Most comfortable handle shape?

Spyderco Military ergos, bar none.

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.

locked in is a bad thing for an Edc blade, IMO. I'll agree they're very secure feeling in those two positions, and would be great for sd, but as a do it all work knife I want more flexibility of where and how I can hold it.

different strokes.
 
I think CWL has the only relevant post so far. He wants a fixed blade handle shape. Personally, I feel that Swedish and Finnish knife styles offer the most comfortable handle, CWL supplied pics of those. I am also fond of the shape of the Becker BK15/16/17, which swell at both ends and have a swelled oval that fills the hand as well. I think Busse has something similar but in a more aggressive grip.
 
I have two favorites, one fixed and one folder.

Really like the shape, size, and materials of these Buck Nighthawks.
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For a folder, the long slender serpentine stockman 61OT, an original USA-made Old Timer gets my top vote.
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Other favorites are the Griptillian, many Scandinavian knives like CWL posted above, Gerber Gator, and several custom hunters.
 
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Can you tell me which handle shape is the most comfortable and useful for you? Examples of knives and pictures are welcome.

I'm planning on making a knife, and I haven't yet figured out what handle shape I'll use.

I'll be make the handle for a fixed blade. I can't make the blade myself.


He's only wanting to know about fixed blades folks.


I like most any straight handle on a fixed blade as long as its not to thin. A straight handle is the best for a variety of cuts.
 
Disregard, I didn't see that second post where the OP said he wanted fixed blade handles.
 
My .02 is to steer clear of finger grooves, thumb ramps and choils. Many folks do like the Para2's handle but it just didn't float my boat. Also against the popular grain, I've never been a fan of palm swells. I find that flat scales give the least fatiguing grip. The rounder the handle the more I find I really have to clench my hand for control. Flat scales seem to lock in my hand without squeezing too hard. Actually I have yet to find a FB handle that I'm completely satisfied with! It's usually because they are too short. I do really like my Strider SA-GG's handle after a few small mods. It's pretty neato - big and small at the same time! - ...but again, if I designed the knife there are things I would do differently.
 
I'm making it for a fixed blade, but I want inspiration from both fixed blades and folders.

I'll use the knife for light cutting and some harder cutting of wood.

It will definitely not be flat, and I think I'll make the center a bit thicker.
 
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Handle choils, points, bumps, swells and the like can go fornicate themselves
I especially loathe knives with points right under your thumb:

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WHY
 
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I'm making it for a fixed blade, but I want inspiration from both fixed blades and folders.

I'll use the knife for light cutting and some harder cutting of wood.

It will definitely not be flat, and I think I'll make the center a bit thicker.

For my fixed blades I prefer oval handle shapes with a wider center. Like a Kabar USMC of Becker BK7. It gives a grippy and natural feel in different positions. With small texture depending on the material used.

Also take a look at the wood handled Mora Classic N02. Very comfortable...and with added texture a lot of grip.

Use a simple pattern especially if it’s your first hand made DIY handle
 
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Most comfortable handle I own. Smooth, rounded wood. Straight back. Zero gimmickry. Incredibly comfortable. I'll take comfort of trendy/sexy in a knife handle anytime.

CWL's puuko handles are very comfortable also

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Surprised no one has mentioned the Spyderco Stretch.

Me too, well that makes two now :) Its tops for me.

XM18 3.5 and PM2 also.

Im currently lacking on the fixed blade department so I dont know.
 
Bark River Bushcrafter has by far the most comfortable handle I had ever experienced on a knife period.

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Sorry, no pics, but for a fixed blade knife, especially one with a short ~ medium length blade (form based on function), the most comfortable and useful "handle" I've found is what is on the Flexcut carving knives. They're ambidextrous, and provide a very positive controllable grip with any hold you're likely to use for that length blade. I also really like the Henckels 4 Star handles. The only other production fixed blade handle that comes to mind right now, is the Ka-Bar Becker tweener handle, i.e. the one on the BK-15, 16, and 17, its actually very similar to the Bark River Bushcrafter above, but it has a second waist below the palm swell that flairs slightly at the butt.

All in all, I think carving tools and kitchen knives are great examples of good ergonomics in the fixed blade knife market, which stands to reason, as wood carvers and professional kitchen staff will spend hours each day using their tools, they've got to be comfortable and designed to minimize injury from repetitive use.

Erik
 
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(not my picture, this picture belongs to confucius37.)

I have this knife, but in walnut instead of buffalo horn. At first I didn't like the handle, but it QUICKLY grew on me. The gentile curves give you a more solid grip on this knife than you'd expect, yet at the same time it's simple shape yields comfort of use in every grip I can think of! The slimness and simpleness gives me a lot of grip options and nothing to get in my way, to me this matters. A similar knife, the case copperlock, has this infuriating bump at the top bolster that is constantly in the way of me using the knife as I please which is why it never gets any pocket time.
 
#1 & #2: Mora and Gerber Gator fixed blade (image from http://rockymountainbushcraft.blogspot.com/2012/04/made-in-usa-gear-review-gerber-gator.html)
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Tied at #3 (same handle) Swamp Rat HRLM and RMD (image by =MAX= http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...Street-and-HRLM-RMD-Pic?p=8130817#post8130817)
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And I hope to report soon on the comfort of the new Survive! Knives GSO-4.1 handle! (from https://www.surviveknives.com/)
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The Gerber and Mora are simple, contoured, non-slip, and also slightly flexible.

The Bussekin handles are exceptional at contouring to fit the hand as well as surface contouring and texturing for maximum retention.

I am excited about the GSO but cannot yet comment on comfort, but it has many of the correct attributes.

Something noticably flawed about the finnish, becker, and BRKT handles is how thick they are compared to how wide - the oval is often TOO circular or equilateral such that the handle has a tendency to twist in the hand unless gripped tighter. The BK 'tweeners' may not suffer from this like their larger siblings, and I do worry about it with the GSO-4.1. But compared to the Gerber, Mora, and Swamp Rats, my Järvenpää Aito and BRKT Bravo 1 are exhausting and dangerous, more so the BRKT due to its polished handle (the Aito is leather washers). That BRKT pictured above may be even worse than the Bravo 1.

Your handle should be, on average, ~2x wider than it is thick. Chamfered edges increase comfort, as does the contouring, though many handles fail by maintaining thickness near the ricasso rather than tapering toward it as the GSO does. A palm swell and pommel swell + beak increase both comfort and retention so long as they do not swell to far beyond that 1:2 ratio of thickness:width.
 
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