Favorite handle SHAPE

[Joezilla]

I was looking at Razor's post and saw that it focused on handle materials. I'm interested in what handle SHAPES people like. Post a pic!

 

[Mentor]

I'm partial to knives with contoured handles, preferably with few angles our rough areas to cause discomfort. I seem to gravitate to two basic styles - one with an indentation for my index finger, followed by a recessed grip area, and one with a palm swell. Like these:

All the best,

- Mike

 

[siguy]

i find my preferences funny...i have large hands, but i like a bit of a slimmer handle. i find that i like the amount of dexterity in a slimmer handle. i like thick handles if they are nicely contoured. the thing is, if a handle is heavily contoured, it is often built more for the maker than the customer (unless the customer has the privelage of being in the shop during the handle construction process)

i like an oval or semi-triangle shaped handle. with the apex on the edge side of the handle and the base along the spine of the knife. in my opinion, this is closest to the natural shape that your hand takes when you grip things.

when it comes to flat handles (like neckers), i like wider handles because they offer the amount of tactile info (and leverage) necessary for good control of the knife.

 

[tonym]

Hosted on Fotki

This one is real comfy also.

 

[SpookyPistolero]

:thumbup:

 

[x-10]

Finger grooves , no picture but I think you get the picture.

 

[Sharp Eye]

Here is mine. A Fiddleback Bushcraft Jr.

Fits my hand like a fur lined glove

My second favorite is the Bark River Aurora

Fits like a glove but with a less luxurious lining

 

[HikingMano]

I love the handle of my Bravo-1:

I suspect I might favor other palm swell handles, like the ones on the Koster Bushcrafters and Bushmasters.

Mentor, I really like the first knife you posted. I've seen it before but can't remember where; what is it?

 

[Mentor]

Mentor, I really like the first knife you posted. I've seen it before but can't remember where; what is it?

rksoon, that's my Delta 5 from knifekits.com. You probably saw it in some of my hiking photos! I contoured the handle profile, added some G-10 scales, and gave the spine a bit of a curve around the thumb area. It's my constant companion.

Here's the original:

http://www.knifekits.com/vcom/images/d5_dp_parts_600.jpg

By the way, I notice that many of us have posted variations on the same handle shape. Great minds and all that ...

 

[HikingMano]

Ah! Many thanks Mentor, you've done an impressive job with it :thumbup: I'd love to try something like that down the line, I'll seek you out for pointers then.

I also forgot to mention that I find the handle shape of my Mora Clipper very comfortable as well.

 

[Bumppo]

I like flat slab handles.
I Like handles that have a slight "hook" for my pinkie to catch on.
I like an indentation for my index finger so i do not slice my hand when stabbing something.

I don't own one, I just like that kind of handle. i do not really know why.
Most of my knives look like the pictures before this post.

 

[hollowdweller]

First third fourth and fifth here

Probably the Ray Mears style handle is my absolute favorite but almost any handle that is decent diameter is good for me.:thumbup:

This Koster is nice too.

This one is not that contoured looking down from the spine but the handle is deep enough only the minor contouring worked well.

This one is only slightly contoured to to bottom and but it is wide enough and long enough it is really versitile and works in a variety of handholds

 

[jds1]

The most user friendly handle in my collection is the Breeden Pathfinder (bottom knife in picture). Fits me like a glove. :thumbup:

Jeff

 

[silenthunterstudios]

Long full handles because I have bear paws for hands. I got a Koyote Bushcrafter and Crumps Kephart in trade this winter, and can't get a good purchase on the handles. Both are great knives, and I plan on getting new ones from the makers.

 

[Big Mike]

The style of handle I prefer really depends on the size of the knife and its intended use.

For example, I would hold a knife used to field dress an animal much differently then one used for whittling or chopping.

On a small knife used for fine work I like a well rounded handle that settles securely into the palm of my hand.

On a medium size knife I have come to favor a single finger grove and a slight palm swell, a rounded butt also helps.

I find this combination of features rides nicely in my hand, indexes naturally, and is a pleasure to use in a wide variety of holds.

On a bigger knife I prefer a fully contoured handle, something with an hour glass shape (i.e., a good palm swell and a flare at both the front and back of the slabs).

Of course it has to fit my hand just right; contours that are too cramped, or a palm swell in the wrong place, can ruin an otherwise nice handle.

Now for a big chopper I like a handle that I can hold loosely but securely; I find a full, well rounded shape combined with a big bird’s peak kind of pommel lets me have control without transferring a lot of shock to my hand/arm.

Well that's my two cents on the subject.




"If you're not living on the edge, …you're taking up too much space."

Big Mike

 

[d_filgate]

I like the handle shapes that Nick Allen puts on his knives.

 

[w00d]

Not my knife, but someday it will be.