Handle help please.......a couple more changes

I just did a little shaping of the spine profile so far. Just this little bit is making the handle comfortable in hand. I didn't take as much off the butt ....yet?
kn001.jpg

kn002.jpg


Now I will round the cross section a bit getting closer to shape. I am going slow and seeing how things look and feel as I go along.
 
I think I've got it now. Proportionally it still looks a little chunky, but it is a real small knife and this shape feels really comfortable.

kn006-1.jpg

kn007.jpg


Now some further hand sanding to refine the shape and see how it all turns out.
 
Much nicer.

It still looks a little strange, but I don't think that it's the fault of the scales. The knife is very small, but it's shaped like a larger blade with a full-sized handle. It looks like you should be able to get every finger on the handle between the two wider portions. A small knife should be shaped properly for its size, not like a full sized hunter.

It also doesn't look like the grain matches between the two scales. Was this a proper bookmatch?
 
Phillip Dobson said:
Much nicer.
It still looks a little strange, but I don't think that it's the fault of the scales. The knife is very small, but it's shaped like a larger blade with a full-sized handle. It looks like you should be able to get every finger on the handle between the two wider portions. A small knife should be shaped properly for its size, not like a full sized hunter.
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It was sort of a novelty sort of blade. Shaped like a hunter but 1/2 size. I think with the size of knife, proportionally it should be thinner in the handle. At least for better visual appeal. I left it thicker because it just felt comfortable in my hand. I think it still looks too thick on the underside though. I think I will change that and see what happens.

Phillip Dobson said:
It also doesn't look like the grain matches between the two scales. Was this a proper bookmatch?
Click to expand...

No this was not a proper bookmatch. I was frustrated stripping good wood off the blank and grabbed a piece that was in the kindling box. Figures that would be the one that turned out best. I think I will strip these off and use some nicer wood next.
 
Hey Mark,

This is great stuff. I learn stuff from you even when you don't know jack. ;) You have a gift my friend!

Have you ever worked with modeling clay? There are various version of the stuff. You can find it in toy, craft and art stores. It doesn't harden, but can hold whatever shape it's formed into, yet can be reworked over and over. I find it a fantastic aid for exploring handle shapes. You could apply it straight to your blade tang and squish, squash, push, pull, twist and scrape away and try all kinds of shapes, sizes and forms.

I posted a pic of some shapes I had done a while back, but caught a lot of ribbing over it. Never-the-less, I continue to use the stuff. It comes in real handy for my high school students to model studies for their 3D stone sculpting classes too.

All the best, Phil
 
If I try the clay thing I am going to use a different color clay than you did. That just looked wrong. :eek:
 
I am finding it difficult not to laugh, moreso cause of the comments than anything! Clay is an awesome idea. Hell, you could even do polymer clay and make em into real handles. I kinda had the idea to try it but never got the wheels going to make the purchase of a kit.
 
There's a certain point where "normal" proportions just don't apply. Although the blade is quite small, you still want the knife to be comfy in use, and I think you should rely more on your hand than your eye to judge when it's right. Just thinkin' out loud.
 
Heading out the door I was thinking about this handle. Since the blade is shaped like a full size hunter the handle would look best that way as well. I want it to still feel comfortable as well.

What I did was go to the spindle sander and started to reshape it so there would be an indentation at the first and third finger. I just rough sanded one side but I like how it is going. Maybe in the end a coke bottle shape will be best?

kn002-2.jpg

kn001-1.jpg


Any input tonight before I start messing with this tomorrow is appreciated.
Thanks, Mark
 
Mark - To my eye, your most recent modification is on the right track however, I also agree that the butt end is a bit thick - chunky. Give that feature a little slimming as well, about the same thickness as the front end, and I think it'll get a bit closer to what your looking for.
 
I'm confused. Are you making a scale miniature, or a usable knife with a small blade? They're two different animals...
You can't drink whiskey out of a bottle of wine :)
 
Hey, Mark. It's looking much better! Here's something I do that helps me get that egg shape I'm looking for from spine to bottom of the handle:

I get the knife to the same condition as you do like so:

IMG_6546.jpg


Then I use the flat platen (or you can use a rasp/file) to knock the corners completely off like so:

IMG_6541.jpg


So that you get this:

IMG_6547.jpg


I'll go ahead and take the edges of the scale down to right at the finished thickness I'd like. I usually leave the "peak" of the side of the scale just above midline in the handle. Not so much a perfect oval when it's finished, but rather tear drop shaped.

Then I go to the slack belt and round it out. If the scale still seems thick, I'll knock some off of the "peak" before I blend it.

IMG_6549.jpg


So you end up with something like this:

IMG_6561.jpg


IMG_8299.jpg


IMG_7733.jpg


Then again, it all depends on the profile you want. For my smaller handle EDC's, I like a smooth tear-drop or egg-shell shaped handle. For a full handle, I like a bit more contour, and maybe even a palm swell:

IMG_8333.jpg


Anyway, keep playing around with it, and you'll find something that clicks in your hand and in your mind.

--nathan
 
james terrio said:
I'm confused. Are you making a scale miniature, or a usable knife with a small blade? They're two different animals...
You can't drink whiskey out of a bottle of wine :)
Click to expand...

I'm confused too!:eek:
I didn't realize before I started on this that I would end up complicating things so much. But...........you guys have helped me learn a lot that will end up helping with all sorts of other knife handles in the future.

You all have led me to think about a lot of things that I never thought to think about before. That didn't sound right, but you know what I mean.

Nathan, thank you for taking the time to post all those photos with your step by step. I have always liked your EDCs. Your last photo of the butt and underside will help me a lot for this knife.

All of you guys have taken a lot of time giving your comments, encouragement and directions. Thank you everyone. Now I am obligated to get good at this. I'll do my best to make sure your efforts were not wasted.

Tomorrow I will take photos of what happens, even if I mess it up again.

After this, my wife wants me to make some steak knives shaped like Gixxer's photo and a holder like what Phillip made for his razors.
 
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That's one of my favorite handle shapes, I did it on my first knife. For future reference taping the scales together and finishing the area near the ricasso will save you a ton of headaches caused by scratching up the finish. I know it's been mentioned but the Play-Dough idea for a handle is what I do when I want to play with handle "feels". Mold some around the blank and see what feels the best. I would probably pull that narrow area towards the butt back a bit more and not leave it as thick back there. Then again since it's a small blade it's hard to really determine by just looking. Having the ability to feel what seems best I've found (in my extraordinarily limited experience) works best, which is why I love the Play-Dough idea, (thanks again Stacy).

Here's the pic of what I did on my first with the same shape you have going. It's a bit out of proportion but to be honest it feels really good in the hand. Matter of fact that's how I made it, get a rough shape then file a bit, grope it, file, grope, etc etc.

Knife026.jpg
 
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Lots of great ideas in here, lots of help for me as well.
I think I'll see if I can find pics of the Largent knives with handles like mine, or snap some. It's a very comfy but functional handle. You don't feel like you're going to slip in any direction and it is still nice and slim.

I'm sitting here looking at it. It's almost like you start off making a canoe handle from the front, but then taper in early toward the end and swell back out to help the hand stay in place. A smooth rounding along the top, but a bit of a sharper cut in near the front on the bottom to lock in the index finger. Smooth though, it blends, not a notch or anything.

Very similar to what Fletch Helical posted above.

In the case of mine, the tang is shaped to compliment the plan, with a swell in the middle then a fairly substantial bit extra at the end to help keep your hand in place. Definitely snapping a couple pics tomorrow.

ETA:as promised, a couple pics of the J. Largent handle I really like in a small edc type knife.

top.jpg

side.jpg
 
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dont forget the pins or pin and thong hole at back
if you dont put pins (even hidden ones.... you will end up poping of the scales if it gets hit on the edge)
 
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