but we don't make that style in the left hand version.Which is exactly what I've heard twice recently when requesting information on a certain style flintlock kit I'd like to purchase. One very respected, and skilled builder of BP fire arms told me a left hander won't have any problems shooting aright handed flintlock.For crying out load folks, this is the 21rst century, and us southpaws have been around from the beginning!!! SO... since I can't buy a complete new flintlock kit in the style I like, I'll just have to do what lefties been doing for hundreds of years,adapting and overcoming an industry that just simply won't give us the same opportunities that right handers get. I'll get a stock and barrel one place, a lock and parts somewhere else, I'll most likely pay more money to get it,have to wait longer to build it, but TRUST ME when this southpaws done, I'll own one fine lookin, straight shootin smokepole. And in years to come will be proud to hand it down to another young southpaw, because I'm sure their going to keep being born, wheather the gun industry recognizes them or not.
" with them. And for that I ask all the right handers reading this to try this. For just one day take your fire arms out, not just your beloved BP weapons but all your fire arms and shoulder them to your left and shoot them. Shoot and reload them, do everything the way a left hander would, look right down into the flash pan as you pour the powder on to it. Hold steady while that glowing amber, or hot piece of brass lays in the crease of your right forearm. And remember not to flinch when the flint strikes the frizzen,Right in front of your face instead of to the side. Ok don't get your feathers ruffled,you just got abit of a lefty attitude directed at ya, but welcome to the southpaws world.....for a day. But none of this holds a candle to the frustration,we wrong handers face when buying or repairing our fire arms. the common responses are- we'll have to special order that part, that item will take 4 to 6 weeks longer to come in, there will be an additional charge for that model,or most dreaded response of them all, We are really sorry but we don't make that style in the left hand version.Which is exactly what I've heard twice recently when requesting information on a certain style flintlock kit I'd like to purchase. One very respected, and skilled builder of BP fire arms told me a left hander won't have any problems shooting aright handed flintlock.For crying out load folks, this is the 21rst century, and us southpaws have been around from the beginning!!! SO... since I can't buy a complete new flintlock kit in the style I like, I'll just have to do what lefties been doing for hundreds of years,adapting and overcoming an industry that just simply won't give us the same opportunities that right handers get. I'll get a stock and barrel one place, a lock and parts somewhere else, I'll most likely pay more money to get it,have to wait longer to build it, but TRUST ME when this southpaws done, I'll own one fine lookin, straight shootin smokepole. And in years to come will be proud to hand it down to another young southpaw, because I'm sure their going to keep being born, wheather the gun industry recognizes them or not.
