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Is it better to have a longer-than-normal handle for fixed blades?
- Thread starter golok
- Start date
yes, some time's you need "just that extra little inch" as in a snap cut to a "limb"
.Just use a lanyard hooked over your thumb then over the back of your hand into your palm. This let's you get a good three finger grip on the handle You also need that extra inch when your wearing glove's
.Just use a lanyard hooked over your thumb then over the back of your hand into your palm. This let's you get a good three finger grip on the handle You also need that extra inch when your wearing glove's
If you have large hands or plan to chop more than a minute or two, the extra length is helpful for comfort and leverage. I had wally hayes make a longer handle for me on his superb camp knife and I'm very glad I did. I also like a little longer handle on wakizashis, but that's something else.
for the lanyard you should use a Blood Knot otherwise known as a Fisherman's Knot this let's you adjust how tight or loose you want the loop on the lanyard,when you have it adjusted "just right" the knife should just hang when you open your hand and flip back into your palm when you want to work with it again.This allow's you to work with both hand's as in tying more knot's on a rope or cutting something and not re-sheathing the blade. http://www.scouts.asn.au/knots_ad.html#fishermanshttp://www.scouts.asn.au/knots_ad.html#fishermans
- Joined
- May 4, 2003
- Messages
- 196
How long of a handle would you recommend for a 20" blade?
It depends entirely on what feels comfortable for you to apply the techniques you use. I do use two hands with a waki, sometimes, but it can't be so long as to interfere with single hand techniques, That depends not only on the size of your hands but the size of your arms and even what you wear.
- Joined
- May 4, 2003
- Messages
- 196
I agree. I'm taking Bujinkan lessons and some of our techniques require two hands too. I'm having a wak made with a 20" blade and a 9" handle. My sensei recommends longer handles so that you can adapt some stick techniques to it. Not exactly textbook, but effective.
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2002
- Messages
- 1,419
Golok, I personally find that many handle types are comfortable and its amazing how adaptable the hand is in accomodating different shapes in it.
I find that short handles need to ensure that the butt is engineered to suit in the hollow of the palm. A handle can be 3inch long and feel extremely good. With longer handled, often being quite straight is a good thing. A longer handle that sticks out a little past the back of the fist means that the entire length of the palm is in contact with the handle and you can apply far greater torque and control. Many knives are designed to allow shifting in the grip eg.- moving to a choked up position with a finger on the choil, or backing up the grip to increase chopping power. These need to be factored into the design. There are also handles that are designed to be rock-solid in one grip and thats it. It woudl feel uncomfortable in an upside down grip, reverse grip or choked up anywhere.
A quasi-technical answer to "pick it up and play with it" ...
Jason.
I find that short handles need to ensure that the butt is engineered to suit in the hollow of the palm. A handle can be 3inch long and feel extremely good. With longer handled, often being quite straight is a good thing. A longer handle that sticks out a little past the back of the fist means that the entire length of the palm is in contact with the handle and you can apply far greater torque and control. Many knives are designed to allow shifting in the grip eg.- moving to a choked up position with a finger on the choil, or backing up the grip to increase chopping power. These need to be factored into the design. There are also handles that are designed to be rock-solid in one grip and thats it. It woudl feel uncomfortable in an upside down grip, reverse grip or choked up anywhere.
A quasi-technical answer to "pick it up and play with it" ...
Jason.
- Joined
- May 4, 2003
- Messages
- 196
You're right that short handles can feel good too if they are shaped properly. I have a few three-finger knives that feel real good in the hand and are useful for everyday carry.
I find that on anything wakizashi-length or longer, say 18" or more, a long handle makes for some interesting adaptations of hanbo techniques. Some of them might be called "cheating" by purists, but from a technical standpoint they are very effective.
I'm a fan of Scandinavian knife designs & the generous length & diameter of the handles is one reason -- good ergonomics. Somewhere on Ragnar's site at http://www.ragweedforge.com it is explained that they developed this way to allow better control in cold weather, wearing mittens, etc. Custom Scandinavian knives seem to have even more generous handles than the factory models; see for example the work of Per Arne Berg, pictured at <http://www.handmade-knives.com/side8.htm>
hope this is helpful,
Andrew
hope this is helpful,
Andrew
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2002
- Messages
- 1,419
It's something I've developed some opinions about...
Longer handles in the end are probably more useful in the field than short ones, but therein lies the catch, the extra length needs to be engineered better, and the place it seems to make the most difference is in the butt area. It is also not as easy to build in good balance and weight characteristics into a longer handle, depending on the length of the blade. So if you pick up a big-handled knife that feels really good in the hand and balances and hefts where you like it, you're onto a good thing. Jason.
Longer handles in the end are probably more useful in the field than short ones, but therein lies the catch, the extra length needs to be engineered better, and the place it seems to make the most difference is in the butt area. It is also not as easy to build in good balance and weight characteristics into a longer handle, depending on the length of the blade. So if you pick up a big-handled knife that feels really good in the hand and balances and hefts where you like it, you're onto a good thing. Jason.
