As someone who also has hands with long fingers relative to hand width, here are the handle-shape factors that make a handle comfortable for me:
Top length.
Bottom length.
Circumference.
Palm swell location.
Pommel shape.
Top Length: In some grips, such as pinch and saber, fingers align more diagonally on a handle than in other grips, such as a hammer. Longer fingers cause fingers to align at a more acute diagonal angle, what Karl (Marl71) amusingly refers to as Diagonal Finger Syndrome. So it stands to reason that a handle has to be longer so that the handle will extend to the edge of ones palm. For a pinch grip, the key distance is from the side indentations for thumb and index finger knuckle to the top end of the handle. For a saber grip, the key distance is from the index finger indentation on the underside of the handle to the top end of the handle.
Bottom length: Bottom length is important in large blade knives because all four fingers need to be able to fit on the handle. As Phil (Comprehensivist) has noted, the pinky needs enough room to make its surprisingly strong contribution to a secure grip.
Circumference: For someone with long fingers, I doubt if theres any Fiddleback handle with a big enough circumference to leave a gap between the fingernail of the middle finger and the muscle at the base of the thumb in a hammer grip. For me that's also true for a saber grip. (I havent held a camp knife, which might be the exception.) But thick is definitely better than thin.
Palm swell location: Because long fingers align somewhat diagonally in pinch and saber grips, a palm swells location affects the actual distance that the middle finger takes diagonally along a handle. For me the palm swell's location farther back on the Bear Paw's handle adds to the distance the middle finger has along the handle, making that part of the grip very comfortable. However, the last 1/3 of the rest of the handle is comparatively short. Even at five inches in length, the handle stops about 3/8 from the edge of my palm. In contrast, my Bushfinger, which also has a 5-inch handle, extends close enough to the edge of my palm so that theres no hot spot. I think there are two reasons for this: (1) The Bushfinger has a longer useful top handle length. The edge of its front handle, where it meets the blade, is cut fairly close to 90 degrees, in turn causing the side indentations to be located farther forward on its handle than on the Bear Paw, whose handle front is cut back at more of an angle. (2) The BFs palm swell is farther forward than on the Bear Paw. For me this means my hand seats farther forward on the BF than on the BP. My index and middle fingers are a bit squeezed -- they dont have the space they get on the Bear Paw -- and my thumb hangs out a little more over the front edge of the handle, but the pinky has room.
Pommel shape: Ive reluctantly sold the three Bear Paws I tried, but as I remember, the top aft inch or so of the Bushfinger handle curves downward just a bit more, relieving any bite into my palm, even though it stops 1/8 or so from my palm's edge. Also, the BF has a hook on the underside end that locks the pinky in place. Handles like those on the Hiking Buddy and Bushcrafter really curve down and are super comfortable in a pinch grip. Its when their flared sides lay against the palm that they can jab the palm, as in a saber grip.
A couple of suggestions Id offer:
1. Figure out how long a handle has to be for it to extend all the way to the end of your palm in each of the grips you use. You can measure key distances on another knife with a long handle or on a racquet handle, marking the beginning points with strips of blue tape, or even a broomstick and mark key points with a pen. Then look for handles with that length.
2.Shark one knife and then you can refer more usefully to the excellent threads that compare different models. If you know the knife you sharked is not right for you, take up Andys satisfaction guarantee and return it and try another. Getting the Bushfinger and then comparing it to a Woodsman in Nathans (Thurin) comparison photos is what caused me to act on Phils suggestion that I try a Woodsman. Like my Camp Nessmuk, the Woodsman handle extends to the edge of my palm and has room for all my fingers on the underside. Both knives have handles 5 1/3 long.
3. Follow the flea market to get a sense of resale values. If you see a model at a price low enough so that you can re-sell it if it isnt right, consider buying it.
4. Get a gold membership so that you can PM sellers on flea market posts and ask them for dimensions, such as handle thickness and length. (Thanks to all of you whom Ive pestered with such inquiries.)
You didnt say how big your hands are. Mine are large. But one thing Ive learned: Large hands with long fingers and relatively narrow palms given the length of the fingers are not the same as normally shaped large hands.
You are wise to take your time. Good luck!
