Tensegrity:
First image is my Skinny ASH-1. It had magnum handles, or I take that they were as they were not the thin, flat slabs, but the thick, contoured ones. I did my home hand-shaped treatment, but took them down further than I normally would. This, to continue to lighten the knife for long-distance hikes. I really like the results. Thin, light, but the seriously contoured profile/shape gives me a very secure grip on the knife that I appreciate. Note that to take the swells down further would require refastening of the slabs with new tube flares or Torx bolts or something similar. In other words, I took it down to the top of the flares which secure the handle to the knife. More radical contouring in that regard, or flattening them down to "wafers" - if so desired - would require that additional hassle and work.
NOTE: I believe you mentioned above that 4" - 6" was your "wheelhouse," and therefore targeted blade length. Remember that the ASH-1 is "6.5"" (all three of mine actually measure out at very close to 6 & 3/8"). I mention it as I do not know how wed you are to a firm 6" cap. My "wheelhouse" as it were, is 5.75" to 6.75" in a general duty field knife/"wilderness EDC," but I am flexible out to probably 1/2" or more depending on a number of factors, which all effect perceived blade length and performance in use (blade pattern, profile, thickness, height, grind, etc). So in practice, the SFNO at 7", though larger than my target specs, is just dandy anyway (bottom line, I would not know for sure about a knife without trying it, so long as it is fairly close to my preferred specs).
My home hand-shaped Skinny ASH in hand (XL hand).
Factory hand-shaped Magnums on a Custom Shop middy for point of comparison. (That is the butt and very bottom of the home hand-shaped scales on the skinny that you are seeing at the bottom left.)
Home hand-shaped skinny (left) next to aforementioned factory hand-shaped CS middy (right) together for comparison.
