Are 3 fingers enough for a bushcraft knife handle?

[whp]

So serious bushcrafting knives only have 4 finger handles? Go on.

Maybe 4 fingers for outdoor bushcrafting, 3 fingers for indoor bushcrafting (envelopes). Personally, I prefer 4 fingers for all my knife handles, with a minimum length of 4 inches. For some reason, I don't find it hard to carry a 4-5 inch handle.

 

[DocJD]

indoor bushcrafting (envelopes)

LOL !

 

[Pilsner]

Uh... I just meant preferred by ME, personally , from my vast storehouse of personal experience ! LOL

Others may have such a vise like pinch grip that ONE finger is enough ?

But , if you look at the handles on almost all serious /commercial working knives , machetes , etc ; I believe you'll find generous handles affording a full 4 .

How much bushcrafting have you done?

 

[stabman]

I believe it was George Orwell who said, "Three fingers good, four fingers better."

Cannot argue against historic advice of that magnitude.

 

[DocJD]

How much bushcrafting have you done?

About 50 years . But my definition of "bushcrafting " may differ from yours . Mine was outdoors !

 

[Pilsner]

About 50 years . But my definition of "bushcrafting " may differ from yours . Mine was outdoors !

Eh? Here was where I slept last night, “Doc”.

 

[Pilsner]

Eh? Here was where I slept last night, “Doc”.

And seriously, just what sort of wood craft can you do? Do you understand that bushcraft means wilderness, not Prac Tac scenarios? It means knowing how to get by with nature. And thanks for the insulting post. I’m not the one with the problem, “Doc”.

 

[John A. Larsen]

You can always chock up on the handle for more control for finer cutting, but to put pressure on a cut I prefer a full sized handle, so I go with a 4-finger + handle. John

 

[Pilsner]

You can always chock up on the handle for more control for finer cutting, but to put pressure on a cut I prefer a full sized handle, so I go with a 4-finger + handle. John

Yeah, I prefer 4. But many very skilled people are fine with 3. It’s whatever works. There is just the usual crap flying around here.

 

[Will Power]

I got hold of this small Puukko around last Christmas, good compact overall size but a comfortable handle that would suit most sizes of grip, useful tough little blade.
Suits me at least

 

[DocJD]

And seriously, just what sort of wood craft can you do? Do you understand that bushcraft means wilderness, not Prac Tac scenarios? It means knowing how to get by with nature. And thanks for the insulting post. I’m not the one with the problem, “Doc”.

Sorry , I did NOT mean to insult . Just kidding . But you seem to be questioning my experience . So I will expand .

My outdoors experience is not primarily from occasional camping or wilderness treks , but from actually living in semi-wilderness for most of my life . I have never taken a pack out for days or weeks etc . Never felt the need . I LIVE in the kind of place that city people come to hunt , fish , hike , etc .

 

[hexenjager]

Eh? Here was where I slept last night, “Doc”.

Are you above the tree line?

 

[22-rimfire]

I LIVE in the kind of place that city people come to hunt , fish , hike , etc .

Is this heaven or just Iowa? Must be heaven.

I would take George Orwell's advice.

 

[Dangerously]

Eh? Here was where I slept last night, “Doc”.

Pfft. I don’t see a single bush to craft in that entire landscape. Grasscraft maybe.

 

[DocJD]

Is this heaven or just Iowa? Must be heaven.

I would take George Orwell's advice.

Not Iowa and not always Heaven ! But it is a place I dearly love and have sacrificed economically to live in . Worth it to me .

Some animals are more "equal" than others ?

 

[Pilsner]

Pfft. I don’t see a single bush to craft in that entire landscape. Grasscraft maybe.

Hehe

Most definitely above the treeline and only grass, moss, heather, lichen, rock etc. Plenty of ways to get by. It isn’t all whittling...

 

[MisterZ]

Do you have a model for the Doziers? Looks like they have nice knives.

A quick and admittedly crappy couple of shots to illustrate some of the smaller working knives from Dozier from the top:
K- 12 Small Game Skinner
K-20 Canoe
K-13 Whittler
K-31 Arkansas Traveler

The Whittler in hand for reference:

In my experience the shorter handles (the "sub-compacts" from the Dozier shop and others ) don't provide enough to hang on to. I am a fan of having a larger knife for bigger chores and a smaller knife for detail work. For me the extra inch of handle is unnoticed when carrying but really makes a significant difference in use. All of these provide a full 4 finger grip.

 

[GABaus]

looks like a nice handle. is it some sort of laminate?

 

[22-rimfire]

My Canoe is either Ironwood or Cocobolo. Don't recall which. The above K-20 Canoe handle is micarta. That is pretty much the "standard" Dozier handle. Of the small ones and generally my favorites, I have the Canoe, K-6 Companion, K-32 Compact Personal and then some larger ones.

 

[DocJD]

Eh? Here was where I slept last night, “Doc”.

Starkly beautiful vista ! I never even visited such a place .

Very different from the terrain and vegetation around here . Mostly mixed hardwood forest and small hills and valleys they call "knobs and hollers " locally .