Handle size

[ggfh666]

Another day, another question....

How do tou determine the size of the handle on a knife?
I've got loads of knives with loads of different handles. Big knives with big handles, small handles and medium handles.
Small knives with small handles and no, no big handles...
I'm thinking about a lauri 112h blade 125x20mm.
The style of handle would be something like in the attached pic. Is there a method to determining the measurements? Do you take in account your hand size? Or do you just copy it from another knife?
Any tips are welcome.

[Dave Barker]

Personally I ask for a measurement across the palm, from the base of the little finger to the area between the thumb and index finger. I then add 20-25mm so that there is a little hanging out of each side.

The lauri blade has no choli which increases the risk for the user to slip onto the cuttung edge. If you are not building a guard, the I would make a shaft almost the same length as the blade.

It all depends on who it is for, a womans knife is generally smaller and narrower than a mans.

Of course this is for a normal useage knife, small whittling or 3 finger knives need other measurements to be taken. does this help?

[Colin KC]

Handle size is more an art than a science. Ask ten knifemakers & you'll get ten answers, all different:yikes:

I'd suggest: if it looks good, it prolly feels good, if it feels good, it prolly is! As a start that's not a bad way of looking at it, course, I could go into palm swell, butt swell, guard transition, handle length, average size, & more,but it wouldn't mean much to you at this stage.

My advice is make it the way you like it, you might be pleasantly surprised;)

[ugug]

erhmm.. ten knifemakers and six answers plus 'four secrets' ;) anyway.. imho it depends on what the blade is to be used for.. for example the griffe works great with short blade and short handle.. not as good with long blade + short handle..

btw i don;t know what i'm talking about as i just tried to make a 9" tanto blade with a four inch handle but only an inch in width.. :banghead: :doh: :crying:

cheers

ugug

[Kevin]

As an average, my handles usualy finish at about 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 inches. If its a big knife then sometimes up to 5 inches. The kukri style I just made is 5 3/8 inches, pretty big, but it swells out at the back, and the actual handle part that sits in the hand is about 4 1/2.

I like to see things in proportion..a small knife with a big handle just dont look right..and visa versa.

Width ......depends on shape. Most of what I make I make it to suit my hand...I think I am pretty average :) . ...I shape it until it feels and looks right.


I rarely grind 'finger grooves' into the handle as I think it has limitations....not to say I wouldnt though :)

[Colin KC]

& that helps how exactly Kev:p;)

[Kevin]

Colin




Do you take in account your hand size? .


Quote..."Most of what I make I make it to suit my hand...I think I am pretty average. I shape it until it feels and looks right."

Quote...."I like to see things in proportion..a small knife with a big handle just dont look right..and visa versa."




:approve:

[Colin KC]

:p smartarse;)

[Kevin]

:p smartarse;)

:p