I Need a Reality Check - Overall Knife Geometry

[redsquid2]

The more I look at my knives, the more I see that I have a tendency to lift the handles. I.O.W., I do just the opposite of dropping them.

Is this handle "lifted" in relation to the blade?

Be honest. I can handle the truth, Col. Jessup.

 

[bikermikearchery]

sure looks that way to me.

 

[silver_pilate]

Honestly, I looked at the knife pictures before I ever read your comments, and my thoughts were exactly the same as yours. I've heard these types of knives referred to as knives with a "broken back." I don't think it's so much the handle's alignment as it is the shaping. The swell behind mid-handle gives it a fat @55 if you know what I mean.

--nathan

 

[Hankins]

What might help is when you do your drawing's try this:
Keep the highest part of the handle even with the spine of the blade.
Try to keep any finger groove or dips in the handle even with the edge, unless it is a Dropped handle. The bottom of the handle can drop below the edge but try to keep any dips somewhat even with the edge.
You will find this immediately will improve the overall look of the profile and the "Feel".

 

[Jason Fry]

What might help is when you do your drawing's try this:
Keep the highest part of the handle even with the spine of the blade.
Try to keep any finger groove or dips in the handle even with the edge, unless it is a Dropped handle. The bottom of the handle can drop below the edge but try to keep any dips somewhat even with the edge.
You will find this immediately will improve the overall look of the profile and the "Feel".

This. I like the spine to flow straight in to the handle, then drop a little at the butt. Look at some of Raymond Richard's knives, some of the best "flow" I know of.

 

[redsquid2]

Thanks everybody for the reality check. And the guidelines and the stuff about keeping the handle below the spine and the dips below the edge and how the handle can "flow". I am looking at two other knives now, and thinking of how to re-shape. This has been very helpful.

 

[bikermikearchery]

Dont get to worked up abought it, Ita still a geat looking knife.

 

[Brian.Evans]

To be clear though, we are talking about the very butt of the knife, correct? Not the palm swell in the middle of the back?

Ps, beautiful knife. How does it feel in your hand?

 

[james terrio]

Just for fun I'd like to point out that some folks like a slightly raised handle like that. It helps keep your hand out of the way for fine kitchen work and game prep.

 

[Core Knife Co.]

Red, to be honest, I really like your knife and the slight lift in the handle. I have a couple of patterns where I have purposely done that exact thing. I would imagine from looking at the handle that the knife just sucks right into the palm and disappears. Looks very comfortable and purposeful.

 

[elementfe]

Your knife looks an awful lot like the Scandinavian utility knives so beloved by the boat builders in my part of the world.
It's an excellent and very useful pattern for everyday use- yes, the back of the handle is "higher" but...if you use it and find that you like the feel and action, you'd be in very good company!
Andy G.

 

[Horsewright]

To me it does look lifted. Is that a bad thing though? How does it feel in the hand? Does it enable the blade to cut better or does it hinder? Probably most important though is how does it look to you? My opinion would be if it looks "right" to you its good to go. If it doesn't look "right" to you its not.

 

[GTH11]

Your knife looks an awful lot like the Scandinavian utility knives so beloved by the boat builders in my part of the world.
It's an excellent and very useful pattern for everyday use- yes, the back of the handle is "higher" but...if you use it and find that you like the feel and action, you'd be in very good company!
Andy G.

First thing that came to my mind was a scandinavian influence........its a beautifull knife, you may have a natural knack for that style, run with it!! GHaile

 

[redsquid2]

This is kinda funny. I was worried about the knife looking "cool". I just didn't like the way it looked different from other knives. Therefore, I took a rasp to that handle, to shave it down, and I took off so much material, I will need to tear it off and start fresh.

Then I took the rasp to this one:

Same result: took off so much material, I will need to start fresh.

Both knives felt perfectly comfortable before I shaved them down. I was just worried about how they looked.

Thanks for the feedback on Scandinavian influence, and about boatbuilders' knives. I guess the handle rise isn't necessarily a bad thing. I shaped these handles with careful consideration for how they felt in my hand. I have also spent a lot of time ogling and drooling over merchandise at ragweedforge.com and thompsonsknives.com, so I can see how I would have gotten a Scandinavian influence.

I'm in a learning process; I wasted some material, but I guess it is all part of the process.