Left Handed Bolt Action Rifles? - The Firearms Forum

xxxxxxl · 10-13-2006, 08:08 AM

During the WWI - WW2 eras did any manufacturer produce a left handed military bolt action rifle?

Red Neck64 · 10-13-2006, 11:13 AM

I cant give you a definitive ansur but in my life I never seen one.

Pistolenschutze · 10-13-2006, 04:25 PM

xxxxxxl, when I was in the service I do remember a sergeant who sent me looking for a left-handed monkey wrench once, does that count?

Seriously, I am virtually certain no army of that era produced a left-hand bolt action battle rifle, certainly not any of the major participants such as the U.S., Britain, Germany, Japan, or the Soviet Union. You must remember that a battle rifle is a mass-produced weapon and intended for use by all military personnel. The vast majority of soldiers (and people in general) are right-handed, thus producing a left-hand action would severely complicate supply and repair problems. A left-handed shooter can use a right-hand bolt action fairly easily with a bit of practice, so the emphasis was on building right-hand actions.

Red Neck64 · 10-13-2006, 06:48 PM

I seem to remember in the cobwebs of my mind a picture where the negative was printed backwards inverted.And the 03A3 in the soldiers hands was a lefty that sent people thinking.

polishshooter · 10-13-2006, 08:18 PM

You know Red, you might be on to something,,,,I saw a poster once for "Enemy at the Gate" that had a SWEET looking LEFT HAND MN 91/30 snayperskaya

leaning against a wall....I thought at the time it MUST have been the "artist's rendition" of a reversed negative...

Uncle Joe wouldn't make ANYTHING "non-standard...."

Heck, my Father-in-law was a "left handed Marine" in during the Korean War, and even HE was forced to shoot "cross eyed...."

southernshooter · 10-13-2006, 11:11 PM

Believe it or not I write left handed and swing a hammer either hand but if you give me a left hand gun I won't use it for nothin other than a crutch unless it's a bolt

xxxxxxl · 10-16-2006, 06:18 AM

Over the weekend I found a Swiss K31 that I think will fit my needs. The gunsmith at the shop I was at was reworking one for himself. I really liked the way the action worked. I am going to order one today.

Pistolenschutze · 10-16-2006, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xxxxxxl

Over the weekend I found a Swiss K31 that I think will fit my needs. The gunsmith at the shop I was at was reworking one for himself. I really liked the way the action worked. I am going to order one today.

You won't regret that choice, xxxxxxl. I have two of the Swiss K31s and I've never encountered a battle rifle that is better made or more accurate. For someone who is left-handed, these rifles would be an especially good choice.

JohnK3 · 10-16-2006, 11:10 AM

xxxxxxl, check out www.swissrifles.com and look through their forums. There's a gadget that you can buy that actually allows a left-hander to cycle the bolt from the left side. I forget the German word for the thing, but it translates roughly into "left-handed link" or something similar.

xxxxxxl · 10-16-2006, 02:44 PM

JohnK3, thanks for the info. I am definitely going to try and source one of the left hand conversions.

polishshooter · 10-16-2006, 10:22 PM

Isn't a "Left Handed Swiss" another name for a French Gigolo?

You know speaking of the FRENCH, if ANYBODY made a left handed battle rifle it PROBABLY would have been them....

And HEY, while the Mosin Nagant safety SUCKS, at least they HAD one not like the MAS 36!

xxxxxxl · 10-17-2006, 06:01 AM

Well, if the French had a left handed rifle I would buy it. Cause you know it was never fired and only dropped once.

xxxxxxl · 10-21-2006, 03:28 PM

I ordered my K31 today!

Enzo_Guy · 10-21-2006, 05:49 PM

I've never seen a leftie military bolt-action rifle. Myself being slightly left-handed (can shoot completely ambidextrously) I can say it is actually kind of fun to shoot regular bolt-action rifles left-handed like the sniper from Saving Private Ryan. As for being ambidextrous, it comes in handy when shooting larger calibers because I can do it twice as long.

southernshooter · 10-21-2006, 10:04 PM

With me being right handed. I love shooting left handed bolt actions right handedly

Pistolenschutze · 10-22-2006, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xxxxxxl

I ordered my K31 today

You made a great choice 6xl. You will love the K31. Check out the bore when you get it. I'll bet you will find it is clean, bright and sharp, and the rifle will function like a Swiss watch. Did you get a walnut stock?

MRMIKE08075 · 10-25-2006, 11:54 AM

as many of you may be aware...

the Romanov Dynasty / family was almost entirely left handed...

the House Gaurd was made up of left handed troops and officers...

occasionaly a Left handed Nagant revolver rig will show up...

i hear rumors of left handed rifles being built in small quantities for the above referenced group...

i have never encountered a single example...

it is said that all left handed guns were destroyed after the revolution, when 95% of double eagle dynasty crests were defaced or removed...

pre-mosin nagant family of rifles the BERDAN II series were used, but i am unaware of left handed examples...

pre-Mosin Nagant issue the house troops / royal gaurd have been observed to use Rem. rolling blocks, Winchester 1895 lever actions, and a small quantity of LEBEL 1886 rifles...

generaly speaking, in anthropological terms, around 90% of the worlds poulation are right handed...

a few cultures a small fraction more or less...

exept for the Yamamani tribe who are 90% left handed...

in terms of general issue mass production officialy adopted martial arms i think we can safely say that there were no left handed long arms...

but there are a few small exceptions.

any thoughts???

best regards, mike.

xxxxxxl · 10-25-2006, 12:25 PM

Pistolenschutze,

Yes, I ordered the walnut stock. I can't wait for its arrival.

Pistolenschutze · 10-25-2006, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xxxxxxl

Pistolenschutze,

Yes, I ordered the walnut stock. I can't wait for its arrival.

That's great 6xl! If you choose to do a refinish on the stock, trust me, it will turn out beautifully. The walnut they used is of excellent quality and mine at least has beautiful graining.

xxxxxxl · 10-26-2006, 01:22 PM

The gun shop called yesterday and said it was on its way.

southernshooter · 10-26-2006, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xxxxxxl

The gun shop called yesterday and said it was on its way.

Remember If you stare at the clock and calendar time goes by slower

xxxxxxl · 11-04-2006, 06:10 AM

They called, my gun has arrived. Just need to get off work long enough to go and pick it up. Wahooo!

SouthernMoss · 11-04-2006, 08:40 AM

Pistolenschutze · 11-04-2006, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xxxxxxl

They called, my gun has arrived. Just need to get off work long enough to go and pick it up. Wahooo!

That's great, 6xl! You'll love the K31, though it takes a bit of getting used to the first time you take it out to shoot. When you've been shooting turn bolts all your life, that straight pull bolt seems counter intuitive at first, but you'll get used to it. There are good add-ons available for it too, like scope mounts and aperture sights. I put Mojo aperture sights on one of the two I own, and a scope mount on the other.

xxxxxxl · 11-12-2006, 04:50 PM

I picked up my K31 yesterday afternoon. Good looking rifle. I can't wait to shoot it.

10-13-2006, 08:08 AM	#1
xxxxxxl Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 547	Left Handed Bolt Action Rifles? During the WWI - WW2 eras did any manufacturer produce a left handed military bolt action rifle? -->

10-13-2006, 11:13 AM	#2
Red Neck64 Former Guest Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: North N.Y.STATE Posts: 330	Re: Left Handed Bolt Action Rifles? I cant give you a definitive ansur but in my life I never seen one.

10-13-2006, 04:25 PM	#3
Pistolenschutze Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 13,094	Re: Left Handed Bolt Action Rifles? xxxxxxl, when I was in the service I do remember a sergeant who sent me looking for a left-handed monkey wrench once, does that count? Seriously, I am virtually certain no army of that era produced a left-hand bolt action battle rifle, certainly not any of the major participants such as the U.S., Britain, Germany, Japan, or the Soviet Union. You must remember that a battle rifle is a mass-produced weapon and intended for use by all military personnel. The vast majority of soldiers (and people in general) are right-handed, thus producing a left-hand action would severely complicate supply and repair problems. A left-handed shooter can use a right-hand bolt action fairly easily with a bit of practice, so the emphasis was on building right-hand actions. __________________ --Pistolenschutze (Pistol Shooter)

10-13-2006, 06:48 PM	#4
Red Neck64 Former Guest Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: North N.Y.STATE Posts: 330	Re: Left Handed Bolt Action Rifles? I seem to remember in the cobwebs of my mind a picture where the negative was printed backwards inverted.And the 03A3 in the soldiers hands was a lefty that sent people thinking. Last edited by Red Neck64; 10-13-2006 at 06:59 PM..

10-13-2006, 08:18 PM	#5
polishshooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Indiana Contributor Posts: 7,863	Re: Left Handed Bolt Action Rifles? You know Red, you might be on to something,,,,I saw a poster once for "Enemy at the Gate" that had a SWEET looking LEFT HAND MN 91/30 snayperskaya leaning against a wall....I thought at the time it MUST have been the "artist's rendition" of a reversed negative... Uncle Joe wouldn't make ANYTHING "non-standard...." Heck, my Father-in-law was a "left handed Marine" in during the Korean War, and even HE was forced to shoot "cross eyed...." __________________ The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living.

10-13-2006, 11:11 PM	#6
southernshooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Deep South Mississippi Posts: 5,943	Re: Left Handed Bolt Action Rifles? Believe it or not I write left handed and swing a hammer either hand but if you give me a left hand gun I won't use it for nothin other than a crutch unless it's a bolt __________________ Only you can see this Last edited by southernshooter; 10-22-2006 at 10:59 PM..

10-16-2006, 06:18 AM	#7
xxxxxxl Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 547	Re: Left Handed Bolt Action Rifles? Over the weekend I found a Swiss K31 that I think will fit my needs. The gunsmith at the shop I was at was reworking one for himself. I really liked the way the action worked. I am going to order one today.

10-16-2006, 11:10 AM	#9
JohnK3 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 1,636	Re: Left Handed Bolt Action Rifles? xxxxxxl, check out www.swissrifles.com and look through their forums. There's a gadget that you can buy that actually allows a left-hander to cycle the bolt from the left side. I forget the German word for the thing, but it translates roughly into "left-handed link" or something similar.

10-16-2006, 02:44 PM	#10
xxxxxxl Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 547	Re: Left Handed Bolt Action Rifles? JohnK3, thanks for the info. I am definitely going to try and source one of the left hand conversions.

10-16-2006, 10:22 PM	#11
polishshooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Indiana Contributor Posts: 7,863	Re: Left Handed Bolt Action Rifles? Isn't a "Left Handed Swiss" another name for a French Gigolo? You know speaking of the FRENCH, if ANYBODY made a left handed battle rifle it PROBABLY would have been them.... And HEY, while the Mosin Nagant safety SUCKS, at least they HAD one not like the MAS 36! __________________ The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living.

10-17-2006, 06:01 AM	#12
xxxxxxl Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 547	Re: Left Handed Bolt Action Rifles? Well, if the French had a left handed rifle I would buy it. Cause you know it was never fired and only dropped once.

10-21-2006, 03:28 PM	#13
xxxxxxl Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 547	Re: Left Handed Bolt Action Rifles? I ordered my K31 today!

10-21-2006, 05:49 PM	#14
Enzo_Guy V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Harwood, MD Posts: 160	Re: Left Handed Bolt Action Rifles? I've never seen a leftie military bolt-action rifle. Myself being slightly left-handed (can shoot completely ambidextrously) I can say it is actually kind of fun to shoot regular bolt-action rifles left-handed like the sniper from Saving Private Ryan. As for being ambidextrous, it comes in handy when shooting larger calibers because I can do it twice as long.

10-21-2006, 10:04 PM	#15
southernshooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Deep South Mississippi Posts: 5,943	Re: Left Handed Bolt Action Rifles? With me being right handed. I love shooting left handed bolt actions right handedly __________________ Only you can see this

10-25-2006, 11:54 AM	#17
MRMIKE08075 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 384	Re: Left Handed Bolt Action Rifles? as many of you may be aware... the Romanov Dynasty / family was almost entirely left handed... the House Gaurd was made up of left handed troops and officers... occasionaly a Left handed Nagant revolver rig will show up... i hear rumors of left handed rifles being built in small quantities for the above referenced group... i have never encountered a single example... it is said that all left handed guns were destroyed after the revolution, when 95% of double eagle dynasty crests were defaced or removed... pre-mosin nagant family of rifles the BERDAN II series were used, but i am unaware of left handed examples... pre-Mosin Nagant issue the house troops / royal gaurd have been observed to use Rem. rolling blocks, Winchester 1895 lever actions, and a small quantity of LEBEL 1886 rifles... generaly speaking, in anthropological terms, around 90% of the worlds poulation are right handed... a few cultures a small fraction more or less... exept for the Yamamani tribe who are 90% left handed... in terms of general issue mass production officialy adopted martial arms i think we can safely say that there were no left handed long arms... but there are a few small exceptions. any thoughts??? best regards, mike.

10-25-2006, 12:25 PM	#18
xxxxxxl Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 547	Re: Left Handed Bolt Action Rifles? Pistolenschutze, Yes, I ordered the walnut stock. I can't wait for its arrival.

10-26-2006, 01:22 PM	#20
xxxxxxl Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 547	Re: Left Handed Bolt Action Rifles? The gun shop called yesterday and said it was on its way.

11-04-2006, 06:10 AM	#22
xxxxxxl Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 547	Re: Left Handed Bolt Action Rifles? They called, my gun has arrived. Just need to get off work long enough to go and pick it up. Wahooo!

11-04-2006, 08:40 AM	#23
SouthernMoss Admin Tech Staff Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: SW MS Contributor Posts: 10,651	Re: Left Handed Bolt Action Rifles? __________________ My Second protects your First "I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand." - Susan B Anthony

11-12-2006, 04:50 PM	#25
xxxxxxl Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 547	Re: Left Handed Bolt Action Rifles? I picked up my K31 yesterday afternoon. Good looking rifle. I can't wait to shoot it.