That's a wrap!

[Rick Marchand]

I have recently switch from jute wrap to hemp.

The hemp seems to soak up the epoxy really well. After it dries, it is basically hemp micarta! I really like the wraps for a couple of reasons. First off it looks COOL... and second it really works well in the hand. I like my handles slim... something you can fit your hand around completely. Most kitchen knives are made with small diameter handles and I've always felt comfortable using them so why not? I need it to work in different grips as well (forehand, backhand, reverse, etc...) which is why many of them are symmetrical.

What characteristics do you look for in handles? Do you like finger notches, palm swells, rubber, etc.....

Get a grip, will ya!

Rick

 

[udtjim]

Looks pretty darn good.:thumbup:

 

[Raskolnikov]

Looks great!

Personally, I like a larger more ergonomic handle on what would be considered a "chopping" knife (like a BK9), but prefer a slimmer handle without much features on just about everything else.

 

[Thalestin]

Ive used man knives and tools and must say that my favorite grip with a long lasting handle is my bravo 1. I can carve for hours with it and have yet to get hot spots. It must just be perfect for me. I guess the palm sweel with the curvature has a real nice ergonomic feel

 

[KuRUpTD]

The hemp wrap definitely looks cool ... you make some awesome looking knives Rick :thumbup:

 

[kgd]

Handles are just so individualistic. I can't even say that I have any rules for myself. I have some knives with fat handles that seem to work and I have others with slim handles that I like just as much. I've had knives with handles, but fat and thin that just didn't really work for me. The only think I do really avoid is overly aggressive contouring. This seems to be going away but last year it seemed that swells in the handles were getting more and more aggressive. I've never had an aggressive contoured handle feel good to me.

Another thing that I like more and more, at least on larger knives, is the drop down edge that forms part of the knife guard. I know this isn't part of the handle, but that drop down edge changes the needs of a handle e.g. removes the need for an index finger notch or integrated guard. I tend to prefer these knives at the moment, but also recognize that they only tend to work with 5" plus blades.

 

[Diomedes Industries]

Rick,

I just got some of Andy's new knives in - and they had THIN scales. I thought - "WTF Andy - why are you going THINNER?" - but he had widened the tang and thus the scales from top to bottom and they felt great! I saw where he was going.


I think there are a lot of different approaches to the handle idea. I think my number one thing is comfort. I don't care what it looks like (My BRKT Kephart has a fairly plain and ugly handle - hell that knife isn't very pretty) as long as it works (and my Kephart sure does!).

I like the Aurora handle on the BRKT's but I loved the handle on Koyote's blades too. Walt makes a damned comfortable handle.

I say - as long as it feels right in your hand Rick - I don't give a shit what it looks like.

Wait - are we still talking about knives?


TF

 

[pitdog]

They look great Rick as does all your work but I'm afraid I'm a fatty lover !
If I'm using a knife, especially in colder weather when dexterity is less than perfect, I like a large hand filling handle for maximum control.

 

[Truelove]

Things I look for in handles:

I'm less interested in its width than length (a phrase I'd hoped never to write on the internet.) I often am wearing choppers when outdoors.

I really like when the handle is in a slight wedge -- thinner in height in the tail and widening to where it meets the blade. It makes up for the fact I don't use a lot of knives with guards.

I hold my knives much more in a saber rather than hammer grip so I like a flattish area to place my thumb.

By the way . . . is the bottom one for sale?

 

[JTC3495]

My preference is usually towards thin handles. For me it just allows more positions& grips to be attained. It also varies which task I am using the blade for.

Rick, those knives look great by the way.

 

[Calebklyne]

i like a meaty handle but ii also have huge hands, the scales on my mocassin ranger are perfect for me

 

[TheGame]

I like all sorts of handles. I like big handle swells sometimes, and in others I like them to be skinny. It just depends on what the knife is going to be used for, and what the dimensions are.

 

[kgd]

So I had a nice tall glass of wine just now....back on topic.

best handle are Love Handles.....oh yeah....Love Handles......

[Barry White's whispering now] "Grip 'em from behind, you know what I'm talking about....Love Handles....

 

[Bushman5]

more info on that leaf shaped blade please!

 

[Mistwalker]

That hemp looks great and with you being a naturalist and all only makes perfect sense. Hemp is a very versatile and durable material too.

As for handle shape...I tend to prefer mine as sort of an "ovaled" rectangle in cross section and larger in diameter at the pommel end than just behind the guard. I like for them to be somewhat curved...slightly convex on top and somewhat concave on the bottom side of the handle going from guard to pommel . I really have never liked the aesthetics of or using a knife that the handle was fat at the guard and then a lot narrower at the pommel end. I do alright with ones that are roughly the same at each end and have slight swells in the middle for carving though.

 

[pimpnugget]

great knives rick can i test the protos

 

[koyote]

There's a certain volume I like, within that volume, I can go for shorter and wider (er, less broad and wider) or taller and narrower. My general best feel is a nice fat oval with a slight downward curve. I don't go for palmswells a whole lot, when I do it's more for the ring and piky finger with a slight indent forward for the index.. .. sort of a sword hold thing.