handle ergonomics - "knife feel" database

F

foofie

Joined
Sep 25, 2011
Messages
958
So I have been toying with this idea for a while.
There is a lot of info available on steel, materials, construction, etc. I find that often the ergonomics and the way the handle "feels" in hand makes the biggest difference as to whether I keep a knife or trade it. When I am looking for a new blade, I read reviews and all, but the thing I can never quantify is the way it will feel in my hands. Here is an idea to help?

I was thinking of creating a list of knives and how the handle feels. I figure that people with similar size/shape hands can look and find other possible knives to try? So if I list a bunch of knives, and someone has tried similar knives and likes the way those feel, s/he can see what other knives might feel good in hand.

Is this perfect, no. I am more than happy to figure out a more scientific way. Does this reflect at all on the knife - NO. This is just a measure of how the handle fits in one person's hands. Could do this for fixed as well as folders.

Let me start - will do three categories (could be four or five?)

Great feel:
Benchmade 940
mini-grip (do custom scales count...)
chaparral
caly 3
cat
delica
gayle bradley (1)
skyline
echelon
junkyard dog
xm18 3"


Okay/pretty good/I still use it:
native
knockout
blur
sebenza, small

Move along:
sage series
pm2
531
960
707

I will update this list as I think of more.
 
We don't know what size your hands are :)

also what makes your biased relavent to others?


We need ethos, pathos, logos to understand why this list matters.

Then this thread could be rad:)
 
I didn't like how the PM2 felt in hand at first, but I grew to appreciate its ergos. Could be improved imo, but they're still good as they are.
 
DeadboxHero said:
We don't know what size your hands are :)

also what makes your biased relavent to others?


We need ethos, pathos, logos to understand why this list matters.

Then this thread could be rad:)
Click to expand...

Exactly. It can't really be a database unless its more refined. I love the idea but its your opinion and I don't agree with your categories. Maybe there is another way.


Spyderco and Emerson come to mind for best ergoes in general as far as their ideologies. I don't carry any at the moment.

Top few.

Manix
Para
Mili
Lil temp
25 sebenza
Cqc13
Ti lock
Sng
Burke rock star
Crkt Kasper
Kershaw lahar
Atr

Instead of your categories perhaps do this

Ergos

Cutting ability

Most gorgeous

Ugliest

Heaviest

That would be more fun.
 
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Ergonomics can be a tricky issue to try to quantify. Specificity of hold, size of the user's hands, duration and intensity of tasks in what kind of environment...all these and more have an impact on how the ergonomics of a handle should be evaluated.
 
As you can see. All of my favorites are based on design and. Comfort. All of mine seem to be deep set handles. Many with deep trigger finger areas.
 
BellaBlades said:
As you can see. All of my favorites are based on design and. Comfort. All of mine seem to be deep set handles. Many with deep trigger finger areas.
Click to expand...

So the next guy that likes similar things can look at your list and have a few leads on his next blade.
I agree with the criticisms. Ergo is impossible to quantify.

If I say I have medium hands, these ten blades feel great, and these other ten do not - it offers a datapoint. If ten others do the same, maybe one or two will have some overlap with me and I can then explore the other knives they have tried. Clunky for sure. I just can't think of another way to organize such a subjective experience.

Open to suggestions.
 
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