Which larger fixed blades have the best handles?

H

Hamon

Joined
Jun 19, 2004
Messages
377
Hey folks,

I had a good customer come in, wanting to pick up a very good quality fixed blade. He recently purchased some of the larger Shun Elite kitchen knives because of how large the handle was and how well it fit a person's hand.

I'm looking to recreate this for him, and I'm wondering which fixed blades have good, sizeable, well contoured handles. The criteria are as follows:

-5-7" blade:
-needs to be a fairly decent steel; no lower end steels need apply
-carbon or stainless, as long as it's higher grade than, say, ATS34
-blade shape along the lines of utilitarian: rugged and versatile

-handle should be contoured:
-not only contoured from side profile, but from top profile as well
-needs to be thick, and fit an (glove size) extra large hand

It would be nice if it's a product that can be ordered from Blue Ridge, but if other fixed blades stand out far ahead of anything in there, it may be an option.

I've not handled too many of the Fallknivens, so I'm not quite sure how their handles are in terms of size and contour, but if there's something from them that would fit in that category, I'd love to know.

Thanks for your help! If you have any questions, I'll try to have answers..

Travis
 
I have always liked the handle design of the Chris Reeve/William Harsey Green Beret knife. Very contoured and comfortable. Best guard ever--positive, yet friendly to the fingers. I also like the fact that the handle can be removed for cleaning.

Some might complain about the fact that the tang extends out past the micarta slabs, but for me, I dont find that an issue. Also, if you fancy reverse grip, this one is not for you.
 
The Chris Reeve Pacific has a very nice handle.
http://truenorthknives.com/tnk_gallery-p-CR2026.htm

Most of the Busse knives have well shaped handles.
http://www.bussecombat.com/home/

You can buy the Fallkniven blades that are ready for someone to add a handle/scales. Maybe your customer could find someone to make a handle to fit a Fallkniven A1?
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=SWEDFNBA1

I like the shape of the Strider Mk-1A w/swedge and its handle. If your customer didn't like the cord wrap it could easily be removed and he could add his own scales,
much the way one would with the Fallkniven A1 blade. TNK, Plaza Cutlery, Blueline, and others sell Striders.
Here is the Mk-1A with swedge on the TNK site.
http://www.truenorthknives.com/tnk_gallery-p-SK2486.htm
 
Come to think of it, if you wanted to replace the cord warp handle on a Strider, then there are a number of Strider fixed blade knives that would likely fit your customer's needs.
http://www.truenorthknives.com/tnk_gallery-p-STR7934.htm

Some Striders have G-10 scales but I don't think they are shaped they way you want. Although, I like some of them.
I have a Strider VB GG. It's fine with gloves. It feels much better than you would think just from looking at the photos.
http://www.truenorthknives.com/tnk_gallery-p-STR1497.htm

.
 
The res-c handles on Scrap yard knives are the most comfortable in the world fyi.
Toughest blades also and the great busse family heat treat.
All for a 3rd of the cost of striders.
 
Take a look at the Spyderco Hossom collaborations. The knives are made by Fox in italy of N690Co steel. The handles are extraordinary. They are sculpted in three dimensions but do favor a larger hand.

Dayhiker ... 4 3/4" blade
Woodlander ... 6 3/32"
Forager ... 7 1/2"
Forester ... 9 1/8

That puts the Woodlander within his blade length requirement.
 
The most comfy fixed blades for me are:
Chris Reeve
Busse
Scrap Yard
Ranger
 
Below, from top down, is a Puma 'White Hunter', a Buck #408 Kalinga Pro in S30V (4.9"), and Buck #192 'Alaskan Guide' Vanguard in S30V (4.1"). My hands are at most 'large' - certainly not extra large. I do like a larger grip - a safe one with a finger guard. Of my Pumas, I am most happy with the 'White Hunter' grip, not so much it's blade design. It's handle is at the lower end of my acceptable grip size. Next would be the new Kalinga Pro, whose slightly short for your specification blade length is also upswept, perhaps not desired, although a fine blade material is used. The admittedly short 'Vanguard' is most comfortable, sad to say... and a great blade material, too (S30V). The Bucks would run ~$110 delivered, with serviceable sheaths. The Puma is probably nearer $250+ now - and includes a decent sheath. It's made in Germany, while everything else is USA - except for the Buck sheaths, they are imports.

Of some of my latest purchases, the Bark River 'Gameskeeper' has a fine larger handle with a great feel in Micarta - and fit in my hand. Sadly, it's excellent .215" thick A2 steel blade is but 4.5" - but convex ground - and it comes with a great sheath for ~$165 up, depending on 'looks' (Blade & pin materials.) and dealer. In bare-bones Micarta, it is a steal for such a handmade knife.

The best feel for a 6-7.5" knife, in my hand, is between the Buck 119 (6") or 120 (7.5"), which both have a great, if too pedestrian for your choosing, 420HC blade, and the old KaBar USMC, etc, 'fighting knife' (~6.5") and it's dated, bid-meeting, utilitarian stacked leather grip. It may just be my years of familiarity speaking here. Of course, these choices range from $34 at Wally World for a 119, $60 at Cabela's for their 'Pro Line' #120 General, to $60 for the KaBar. Yeah, I'm a cheap date... that's why my wife married me!

IMG_0274_edited.jpg


Stainz
 
For one with larger hands I really like the handle on my Swamprat Ratmandu for shape.
Recently I obtained a Custom Eddie White (Shadow Knives) and this handle is so well contoured that I could use it all day in comfort. The Fallkniven S1 is quite good as well though a little on the thin side.
 
I have a Spyderco/Hossom Forester. That thing has the most comfortable handle I have ever used.
It's like a La-Z-Boy for your hand.

Definitely look into it.
 
As for Fallkniven handles; while they are extremely grippy, and i find them the perfect size for my 'large' hands, they aren't contoured a great deal. They are, for the most part, approximately rectangular in section. This does not seem to bother me at all. There is a slight palm swell closer to the blade, which narrows right down at the lanyard hole.

On an unrelated (chopping) note, I chopped through a 2x4 last week with my A1 (merely for fun..). As i was holding the knife towards the back of the handle (utilizing a lanyard/fob and the narrower handle profile at the hole) for more reach, the slight rubbing of the extremely grippy, and also 'aggressively' textured handle material against my thumb caused a sizable blister. I will be holding it more securely in the future.
 
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