Ergonomics of handles: rmd vs rodent 4

[J_mcrane]

So, I'm looking to sell my esse 4 and buy my first buses kin knife. I plan on keeping my izula 2 as an edc. I am choosing between rodent 4 and ratmandu. I also plan on getting a bigger blade (711, ash, rodent 6) later. I know that everyone raves about the feel of the rmd. Can someone take pics of the handles of both side by side and explain why the rmd has an edge. Why rmd over rodent 4?

Thank,

John

 

[Rob_Mob]

The Ratmandu has a superb balance and feel . . It's also iconic and will be heavily desired once they remove it from production.

 

[chiral.grolim]

I do not have a Rodent 4 to compare it to, but here is a video discussing handle designs and featuring the HRLM which has the same handle as the RMD at the end:

[video=youtube;welPk493sPM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=welPk493sPM[/video]

And a quick comparison of the RMD handle to the S!K GSO-5.1:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...anDu-Cattaraugus-225Q?p=12590995#post12590995

I quickly modified a couple of pictures to help explain the handle points a little better: the blue lines indicate contact between the handle and hand during a normal grip, also being points of exaggerated pressure during forceful cuts. The Red-line indicates a point of reduced or absent contact between handle & hand.

A straight spine focuses pressure on the muscles groups south of the 'pinkie' and between the thumb and forefinger, and forces the hand flatter against the spine. The RMD's curved spine allows this pressure to be more evenly distributed across the hand without forcing the hand to flatten-out as force is increased.

Now, the fact that the GSO-5.1 handle is laterally thicker in the palm is certainly beneficial, a trait that the RMD handle would benefit from (or rather the user would benefit), but the hand is also contoured vertically, and in this case the vertical contours are key.

Here is the shape of the GSO-10 handle - note how the vertical contours fit the hand:

 

[ozgooner]

If you are looking to replace an ESEE-4, I would also consider the Scrap Yard 411. My ESEE-4 never quite did it for me, even with TKC scales on, but the SYKCO 411 gives an almost identical blade profile with a far superior handle. I have big hands and find the RMD handle just a little too narrow for extended use.

 

[elof_alv]

And since threads like this are worthless without pics...

R4 & RMD LE & R5


R4 & SYKCO 4-11


I have small-medium hands and RMD is a very good fit for me. BUT R4 is almost IDEAL fit for my hands, SYCKO 4-11 is there just behind... R5 is a bit more of a handful than RMD and it would be the perfect fit for those with larger hand.