Andy and Jerry,
I for one, dispute the performance gains of the bent handles over the straight handles. The only performance gains I can think of are the fact that they will out chop a straight handled knife, be more comfortable to hold when stabbing straight forward, and it seems that they would be more comfortable to draw out of a sheath. However, please enlighten me as to any other performance gains, because at the moment I can't think of any.
There are however several things that I can think of that would be more difficult to do with bent handles. For example, prying would be more difficult, since a straight blade would be easier to pry with than a bent handled blade. I also believe that upward stabs (when holding the knife in the usual method), would be more difficult and less powerful. I also believe that downward stabs (holding the knife w/ the blade pointing down, and edge away from your forearm), in the classic stab, would also be more difficult and less powerful. If one was to cut anything on a table (such as food), the bent handle would also make that task more difficult. Lashing a bent handled knife on a pole to use it as a spear (although usually not a good idea), would not make a better spear, either. If I had to hit the butt of the knife with my palm to stab through a tough hide, a bent handle would also be more difficult to use.
As far as I see it, there are more advantages to having a straight handled knife versus having a bent handled knife. However I'll concede that I may be wrong, so if I am, please share with me all the advantages of the bent handles.
