Recommendation? Handle Thickness

[Horsewright]

I just measured three finished knife handles including the tang. This Vaquero in ironwood measured 7/16":

This Cowboy in elk measured 9/16":

And this Paisano in buckeye burl came in right at 1/2":

All my handles are thinner in the front and back (including bolsters if any) and kinda swell a bit in the middle. They are also contoured on a slack belt so that the top and the bottom of the handle is thinner than the center. Kinda torpedo shaped I guess. Anyhoo they do seem to work for bout anybody. I've sold knives to petite, tiny little ladies all the way up to Sasquatch. I'm pretty big my ownself and have carried and used some of the smallest knives I make.

 

[Cushing H.]

horsewright - that is total thickness you are reporting, right? so the individual scales are more like 1/4" or so?

 

[Ron Raducanu]

I just measured three finished knife handles including the tang. This Vaquero in ironwood measured 7/16":

This Cowboy in elk measured 9/16":

And this Paisano in buckeye burl came in right at 1/2":

All my handles are thinner in the front and back (including bolsters if any) and kinda swell a bit in the middle. They are also contoured on a slack belt so that the top and the bottom of the handle is thinner than the center. Kinda torpedo shaped I guess. Anyhoo they do seem to work for bout anybody. I've sold knives to petite, tiny little ladies all the way up to Sasquatch. I'm pretty big my ownself and have carried and used some of the smallest knives I make.

Man those knives are NIIIIIICE!!

 

[Horsewright]

horsewright - that is total thickness you are reporting, right? so the individual scales are more like 1/4" or so?

Yep across the top at the widest point including the tang.

Man those knives are NIIIIIICE!!

Thanks, all three are for trading. Two are heading with us to NM in the morning and the other is a trade with a Cowboy over on the coast

 

[Cushing H.]

Yep across the top at the widest point including the tang.



Thanks, all three are for trading. Two are heading with us to NM in the morning and the other is a trade with a Cowboy over on the coast

Horsewright ... I want to talk to you about NM and horses. Will send you a PM. In the meantime, safe travels!

 

[Horsewright]

Horsewright ... I want to talk to you about NM and horses. Will send you a PM. In the meantime, safe travels!

Thanks!

 

[Diego_B]

I just measured three finished knife handles including the tang. This Vaquero in ironwood measured 7/16":

This Cowboy in elk measured 9/16":

And this Paisano in buckeye burl came in right at 1/2":

All my handles are thinner in the front and back (including bolsters if any) and kinda swell a bit in the middle. They are also contoured on a slack belt so that the top and the bottom of the handle is thinner than the center. Kinda torpedo shaped I guess. Anyhoo they do seem to work for bout anybody. I've sold knives to petite, tiny little ladies all the way up to Sasquatch. I'm pretty big my ownself and have carried and used some of the smallest knives I make.

WOW! Horsewright those are some amazing knives, I’ve seen your work here before but it keeps getting better and better somehow. Anyhow thanks for your input I like the idea of your “torpedo” shaped handles, I’m going to be making some practice handles here soon to put to use what I’ve learned and I’ll try that out. Thanks!

 

[JGarrison Knives]

I realized that handle size is subjective to the user, I realized this years ago working at a friends table at Blade. Everyone that handled one would have a different opinion about the feel, cant make everyone happy.

 

[Horsewright]

WOW! Horsewright those are some amazing knives, I’ve seen your work here before but it keeps getting better and better somehow. Anyhow thanks for your input I like the idea of your “torpedo” shaped handles, I’m going to be making some practice handles here soon to put to use what I’ve learned and I’ll try that out. Thanks!

Thanks and ya bet!

 

[Londinium Armoury]

Everytime I look at HorseWrights new batch of beautiful knives, I realize how much I have to learn about handle construction.
Your knives are like the William Henry's of fixed blades.

 

[Crag the Brewer]

I've been buying knives the last couple years solely based on handle styles.

I wonder if all great maker have a vast collections from others? They Should.....as a library of knowledge

The internet really is a siren's song for knife addicts.
But really, a person needs to fondle them to see what works for them. Buying online is kinda a paradox, haha.

I'm still looking for the perfect fit.
It's unfortunate that some of my more expensive knives had the most uncomfortable handles.

How can all of us be shaped So differently? Haha
Knives should be labeled as to what sized hand they were intended for.

I kinda use a "Becker" as a unit of measure....
Most of us have one/few, and it's an easy reference.
Is it longer? Wider? Thinner than a BK9? Etc.

 

[C_Claycomb]

I got the best deal, I had a local friend who had an extensive collection of bushcraft knifes, which was the style I wanted to learn about. Friends' collections are cheaper to use for reference than building your own

 

[eric brinkerhoff]

The way I see it it is my hands job to grasp the knife not the knife's job to grasp my hand. My hand is flexible and the knife handle is made to one shape and it stays that way. The more I make knives the simpler I make the handles.

 

[Crag the Brewer]

I think it depends on application, user preference and user hand size, kinda in that order. A knife meant to be carried a lot should be thinner. A knife that gets used, then stored should be thicker, but not too thick.

A person with big hands, but sausage fingers will want a thinner handle. Long, skinny, bony fingers will want more girth because they have more movement in their joints.

And personal preference is going to override all logical theories of handle size, so who knows.

Considerably the Best advice so far......That Post said it All.

Size of the handle is directly proportional to the time of use.
For any given user.....

Unfortunately we are all shaped differently.

Imo..... If I were a high-end maker, it would be Stupid not to offer 3D printed handle options with a variety of sizes catered to their high paying customers..... Should be Standard with knives over $500.
Trust me..... That Will be an option in the near future from knife manufacturers... Even with cheap knives.