I would go for the Chinook. Love that blade(-shape), and the handle as well. And as a leftie I prefer a backlock over a linerlock. The weight isn't that much of a prolem for me.
i under stand you like the lockback but i can get a emeron cqc8 and slash and stab my way through zomdies better than those knives can and emerson makes left hand knives
They make left-handed knives, which I didn't know to be honoust. Unfortunately only combo-edge blades as far as I could see. And I like plain-edge blades. Hope they change that; like their knives. I understand you owne one of these, and are very positive about this knife. For me, it would be a very intresting to have a lefthanded linerlock. I hardly know any lefthanded linerlocks. Even if the Barong would be one of them......I would go for the Chinook.