diff --git a/config.cpp b/config.cpp
index d23753c7..0bf8a035 100644
--- a/config.cpp
+++ b/config.cpp
@@ -3585,6 +3585,33 @@ EX void pick_player_shape() {
   dialog::display();
   }
 
+EX void save_customchar(charstyle& cs, const string& fname) {
+  FILE *f = fopen(fname.c_str(), "wt");
+  if(!f) throw hstream_exception();
+  fprintf(f, "%x\n", VERNUM_HEX);
+  fprintf(f, "%d %d\n%08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
+    cs.charid, cs.lefthanded,
+    cs.skincolor, cs.haircolor, cs.dresscolor, cs.swordcolor, cs.dresscolor2, cs.uicolor, cs.eyecolor, cs.bowcolor, cs.bowcolor2);
+  fprintf(f, "HyperRogue " VER " custom character file\n");
+  fprintf(f, "Colors are: skin, hair, dress, sword, dress2, ui, eye, bow, bow2\n");
+  fclose(f);
+  }
+
+EX void load_customchar(charstyle& cs, const string& fname) {
+  FILE *f = fopen(fname.c_str(), "rt");
+  if(!f) throw hstream_exception();
+  int vernum;
+  fscanf(f, "%x", &vernum);
+  int lh;
+  fscanf(f, "%d %d\n%08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
+    &cs.charid, &lh,
+    &cs.skincolor, &cs.haircolor, &cs.dresscolor, &cs.swordcolor, &cs.dresscolor2, &cs.uicolor, &cs.eyecolor, &cs.bowcolor, &cs.bowcolor2);
+  cs.lefthanded = lh;
+  fclose(f);
+  }
+
+EX string charfile = "custom.hch";
+
 EX void showCustomizeChar() {
 
   cc_footphase += hypot(mousex - lmousex, mousey - lmousey);
@@ -3619,9 +3646,19 @@ EX void showCustomizeChar() {
   
   if(numplayers() > 1) dialog::addSelItem(XLAT("player"), its(multi::cpid+1), 'a');
 
-  dialog::addBoolItem(XLAT("left-handed"), cs.lefthanded, 'l');
+  dialog::addBoolItem_action(XLAT("left-handed"), cs.lefthanded, 'l');
   
   dialog::addBreak(50);
+  dialog::addItem("save", 'S');
+  dialog::add_action([&cs] {
+    dialog::openFileDialog(charfile, XLAT("character file to save:"), ".hch",
+      [&cs] { try { save_customchar(cs, charfile); return true; } catch(hstream_exception&) { addMessage("Failed to save!"); return false; } });
+    });
+  dialog::addItem("load", 'L');
+  dialog::add_action([&cs] {
+    dialog::openFileDialog(charfile, XLAT("character file to load:"), ".hch",
+      [&cs] { try { load_customchar(cs, charfile); return true; } catch(hstream_exception&) { addMessage("Failed to load!"); return false; } });
+    });
   dialog::addBack();
   dialog::display();
   
@@ -3653,7 +3690,6 @@ EX void showCustomizeChar() {
     else if(uni == 'f') switchcolor(cs.dresscolor2, dresscolors2);
     else if(uni == 'u') switchcolor(cs.uicolor, eyecolors);
     else if(uni == 'e') switchcolor(cs.eyecolor, eyecolors);
-    else if(uni == 'l') cs.lefthanded = !cs.lefthanded;
     else if(uni == 'b') switchcolor(cs.bowcolor, swordcolors);
     else if(uni == 'c') switchcolor(cs.bowcolor2, eyecolors);
     else if(doexiton(sym, uni)) popScreen();