Upswept handles

[Rykjeklut]

Do they serve an ergonomic function, or something similar?
And do they have a name?

Something like this

And something like mushroom knives have.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

That would usually indicate that the knife was intended to be held with the edge facing the user.

 

[Rykjeklut]

Hm. Yeah I guess that would make sense.

 

[bikerector]

You can find that handle design on a lot of pruning knives with the hawkbill blade, since you can cut the branches easier pulling than pushing, especially if you're trying to not cut the rest of the plant.

For the traditional folders, they call it a sway back.

 

[Rykjeklut]

A bit strange using that type of handle on a bread knife then.

 

[bikerector]

A bit strange using that type of handle on a bread knife then.

Agreed. It actually makes one wonder if they mounted the handle upside down as I assume the tang isn't exposed all the way to the back.

 

[Rykjeklut]

Agreed. It actually makes one wonder if they mounted the handle upside down as I assume the tang isn't exposed all the way to the back.

I was somewhat thinking of the same thing, it isn't my knife, so I can't check. Found this picture while browsing imgur. Did a little research and it apparently comes from a bakery chain in Sweden.

 

[Lance Leon]

That would usually indicate that the knife was intended to be held with the edge facing the user.

Aren't those Pikal knives? They have the edge facing backwards but a normal handle, if I'm understanding things correctly. Or perhaps they're variations on the same thing.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

It's the first time I've seen a handle like that on a bread knife, for sure. Though I do find that in circumstances where a cutting board isn't readily at hand that cutting into the loaf part way, flipping it upside down, and cutting upward to finish the cut works nicely.

Aren't those Pikal knives? They have the edge facing backwards but a normal handle, if I'm understanding things correctly. Or perhaps they're variations on the same thing.

No, that's a particular form of fighting knife that happens to have that configuration, but it's not a term used for other knives with such handles. Even more specifically, Pikal knives are used in an icepick grip with the edge towards the wielder.

 

[USMCPOP]

Hoof knife?

 

[Dr Heelhook]

Do they serve an ergonomic function, or something similar?
And do they have a name?

Something like this

And something like mushroom knives have.

I’ve seen that bread knife design before. I don’t know what the deal is behind it, but I think it’s a French thing.

 

[115Italian]

My guess is the maker was trying to avoid the handle hitting the cutting board when slicing bread. Its a pain when slicing bread, especially large loafs with long shallow blades, and 90% through the handle bottoms out. Just my guess.

 

[OrangeBlueOrangeBlue]

Its a pain when slicing bread

Intentional pun or no?

 

[KHarper]

TGh

Intentional pun or no?

That's what I wanted to know. Always amazes me just how much French I managed to pick up in High School, in spite of everything.

 

[KHarper]

You can find that handle design on a lot of pruning knives with the hawkbill blade, since you can cut the branches easier pulling than pushing, especially if you're trying to not cut the rest of the plant.

For the traditional folders, they call it a sway back.

I can't speak for all hawkbill pruning knives, but I think in the case of the Opinel, at least, that the handle is only bent that way to fit the shape of the blade when closed. As for grip while pulling, the handle could be curved either way, or a knob put on the end and it'd work just as well.

 

[KHarper]

Do they serve an ergonomic function, or something similar?
And do they have a name?

I suspect in this case it is merely for appearance, not function. They want something to set their knife apart. As for avoiding hitting the cutting board at the bottom of the stroke (there are ways to avoid that), that would make more sense if it was actually upswept; if you look, the bottom of the handle is still straight and level, just as if it was a straight, plain handle. That is better than a DOWN-swept handle, but it's not an improvement, really. I think someone just thought it would look pretty cool, and it doesn't really effect the function of the knife, so why not?