Wa handle shape critique

[Kevin McGovern]

I just finished this one (except mark and sharpening). I have been playing around with different Wa handle shapes. I like the consistent, simple flow of this type, and when with an inverted tear drop shape. Actually, it's exactly like a guitar pick. I like the feel in hand, and the fact that it's for left or right hand use. Don't mind the small bark pocket on the butt. I still need to cut maybe 1/2" off to balance it the way I want it. Thanks to Kuraki for the Buckeye block. I'm looking for your thoughts on this shape.

If you're interested in the specs:
AEB-L @62rc
144mm long
44 mm high
2 mm thick at spine
Satin finish

Thanks for your thoughts in advance.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Way too fat. Take it down by a third. Hopefully, the tang hole is centered and not oversize, and you can remove some wood without cutting into it.

Ovoid shape is OK.

When done with reducing the size, I would also sand a small facet on the rim of the butt to take the sharp edge off.

 

[Kevin McGovern]

Way too fat. Take it down by a third. Hopefully, the tang hole is centered and not oversize, and you can remove some wood without cutting into it.

Ovoid shape is OK.

When done with reducing the size, I would also sand a small facet on the rim of the butt to take the sharp edge off.

yes, I'm going to facet the butt after i cut it down. reducing by a third seems like a lot. Right now the bolster is 26x20mm and the butt is 30x22mm

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

OK, maybe not a third. I would think a front of 20X16 and a back of 25X20.

 

[Kevin McGovern]

OK, maybe not a third. I would think a front of 20X16 and a back of 25X20.

Thanks Stacy. I think the picture is deceiving because the ricasso is shorter than is typical

 

[milkbaby]

If you look at the quick look videos at chefknivestogo, the most common diameter for wa handle is 3 inches around the diameter at the bottom of the ferrule, i,e. about 1 inch from the front of the handle. Most of them have slight taper in diameter from smaller front to the larger handle butt, I suppose to aid in keeping the hand from sliding back too much in use.

The guitar pick shape looks nice. Should easily index in hand.

 

[kuraki]

speaking of facets I might do something like this in the front where you would pinch grip. This is 5 degrees.

Your original profile


With angled facets in front from the top view


Side view

 

[Kevin McGovern]

speaking of facets I might do something like this in the front where you would pinch grip. This is 5 degrees.

Your original profile
View attachment 848729

With angled facets in front from the top view
View attachment 848731

Side view
View attachment 848733

View attachment 848732

I like it, but it's a dowel construction. I'd be a little worried to get into the 1/2" dowel.

 

[HSC ///]

the first thing I saw before I saw the other comments is that it looked heavy/fat,
yes it could be because of the short tang as you mentioned, but I don't think that would change the way it looks dramatically to make it look slimmer

1 mm can make or break a knife in terms of lines and designs.
that bolster at 26 mm is too large IMO, John's faceted solid dwg would help it dramatically.

I believe I've seen some of your other kitchen knives with tapers towards the ricasso that are much slimmer

not trying to be an ass, but now I can see why @Greenberg Woods doesn't want to make smaller WA handles blanks for me... That handle size is simply way too big...

here's some sample handles, they are all smaller than yours, the top one (the only one I made in the pic) is the biggest and needs to be made smaller. One of the first I made a year ago that is blocky and fat.
the bottom one (also the longest knife) has the biggest handle but still smaller than yours.

otherwise the shape looks nice and comfortable

your knife is likely to be used in a pinch grip

this one is 15x20 which is close to Stacy's recommendation

regards

 

[skillgannon]

Thanks Stacy. I think the picture is deceiving because the ricasso is shorter than is typical

You should double check that your camera isn't making it look fat. Your pic of the KITH Knife was a little distorted.

Nice looking knife . I need to work on wa handles to.

 

[Kevin McGovern]

You should double check that your camera isn't making it look fat. Your pic of the KITH Knife was a little distorted.

Nice looking knife . I need to work on wa handles to.

Yes. I use my phone mostly because it's easier to upload.

 

[Kevin McGovern]

the first thing I saw before I saw the other comments is that it looked heavy/fat,
yes it could be because of the short tang as you mentioned, but I don't think that would change the way it looks dramatically to make it look slimmer

1 mm can make or break a knife in terms of lines and designs.
that bolster at 26 mm is too large IMO, John's faceted solid dwg would help it dramatically.

I believe I've seen some of your other kitchen knives with tapers towards the ricasso that are much slimmer

not trying to be an ass, but now I can see why @Greenberg Woods doesn't want to make smaller WA handles blanks for me... That handle size is simply way too big...

here's some sample handles, they are all smaller than yours, the top one (the only one I made in the pic) is the biggest and needs to be made smaller. One of the first I made a year ago that is blocky and fat.
the bottom one (also the longest knife) has the biggest handle but still smaller than yours.

otherwise the shape looks nice and comfortable

your knife is likely to be used in a pinch grip

this one is 15x20 which is close to Stacy's recommendation

regards

Thanks for all the feedback. The handle is on it, so for the sake of not screwing up too bad, I may try kuraki 's suggestion. Looking at his drawing, I would only need to take off 3mm from the top and bottom each and 2mm from each side. I was worried about exposing my dowel, but it was well centered so i should be good. I am giving this to my buddy for his birthday this Friday, but I should be able to make changes this evening. He deserves a good knife, as he has the most dangerous job in the state- Baltimore City Public High School Teacher. Doesn't even come with combat pay...