Hrm I was looking at the revised image and I'm wondering about the choil. It seems almost a bit one the small and "not so forgiving" side for people not familiar with it [k'bit].
You may want to make a blank/trainer and then chalk the blade right infront of the choil and spin it a bit and act like you were cutting some things, if you end up getting chalk on your finger...well then thats a boo-boo and it might want to go a haaaair bigger just to give some buffer for people not so familiar with the blade. I'm not talking a massive size change, but rather just a tiny little bit larger...again its all about feel and without actually holding one I can't tell.
Can't say for sure as the plywood I cut (printed > cardboard > plywood) just doesn't have the "feel" to determine it (and not to mention I snapped the sucker in half).
Also if I could offer a suggestion about the grip covering...I've ended up using skateboard tape wrapped around the handle on others to add to the "tack" when wearing gloves. I've always considered going ape on a bicycle inner-tube and making a rubberized grip, if and when you find the right balance on the blade and start playing with the grip material if you could try out a few options like paracord, wood, micarata, and if at all possible a rubberized grip of some sort. Just play around with handle materials before you finalize the design as the grip takes almost as much thought as the blade itself!
(Finding a k'bit balance is tricky as heck as different people have different tastes in slick/tack [spinning/actual use] and finding that balance is a hard thing, most people around here it would be actual use and not much spinning so I'd lean towards more of a "tack" grip but again finding a balance the feels good and provides enough tack to stay in the hand when needed is key)
