Left handed revolver?

[PALADIN85020]

(That Sam Colt rumor, along with one about John Browning being left handed, are not exactly proven)

Take a look at this picture, showing Browning holding an early semiauto Browning .22 rifle. It would appear to me that he is holding it as a right-hander. BTW, the Browning .22, even today, is completely ambidextrous. The retraction shelf is on the bottom of the bolt, and it ejects straight downward. You will sometimes see this picture flipped horizontally to make it appear that he was left-handed, but in this picture, the loading port is on the right side of the rifle, as it should be.

John

 

[Lefty44]

I am appalled at the comments expecting a lefty to just conform. It's rather ridiculous that such a simple and justified question has received ignorant answers. We may be less than 20% of the population, but we are different, both physically and mentally than a right handed person. Some act like it's an abomination to want their shooting experience to be more comfortable. We have a hard enough time with some everyday objects, we don't need to be ridiculed for this. In life or death situations, every millisecond could be the difference. So it's fair to not want to switch hands twice when I shouldn't have to to begin with. I also figured that a 166 year old company might have one option for the other hand, even if custom. It's understandable they don't have a production model configured opposite but it's fair to ask. Harping on people is not how you grow the S&W community. Those that found it funny or acceptable to judge should be ashamed. How would you like it if you were forced to do everything backwards?


As for the gun, Smith and Wesson unfortunately do not offer a left handed revolver, but Charter Arms makes one called "Southpaw" which is a .38 special chambered for 5 bullets. This is special because It's there only revolver currently made where the cylinder swings to the right, so the gun never leaves the shooting hand. It's American Made offers a lifetime warranty.

Smith and Wesson only offers an ambidextrous cylinder release, which means the button is on both sides. The cylinder still releases to the left.

 

[Rustyt1953]

@Lefty44: No one on this forum ridicules left handed shooters as there are a lot of them here.

Besides, this thread is 2 years old.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[Adk.IBO]

Wow, 43 responses and not one mention of the NAA Sidewinder? I do not own one so no pics, but it does open to the right...

 

[500SNW]

How are you at a disadvantage as a left hander shooting a revolver? Any reload, left or right handed, requires a switch to the other hand . .

I was thinking of this topic recently and found myself wondering why cylinders swing out on the left side of the frame. Who decided on that and why??? I am right-handed but I think a cylinder which opened on the right side of the frame would feel way more natural. I could use my right thumb to press down on the cylinder release - simultaneously using thumb of my left (support hand) to push against the left side of the cylinder and my left palm gripping the frame to free up my right hand to eject empties and retrieve my speedloader. In fact, I can rehearse this process by imagination and I know it would feel more natural and I would always be able to reload faster.

As it stands now, I use my right thumb to push on the cylinder release at the same time I have to work my trigger finger upward to push against the cylinder. No logic behind that....it is an awkward and more time consuming process than would be the "two thumbs" process for a cylinder which opened on the right side of the frame. I hope that all makes sense

 

[uncleted327]

Though not hugely popular with everyone I'm shocked nobody has mentioned the bodyguard 38, with its top mounted release it's as ambi as a revolver can get. Also the Dan Wessons have the release in front of the cylinder, while still on the left side of the gun many lefties find them easier to use...

 

[Walkingwolf]

Lefty I agree, it is the same for us righties. For as long as I can remember the flush handle is on the left side for lefties. It is an abomination that we righties have to learn to flush with our left hand.

 

[HorizontalMike]

I am appalled at the comments expecting a lefty to just conform. It's rather ridiculous that such a simple and justified question has received ignorant answers. We may be less than 20% of the population, but we are different, both physically and mentally than a right handed person. Some act like it's an abomination to want their shooting experience to be more comfortable. We have a hard enough time with some everyday objects, we don't need to be ridiculed for this. In life or death situations, every millisecond could be the difference. So it's fair to not want to switch hands twice when I shouldn't have to to begin with. I also figured that a 166 year old company might have one option for the other hand, even if custom. It's understandable they don't have a production model configured opposite but it's fair to ask. Harping on people is not how you grow the S&W community. Those that found it funny or acceptable to judge should be ashamed. How would you like it if you were forced to do everything backwards?
...[snip]...

I am really sorry that you feel as you do. I also, am a lifelong Lefty. That said, I shoot rifles Right-handed (as taught) and shoot my revolvers Left-handed. I reload just as Massad Ayoob demonstrates for Lefties shooting Righties revolvers. Believe it or not, I learned the technique spontaneously on my own. I was not taught. Necessity is often a very good teacher, IMO.

And MOST importantly, I am able to accurately/quickly fire any weapon that makes itself available. I surely would hate to win a tussle, take away the BG's gun,... AND THEN HAVE TO ASK HIM HOW TO SHOOT IT!...

 

[silentflyer]

"Charter Arms Southpaw. Also available in pink."

I would have more trouble explaining the "pink" to my buddies than the left handed deal...

 

[75Vette]

I am appalled at the comments expecting a lefty to just conform. It's rather ridiculous that such a simple and justified question has received ignorant answers. We may be less than 20% of the population, but we are different, both physically and mentally than a right handed person. Some act like it's an abomination to want their shooting experience to be more comfortable. We have a hard enough time with some everyday objects, we don't need to be ridiculed for this. In life or death situations, every millisecond could be the difference. So it's fair to not want to switch hands twice when I shouldn't have to to begin with. I also figured that a 166 year old company might have one option for the other hand, even if custom. It's understandable they don't have a production model configured opposite but it's fair to ask. Harping on people is not how you grow the S&W community. Those that found it funny or acceptable to judge should be ashamed. How would you like it if you were forced to do everything backwards?


As for the gun, Smith and Wesson unfortunately do not offer a left handed revolver, but Charter Arms makes one called "Southpaw" which is a .38 special chambered for 5 bullets. This is special because It's there only revolver currently made where the cylinder swings to the right, so the gun never leaves the shooting hand. It's American Made offers a lifetime warranty.

Smith and Wesson only offers an ambidextrous cylinder release, which means the button is on both sides. The cylinder still releases to the left.

I don't know if this will help but I found a site on the net for lefties. They have everything from left-handed baseballs to lefty pencils & toothpicks!! I think they may have left handed crying towels too. I just ordered a left handed watch the other day! I can't wait til it gets here!

 

[clang444]

You can keep the left handed revolver, I'd just be happy is someone came up with a left handed weed wacker.

 

[HorizontalMike]

You can keep the left handed revolver, I'd just be happy is someone came up with a left handed weed wacker.

I am NOT for hire...!


...

 

[Laketime]

I was born left handed but was quickly forced by my parents to learn to be right handed. Reason ...we live in a right handed world.Sorry to hear of your troubles.

 

[sw282]

Left Handed-Right Brained... God's special creations... Sam Colt got it

''right'' back in 1873 with his left handed Colt PeaceMaker

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Hey that gives me an idea. Yes dear (wife), I do have one like this but that gun is a right handed one - I needed a left handed one.

 

[italiansport]

Left Handed-Right Brained... God's special creations... Sam Colt got it

''right'' back in 1873 with his left handed Colt PeaceMaker

Yep: Easiest revolver for us lefties to operate!
Jim

 

[jtcarm]

According to Michael Conolly, author of the Harry Bosch novels, a Smith & Wesson Model 29 can be converted for left-hand operation, so it must be true.

I was kind of surprised, Conolly is usually pretty good when it comes to guns.

As for the Colt SAA: yes, Sam was long-dead when it was introduced, but: his percussion designs, including the 1860 Army, had the recess on the right side of the recoil shield for applying the percussion cap. On the Richards conversion, this would have been the natural (probably only) place to position a loading gate and ejector rod. The design was simply propagated to the SAA.

My theory is, Sam probably wasn't left-handed, or at least his designs weren't intended to be lefty-friendly. On a percussion revolver, holding the gun and rotating the cylinder in the left hand and reloading with the right is more natural for a right-hander (at least it is for me.)

Considering the U.S. Military of the 19th century didn't care a whit about left-handed soldiers and readily accepted his designs leads me to believe they saw no problems with right-handed operation of Colt percussion revolvers.

Thus, like the .38, .44, .45, and probably .32 revolver bullet diameters, the right-side loading gate is simply a descendant of 19th Century percussion revolvers.