Contoured Handles Discussion

[Jason Wolf]

Good evening all,

My most recent purchase was a WE knife that I have absolutely fallen in love with. One of the things I enjoy the most is the contoured G10 scales, it is by far the most comfortable folder handle I've ever owned. I understand contoured handles are more expensive and slightly more bulky but why aren't there more options for then out there? I'd gladly pay a bit more for them on future knives!

If you have any other suggestions on models with contoured handles please let me know!

Also yes, I said the dirty word (WE) and I already had one post blow up with racism and politics so suffice to say I don't care about your views on China. Wrong forum.

 

[Dadpool]

Which WE model did you pick up?

Here are a few favorites with contoured handles from my collection.

ZT 0308, pretty subtle contouring (though lots of machining) but it feels great.

Pena X-Series Rhino, made by WE. So comfortable in-hand! Feels like a smooth river stone.

Cold Steel Ultimate Hunter, an underrated model with wonderful smooth, contoured G10 handles.

BM Griptilian 551-1. Same contouring as on the non-G10 base model, but IMO it feels better with G10.

 

[Jason Wolf]

Awesome thank you for the suggestions! I'll have to look some of these up, especially the BM.

I got a WE 617, im not a fan of the blade shape (too tacticool for me) but I love everything else about it! Super smooth, comfortable, and the titanium hardware is great.

 

[Dadpool]

How much do you use them? and how long have you been using it?

I'm not sure why this matters, but I'll assume positive intent and hope an earnest answer is in some way helpful.

I've had the Grip the longest, a couple of years I think. I rotate my daily carries, so no individual knife sees a whole lot of use; but that said I've carried the Grip and the Rhino the most. My day-to-day life is pretty light on knife chores, mostly opening packages and breaking down boxes, but I use them all for whatever comes up.

 

[Silent H]

I took this comparison shot earlier today, someone was asking for a replacement for their AFCK, I suggested the Crooked River, or a long shot, the Vector. Both the vector and Crooked River have contoured scales, as opposed to the slab scales on the AFCK, and it makes a world of difference. I think Benchmade does a good job with making contoured scales over some of the U.S. brands, even more expensive ones.

 

[The_Iron_Joe]

Contoured handles are some of my favorites, even if a ton of my own collection consists of flat slabs of G10 or carbon fiber... One major reason you don't see 3D contoured handles too commonly is because they're more time consuming to machine, and easier to mess up! Some of my favorites that I've carried recently include my S35VN Ti-lite from Cold Steel, Benchmade Torrent (Discontinued, sadly), and GEC Pruner. It certainly adds a more "premium" feeling when directly compared to a more flat handle.

 

[fishface5]

You can contour almost anything with sandpaper!

 

[K.O.D.]

WE does contoured scales well.

 

[evilgreg]

A few for you. Bestech Ascot (hard to tell from this angle, but the handle is pleasantly rounded):

ZT 0454, much more round handled than the 0452 it spawned:

The Spyderco Rubicon is crazy round. I dug up this old photo showing off how shiny the high polish CF was because it shows the contouring very well: