Rounded Butts vs. Squared Butts

Tyson A Wright

Tyson A Wright

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Jun 9, 2020
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@Jack Black recently sent me an A. Wright Sheepsfoot, which has the same frame as the basic A. Wright Lambsfoot. (Sheep on the left, Lamb on the right.)

1000006354.jpg

It's interesting to compare the two, but the biggest difference in use between these two isn't whether the spine of the blade tapers or is straight. (I hope that statement doesn't get me excommunicated from the Guardians!) The biggest difference I've noticed so far is the steepness of the bevels in the handle, and most especially the butt end.

The lambsfoot has a squared-off end, so the top edge and bottom edge of the wood scales are beveled, but the butt is not. This leaves a lot of handle material in place, especially at the back of the knife.

1000006356.jpg

In contrast, the sheepsfoot is beveled even more on the top on bottom, and also beveled at the butt.

1000006357.jpg

I know some of the Guardians have rounded off the handles of their Lambsfoot knives, and I've mostly thought of that as an aesthetic preference, but I was wrong. Despite being on the same frame, and both having straight edges and roughly the same thickness of blade, the lambsfoot feels much sturdier and more robust in hand, and the sheepsfoot feels much more gracile. Neither of those statements is a value judgement - I like and use both of these a lot, but think of them as being in different categories.

Looking around, my most carried knives all have squared-off butt ends on handle. I don't have any other examples with the same frame, but one round butt and one square butt, so I thought I'd ask if anyone else here has that combo, and what their thoughts are.
 
Most of the older Lambs were rounded. I think it has more to do with less work in shaping the handles now, just like they don't etch the blades or do swedges any more. Cost saving measures I believe. Your sheepsfoot may be an older one.
 
It could be a design choice, but I suspect it's a matter of skipping a final step in finishing the knife.

A Lambsfoot in ebony, made by A. Wright (and kindly sent to me from our friend Jack) had barely domed slabs. It didn't look bad to me, but the squared butt corner happened to hit a nerve in my palm in an uncomfortable way.
SG18ijE.jpg


I hit it with some sandpaper, just enough to bevel and round off the corner, but not trying to give it a full dome.

X57lVjs.jpg

t334K8U.jpg


I like it so much better now.
 
I like squared butts, and I cannot lie. But seriously, I’ve noticed on my bare-end GEC’s that ebony and polished micartas have generally been rounded, while saw-cut and jigged bones are generally squared off. This is anecdotally based on my small collection, so I'm sure there are lots of exceptions.my examples:

25’s, with all squared but the rounded red linen micarta:
IMG_3812.jpeg

77s, with the rounded 2 blades and squared single blades:
IMG_3814.jpeg

Finally 86s, with the rounded ebony and squared bone:
IMG_3813.jpeg
 
r8shell said:
It could be a design choice, but I suspect it's a matter of skipping a final step in finishing the knife.

A Lambsfoot in ebony, made by A. Wright (and kindly sent to me from our friend Jack) had barely domed slabs. It didn't look bad to me, but the squared butt corner happened to hit a nerve in my palm in an uncomfortable way.
SG18ijE.jpg


I hit it with some sandpaper, just enough to bevel and round off the corner, but not trying to give it a full dome.

X57lVjs.jpg

t334K8U.jpg


I like it so much better now.
Click to expand...

The only argument I have against saying that this is someone skipping a finishing step is that it means lots of people are skipping that step. In addition to the A. Wright I have slipjoints from GEC, Case, Böker, Benchmade, and probably a few others I'm forgetting about that have squared off butts.

Your work always looks so great, by the way. Nicely done.
 
Tyson A Wright said:
The only argument I have against saying that this is someone skipping a finishing step is that it means lots of people are skipping that step. In addition to the A. Wright I have slipjoints from GEC, Case, Böker, Benchmade, and probably a few others I'm forgetting about that have squared off butts.

Your work always looks so great, by the way. Nicely done.
Click to expand...
I took your post as asking specifically about A. Wrights. I imagine other companies are watching their bottom line as well. It reminds me of GEC leaving some knives rough and unpolished.

Some could be design choices or it might be easier to be consistent with a simpler design.
 
More rounded is definitely more artful and more comfortable, but on a hard use knife I prefer a square butt for less slippage in the grip. When those corners dig in you may feel it, but it ain't going anywhere, either. So as in most things, there's a place for both.
 
I like it rounded a little myself. More comfortable. It's also easier on your pockets not having square corners.

For me it also applies to the bolster. My Wright Senator came with fairy squares off bolsters, After taking a file to them and polishing I find it a much more comfortable and pocket friendly knife.


Before and after

corners as new.jpgSenator Rose again.JPG
 
r8shell said:
It could be a design choice, but I suspect it's a matter of skipping a final step in finishing the knife.

A Lambsfoot in ebony, made by A. Wright (and kindly sent to me from our friend Jack) had barely domed slabs. It didn't look bad to me, but the squared butt corner happened to hit a nerve in my palm in an uncomfortable way.
SG18ijE.jpg


I hit it with some sandpaper, just enough to bevel and round off the corner, but not trying to give it a full dome.

X57lVjs.jpg

t334K8U.jpg


I like it so much better now.
Click to expand...

I remember that Rachel r8shell r8shell . John JohnDF JohnDF had the same issue and did with his as you did. I too had one with squared scales and have used it as is.
 
- just remembered, there was a very good slippie maker in UK who had many comms with Tony Bose...........he told me face to face that the sign of a well finished traditional slippie was the covers being contoured, finished and polished off to a thickness of approx 1mm at the liner. However, as with all things in life, cost invariably has an influence.

We now have many variations and interpretations upon classic shapes and patterns - whatever floats yer boat.!
 
Personally its got to be crisp and square for me. Might be a bit controversial but I've always seen rounded-off edges as the easy way out lol.
"Anyone" can pick up some sandpaper and give it the ol' shoeshine so its nice round and even, whereas I think it takes some skill to sand something into shape, go through all the grits and STILL manage to keep everything crisp and square. Thats what gives me the goosebumps 😏
 
Like others, I modified my, now the favorite, EDC from when it was received. Edges of the covers were sharp enough that it wasn't comfortable to hold. I don't mind the design but for EDC, it just feels better rounded off.

Before:
veO9KNw.jpg


After:
Koo8yxC.jpg
 
I've never had a lambsfoot, or an A Wright, but I would probably like the rounded better. The A Wright knife with a clip blade caught my eye a while back. When I get one, if it's square, I'll likely round it some.
 
It could be a question of materials too? In the case of Wright's their wood/bone handles seem to be squared, so they're sawn off and fitted whereas the Stag ones I have are certainly rounded. Maybe Stag is too coarse or pithy to leave unsmoothed ?
 
Will Power said:
It could be a question of materials too? In the case of Wright's their wood/bone handles seem to be squared, so they're sawn off and fitted whereas the Stag ones I have are certainly rounded. Maybe Stag is too coarse or pithy to leave unsmoothed ?
Click to expand...
Of the three A. Wrights I own, one of the woods is rounded, one of the woods is square, and the stag is square.
 
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