I know absolutely nothing about pens but I was wondering...

[Route 66]

I know absolutely nothing about pens and so this may be a really stupid question but...is there a type of pen that would work better for a left-handed person like myself?

[scarhead]

I think that in terms of left-handed vs. right-handed pens the only time you'll see a difference is in fountain pens. I may be wrong, but I think since a nib is much more of a personal item this is where you will find a difference. Any other fixed point (i.e., ballpoint, rollerball) will not be of difference. In addition to which, the barrel of the pens, whether fountain, ballpoint or rollerball) will not have any different position for your hand. Hope this helps.

[Skullring]

Here is a page on lefty's from John Mottishaw's web site.
http://www.nibs.com/Left-hand%20writers.htm
Also check out Richard Binders web site.
http://www.richardspens.com/?page=info/about.htm
Use the search function for lefty's on Richard's site he has some good articles.

[Route 66]

Thanks for the info guys and especially the links.

I take if from that beer in your left hand Phillip that you're also a south paw.

[Lion]

Steve, Philip could be ambidextrous like me!!!

[Shangas]

Right or lefthanded pens really only applies to fountain pens...and even then not much. I have never believed that there is such a thing as a 'lefthanded' pen.

[Skullring]

Originally Posted by Stevarn

Thanks for the info guys and especially the links.

I take if from that beer in your left hand Phillip that you're also a south paw.

Yes Steve I am also a south paw. I don't think you will have any problems with fountain pens. If you have one that is too scratchy send it in to Richard Binder and have it tuned. I have a Parker Vacumatic that I bought from Richard that is my favorite. I sometimes forget what I am writing because I am too busy watching the nib lay out a perfect wet line. I hope you will give fountain pens a try I think you would enjoy them.

Originally Posted by Lion

Steve, Philip could be ambidextrous like me!!!

You are right Leo I am ambidextrous with every activity except writing. I still have enough work to do to improve my penmanship with my left hand.

[Lion]

Phillip, I have found that there are many things I can do left handed(I use my right hand as the dominant one)that are very awkward right-handed(like dribbling a basketball)...is this the same for you except with your right hand???

[Skullring]

Originally Posted by Lion

Phillip, I have found that there are many things I can do left handed(I use my right hand as the dominant one)that are very awkward right-handed(like dribbling a basketball)...is this the same for you except with your right hand???

I write left handed but otherwise I feel pretty ambidextrous doing anything else. My wife has a cousin who can write with both hands at the same time. She can also write with both hands upside down and backward right to left or in any combination you ask for. That is very interesting to me. It is strange how the brain works.

[Lion]

Originally Posted by Skullring

I write left handed but otherwise I feel pretty ambidextrous doing anything else. My wife has a cousin who can write with both hands at the same time. She can also write with both hands upside down and backward right to left or in any combination you ask for. That is very interesting to me. It is strange how the brain works.

Phillip. I can do everything left or right handed but some activities are more comfortable left handed. You know it's interesting but if you watch toddlers they can do anything with either hand equally well. My Father was a lefty who was forced by the elementary school system to switch to being a righty!!!

[Skullring]

One of my daughters is left handed one right and my son is right handed. I wonder how forcing someone to write right handed changes their balance?

[Shangas]

Forcing a lefty to write right-handed is a holdover from the 19th century. Kids in school who wrote lefthanded would screw up their handwriting because their palms would smear the ink of their schoolwork as they moved across the page from left to right while writing with a dip-pen.

Forcing a lefty to write right was done to stop the lefty from mucking up his handwriting. That was all it was about. Some people will tell you it's because left hands were dirty or left hands were evil or left hands symbolised...whatever.

They're wrong.

Left handed writers were made to write right-handed for the pure fact that if they wrote with their left hands, they screwed up their handwriting, smudged ink everywhere and made their writing completely illegible.

[SoCal C4S]

I am let handed and use a Fisher Space Pen for almost everything. It will write anywhere, and is relatively small, so you can take it everywhere with you.

[Lion]

Originally Posted by Skullring

One of my daughters is left handed one right and my son is right handed. I wonder how forcing someone to write right handed changes their balance?

I do not know as my Dad was never into sports!!!

[Thurnau]

As a left hander myself I really like a mont blanc rollerballs. Other brands like pilot G2's ink gets all smeary as I drag my hand accross the page while writing. Mont Blanc tends to write smooth without smearing.

[gelshocker]

Originally Posted by Shangas

Forcing a lefty to write right-handed is a holdover from the 19th century. Kids in school who wrote lefthanded would screw up their handwriting because their palms would smear the ink of their schoolwork as they moved across the page from left to right while writing with a dip-pen.

Forcing a lefty to write right was done to stop the lefty from mucking up his handwriting. That was all it was about. Some people will tell you it's because left hands were dirty or left hands were evil or left hands symbolised...whatever.

They're wrong.

Left handed writers were made to write right-handed for the pure fact that if they wrote with their left hands, they screwed up their handwriting, smudged ink everywhere and made their writing completely illegible.

Another reason was that children wouldn't bang their elbows as the seating in schools were very cramped.

Also when people sit around a (round) table, the elbows and chopsticks won't clash together. Cheers!