What Handle Contouring for Bushcraft Utility Knives

[hollowdweller]

None of the Above??

My favorites are ones with a "coke Bottle" shape when looking down on the spine.

Near the front fairly narrow so it's still nimble with fine tasks. Swelling in the middle and then getting thinner and then flaring toward the back.

Looking at the Pommel I want the handle to be wide and flat across the spine so when I'm cutting something hard and there is backward pressure on my palm the force is distributed over a wide area to prevent pain.

THEN I want the handle to narrow where your knuckles would curve around the handle. I've heard it called an "Egg Shape"

So I guess I'd say a "Coke Bottle" shape looking from the top, and an "Egg Shape" looking at the pommel.

HOWEVER the handle contouring is really dependant on the shape of the handle looking from the side to a large degree.

A deep handle looking from the side should not be as round or thick. A narrow handle from the side should be really wide and egg shapeed.

 

[hollowdweller]

The far right is my best profile. I really like the Skookum in the middle but if I could change it I would remove the flare at the ricasso and think it down where the fingers curve around on the opposite side.

This sort of illustrates the ideal from the back for me. Wide across the back so that the backward pressure is widely distributed when cutting tough stuff and thin around the front so your knuckle joints are not spread so the blade locks into your grip more

 

[hollowdweller]

Guys thanks for the poll votes. So far, it looks like most favor the heavily rounded oval shaped handles. This means I need to use thicker scales so that I can contour them this way. If I use only 1/4" scales, they can't be as round as if I were to use 3/8" or thicker scales.

3/8" for sure. 1/4" too thin. :thumbdnok for food prep and hunting stuff though:thumbup: )

 

[raylaconico]

Guys, thanks again for the input. This helps me a lot. I should have asked this question a long time ago. It looks like most of you like the oval/ egg shaped handle. I guess 3/8" or thicker scales are the way to go.

 

[Jeff H]

None of the Above??.....So I guess I'd say a "Coke Bottle" shape looking from the top, and an "Egg Shape" looking at the pommel.

HOWEVER the handle contouring is really dependant on the shape of the handle looking from the side to a large degree.

............

PErvect examples in the pics, HD!!:thumbup: If what I said sounded like something other than what HD just said, scratch what I said and listen to HD twice.:thumbup:

 

[greenwoods]

I voted for 'slightly rounded', yet I must mention that the Recurve with butterscotch micarta scales, that you made, has large, flat scales with edges lightly rounded for comfort AND I do not get hot spots with continuous use. I like the largness of the handle as it really gives me control of the wide blade.:thumbup:

The few handles I have put on myself ended up looking like a little pregnant

Thanks for asking, Ray, I like your work a lot.

Mark

 

[akennedy73]

I like the very traditional barrel shape - not sure which category that falls under

 

[PFISTO]

where could I get a knife like that

 

[kgd]

Well if the handle is somewhat too big, I can always grind it down and re-countour to my likings. If its too small....Its too small apart from giving it a wrap job.

 

[Mannlicher]

Ray, out of all the knives I have bought through the years, the two of the best 'fitting' handles, for my tastes, are on the Randall #11, and the Spyderco BushcraftUK knives. Both are round/oval, and LONG enough.

The absolute Best fitting blade though is on the two knives I designed, and Tim Olt made. Those handles are slightly flattened on the side that fits against my palm, and oval on the side my fingers close around. Absolutely perfect fit for me, but then I drew it up that way, and Tim made it exactly as specified.

 

[hollowdweller]

Well if the handle is somewhat too big, I can always grind it down and re-countour to my likings. If its too small....Its too small apart from giving it a wrap job.

Yeah that's a plus when the handle is left large and you can reduce it.:thumbup:

 

[Wandering_About]

I think I like the "squashed oval" description best. Rounded is good, but I like a handle to be flat enough that it indexes very well. I find multiple grips much easier with a less round handle to be honest.

Somewhat strangely my favorite knife handle at the moment is the ESEE-3. It would be good if the sides were a bit rounded instead of flat, but they're close enough.

 

[Shotgun]

I recently sent a custom back to have the scales contoured into more of an oval shape. Flat sides just make the knife feel like a brick.