Rounded Butts vs. Squared Butts

[r8shell]

- 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

Interesting discussion. For me, it depends on the knife. I usually prefer rounded, but I also want and expect a Barlow to have flatter scales. I guess I see that as more traditional for the Barlow pattern.
That makes sense, assuming the Barlow was the inexpensive pattern option, made with less final finishing.

 

[hornetguy]

In all ways rounded looks and feels better in the hand

I much prefer Barehead styles and in hand comfort is important for me, dislike angular stuff that digs in.

Same page... I had a GEC 14 Boy's knife that had fairly sharp edges in the jigged bone, at the head. I rounded those down a bit and completely changed the way it felt in the hand.

I even prefer round bolstered knives over square, but that's a topic for another day.... I just don't like sharp edges or corners...

 

[hornetguy]

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

View attachment 2504291View attachment 2504298

very nicely done! That is a much more useable knife, IMHO....

 

[BJE]

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

I am the opposite, I vastly prefer well tapered and rounded edges and curves, I see squared edges as an unfinished board, whereas symmetrical curves exude a sense of quality and detail.
I also like rounded spines for the same reasons, and swedges, and as many radiused smooth curves as possible.