Fitting a knife to someone with huge hands?

[Bob Ohlemann]

I've made a couple knives with larger handles for customers who have large hands. They were local and they just had "large" hands so, it was easy enough to adjust the fit for them. I just took a long-distance order from a guy who is 6'8". I had him measure his hand and it is 4-1/2" across the palm at the base of the fingers and 9-1/2" from base of the palm to fingertip. That is huge! So any experienced makers have a rule of thumb on handle sizing? The knife will be a custom design so I can work with proportions but I need to make sure the handle is going to work for him. Thanks for any input.

Bob

 

[mete]

The 4.5" across the palm is the minimum length of the handle . I like another 1" added to any handle if used on a chopper .
My hand is 4" and 8" .My handle shape has to be oval 1" high and 3/4 " wide . His would be 1.1 high and about 7/8" wide at least. Get some clay and make a handle to fit depending on his size and type of blade .This can be done even if by email !!

 

[Bob Ohlemann]

The 4.5" across the palm is the minimum length of the handle . I like another 1" added to any handle if used on a chopper .
My hand is 4" and 8" .My handle shape has to be oval 1" high and 3/4 " wide . His would be 1.1 high and about 7/8" wide at least. Get some clay and make a handle to fit depending on his size and type of blade .This can be done even if by email !!

Thanks. Nice to have so much experience here to tap into when questions arise. This is a hunter and it sounds like he will be using it on deer and boar. My main concern is just not making it too big. I have average hands and I know I can handle a wide variety of sizes comfortably. My thinking is that for control, I want to keep it as small as practical for him without causing fatigue. I think you measurements are on point for what I'm looking to achieve. Thanks.

Bob

 

[Fiddleback]

Well u have to adjust this for designs with wider tangs. The rule I use for large hands is 1.1" thick at the swell.

 

[12345678910]

You can always do the hardwood profile and have him do a playdough handle.

playdoogh stays soft though, it's not good for shipping


If he likes carving he could carve a styrofoam or balsa handle scales

but some sort of clay stuff is simplest

maybe window silicone caulk ? something like that.

 

[AVigil]

That is the wonderful things about hands is they are adjustable. Have him find a tool or knife in his house that feels right to them and then take measurements off of it and work with it.

The average size handle should be the minimum. Going to large is really problem once they get hold of the knife...they like the idea of a big handle but using one is another matter.

If you make the handle a wee bigger then normal it will be fine.

For reference my hand is 4.5" wide and 8.5" long