Handle "feel".vs "asthetics"

C

cutchu

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I recently rediscovered my fondness for traditional style knives. It seems very easy to browse through pics on the forum as well as dealer sites and pic out knives that are appealing. However after having purchased a few different varieties that I have never been exposed to, it definitely seems just as important to have a knife that "feels" right in your hand. Not easy to do when buying online.

I just bought a Northwoods Hawthorne Clip Point in Blue Camel Bone through the forums (thanks BF and seller). I was kind of on the fence about the physical appearance of the knife as I was going through the process of buying and exchanging info with the seller. My hopes were not very high as it was on it's way across the country to me. However, when it arrived, I was surprised and very pleased when it arrived. My opinion of this knife has certainly changed in a couple days. Heck I flat out love the way this knife "feels" in the hand. While the looks of this knife are far from being as appealing as some of their other models such as the Fremont Jack and Norfolk (personal favorites), the Hawthorne really just feels great in my hand. To the point where I have another on order right now in smooth bone.

Have any of you guys bought a knife (before handling it), that looks great but does not feel good in the hand? Or, conversely, buy a knife that is ugly, but just fits your hand so well, that the looks do not matter and you got it anyway?

Sorry for rambling but my new Hawthorne is making me ramble about it and give it a boost of confidence. I need to post a pics of it for reference.

P.S. Post pics if ya got 'em.
 
The Northwoods Hawthorne is built on the GEC #48 frame, which is a great slim trapper-style frame, probably one of their top two or three patterns in terms of feel and usability. I have two GECs in that pattern, the regular Trapper in 440C, and the Improved Trapper in 1095 with full-length Wharncliffe secondary.

I wish I had picked up one of the SFO Diamond Jacks when they came out but it was knife overload right then with too many coming out at once.

As far as knives that I didn't think I would like but really turned out liking the feel in the hand later, the Case Sod Busters in the bone covers are a recent example. I have a hard time not carrying one of them.

Though my #1 answer for "bought it for the looks, loved it for the feel" has to be the GEC #12 in both the single-blade Toothpick and the 2-blade Powderhorn Jack. I love the looks of the slim curved lines of it, but the way it just perfectly fits in my hand is great, and because of the shape it carries like a much smaller knife but fits plenty of blade in the handle.

I don't have pics of all of mine, but here's one of them:


 
cutchu said:
Have any of you guys bought a knife (before handling it), that looks great but does not feel good in the hand?
Or, conversely, buy a knife that is ugly, but just fits your hand so well, that the looks do not matter and you got it anyway?
Click to expand...

I have. Both.
 
I'm actually going with what jc57 said. I didn't give the #12 toothpick to much thought because it just didn't look comfortable to me. My dad bought one off eBay & as soon as I held it in hand I loved it for all the same reasons John stated. Took me a little bit to find the one I wanted but eventually one popped up on the big auction site & I scooped it up.

 
I have been eyeing the toothpicks, I have a question. As you mentioned, they look like they might not be comfy, especially the small ones. Are the larger ones more comfy? Seems like the small one would dig into your hand because the handle is curved there at the end and it's size would make it dig.

Since both posters mentioned them right off the bat, I might have to pick one up for Christmas.
 
cutchu said:
Have any of you guys bought a knife (before handling it), that looks great but does not feel good in the hand? Or, conversely, buy a knife that is ugly, but just fits your hand so well, that the looks do not matter and you got it anyway?

P.S. Post pics if ya got 'em.
Click to expand...

Yes on both counts. I bought a eureka jack in smooth calico bone, Tidioute flavoured. I was convinced that the main spear and secondary coping were a perfect combination. For whatever reason though, I just couldn't bond with it. I used it to prep fish, I used for joinery assistance and general pocket carry but in the end gave up. I think it is a beautiful knife and I love the look of the pattern but it just didn't work. So I gave it away.

I'm a fan of congress patterns too. I found a Moore Maker that was exactly 3.5 inches closed, and not having a MM before and having been looking for a congress of that length I bought it. I'm not really a fan of smooth bone, and the yellow didn't appeal but it bought it anyway. Well, it just worked for me, and kept finding its way back into my pocket and is now one of my most carried knives.


Here are your pics...





Paul
 
cutchu said:
I have been eyeing the toothpicks, I have a question. As you mentioned, they look like they might not be comfy, especially the small ones. Are the larger ones more comfy? Seems like the small one would dig into your hand because the handle is curved there at the end and it's size would make it dig.

Since both posters mentioned them right off the bat, I might have to pick one up for Christmas.
Click to expand...
I was only referring to the GEC #12 Toothpick and Powderhorn Jack patterns, which are 4" long knives, which I find comfortable enough to use but then I am not sitting there cutting things for long periods of time where it matters that much.

In re-reading your original post, I think I answered your questions wrong.

Question #1 - Looks great but didn't like the way it felt. I can't really say that I have, specifically. Larger knives are more ergonomic generally but I often don't need a hand-filling grip when I am just cutting open a box or some shrinkwrap. I guess I could include Peanuts and Tiny Trappers in this category, but not because they are truly uncomfortable, it's just that I never carry them.

Question #2 - Ugly knife that works very well. My absolute best example of this is a very ugly, very modern knife with a round hole in the blade so I can't mention it here.

In the traditional area, it would have to be the Case Russlock. They are not ugly per se, just have an odd blade shape and the protruding opening lever gives it a strange look. However, it works like a charm and the clip blade is surprisingly versatile and sturdy. Pic as requested:





 
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I was gifted this Case Bose Coffin Jack by Primble and although it is a beautiful knife, I was a little apprehensive of how it would feel in hand. This is my first of this pattern and I love the how it fits in my hand. Ergonomically it feels perfect and it looks great too.

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Markesharp said:
I like that Russlock John. Is that one CV or stainless?
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That particular one is stainless steel. The only CV Russlock one I am familiar with is the Dark Red Bone CV, but there may have been others made in the past in CV that I don't know about.
 
cutchu said:
I have been eyeing the toothpicks, I have a question. As you mentioned, they look like they might not be comfy, especially the small ones. Are the larger ones more comfy? Seems like the small one would dig into your hand because the handle is curved there at the end and it's size would make it dig.

Since both posters mentioned them right off the bat, I might have to pick one up for Christmas.
Click to expand...

I have a yelllow delrin tiny toothpick and despite the fact that I love my Peanuts, my Toothpick has a much better 3 finger grip for my size 10 mitts with no digging at all.
It's like the little handle was molded after my hands.
 
I would agree with John on the Russlock, an awkward looking knife with very good ergos in my experience.
 
Yes, yes, yes!

The disconnect between the eye and the hand is the reason I advise people new to traditionals to spend very little on their first knives till they find the pattern that works for them.

For me, what works seems to be a compromise between these factors: feel in the hand, feel in the pocket, shape of the blade, looks.

Some examples. The knives that work best for me are locking single blade folders with blades in the 3" to 3.5" range.

I think one of the most aesthetically appealing production knives ever made is Buck 112.
Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

It's a brutish, muscular knife to be sure but there's something about the way lines come together that is just perfect. It's like looking at the old Bullit Ford Mustang (obligatory Ford ref for Carl). Interestingly, I find this knife more beautiful in person than in pictures. There is something about the curve on the underside of the handle and how it visually plays off of the curve of the brutish clip point. And of course, there is something wonderful about the classic Buck 110 brass and ebony combination. It's better looking that the 110 by far, imo.

In use and in the hand, the 112 is also wonderful. The curve of the front bolster, the balance of the rear bolster and the wide back of the handle make a very pleasant knife in hand. In the pocket is another story. It's a brick. It's on the outer edge of what I can tolerate in terms of pocket carry.

Now, if the 112 is like a Bullit Mustang, the Buck 500 is like a Stingray Corvette.
Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

It *is* beautiful but in a sleek, almost gaudy way. The lines are excellent. Sexy even.

This is the best big folder I own. The rounded polished bolsters slide around easily (too easily as it can eject) and the flat profile keeps it close.

In normal, light EDC use, I like it better than the 112. The blade shape is more versatile and it works much better for food prep, which is important to me.

In the hand, the 500 isn't as good as the 112. It doesn't fill my hand enough and hard cuts are more difficult because of that.

There are 2 problems with both of the Bucks. Their hollow grind binds in wood and the lock back mechanism is prone to getting loose with heavy cutting. Just the nature of the beast. Which leads me to this....

Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

People who know me on the forum know this Opinel #9 Inox (modified: dropped point, rounded butt end) is most commonly carried knife. The blade is simply perfect in terms of its shape. Excellent in wood due to the flat/convex grind and the best in terms of food prep due to its length and having more belly than things like a toothpick or muskrat. In the hand, it's wonderful. But it's wonderful in an "I don't notice it" instead of the "I really notice it" sort of way that I get from the 112. In a long carving section, the Opinel disappears in my hand and few others knives do that. It is also the toughest folder I've ever used - much, much tougher than any lock back or traditional slip joint I've owned.

In terms of looks... It's a hard knife to be enthusiastic about look-wise. To me and my upbringing, it's a foreign knife, which doesn't make it bad just foreign feeling. When I hold the 112... well... those are very deep memories. The Opinel is like that exchange student you never talked to. Oh, don't get me wrong. It's a handsome knife I guess and it has a simple charm but as much as I like it, I don't get excited when I see one. Not like old Mustang excited, if you know what I mean.

But... at the end of the day, I drive a Subaru Outback, not a Mustang (or a 'Vette) because for me, the Outback does more of what I need better and the same is true about the Opinel #9.

Here is the knife I want to like more than any other that I own.
image by Pinnah, on Flickr

Pretty? Check.

Easy to carry? Check.

Good blade steel? Double check.

Good blade shape? Almost... The blade is too short.

Good feel in hand? Almost... The handle is just too short.

I cannot tell from pictures. I can't tell even from a month of carry. For me, I need to really live with a knife for a bit. And I don't usually end up with the prettiest knife in my pocket or the coolest car in the driveway.

[Logging road deep in the woods of NH driving to a trail head to ski into a yurt with my wife... The Outback is cooler than any Mustang.]
 
Aesthetically, I love and have lusted over many stockman patterns.That serpentine sure is sexy. Sadly in hand, they are too slim and thus uncomfortable for extended cutting. I'll stick with my 2 bladed #72 Cody Jack thankyou.
 
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For me the secondary blade can be a deal breaker! difficult to enjoy the knife when your fingers can't find somewhere to settle!!
 
The #48 pattern is definitely one of my favorites but I did like the way they looked in the first place :) I have to agree with the others on the GEC #12 though. The handle feels very nice when using and I really had no problems with it in my pocket. I kinda prefer the muskrat clip than the california clip found on the jacks though.
 
The toothpick pattern has been a favorite of mine since I first started looking at traditional knives. I used to think Case was THE premier manufacturer, so the Tiny Toothpick was the first traditional I purchased. I love the looks, but hate the knife. It's just too darn small for me. It actually turned me off to traditional for a while. Then I found the GEC #12. That was the knife I wanted from the beginning. I prefer the Powderhorn Jack, but the single muskrat is a fine knife as well. They just mold to your hand.... and perfect size.



I thought the #92 Talon would be uncomfortable in hand due to the upward curve on the butt of the handle, but I picked one up because it looked so beautiful. Turned out to be pretty comfortable in hand so I got a couple more!



My advice to you would be to look around for a while and then when you do get one, buy from a reputable dealer. You can always return it if it doesn't fit. Just don't abuse the return system!
 
How a knife feels in hand is more important to me than how it looks.

I've had too many knives I bought that looked good, but hen I went to work with them, they not only isn't feel good, but were outright uncomfortable. If the shepfoot blade on a stickman is too high, I hate it. I have filed down a few kicks in my day to lower a secondary blade out of the way. I'll even use a round file to make a half moon in the handle and liner to access the second blade if I have to.

The European knife makers, Italians in particular, seem to know how to make a knife both beautiful and feel great in hand as well. My Italian Zuava and Sardinian resolza have no equal in an American made pocket knife for both hand comfort and a feeling of real security in hand when working. I think the Europeans have a better sense of form following function.

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On the other hand, my Japanese Higonokami is the worst knife I have ever had as far as feel. I'm very surprised at the Japanese, they usually think things through better than this. I have had Japanese cars and trucks, and they have been second to noe. BU the knife is terrible. The thin metal handles have a definite edge on then, and combined with the scalloped cut out on the handle, it bites into the ring finger very well when used much. The knife would have been much better if the metal handle had the edges rolled a bit, and the scalped indent left off. Knife looks okay, but feels bad in real world use. Handle limits a fine blade like a great motor in a Yugo.
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I have the issue of function not living up to the form with any swayback pattern. Loved the looks of the GEC Viper but could not accept how it feels in the hand. Downright lousy for anything other than pull cuts or paring duty. Great looking knife though, just not for me.
 
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