Chopper handle preferences?

The Regulator handle is what I consider the most comfortable. Great length, amazing cushion, and grippy.

My dream chopper would be a SR-101 kukri with a modified Regulator handle.
 
PA Trout said:
The Regulator handle is what I consider the most comfortable. Great length, amazing cushion, and grippy.

My dream chopper would be a SR-101 kukri with a modified Regulator handle.
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Is the feel of the material different than the Basic handle or is the difference just due to the shape?

My one reservation with the Basic handle (B8, 1311, 1111) is that I will get blisters quickly under hard use if I don't wear gloves. My hands are probably a little soft from years of desk job work though :p
 
Apophis said:
My one reservation with the Basic handle (B8, 1311, 1111) is that I will get blisters quickly under hard use if I don't wear gloves.
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Me too. Though when are you going to do extensive amounts of chopping without gloves? I CAN'T wear gloves with some knives from the scales being to slick and that kinda sux too.

I wonder if mudder handles would help with blisters while going bare handed instead of plain RES C while still being grippy/shock absorbent. Afe there any large Busse Kin with mudder grips? If not hope they decide to try it. Know it probably won't be as shock absorbent but think would be less "sticky" and cause blisters. Plus I love the way mudder grips look.
 
I like the straight handles, no real preference for micarta or G10 except for looks. I think Canvas micarta looks the nicest. I've never been a huge fan of the rubbery handles like res-c. If the tool is getting used for chopping I'll probably be wearing gloves, if for no other reason than I'll probably have to move or clean up all the stuff that just got chopped. This being the case, the glove is more important than the handle, at least for me, and I prefer something like micarta. I think the ASHBM works better for me than the fusion style handles like NMFBMs. I wear XXL gloves, so my hands are pretty big.
 
Yeah, I wear gloves the majority of the time as well, but I'm still curious if other shapes or materials make a big difference in how hard they are on the hands. I wear large gloves, so I assume they're a pretty aveage size.
 
Resiprene-C with Ergodyne gloves is my pic...

I know most everyone knows handle/tang shape is nearly (if not more) as important as handle material and so--

It's not INFI and it's not covered in Res-C, but IMHO the round pommel of the MountainManDu (SR-77 steel) is arguably the best handle choice for a dedicated (as much as a knife can be dedicated to chopping) chopper, even the diagonal cut bias grooves of the canvas Mic. handles are mindful of chopping ergonomics...

I find I can have a secure grip on the handle and avoid the "bite" of some other Busse models with this paracord setup and grip...YMMV. And I NEVER wail away with force that is unrestrained or even approaching the threshold of uncontrollable or when fatigue is setting in...my personal experience, YMMV:

Cobra weave (thanks TinfoilHatTimmy & KnightEnforcer) from pommel hole to middle tube:

8tjekpi.jpg



What I call Fore-ward hammer grip, very secure:

ZxzBekI.jpg



Rear-ward with pommel more free to pivot in palm:

NCsgiSD.jpg



Open hand showing how MMD's pommel is well designed for my palm:

ZB05qmx.jpg
 
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Big blades..you cannot beat Res-C with or without gloves. The straight handle is good with gloves for extended chopping, IMHO Canvas excels for big choppers over G-10. I do not have fusion handles until I get my WTF. In medium blades g10 is fine.

Check out my user videos thread for some action on Res-C and a Straight Handle Battle Saw.
 
PeteyTwoPointOne said:
Resiprene-C with Ergodyne gloves is my pic...

I know most everyone knows handle/tang shape is nearly (if not more) as important as handle material and so--

It's not INFI and it's not covered in Res-C, but IMHO the round pommel of the MountainManDu (SR-77 steel) is arguably the best handle choice for a dedicated (as much as a knife can be dedicated to chopping) chopper, even the diagonal cut bias grooves of the canvas Mic. handles are mindful of chopping ergonomics...

I find I can have a secure grip on the handle and avoid the "bite" of some other Busse models with this paracord setup and grip...YMMV. And I NEVER wail away with force that is unrestrained or even approaching the threshold of uncontrollable or when fatigue is setting in...my personal experience, YMMV:

Cobra weave (thanks TinfoilHatTimmy & KnightEnforcer) from pommel hole to middle tube:

8tjekpi.jpg


...
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts and the pics. I forgot about the MMD!, bet that thing is savage with the regrind.

The cobra weave to the middle tube is interesting. I may try that out on the Parang to add some security to the pommel grip.

Good points on safety too, it's always good to keep in mind the damage a single errant strike or glancing blow could do to yourself or a bystander.
 
Anyone done any chopping with the ASH-2? I passed on it because I can't see that handle working well for a chopper.
 
W.E.S.T said:
Anyone done any chopping with the ASH-2? I passed on it because I can't see that handle working well for a chopper.
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Anything with that "bird beak" style pommel will sting you if you have a mis-hit or have poor hand placement . It's a great design that gets you locked in, and it makes a decent chopper with the right edge geometry...it's just there are handles specifically designed/engineered for chopping and the ASH-type have a different philosophy of use. Not bad...just different.
 
Put your ring finger where your pinky would normally rest, and your pinky iin the rounded area near the pommel. Should be comfy.
 
For full tang, the fusion handles with canvas micarta work best for me. I do believe the Ergo handles are super comfy too, however I do not own one of those. ResC is awesome too, but I tend to blister on it easier than the full tang micarta ones.
 
Ergo handles are great, but they're a wee bit fat where the meaty muscle of my thumb goes in a standard grip. This can be easily fixed with a hf 1x30...

Ice got a zero tolerance SH-E that's got more of an EU handle. Fits my mitts like a glove. Pics to come.
 
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