Handle design: Index-finger amputee knife

[Robert_Phelps]

I'm hopefully going to start a business (not really a knife related business) with this lady at the college I attend, soon. She is a very outdoor-sy person, likes hunting, etc, and appreciates a good knife.

-Anyway, I'm trying to figure out if a person with their index finger amputated (to just before the first knuckle) would have any noticable difficulty with handling a knife (Carving, hunting, or otherwise). I figure maybe in a knife-maker's forum, we'd have someone who has lost a finger. If so, does anyone have any idea on what would make a knife easier to handle in that situation? (IE: perhaps very pronounced finger groves?) I think it'd be cool to make a general purpose knife for her if it there is a problem with handling.

Sorry if that was ramble-y, I probably should be sleeping instead of scheming for a new knife to make.

 

[Hengelo_77]

I just attended the Belgium knife show.
There I saw knifehandles with a fingercoil for your little finger in stead of the indexfinger.
First I was a bit sceptical, but it felt good. The handle sayed put in my hand.
So if somebody is missing the index finger, you could try that.

But amputee hands are very unique. What will be good for the one will not work for the other.
I would discuss the options with the person in question and see what would fit his/her situation best.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I have made custom fitted handles before.The same principle applies here.
Use firm (stiff) clay. Make a "blade" from a wood slat. Shape a roll of clay around the tang about the size of the planned handle. Have the customer grip the clay,and mold it to fit the hand.Trim away unwanted clay,reshaping until you get the shape that is right. It may take several squeeze and trim cycles to get there. The good thing is you can add clay and remove it until you get what you want. The reason I like very stiff clay is that when it is finally shaped right, you can let it harden and will have a model to work from.

BTW - You can send a clay knife to a distant customer to get a good hand size pattern for fitting finger grooves on knives for those with all their fingers.They will like being involved in the fitting of the handle.
Make up the wood/clay knife and wrap it in plastic wrap. Seal it in a zip-loc bag with a piece of wet paper towel.It will stay pliable for the trip to the customer.After the customer fits the handle,have them let it harden,and ship it back.
Stacy