the rounded knobs at top and bottom and the generous palm swell in the middle is the universal utility knife handle. it gives you a positive centered grip, strong enough to chop, and allows one to choke up or down depending on the use. even as a fighting knife it is not lacking. you can apply the hammer or reverse grip well enough. you find this design on machetes, kitchen knives, productution and custom knives, even grassroots knife makers and users in third world farming and gathering areas.
For what use? Cutting or chopping? Form follows function.
How about the "fishbelly" or oval shapes in traditional Scandinavian/puukko knives? Fills the hand naturally without needing to clench, which means more comfort & control during long-term use. Grips with Oval cross-sections are more comfortable than small or flat designs like in the folders above. The more a grip fills the contour of your hand naturally, the more you don't need to compensate by grasping harder -this decreases fatigue and accidents during lengthy use or when working in low light or harsh conditions.
If you really want to make a usin' knife, study traditional designs, not current "tactical" ones. Traditional knives have evolved over hundreds (thousands) of years by necessity.
I was going to post this one myself. The CQC-8/Horseman is definitely the most ergonomic knife I've ever held. The deep index finger choil locks your hand in while the downwards sloping tail of the handle makes it more natural during use. It has to be held to believe just how "locked in" (a cliche, I know) your hand feels. It's also perfect in reverse grip.
I like simple smooth handles that accommodate a variety of different grips without causing hotspots. I also like to have some sort of taper or swell that prevents slippage.
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