Why are your folder handles flat?

hardheart

hardheart

Joined
Sep 19, 2001
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I like oval/rounded/tear-drop, palm-swelled, or curvy cross-sections on my fixed blades - but my one-handed folders are mostly flat with a boxy cross section along the entire length. I think most of 'yours' are the same too; that is if you own most Sebenzas, almost all Spydercos, most Kershaws, all Emersons, etc. BM has made many folders with 3D milled handles, but the classics are those like the 710 and 806, while the griptilian is well-liked and about as equally criticized for handle shaped. The granddaddy Buck 110 is another 2x4. SAKs come in the Evogrip line, but who the heck chooses that over regular cellidor, or the tasty and oh so flat alox models? Heck, the folders that seem most praised for ergos have the flattest and most parallel handle slabs.

It can't be just drawing the knife, cause they come flat whether or not they have clips, whether or not they go in a sheath, whether they are big or small, whether they open with one hand or two. It can't be just for in use, cause flat slabbed fixed blades get criticized all the time and folder handles come as big or as small as most any fixed blade. I can see the appeal in manufacturing to leave the z axis alone, but why do we like it as users? I can't quite figure it out.
 
Well I know you said it can't just be drawing the knife, but for me it IS drawing the knife, and also pocket storage. A slim profile flat-knife is pretty perfect for pocket EDC. Curved handles just seem to take up much more room. And flat handles can be extremely ergonomic still (see Paramilitary 2).

I do have both, but prefer flat scales for pocket carry.
 
because it takes up much less room in the pocket that way. I dont mind a big/heavy folder but I would mind a needlessly thick folder like you describe. id just put a fixed blade on my belt at that point.

if you want perfect ergos, its not going to be comfortable in your pocket. once you've scarified pocket-ability for ergonomics (in a folder) you might as well just be carrying a fixed blade.
 
I like my Douk-Douk. it's my flattest folder by far... there are many blades significantly thicker than that knife.
 
I like my folders to be relatively flat with adequate thickness. The Douk Douk for example is way too thin for my taste.
I just think they are more comfortable to carry and if done correctly just as ergonomic and hand-filling.
 
You would think it's because it takes less room in the pocket, but in reality the added thickness of a rounded handle scale isn't very noticeable.
I guess clips on folders (almost all US made folders) makes flat handles almost necessary. (and I never use the clips :p )
However I think the main reason most folders have flat scales are production costs.
It's much easier to produce a flat scale than to machine a 3D contoured scale.

I love the rounded handle of an Opinel.
Easy to hold in every position you can think of, no clip that gets in the way.
A rounded handle like the Opinel in carbon fibre is a beauty to look at, so much nicer than flat carbon fibre.
 
It's not just folders that are flat'ish in profile.

I carry my ESEE 3 as much as any fixed blade precisely because it carries flat and has an extremely low profile. So I'd agree for me the benefit of relatively flat folders is the carry aspect...

Ben
 
I prefer Grips just for that reason, but I might pick up a PM2 just to see what the hype is. So far everytime I check them out at a store I still prefer the BMs for feel (a Bone Collector 15020 is my current carry)
 
Flat is easier and cheaper to produce, especially in G10 and other milled materials. So thats what they sell, and thats what we buy.
 
Buy a #10 Opinel and stick it in your pocket for a few days. You'll be glad for flat handles after that.
 
I quite prefer rounded scales but on a folder I don't find them terribly necessary. Usually if I'm going to be cutting for am extended period of time with a tough media I'll grab a fixed blade. Folders, for me at least, tend to see more use, but mostly with simple, quick tasks. Pull it out, make a cut, put it back. That makes ergonomics significantly less important. I think that's one major reason you see rounded, comfortable handles on many fixed blades and fewer fixed blades with overly aggressive G10. Honestly, I think ergonomic has become a bit of a buzzword. It's a positive endorsement of a knife that it's hard to question because it's intensely personal. There's not really a metric to compare what level of ergonomics a knife has. I've actually kicked around the idea of using different folders and fixed blades for extended cutting with different and materials and just recording when my hand feels uncomfortable/fatigued. Not a very scientific test, but it would give me some way to measure.
 
Most of my folders are flat because they are made from stuff that is manufactured in flat shapes.

My Benchmade 943 isn't flat because it's cast from aluminum. There's no limitation on making the mold flat and so it has some contour.
 
Ditto what folks are saying about in pocket comfort. I also prefer flat handle scales in hand as well. Knives like CRKs one piece or Nyala... & my Gold class Griptilian require a much more firm grip to control the knife. I find that flat handle scales offer a less fatiguing grip as far as squeezing the handle goes.
 
This is an interesting new debate. I never knew there was such a rift in the knife community because of flat handles.
 
I'm not a big fan of flat scales. I like the 3D machined ones better. I don't mind round knives in my pockets because I don't wear skin tight pants.
 
The Ontario Hossom Retribution folders have some of the most contoured micarta you'll see on a production knife < $150.
But yeah, its much simpler and cheaper (i.e. less machining) to deal with flat materials.

The extra thickness and roundess to make a significant difference (like on a FB) would no longer make a folder as pocketable either.
 
If you look at French, Italian,Spanish,... pocket knives, mostly with natural handle materials have more or less rounded handles

Some are very ergonomic

couteau_poche_oiseau_noir_genevrier.jpg
 
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