What features do you like to see on your handle modifications for your Beckers?

crimsonfalcon07

crimsonfalcon07

Joined
Dec 27, 2010
Messages
6,852
Well, as some of you know, I like to make custom wood handles for my Beckers. Most handles I see on the market are little more than 2D slabs with rounded edges. I've been experimenting with finger grooves and other texturing to improve comfort and grip. Here's my question. What types of knife would you like to have texturing on? What types would you prefer to have smooth. How well do you want your fingers locked in place?

Here's some examples:

Captain Airyica's BK11 handle, with finger grooves:

2011-10-28125845.jpg


Here's a custom EDC knife that I made myself out of 1095 steel, FFG, with both finger grooves and file texturing:

2011-11-14140753.jpg


Here's a couple smoother handles:

2011-09-26231548.jpg


My thoughts are thusly: For an EDC, I like to make sure my fingers are locked in place and have some texture to promote grip. But for a chopper, it seems that might be bad, because it might promote chafing. So I think file texturing is certainly out, but I just don't know about finger grooves. I'd like to get some input from my more woodsy brethren and sisters as to what kind of handles they prefer, and maybe get some mods going that think a bit more outside the box than the generic rounded edges.
 
A palm swell that makes little knives more forward. I mean a wider rear on the handle
 
Depends on the size of the blade - for a larger knife I like being able to choke up on the front of the blade, much like you do with a chef's knife for more control when doing fine work - but also having something at the back end of the handle for a lower grip when chopping. I typically do not like finger grooves, as I feel they limit grip options. In a smaller knife, say under 5" blade length, I like a handle that is more round / oval - kind of like a Mora #1. I do not like guards and typically don't like a choil. I also am not a fan of a lot of stippling / grooves on handles - I think retention issues are better addressed with a lanyard or using a different style of hold on the blade.
 
I like my spine smooth and seemless, like its all one material. Feels great on the web of the hand. This is good for whittling for a while. No seems = no hotspots.
 
Wow, seems like there's a lot of different opinions on this. More than I was expecting. TwinStick, do you chop barehanded, and how long do you typically chop for? I try to design my finger grooves to accommodate most major grip styles, rather than just a single one, but I'm still torn on how good it feels. I just put together a bowie with finger grooves, so we'll see how that feels on my hands when chopping.
 
Has anyone partially checkered a grip? I've got grips for my 1911 that are partially checkered and I love them. I've been thinking about seeing if I can have someone do that to some wood grips I'm making.
 
crimsonfalcon07 said:
Wow, seems like there's a lot of different opinions on this. More than I was expecting. TwinStick, do you chop barehanded, and how long do you typically chop for? I try to design my finger grooves to accommodate most major grip styles, rather than just a single one, but I'm still torn on how good it feels. I just put together a bowie with finger grooves, so we'll see how that feels on my hands when chopping.
Click to expand...

Yes, i chop barehanded. Grew up on a farm. I know what gloves are & figure if i had any issues, i could always put a pair on. I have/do not use them for more than a few hours on & off at a time. I typically use em for batoning firewood when camping. If i was doing all day work, i might put a pair of gloves on.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top