Another opinion - I use my 18" horn handled AK for all my chopping needs, and find it a comfy grip. I had a good set of callouses built up prior to using it (that might've helped, i dunno), and noted no slipperiness or unsure grip. I use more of a swordsman's grip, which might also make a difference.
The swordsman's grip in a nutshell:
Lay khuk handle diagonally across palm. (differs from the squarish axeman's grip in which the fingers are perprndicular to handle). The middle finger should be placed near the wide band of rings on the grip, leaving the smaller fingers near and around the flanged ring.
When executing a cut, the middle finger and the finger below that one are the pivot point of the handle, leaving the pinky and pointer finger a little looser for guidance and snap at the moment before impact. (In martial arts involving weapons, this snap is the generator of final impact force, which has built up as the shoulder, elbow and wrist and fingers add their 'snaps' to the force, multiplying the forces of the cut).
If you use the squarish axeman's cut, disregard the finger snapping, as the square grip does not really utilize finger shifting for force generation.
I would argue that the rings on the handle may be nothing more than a minimalist grip for one who is versed in the art of the sword-style grip, as (in my experience) these few rings provide more than ample grip, in wood or horn.
This is just a sketch of the technique, which it perhaps better demonstrated that discussed with text.
Pappy: Thanks for your pointers on wood finishing, for I have a 21" GS with wood handles that needs this treatment. The wood in its rough finnished state already demonstrates somre really iridescent flame, and your finishing techniques could relly bring that out. Thanks!
Keith
) My favorite handle material, though, is bone. It really makes for a good grip. It feels kinda in between horn and wood, if that makes sense. Only problem is it's brittle.