I am also left handed and for years have steered away from fountain pens for the same reason you stated. I remember learning cursive writing at school (yes it was a while ago but not as long as you might think) using a cartridge pen and my Mum would curse when my left hand/arm would be covered in ink at the end of each day!!!

I went to a pen shop earlier this year with the intention of buying a great pen for my principle GTD writing tool and mentioned to the owner that I would love a fountain pen but being left handed .... He told me not to worry and recommended a good 'starter' fountain pen - Lamy Safari Vista, its relatively inexpensive but still writes beautifully. He told me that it is the ink that is important particularly for us lefties!! He recommended a bottled ink called Aurora that is quick drying. I have been using the pen and ink for about 5 months now and the only time I get ink on me is when I am refilling the pen (and that is only a tiny bit - and I am getting better). PS the Vista version is clear so I can see where the ink is down to (helps while I am getting used to the 'capacity' of the pen)

The other thing to consider with a fountain pen is the nib. They actually make left handed nibs!!! I tend to write with my hand held 'normally' ie similar to a right hander, so my hand does not 'hook' over the line I am writing. As such a left handed nib was not for me - it 'scratched' on the page. So I bought one that allowed me to write as I do normally - it feels more like a ballpoint but with the end result of a fountain pen.

If you are interested in a fountain pen I would suggest a visit to a pen shop and ask to try one (with the various nibs), you might be surprised by the outome.

Hope this helps

Kim