Knives with long handles

golok

golok

Joined
Oct 20, 2000
Messages
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I have seen some knives with handles that are longer than the blades.

Is this a matter of design or is this an issue of balance and control?

When the knife happens to be a folder, it is rather odd-looking. Fully extended, the knife looks pretty big. Even when it's closed, it still looks big. Has such a knife a tactical purpose?

Just curious.
 
I have been using handle and a half grips on brush blades for over a year now and they are really nice. A more than a hand span handle gives the ability to move the balance of the blade by adjusting your grip which is a tremendous advantage and you can also change the effective overall length.

-Cliff
 
I suppose most folders (exception: Laci Szabo's RAD) have a blade shorter than the handle, but I know what you mean: generally, knife designers seem to pick a blade length then try to make the handle as small as possible around this blade. The most obvious example of a different design philosophy is the Gunting, which has 3" of blade and 5" of handle. 2" of wasted length? No way! The Gunting is very secure and the butt can be used effectively for strikes in the open or closed position. These seem to be the benefits of a knife with more handle than blade. In fixed blades, my Dozier Toothpick has just slightly more handle than blade, and is a particularly comfortable, secure and quick-handling knife.

Personally, I have always been most comfortable, for self-defense purposes, with a knife that has plenty of handle. The secret agents and high speed operators (you know who you are) can keep the skeletonized neck knives.

miguel
 
Plenty of handle room is better than too little, especially on hard use blades.
Nothing wrong with smaller handled knives, they have their applications - I am very fond of the La Griffe, even though it has a short handle, it is a very secure handle, impossible to snatch away, and for its size and purpose the handle is perfect. Small blades, hideout / backup defensive knives need to be smaller and thinner for a reason, to conceal better. Some people need that - some dont, or dont want it. I like having blades available to me that if it comes up, I know I can conceal very well. But, as for longer handles...
A handle can be too long, sure, and throw off the balance - but I like a comfortable handle that gives me room to work. On large blades, brush blades and the like, a hand and a half handle is very nice to use.
Also, for a knife that will be used in the cold, a longer handle (by an inch or an inch and a half at least) is *very* nice when you are wearing gloves or mittens - it provides that extra bit of needed grip surface.
 
Sal has made this point about the Military, many times. The handle is an inch or so longer than on most knives that size. A whole lot of people seem to like it -- I don't have one of my own (yet).
 
Handle size, or more correctly, handle/hand fit is more important than blade size or "properly" proportioned knives. If you are going to have to work with the knife that you have purchased you had better be able to hold on to it properly and securely, hence handles that are not necessarily aesthetically pleasing but which are ergonomically correct will continue to be used on knives intended for use.

Wall hangers can be made with the prettiest properly proportioned handles that you can imagine because they are not designed to be used.
 
My new Karambit from Tarani made by blade-tech is mostly handle with a 2 1/8" blade. Easily controled, ergonomically designed to fit the hand with finger grooves.

This is my new EDC for awhile. Slower to depoly now but we're working on it.

I like the Military, have one and haven't carried it for years now. Should probably drag it out of storage and reintroduce myself to it.
It does have a nice handle length and is ergonomic to hold as well.

Brownie
 
I've noticed that no matter what cutting job I'm doing, my hands always stay the same size. A properly sized handle doesn't need to fit the blade. It needs to fit the hand.
 
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How about a two handed HI AK Bowie?

This knife was originally produced in error. It was supposed to have a much longer blade. But, I have grown to like it. The handle provides alot of extra leverage and it balances the large blade very well.

n2s
 
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