Left handed flintlock question

[The Appalachian]

A lefty using a RH chain saw has some nasty rotating teeth lined up with treasured body parts.

Why on earth would you run a saw with anything other than left hand on the top handle and right hand on the throttle? I'm Gran Torino confused, and being a lefty having run saws since I was eleven 46 years ago I can't contort myself mentally or physically to run them opposite.

 

[JHB]

Just one word of caution with that. Inspect the heck out of that stock when you get it. Then have somebody with experience inspect it. Heck, post pictures here of all the inletting. If it isn't up to good standard send it back. You'll spend more time fixing than building and the one TVM kit I've done is the last. I would have been better off just scratch building that one too. The kit did NOT save any time or effort.
I'll give benefit of doubt and figure maybe somebody in the shop just had a bad day, or somebody needed a refresher course on using the router, but the further I got into it the more I wish I'd just went with a plank.

That goes for Investarms also. The inleting for the lock on mine was off by 1/8".

 

[morehops52]

"Why on earth would you run a saw with anything other than left hand on the top handle and right hand on the throttle? I'm Gran Torino confused, and being a lefty having run saws since I was eleven 46 years ago I can't contort myself mentally or physically to run them opposite."

Well Appalachian consider yourself lucky for being so ambidextrous and having someone teach you correctly at a young age. Unfortunately for me I grew up living in apartments most of my life and had no one to teach me much of anything about tools let alone how to use RH ones in my lefty world. I never owned a circular saw (RH) until I bought a home in my 30's. Still had no use for a chain saw. That didn't come until my second home in my 50's. I've been terminally LH my whole life and I've tried to force right-handedness on myself at times. You Say "I can't contort myself mentally or physically to run them opposite." Well I have run a chain saw on my right side but trying to learn and achieve proper foot placement and maintain balance is not conducive to to a safe situation either. Yes, it is an effort to undo a lifetime of living Lefty in Rightyville. I pondered putting a smiley on my post indicating I meant it as a joke but I want to thank you for your concern for my safety.

 

[The Appalachian]

Well Appalachian consider yourself lucky for being so ambidextrous and having someone teach you correctly at a young age. Unfortunately for me I grew up living in apartments most of my life and had no one to teach me much of anything about tools let alone how to use RH ones in my lefty world. I never owned a circular saw (RH) until I bought a home in my 30's. Still had no use for a chain saw. That didn't come until my second home in my 50's. I've been terminally LH my whole life and I've tried to force right-handedness on myself at times. You Say "I can't contort myself mentally or physically to run them opposite." Well I have run a chain saw on my right side but trying to learn and achieve proper foot placement and maintain balance is not conducive to to a safe situation either. Yes, it is an effort to undo a lifetime of living Lefty in Rightyville. I pondered putting a smiley on my post indicating I meant it as a joke but I want to thank you for your concern for my safety.

Do you drive using your left foot on the accelerator? No, you don't, and it's perfectly comfortable, and normal, and requires no thought or planning to make your right foot operate the pedal. It's the same thing with things like chainsaws.

I am an advocate though for left handed firearms. I can shoot equally well either handed because I've trained myself to do so, but left handed guns are just more comfortable to use. I figure why compromise when it's not necessary? My Marlin collection is all right hand ejection port because they don't make a left handed, but if they did I'd have them. I like Marlin lever guns so it's a necessary evil to live with. I don't have to make that sacrifice with longrifles because I can buy a quality left handed lock and carve a stock any way I please.

 

[Magungo1066]

I shoot left handed and was considering a Kibler kit. But Kibler rifles confirmed they make no left-handed kits. Is this really a non-issue? The only thing I really worry about is getting a face full of powder with my face on the same side as the lock. Less important is the cheekrest will be on the wrong side but would it really matter?

Lefty here that only shoots righty guns. I started off with a lefty gun and sold it. You won't notice the difference.

 

[1BadDart]

There are plenty of LH rifle kits available. Check Pecatonica River, that's where mine came from. I'm 61 and have shot RH guns most of my life. Several years ago, I decided that If I were buying or building, it would be LH.

 

[Mike Wetzel]

Thanks for the info guys. I’m thinking I might buy and build one of TVMs lefty flintlocks.

I too am LH. I called Kibler and was told the same. I emailed TVM and was told expect 15-18 months until a build would start. I've been told just get a RH. I'm the one paying for it I will get what I want I tell them.

 

[Johnny Deer Man]

Hi all, I'm new to the forum. This thread is very interesting. I'm a lefty and I never had a problem, finding a left-handed flint like years ago. My first one was a Lyman .54 Great Plains rifle which I sold.
I had Caywood build me a 12 gauge English Fowler in LH. Absolutely beautiful rifle... I never even fired it. I just keep it as a show piece.
Is there suddenly a shortage of left-handed flintlocks?

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I am left handed and shoot left handed. I do have some right hand guns but I prefer left handed guns, especially flintlocks. The eyeglasses I'm wearing have a pockmark on the right lens from shooting my RH flint Steve Krolick Cossack rifle.

If you're going to shoot any RH smokepole from the left shoulder, I strongly recommend eye protection.

 

[The Appalachian]

Is there suddenly a shortage of left-handed flintlocks?

There's been a shortage of everything the past few years, but lefty guns have never been on an equal footing with right handed stuff. No different than anything else on the planet. I've found lefty T/C sidelocks over the years but not many. Haven't seen one in a shop or pawn for a couple decades. I'd buy every one I could find now, whether I needed them or not. I build my own stuff now, and plan to build a few for others in the coming years. Won't be many, and they'll be pricey, but they'll be worth it.

 

[LeftHandGuy]

I am utterly left handed. When I bought my first muzzleloader it was with a left handed lock because I was was used to modern bolt actions where a dedicated LH action makes a real difference and I felt like I needed a LH gun.

Subsequently I have had the chance to shoot right handed flintlocks and for me at least, it makes no noticeable difference.

Remember that if you shoot a double gun you will have a lock on the "wrong" side whatever you do.

Stock geometry and correct LoP are much more important factors than which side of the gun the lock is on.

Also, if you do get a LH lock, remember that spare parts will be more expensive, harder to find, or both. My Traditions LH deer hunter just snapped its mainspring for the second time in two years, and yes I know Traditions are pretty much the worst you can buy, but even so, if it had been a RH lock I could have bought one on the high street and been able to hunt in Flintlock season. As it was I missed the season completely and am still waiting for a replacement from Traditions

 

[LeftHandGuy]

If you're going to shoot any RH smokepole from the left shoulder, I strongly recommend eye protection.

That's good advice for any shooting!

 

[Fly103]

I am utterly left handed. When I bought my first muzzleloader it was with a left handed lock because I was was used to modern bolt actions where a dedicated LH action makes a real difference and I felt like I needed a LH gun.

Subsequently I have had the chance to shoot right handed flintlocks and for me at least, it makes no noticeable difference.

Remember that if you shoot a double gun you will have a lock on the "wrong" side whatever you do.

Stock geometry and correct LoP are much more important factors than which side of the gun the lock is on.

Also, if you do get a LH lock, remember that spare parts will be more expensive, harder to find, or both. My Traditions LH deer hunter just snapped its mainspring for the second time in two years, and yes I know Traditions are pretty much the worst you can buy, but even so, if it had been a RH lock I could have bought one on the high street and been able to hunt in Flintlock season. As it was I missed the season completely and am still waiting for a replacement from Traditions

I always figured that in a pinch I would just stick a slow match or a lit cigar in the pan and call it good
Bambi wont know the difference!

Chris

 

[LeftHandGuy]

I always figured that in a pinch I would just stick a slow match or a lit cigar in the pan and call it good
Bambi wont know the difference!

Chris

The first time my mainspring broke I was lining up on a deer. It was January 2020, and it was cold. I don't know how cold, but my phone died and my water bottle froze solid.

Anyway, the rifle was obviously loaded, and I did seriously consider using a a naked flame to shoot the barrel empty (not to shoot the deer,!). In the end though I just took the barrel off and shot it clear once the new spring arrived and I got it fitted. In April.

Seriously, unless you're thinking of getting a custom gun with a custom LH cast, I would not recommend having a gun with a left hand lock. If it's a straight stock and the sights are on the barrel, all you're getting is the pan being 1.5-2" further to the left. That left hand lock has cost me a bunch of hunting that I could have got back of I had had the rifle with a rh lock

 

[smithmfg]

I also plan on building a lefty even though I am equally capable RH. In fact when I get elected emperor my first proclamation will be to ban RH scissors. Share the pain.

 

[smithmfg]

So the experienced voices I hear are telling me to have a spare mainspring on hand and maybe other breakable parts. solid advise, I always plan on the worst that could happen so I can handle the minor stuff that does. 38 years of building bombs has made me a creature of habit with the safety and planning stuff.

 

[The Appalachian]

So the experienced voices I hear are telling me to have a spare mainspring on hand and maybe other breakable parts.

That's just common sense with mechanical things, springs can break. And unless you really enjoy relying on other people to fix your stuff it's just common sense to have spare parts and the knowledge how to make the repairs.

 

[user 56333]

I'm a left eye dominant right-hander. I recommend finding a left hand rifle. I have found that I can't line the sights up correctly on many right-handed rifles. This is do to architecture, cheek piece, cast, etc. I have had several right-handed shooters lecture me with the "makes no difference" theory. When offered to shoot my gun they refuse the offer. I have actually had a few accept my offer only to hand the gun back after shouldering it.

You know, I'm in the same boat (right-handed, left-eye dominant), and threads like this do make me wonder ... how did folks with our "affliction" shoot flintlocks back in the day (1700s/1800s)? Obviously they didn't wear eye protection (which folks here say is a necessity for lefties shooting right-handed flinters).

So did left-eye dominant guys back in the early-modern era just go through life shooting off the right shoulder and not being able to hit the broad side of a barn? I doubt there's any historical record of such things, but if there is I'd sure like to know.

 

[LeftHandGuy]

You know, I'm in the same boat (right-handed, left-eye dominant), and threads like this do make me wonder ... how did folks with our "affliction" shoot flintlocks back in the day (1700s/1800s)? Obviously they didn't wear eye protection (which comes up as a recommendation here for shooting right-handed flinters off the left shoulder).

So did left-eye dominant guys back in the early-modern era just go through life shooting off the right shoulder and not being able to hit the broad side of a barn? I doubt there's any historical record of such things, but if there is I'd sure like to know.

Every combination you can think of. RH locks off the left shoulder, off the right shoulder, double guns off either shoulder, and the odd exclusive genuine left hand lock off the left shoulder.

And of course, for those who fought in close order with flintlocks had pans burning in every direction and very quickly would have had little ability to individually designate a target, they would have operated theirs from the right shoulder exclusively because to do otherwise would have been dangerous (to their own), impossible, or both.

Period left hand locks are documented.

 

[user 56333]

Every combination you can think of. RH locks off the left shoulder, off the right shoulder, double guns off either shoulder, and the odd exclusive genuine left hand lock off the left shoulder.

And of course, for those who fought in close order with flintlocks had pans burning in every direction and very quickly would have had little ability to individually designate a target, they would have operated theirs from the right shoulder exclusively because to do otherwise would have been dangerous (to their own), impossible, or both.

Period left hand locks are documented.

I'm not sure how it is for other folks here, but for myself (being left-eye dominant) I can't hit diddly squat when shooting off the right shoulder unless I'm using a shotgun. So for guys like me back in the 1700s/1800s using a musket or rifle with a single projectile and the (comparatively) crude sights they had back then, I have to wonder how effective they'd be if shooting right-handed.

Having never handled a flintlock myself, just how big is the risk in shooting a right-handed one off the left-shoulder without any eye protection?

Good point about firing in ranks. Individual accuracy wasn't a big deal back then compared to the way it is now, at least in the military context. I recon even someone like me could hit something if firing right-handed at tightly packed group of enemies. For hunters of course it would have been a different story even back then.

Yes I've heard of left-handed long-guns existing back in the day, but from what little I've read on the subject they seem to have been custom-ordered pieces and thus commanded a much higher price, which would have put them out of reach for most folks.