Left handed flintlock question

[victor#0]

I'm blind in my right eye due to an accident and had to learn to shoot lefty with both a gun and traditional archery. I shoot a lefty smoothbore but I have shot a righty lefthanded with no issues. I suppose if I shot it regularly I would get used to it but If given a choice I would prefer a lefty. I was also disapointed that kibler doesn't offer a lefty kit but I may order one anyway someday.

 

[LeftHandGuy]

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.

Some better than others I guess? I am left handed and left eye dominant and cannot shoot a projectile safely from the right shoulder (although for period re-enacting I am fine). Some people though can shoot competently from either shoulder, and I am sure that would have been the case back as far as the adoption of firearms.

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?

Personally, I wouldn't willingly use a flintlock or any other firearm without eyepro. Eyes are precious, especially for me as I only have one that works. But to answer your question, it's not that different. You are still creating a tiny little sparky mushroom cloud next to your face. Assuming your dominant eye is centered on the stock when you shoot it's the same distance from the explosion whatever side the lock is on. The biggest danger is probably to your beard (if you sport one), especially if its of the big and bushy variety

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.

Now here I am conjecturing, but it seems likely to me that a sensible lefty hunter who was not in the "custom gun" buying class of society would do what most of us left handers have done ever since. Bring our right hand configured but affordable rifle, up to our left shoulder and take our best shot.

The only reason to doubt this (as far as I can see) is well known prejudice against left handedness which may have caused people to struggle on attempting to be right handed when they really weren't. I'm sure some went that way, but the existence of period left hand flintlocks shows that at least some were willing to just embrace it and shoot left handed.

 

[user 56333]

Personally, I wouldn't willingly use a flintlock or any other firearm without eyepro.

Well folks have been shooting for centuries without any eye protection, and the majority don't seem to have blinded themselves, else we'd have a lot more stories about maimed great-great-grandfathers

But to answer your question, it's not that different. You are still creating a tiny little sparky mushroom cloud next to your face. Assuming your dominant eye is centered on the stock when you shoot it's the same distance from the explosion whatever side the lock is on. The biggest danger is probably to your beard (if you sport one), especially if its of the big and bushy variet

So no problems with bits of flint or powder/sparks spitting in to your face or arm? I know that with cappers you can get cap residue speckling your right arm if you shoot a right-handed gun from the left shoulder.

The only reason to doubt this (as far as I can see) is well known prejudice against left handedness which may have caused people to struggle on attempting to be right handed when they really weren't. I'm sure some went that way, but the existence of period left hand flintlocks shows that at least some were willing to just embrace it and shoot left handed.

Your point about the historical prejudices against left-handedness is worth considering. In the one example I found where a documented story existed behind a left-handed flintlock, it was a case of the owner having something wrong with his right eye and thus needing a left-handed gun due to this handicap; no mention of him being naturally left-handed. The same reason applies to the so-called "cripple stock" guns you sometimes see from back in the day, where the stock was offset to such a degree that you could shoulder it the "proper" way (i.e. right-handed) but use your left eye to sight.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is that, at least from my limited research, left-handed guns back in the day could have possibly been designed more for "cripples" than for naturally left-handed people.

 

[LeftHandGuy]

Well folks have been shooting for centuries without any eye protection, and the majority don't seem to have blinded themselves, else we'd have a lot more stories about maimed great-great-grandfathers

They didn't have the polio vaccine either, but I take your point. You pay your money and make your choice. I always wear eyepro at least in part because I am already blind in one eye and hunting and shooting are my hobby and passion. But, whilst I always wear earpro at the range, I hunt without it so....

So no problems with bits of flint or powder/sparks spitting in to your face or arm? I know that with cappers you can get cap residue speckling your right arm if you shoot a right-handed gun from the left shoulder.

Can't say I or anyone I've shot or re-enacted with has ever commented on that. Can't say I've ever heard of it from any of the double gun shooters either.... I am of course very far from being a "scientific sample" of the wide muzzle-loading world. I've never even shot a cap-lock.

Your point about the historical prejudices against left-handedness is worth considering. In the one example I found where a documented story existed behind a left-handed flintlock, it was a case of the owner having something wrong with his right eye and thus needing a left-handed gun due to this handicap; no mention of him being naturally left-handed. The same reason applies to the so-called "cripple stock" guns you sometimes see from back in the day, where the stock was offset to such a degree that you could shoulder it the "proper" way (i.e. right-handed) but use your left eye to sight.

Yes, certainly seen these so-called "cripple stocks" - although I think I have only seen these on shotguns.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is that, at least from my limited research, left-handed guns back in the day could have possibly been designed more for "cripples" than for naturally left-handed people.

I'm 100% sure that some were. I'm almost equally positive that there were just some awkward wealthy people who didn't give a damn about silly conventions and prejudices and had guns made for them the way they wanted them. I bet this one could tell a heck of story:

https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-an-extremely-rare-6-bore-singhalese-16th17th-century-3103095/?
This one too looks interesting:

https://collections.royalarmouries.org/object/rac-object-1358.html
When it really comes down to it, I suspect that for most left handed shooters throughout history, if the shot really mattered then they took the shot from the shoulder they were most likely to make a hit from.

 

[user 56333]

I'm 100% sure that some were. I'm almost equally positive that there were just some awkward wealthy people who didn't give a damn about silly conventions and prejudices and had guns made for them the way they wanted them.

Oh no doubt, if you were wealthy enough you could certainly get away with behavior that was far more unconventional than being left-handed. In such things the upper classes just called themselves "eccentric"

The two guns you posted certainly look like they were made for people of means.

 

[leam]

I am left handed and right eye dominant. Most of my rifle shooting has been right handed, but I'm not really good enough yet to tell the difference. I'll probably buy a right handed rifle that I enjoy.

 

[DixieTexian]

My flintlock is right handed, and I have had no problems shooting it. It is a straight stock, though, so no problems with cast off or anything. My caplock is a lefty, and I feel like it is more important with a caplock. When in the future I build one or buy a custom, it will be left handed just because I want it that way. I do have a double barrel 12 gauge capper , but I haven't shot it enough to say whether or not it makes much of a difference.
I do wish Kibler would make left handed kits. From what I understand, it would be relatively straightforward to produce a mirror image on his cnc machinery.

 

[Johnny406]

Another lefty here. i didn't have my first LBA rifle until I was around 48 years old. After shooting RBA rifles for most of my life, the first time I shot a LBA rifle was soo weird. I have a few LBA rifles and most of my percussion BP muzzle loaders are left handed. Both of my boys are "normal RH' so I tell them that I have a couple of LBA rifles for each of them so they think of me while shooting when I'm gone and so they understand how I grew up bassackwards...

Quick/funny story: When I joined the Army in 1989 and went to Basic Training, I stupidly/foolishly/regrettably asked my Drill Sergeant if they had a Left Handed M-16... That D/S made me ask just about every D/S we came across that question for the next 7 weeks... Sucked to be me!!

 

[alcessapiens]

Well, good luck finding Left-handed gun flints or left-hand black powder as well

Well hell, you just put right hand flints in upside down, same with powder. I can’t believe I gotta tell you these things…

 

[alcessapiens]

I’m left handed and prefer a lefty flintlock. Dixie gun works Tennessee mountain rifle in left hand. They’re out there , check gun broker or any online auction site. For a cap lock it’s a non issue but having the pan flash just in front of your nose is a bit off putting. All my other guns are right and that’s fine, just not a flintlock. I learned to shoot competently from either shoulder but am most comfortable left.As to saws, a skil worm drive saw seems to have been built for left hand (damned well made too).

 

[Darkhorse]

I am totally lefthanded and shoot lefthanded. I am old enough to have learned to shoot righthanded because LH rifles were almost nonexistant. But just as soon as I saved up enough dollars to buy a LH rifle that's just what I did.
I now have 3 LH bolt guns. And I've built my own LH flintlocks.
It does make a difference and I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[Sidney Smith]

I honestly don't care if left handed guns are historically correct or not. I'm left handed and left handed guns are what I want.

Besides no gun built today is historically correct if you come right down to it. They can only appear to be.

 

[Sun City]

Left eye Master so I shoot RH rifles off left shoulder! Wear glasses and frankly I think its more convenient for a southpaw shooter using a RH flintlock as the pan is easier to prime rather than having to prime over the top as if the lock was on the left side!

 

[The Appalachian]

Quick/funny story: When I joined the Army in 1989 and went to Basic Training, I stupidly/foolishly/regrettably asked my Drill Sergeant if they had a Left Handed M-16...

Fast forward a couple decades and my AR is left handed, total mirror image of a RH rifle. Which is good in one respect, but run of the mill milspec parts will not work in the carrier group. Firing pin and O rings I'd guess are interchangeable, but the rest stuck with parts from the manufacturer.

 

[ord sgt]

I am right handed and all of my rifles are made to be shot from the right side.

I will take the left hand Dixie Southern mountain .50 calibre flintlock rifle which was bought for my wife and shoot it right hand style. The pan flash does not bother me, even though it is right in front of my face. adapt and overcome obstacles. Carry on.

 

[Jason holgate]

Thompson center made lefty flinters

 

[Rob M.]

I'm right handed and learned to handle and shoot flintlocks with a left handed rifle , all that was available ...... Worked fine

 

[1stnamebassist]

I’m all messed up! I shoot handguns right handed and rifles left handed. Can’t shoot a long gun right handed at all. When I played baseball I would throw and catch left handed and bat right handed, but cannot switch to right hand throw, left hand bat. I have no problems shooting traditional longuns left handed. I don’t believe I will have an issue shooting a right hand muzzleloader the same way when I finally decide which kit to get. This may sound strange but the issue that bugs me would be having the cheek rest on the wrong side! Since right now I have no experience with muzzleloading rifles, would that even be an issue? Does the cheek rest make a lot of difference as far as not having one on the proper side to utilize it? I haven’t decided what to build yet, but if I go lefty I’m considering investarms Gemmer Hawken kit. Heck, I haven’t decided if I want to build a cap lock or flintlock yet! My 3 pistols are caplock so I may stick with that for the first one. But I really like the looks of a flintlock! Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

If the right side of the brain controlls the left side of the body...
Only left handers are in their right mind.

 

[flconch53]

I didn't see a mention of side by side double. Think about it