So what is your favorite handle design for long term use???????

K

KFU

Part Time Knifemaker, Moderator
Joined
Sep 10, 2007
Messages
4,255
I have a couple of days while waiting on some supplies and am going to make myself a dedicated woods/carving knife. I want something with a little larger blade and a super comfortable handle. I have a couple drawn out but was wondering what knife that you have used has or had the most comfortable handle? Ive thought about making a full tang puukko but Im not sure. Im thinking about a 1-1 1/8" blade width with a convex grind in 1/8" or 3/32" steel with a 3 3/4" blade.
Here is one that I haven't handled but love the looks and I think its the style Im after. Its an Adventure Sworn, killer knives.
Knives99026.jpg
 
3b5dd5d3.jpg


This one has a great handle. If you make one like the Adventure Sworn, let me know.

aa94cf6c.jpg


Or this one?
 
Last edited:

Untitled by rlibson, on Flickr.

This one I made I just field tested - stripped five diamond Willow walking sticks with no fatigue. Probably not great for detailed whittling though.
 
I love that top one Rockywolf! I drew one out kind of like the Adventure Sworn before seeing Codys knife. I can't really see the spine on his but mine starts at about 1" at the plunge and flares out on top and bottom than curves back in like his. Im a no flash kind of guy but Cody makes some dang fine looking and working knives. I hope to have his fit and finish some day.
 
Don't do a lot of wood carving with this knife, but I do butcher deer with it, which does take quite a while:

DSC_6195.jpg


Has a nice coke-bottle contour to the handle.
 
hands down, spyderco bushcraft - the curves just fit my hand perfectly.

032_031.jpg
 
I love all the sexy curves in knife handles. They can fit so great, and have so many good uses. BUT.......you asked about comfort, and if you really want comfort, oval is just the way to go.

IMG_1801.jpg


Buy yourself a cheap Mora #1. You probably won't like the grind, or the quality, and if you are like me, the handle is begging to be a little bit bigger. But at least you can give the oval a really good work out, and then make one to your own proportions like I did.

B
 
I think Brian has a great point - If you are making a carving knife - the Mora Carving knife really can't be beat. When you are carving - you tend to use the knife in a myriad of grips and thus a more neutral grip is best. I do think, though, that Cody's knife would be VERY comfortable in many grip positions.

In terms of a camp / edc handle that is most comfortable in the most grip positions a knife like a Kephart (or ML's Straight Back Kephart) isn't a bad idea:

JasonMoulenbelt0710kepharthandled.jpg


SheathandKnife-MLStraightBackKep-9.jpg


TF
 
Brian Andrews said:
I love all the sexy curves in knife handles. They can fit so great, and have so many good uses. BUT.......you asked about comfort, and if you really want comfort, oval is just the way to go.
Click to expand...

I agree. Sculpted handles are all well and good, but by design they favor a specific grip over others. When you aren't using that grip, they can handle awkwardly and are usually uncomfortable to boot.

For pure utility I prefer an oval handled knife like BA. The handle on this knife is the best I've experienced yet.

myjoonaskallioniemipuuk.jpg
 
Barrel handle for me too. After all is the one that gives the greatest possibility of handling. I had used a Mora n°2 and a 10 cm carver by Svante Djärv but I ended up with something different.
 
I designed this knife a few years back. Tim Olt, up in Michigan made it for me in S30V, with Bocote handles. It is the most comfortable knife in the hand, that I have ever used.
WalkerMountain3.jpg
 
For long time use comfort, a barrel shape handle is the way to go. My mora #2 puts out of biz many of my customs.
A close follow up is something like this
IMG_0152-1-2.jpg


The key is to make it look good. Let us know what you come up with :thumbup:
 
Well I ground out two last night and finished one of them up. One was similar to a Woodlore and this one is weird! I just grabbed some steel, marked the blade length and handle length I wanted and start grinding. This one probably would not make a good knife to add to my designs since I made it for my hands. Let me know what you think. It is super comfy in hand and I will report back after I put it to use.
Aldos 1095 1/8"
4" blade, 4 3/4" handle. Blade is 1 1/8" at plunge
My third convex Saber Grind, my second was done today as well!
Stabilized Spalted Elm with orange pinstripes and jade liners. They look red but in the light they look clear. I tried showing it in the last pic.
013-4.jpg

014-2.jpg

015.jpg

016.jpg

018-1.jpg
 
Rounded handles with VERY subtle contours are optimal. Fiddleback handles are by far the best of all possible worlds, but I have a Ryan Weeks custom that is also the epitome of perfection.
 
KFU said:
Well I ground out two last night and finished one of them up. One was similar to a Woodlore and this one is weird! I just grabbed some steel, marked the blade length and handle length I wanted and start grinding. This one probably would not make a good knife to add to my designs since I made it for my hands. Let me know what you think. It is super comfy in hand and I will report back after I put it to use.
Aldos 1095 1/8"
4" blade, 4 3/4" handle. Blade is 1 1/8" at plunge
My third convex Saber Grind, my second was done today as well!
Stabilized Spalted Elm with orange pinstripes and jade liners. They look red but in the light they look clear. I tried showing it in the last pic.

015.jpg
Click to expand...
Looks very similar from that pic to my Breeden~

PC280005.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top