Basic handle size formula?

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Fatstrat

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My 1st project knife is coming along (IMO) nicely. The blade is an old WW-2, well used & abused Ka-Bar USMC knife that was severely pitted and had had approx 1" of blade length (and porportionate width) already sharpened away. Have polished blade to an almost mirror finish which removed nearly all pits.
And installed original (cleaned up) guard. Instead of merely leaving the guard trapped between blade shoulder and handle, I attached the guard to the blade/tang firmly w/JB Weld. Don't yet have the soldering equipment/expertise for this task. But IMO JB Weld did a passable job. At least for a 1st project. Guard is VERY firmly attached and excess JB Weld material sanded off to near invisibility.
So now on to making a handle. Of course w/the tang design of this blade, it will be a hidden tang handle. Have ordered a set of stabilized KOA wood scales.
I have purchased the book "Step by Step Knifemaking" by David Boye. And have viewed the tutorial on hidden tang handle making on the Northcoast website. Along w/very helfull advise gained here, I have found them all to be very helpful. And believe I have researched how to perform the job as best I can. But have one basic question.
Is there a basic formula on handle width & thickness? I'm sure many people make theirs to fit their own hands. But for my 1st project, I'm just looking for a fairly generic rectangle shape. I have trimmed the tang to 4.5". And expect handle length will be about 4.75" to 5". Guard width is 9/16" and base of blade width is 1 1/4".
Would I be correct in assuming that handle thickness should approx the same, no wider than guard width? And handle width should be same as blade base at guard?
Any tips on a basic formula here? Thanks again for all your help!
 
You are on the right track. All the knives I make, unless they are very small or extra large, have a handle that is 4 to 4.5" inches long. I use 1/4x3/4" iron, nickle silver, brass, for guards, and taper my handle from there to about 1" + (go by feel here) so for you I would go from guard width to around 1" or a little more in 4.5" and see how that feels to you. good luck :thumbup:
 
You might want to grab some modeling clay and mock up a handle(s) before cutting and grinding your wood. May I ask, since it's a hidden tang, why did you go with scales rather than a solid piece of wood?
 
I have some Oak that I had thought of using. Will now use it as some practice material for making my final scales.
I chose scales because it was the 1st and apparently easiest suggestion I recvd when I 1st posted questions about my project. (I had 1st wanted to use Stag scales, but switched to hard wood after being informed Stag wasn't strong enough for a large hidden tang model.)
As a 1st project I don't yet have, but am slowly aquiring the needed tools/equipment I may need for further projects. Scales seemed the best for what I can do now. And altho I have been assured that modern Epoxy's are plently strong, I do intend to include some type of pins as well.
 
Thanks for the update. Hope you post some pix when you get her done.
All the best, Phil
 
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