Fitting a handle to your hand?

other memory · Jul 25, 2012

I would like to make sure a knife fits in my hand well. Any techniques others would like to share? If a knife fits in your hand well it should feel almost effortless while pushing forward into a small counter force, right?

I would be using a general purpose trail/camping knife on routine tasks like cutting vegetables and meat, splitting dead branches, and making feather sticks.

What do others think about these recommendations?

Thanks in advance.

Confederate · Jul 25, 2012

The best way to judge a knife handle is to just try it. If it's a self defense knife, yes, you should ensure you can hold on to it if it's aggressively pushed into something hard. Many people like jimping on the blade's top, but that forces the hand forward and prohibits you from holding it effectively from the back. That's one reason I'm not crazy about the Spyercos. Handles on Cold Steel knives let you hold them from the back and if you hit something hard, your hand goes forward and into a deep detente. In short, they make their handles so you can hold them a variety of ways.

Some people also put a lot of stock in balance. I have some CS Voyagers and all are very well balanced except the Tantos, which fall forward in the hand. But that's because the blade is substantially heavier and is made to chop wood in the XLG size. At first I didn't care for it, but now it's one of my favorite knives, though it's a bit difficult to carry because of the weight. But then, size also is a deterrent. The balance is fine and the Tanto Voyager is an outstanding outdoors knife, especially if you want to pound the living daylights out of it batoning it.

You can pretty well judge whether a knife's handle is good for you.

Poez · Jul 25, 2012

Find one that fits you well, and look for similar size/shape in other knives.
Or just buy knives you like and sell those which do not fit well.

GatorFlash1 · Jul 25, 2012

Here is a picture of two knives I use for hunting. Notice the shape of the handles. They both have some good palm swells and finger curves and make for a very nice grip.

other memory · Jul 26, 2012

GatorFlash1 said:
Here is a picture of two knives I use for hunting. Notice the shape of the handles. They both have some good palm swells and finger curves and make for a very nice grip.

Currently, I think this ^^^ handle design is the direction I am going. The area slightly before the butt of the handle is slightly tapered compared to the beginning of the handle. It might be an optical illusion, but that's how it looks on my screen. Yes to the swells at least. That's what I'm trying to figure out, how much swell? I don't know yet.

Is the handle of the second knife fitted specifically to your hand? It has more contours than I have seen so far.

other memory · Jul 26, 2012

Unfortunately, there are no outdoor knife shops in my area to try out knives. How many posts does a user have to post here before they can use the 'individual' knife exchange? I might have to go that route... Purchase a knife... If I don't care for the feel, sell it... Find another knife and try again... Repeat until I find the right knife for me.

Robs92XJ · Jul 26, 2012

Generally I think simple shapes are best. A bit of palm swell in both dimensions, tapering thin towards the blade (to facilitate chest lever grip and other grips where your hand comes over the spine of the blade). No finger grooves. The first knife GatorFlash posted is a good example, maybe round those edges a bit. The flare at the pommel is not really necessary except on larger blades where you can hook your fingers around that flare to extend your reach, but I like the way it looks, adding visual balance.

Beyond that you just need to hold it, and ideally, use it. Lots of knives with fancy shaped handles will feel good at first when you pick them up at the store, but if you use it hard for 10 minutes that's when the hot spots show up, or you realize that switching to another grip is uncomfortable. Of course you can't generally use a knife at a store before you buy it, so the best you can do is try all of the different grips you might want to use, and look for rough/unfinished surfaces or sharp corners. Be especially careful of jimping. It might make it feel impressively secure at first but it can really get annoying if you use it hard. And I don't think it's very necessary to have it.

Phydeaux · Jul 26, 2012

Have you thought about making a wood mock up of the knife to test the handle shape? This would permit you to experiment a little to see what works for you. Once you have the approximate shape, you an hold it and fine tune it.

Good advice from Robs92XJ about hotspots on the handle.

Ric

GatorFlash1 · Jul 26, 2012

alfred mcdougal said:
Currently, I think this ^^^ handle design is the direction I am going. The area slightly before the butt of the handle is slightly tapered compared to the beginning of the handle. It might be an optical illusion, but that's how it looks on my screen. Yes to the swells at least. That's what I'm trying to figure out, how much swell? I don't know yet.

Is the handle of the second knife fitted specifically to your hand? It has more contours than I have seen so far.

The second knife is a skinning knife and I don't know if the larger swell on the bottom is necessary for the slicing motion that you use when skinning an animal. It feels good though and works great. it was not specifically made for my hand.

The hunting knife actually has a mild bow across the top of the handle. The picture is almost lifesized. The handle narrows some from the tang to the butt. I think this gives my fingers about the same degree of hold around the handle. If it didn't taper some the little finger would be left holding less of the handle.

other memory · Jul 27, 2012

Robs92XJ said:
Generally I think simple shapes are best.

This.

other memory · Jul 27, 2012

Phydeaux said:
Have you thought about making a wood mock up of the knife to test the handle shape? This would permit you to experiment a little to see what works for you. Once you have the approximate shape, you an hold it and fine tune it.

Not exactly... What I have been doing is examining my grip while holding my kitchen knives, dowels, the pizza cutter, household items, etc to get an idea of what shapes work and what shapes don't. I don't have the tools to make a model.

other memory · Jul 27, 2012

Thanks again everyone. I appreciate it.

Phydeaux · Jul 27, 2012

Have you thought about getting some molding clay for a mock up? There are recipes for home made playdough.

Whittle a knife profile out of a freebie paint stirrer, then add the clay for a handle.

Here's a recipe for the playdough:

1/2 cup salt
1/2 cup water
1 cup flour

Mix together and you're good to go. Edible knife handles

.

Or a local art/craft store should have some oil based molding clay.

Ric

other memory · Jul 27, 2012

Phydeaux said:
Have you thought about getting some molding clay for a mock up? There are recipes for home made playdough.

Whittle a knife profile out of a freebie paint stirrer, then add the clay for a handle.

Here's a recipe for the playdough:

1/2 cup salt
1/2 cup water
1 cup flour

Mix together and you're good to go. Edible knife handles.

Or a local art/craft store should have some oil based molding clay.

Ric

This! Great idea!

Phydeaux · Jul 27, 2012

Don't think the home made play dough will taste very good.