Question about TGLB handle design

LadyEarth

LadyEarth

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Nov 24, 2012
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882
I just got a TGLB via the Exchange and while I love the overall design for the most part, I failed to keep in mind the handle having rather pronounced bumps (three of them: top, middle, and bottom). Considering that I have a smaller hand, I can't seem to grip the handle without that middle bump making me feel like my grip is incomplete/unsecured despite the fact that I'm used to heavy tools, etc.

Question is, what's the point of having a raised bump in the middle of the knife handle? Even my boyfriend doesn't like the raised bump, saying it's "counterproductive towards the purpose of firmly gripping the knife while doing heavy work with it that requires a good grip to hold onto". And he has a pretty big hand (well...bigger than mine but that's besides the point :p).

Hopefully you guys can give me some insights and a new way of looking at it? I just can't find a way to justify such a design and it's not from the lack of trying.
 
A pronounced middle "palm swell" is designed to fit into the palm of the hand. For a combat knife that may be used as a weapon it provides a secure grip as too not lose the knife in an engagement. It allows the knife to sort of pivot in your palm to be able to manipulate the blade into different positions without having to completely change grips. The bump can also provide a sort of pushing point in a stab without the handle slipping forward.

Garth
 
Oh. Well that makes sense. It's just feels like I have to go somewhere else on the handle just to get a more secure grip. I just held it again, purposefully putting that "palm swell" into my palm and I noticed that my two middle fingers are pushed out, ending up feeling like my fingers are not grouped together, causing a lesser wrap around grip with the rest of the fingers. Kind of felt like my middle fingers became the weaker link of the grip. I'm not sure what I can do about that. I really want to like this knife. :(
 
The palm swell fits my hand comfortably, my daughter has smaller hands (5'1" 110lbs) and she chokes up or down depending on what she's using her's for.

Gratuitous proud of daughter pic she's the one in the middle
527332_4302704759171_1134143930_n_zpsd2f66ef0.jpg
 
If you are going to be the primary user of this knife, just get out some sandpaper and shape as desired. Or send it to someone else for a rehandling job.
It's your knife, play with it!
 
Yep, I will be the primary user. Sandpapering it, while it's a good idea, wont work because the middle bump has the handle fastener. I have also already send Garth an email requesting re-handling options to see what choices I could have at what price it will be at.

Another option would be to sell it and buy myself my grail knife, the CGFBM off the exchange or wherever I can find them and just get myself a smaller Busse knife (well, smaller than the TGLB) for utility purposes.
 
I have a LBCGTG and I did have some comfort issues with the middle bump. If I really held it tightly I felt like I was holding a golf ball in my palm. My solution was sanding/filing the center hump down to right near the center handle tube . After some smoothing and rounding, it felt so much better I fell in love all over again. The great thing about customizing it yourself is you can feel it getting "right" and if you really screw it up you can always send it in for a rehandle after all. I was surprised how much a small amount of shaping can change the feel of a handle.
 
thebrain said:
I have a LBCGTG and I did have some comfort issues with the middle bump. If I really held it tightly I felt like I was holding a golf ball in my palm. My solution was sanding/filing the center hump down to right near the center handle tube . After some smoothing and rounding, it felt so much better I fell in love all over again. The great thing about customizing it yourself is you can feel it getting "right" and if you really screw it up you can always send it in for a rehandle after all. I was surprised how much a small amount of shaping can change the feel of a handle.
Click to expand...

That is reassuring to know. Thank you for sharing your experience.

Reason why I'm hesitating in customizing it myself is because on the chance I would like to sell it and have a good resale value.

P.s. I googled "LBCGTG" and Google found nothing, not a single document on what this knife looks like. :confused:
 
LadyEarth said:
That is reassuring to know. Thank you for sharing your experience.

Reason why I'm hesitating in customizing it myself is because on the chance I would like to sell it and have a good resale value.

P.s. I googled "LBCGTG" and Google found nothing, not a single document on what this knife looks like. :confused:
Click to expand...

He means the TGLB, he just added Combat Grade and mixed it up a bit :D
 
Handle/grip comfort is highly individual, but you are not the first to complain of the 'golf ball' effect of some Busse handles. Micarta is relatively easy to sand down to fit, but we can understand your concern about resale. Hope it works out for you.
 
Alright, glad to know I'm not alone on this particular discomfort. Still doesn't make me love Busse any less. Still kind of wish there was a handle option that allowed for a flat handle choice without the "golf ball" on it for people like me instead of a one handle style fit all for a particular knife.
 
I had my scales sanded down considerably. If you do a good job (slow and easy wins here) there shouldn't be anissue with resale.
Here is mine. Inn willing to bet the divots at your tube fasteners are easily twice as deep giving you an idea of how much was removed.

7A2B14F1-823F-49DA-9BD7-710066092555-787-0000005B45E18D1F_zps4216abc8.jpg


ETA: I did this on my canvas scales on my TGHB as well as TGLB. I found it to be FAR more comfortable and the smoother scales seem more grippy to me.
 
stjones said:
I had my scales sanded down considerably. If you do a good job (slow and easy wins here) there shouldn't be anissue with resale.
Here is mine. Inn willing to bet the divots at your tube fasteners are easily twice as deep giving you an idea of how much was removed.

7A2B14F1-823F-49DA-9BD7-710066092555-787-0000005B45E18D1F_zps4216abc8.jpg


ETA: I did this on my canvas scales on my TGHB as well as TGLB. I found it to be FAR more comfortable and the smoother scales seem more grippy to me.
Click to expand...

Delicious.
 
Also, make sure you have some kind of breathing protection when sanding down micarta. Personally, I just use a paper mask and a fan to blow all of the dust away. Maybe this isn't this best way, but I haven't had any problems.
 
Here's a some wiki info:
Micarta is a brand name for composites of linen, canvas, paper, fiberglass, carbon fiber or other fabric in a thermosetting plastic. It was originally used in electrical and decorative applications. Micarta was developed by George Westinghouse at least as early as 1910 using phenolic resins invented by Leo Baekeland. These resins were used to impregnate paper and cotton fabric which were cured under pressure and high temperature to produce laminates. In later years this manufacturing method included the use of fiberglass fabric and other resin types were also used. Today Micarta high pressure industrial laminates are produced with a wide variety of resins and fibers. The term has been used generically for most resin impregnated fibre compounds. Common uses of modern high pressure laminates are as electrical insulators, printed circuit board substrates, and knife handles.
Click to expand...
 
Got mine with hand shaped black canvas from the shop, and it feels very comfy:)

 
Well, that black paper of mine sure doesn't look like that black canvas. Looks more like a G10 (and feels like one too) than a micarta even if it is a micarta made handle. I just know I wont be getting any black paper handles from now on.
smiley-sad056.gif
 
Black Paper micarta uses paper as its base material, layering paper and resin. Much less porous as well.

Black canvas micarta uses canvas as its base material, layering canvas and resin. Tends to soak up liquids a bit.

G10 uses fiberglass as its base material, layering fiberglass and a slightly denser resin. Very dense and heavy.

Very simplistic explanation but it gets the point easier for those like me who dont really care about the specifics. :p

Busse normally offers two choices of handle types: Standard and Magnum. It would have been very nice to have had a standard handle option on the TGLB for those with smaller hands. The difference in the feel of the handles on the Fusion and Special Forces styles is substantial. In some cases I prefer the much thinner and flatter profile of the standard handle design.
 
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