Effective ways to make a handle larger?

[DavidZ]

I have have a large chopper blade, that has a handle that is just too small for me. The length is fine, but the girth of it is way to small for my extra large paws to get a good grip on. For reference, the steel is A2, and the slabs are carbon fiber. I was considering something like hockey stick tape, but am not familiar with it, and an concerned that the steel will rust under the tape, or have other unintended consequences. I also thought that maybe wrapping para cord around it may work, but I do not think that it will stay put in use. Does anyone here have any experience with a way to make the handle safely larger?
Thanks in advance for your input.
Dave

 

[HeavyHanded]

I've customized handgun slabs by building up with epoxy, sanding to the ideal shape, and spraying with bedliner. Worked very well.

 

[Spey]

To increase handle size, I install liner(s) between the tange and scale(s). Typically on the palm side first, as I have found a preference for a palm swell (asymmetrical handle) on knives I use for hard work. Pins may need to be replaced, or screw together fasteners may need extensions. On my ESSE 6 & 3 I was able to install sheet rubber liner material on the palm-side and use the original fasteners. Used same procedure on my Survive GSO 4.1, and others.

If rubber liner is used and cut to size BEFORE the scales are fully tightened, the rubber liner will squish-out slightly when tightened. I like this, as it provides a nice small friction point (bump) near the finger-pads around the middle knuckles of all fingers of hand. I use 45 and/or 60 mil sheet rubber (EPDM), similar material to what an inner tube is (inner tube material is in various thickness depending on application).

Many other materials can be used as liner material (wood veneer, plastics, metal, etc., etc.)

Optionally, you can laminate addition thickness to scales on the inside (like the liner addition example above), or to the outside of the scale(s). If to the outside, the scale(s) will need finish surfacing. If to the inside, original exterior finish will remain.

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc155/ChrisOBucket/Knives/IMG_20161003_123608958.jpg

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc155/ChrisOBucket/Knives/IMG_20161003_123823065.jpg

Regards,

 

[DavidZ]

I've customized handgun slabs by building up with epoxy, sanding to the ideal shape, and spraying with bedliner. Worked very well.

Thanks for the tip - I was really looking for a way to temporarily build it up, so that if the next owner likes the original size handle, he can get to it.

 

[DavidZ]

To increase handle size, I install liner(s) between the tange and scale(s). Typically on the palm side first, as I have found a preference for a palm swell (asymmetrical handle) on knives I use for hard work. Pins may need to be replaced, or screw together fasteners may need extensions. On my ESSE 6 & 3 I was able to install sheet rubber liner material on the palm-side and use the original fasteners. Used same procedure on my Survive GSO 4.1, and others.

If rubber liner is used and cut to size BEFORE the scales are fully tightened, the rubber liner will squish-out slightly when tightened. I like this, as it provides a nice small friction point (bump) near the finger-pads around the middle knuckles of all fingers of hand. I use 45 and/or 60 mil sheet rubber (EPDM), similar material to what an inner tube is (inner tube material is in various thickness depending on application).

Many other materials can be used as liner material (wood veneer, plastics, metal, etc., etc.)

Optionally, you can laminate addition thickness to scales on the inside (like the liner addition example above), or to the outside of the scale(s). If to the outside, the scale(s) will need finish surfacing. If to the inside, original exterior finish will remain.

Regards,

I like the idea of adding liners, but the handle slabs are not screwed on where they can be removed. The are sanded flush Loveless bolts or equivalent. I would have to do major alterations, and my skill level is just not there.

 

[Spey]

I like the idea of adding liners, but the handle slabs are not screwed on where they can be removed. The are sanded flush Loveless bolts or equivalent. I would have to do major alterations, and my skill level is just not there.

If drilling & exchanging the mechanical fasteners is not an option ...

External wrapping with sports wrap, leather, etc. may be an option (future removable/changeable, etc.). Possibly look to tennis, racquetball grip materials (available in various thicknesses and materials.

Consider also, any change in scale shape, size, profile, ... may affect fitment of sheath(s) depending on configuration. ie enlarging grip size may affect sheath fitment.

Regards,

 

[Nilaman]

Could use bicycle inner tube.

 

[killgar]

That's^ what I do. Using a strip of inner tube allows me to enlarge the circumference of the handle, change it's shape to better suit my hand, and it provides a lot of grip.

I saw this thread earlier and was going to make the suggestion, but I'm not sure how ones hand would react to chopping with a rubber grip. I'm thinking blisters, but I don't know, chopping isn't something I do. Maybe it would work fine for the OP. And with inner tube there's no glue residue to remove.

Here are some pics of a few of my work knives. It takes a bit of trial and error to get the wrap right, and it's a bit of a trick to get the loose end tucked under previous wraps, but once you figure it out, it's like riding a bicycle. I get my inner tube cheap at Walmart.

 

[DavidZ]

If drilling & exchanging the mechanical fasteners is not an option ...

External wrapping with sports wrap, leather, etc. may be an option (future removable/changeable, etc.). Possibly look to tennis, racquetball grip materials (available in various thicknesses and materials.

Consider also, any change in scale shape, size, profile, ... may affect fitment of sheath(s) depending on configuration. ie enlarging grip size may affect sheath fitment.

Regards,

Thanks for the idea. I will head to the sports store tomorrow.

 

[DavidZ]

That's^ what I do. Using a strip of inner tube allows me to enlarge the circumference of the handle, change it's shape to better suit my hand, and it provides a lot of grip.

I saw this thread earlier and was going to make the suggestion, but I'm not sure how ones hand would react to chopping with a rubber grip. I'm thinking blisters, but I don't know, chopping isn't something I do. Maybe it would work fine for the OP. And with inner tube there's no glue residue to remove.

Here are some pics of a few of my work knives. It takes a bit of trial and error to get the wrap right, and it's a bit of a trick to get the loose end tucked under previous wraps, but once you figure it out, it's like riding a bicycle. I get my inner tube cheap at Walmart.

this looks like a great option as well. Look like I head to Wall Mart after the sports store.
Thanks all for the tips!
Dave

 

[Phydeaux]

Go to a bike shop and ask them if they have any old inner tube that they are going to throw out. They usually have some from fixing flat tires. I went to REI and talked to one of the mechanics, told her that I wanted to cut them up for rubber bands, home made tire patches etc. She came back with 4 different sized tubes for me. They all had punctures in them, but only in one place. Had plenty of material to use.

Ric

 

[TravisH]

Inner tube rubber bands aka 'Ranger Bands'

Also effective for binding accessories like fire starters and sharpening stones to sheath.

 

[Uncle Timbo]

I went to WWorld to buy an inner tube to slide a kinda rusty chain inside so I could use it to lock my trailer up. I didn't want the rustiness transferring to the new trailer wheel. $3.88 brand new. Why did I tell this story? Heck, I'm 61 and I can't remember. Oh, they're cheap.

 

[DavidZ]

I went to WWorld to buy an inner tube to slide a kinda rusty chain inside so I could use it to lock my trailer up. I didn't want the rustiness transferring to the new trailer wheel. $3.88 brand new. Why did I tell this story? Heck, I'm 61 and I can't remember. Oh, they're cheap.

Thanks for the tips. I can't remember either.

 

[DavidZ]

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions! I appreciate it. I went to a number of stores to get different items to try. I picked up the inner tube, some hockey tape, some blue handle wrap, and even a replacement tennis racket handle wrap. I then went home to experiment. I tried the blue handle wrap, and it did not stay put at all. It had no adhesive power at all, and was still too thin for me. I tried the hockey tape next. Good adhesion, but very thin, and took a lot of wraps to get any thickness. Worked, but just OK, not great. Then the rubber inner tube. That was even better than the first two, bet out in the brush, it wiggled around, fo I was going to get out the glue. When I got home, the tennis racket wrap was sitting there unopened, so I gave that a shot. It is very thick, and rubbery, with an extra strip of rubber in the center of the strip. It looked odd to me, but it was very sticky. So I just started wrapping, and it was long enough to double wrap the handle. It worked great. The handle is very large and the grip is very comfortable. Here are a few pictures for all to see.