Recommendation? Knife handle length - Is longer useful?

RayseM

RayseM

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Feb 18, 2010
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Hi folks.

I'm getting ready to attach a handle to a stick tang puukko blade. The blade is 5" and the tang, as set up, would easily allow for a 6" handle.

My typical handle preference for a fixed blade is 4" to 4-1/4" - where my hand will lay. Sometimes there will be a 1/2" or so of swell at the butt that is not a useful part of the grip.

In this case though - as I am making the handle - I don't want to waste the opportunity of more is better. Any reason to have 6" of knife handle - if you aren't an overpawed bear? ;)

Are there some practical reasons to have a long handle on a working knife that isn't a chopper and won't be used as a spear?

Thanks for any comments or suggestions.
 
RayseM said:
Hi folks.

I'm getting ready to attach a handle to a stick tang puukko blade. ..Any reason to have 6" of knife handle
Are there some practical reasons to have a long handle on a working knife that isn't a chopper and won't be used as a spear?
Click to expand...
errr, you might have increased reach?
to achieve a balance weight handling?
personally wouldn't want more than an inch
of handle extention.
but i dunno, its kinda strange looking sometimes...
Antler+Knife+Handles
 
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The only motivation I can think of is so you can get a longer lever for a more powerful swing, if you're going to be processing wood. But if that's not something the knife is intended to do, then my opinion is it's better to keep the handle short-ish, so as to discourage one of us knuckle-draggers from doing something unintended with it.
 
If the knife will be used for chopping the added handle length adds some leverage with a rear grip position. For a puukko, I don't think this is the case unless you're going with a leuku style handle with a flare at the back. For me, 5" is about as long as I bother with for general use knives otherwise the handle can get in the way for things like the chest lever grip, poking me in the ribs. I have large hands, as a reference, and favor larger handles but I tend to stick to the 4-5" range most of the time and only go over that for something more dedicated to chopping, or where chopping will be a big part of the knife's intended use.
 
GIRLYmann said:
errr, you might have increased reach?
to achieve a balance weight handling?
personally wouldn't want more than an inch
of handle extention.
but i dunno, its kinda strange looking sometimes...
Click to expand...

Balance could be an issue. So I'll play with that. Strange looking - is my instinct too.

Shorttime said:
The only motivation I can think of is so you can get a longer lever for a more powerful swing, if you're going to be processing wood. But if that's not something the knife is intended to do, then my opinion is it's better to keep the handle short-ish, so as to discourage one of us knuckle-draggers from doing something unintended with it.
Click to expand...

Yeah, this won't be a swinging knife. Hopefully a nice slicer. Short-ish is good advice. :thumbsup:

TheEdge01 said:
I usually keep my handles around 4 inches, I think 6 inches would be a little much.
Click to expand...

I was second guessing myself asking the question. I'm inclined to agree. Will need to mock it up to see if longer has any visual merit even if no practical advantage.

Thanks for the feedback everyone.
 
I’ve noticed that in the knife makers for sale forum, the handles on some knives are longer than the blade. I’ve got a couple of paring knives like that. The biggest difference for me is the comfort that a longer handle provides. I don’t worry about the knife slipping out of my hand with the longer handle.
 
Personally, I love a perfectly balanced knife(right at index finger or the gap between index and middle finger), so I won't mind having a handle an inch longer than my grip. But excessively long handle could snag on things and poke into rib(if the sheath rides high), and it might not as convenient/comfortable for a chest lever cut.
 
I'm convinced that I need to mock it up. Maybe add a chunk of wood to the tang before taking drastic and irreversible measures. Thanks all, for your input!
 
I have what I consider really long handles on a couple Blackjack's. I find that is one of their primary negatives for using the knife. Looks good carrying it though with that handle sticking up north. I think 6" is too long for a normal sized knife.
 
hmm, thinking a two-handed knife handle
for tough cutting jobs?
0r maybe one with a long enough handle
for both hands to yank out a jammed knife
:-)
 
My Roselli erapuukko has a very large handle, ideal for working in cold conditions --wearing gloves, for instance. Also useful when field dressing big game. Spyderco Military also has a long handle, providing lots of leverage when needed.
 
IMG_0299.JPG IMG_0300.JPG IMG_0303.JPG I have a O'Neill BnT knife with a longer handle, it makes it more controllable in different positions.
 
I like balance too.
Sometimes I'll ask for another 1/2" to put a lanyard hole or to extend the tang out the back.
 
Here is a very crude mock up. Showing the length of handle to blade only. This "handle" in all other respects is bigger than I will end up with but the length is showing the full 6" tang concealed (barely).
 
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Ray - I think your handle is too long. I would make it 4.5" to 5" from where the forefinger crosses the bottom of the handle to where the top of the butt crosses the back of the palm. Most of the 4" to 5" blades I make have a 4.5" handle. On the knife shown, there is a light ring in the tape approx. in the middle. I would go about 1/8" toward the butt from that at the top of the handle and cut at about a 35 degree angle slanting forward.
 
Hello,

I prefer a longish handle on a knife.
For me a short handle is difficult to use if your hands are cold , sweaty , or covered in blood from gutting or skinning.

Cheers.
 
tim37a said:
Ray - I think your handle is too long. I would make it 4.5" to 5" from where the forefinger crosses the bottom of the handle to where the top of the butt crosses the back of the palm. Most of the 4" to 5" blades I make have a 4.5" handle. On the knife shown, there is a light ring in the tape approx. in the middle. I would go about 1/8" toward the butt from that at the top of the handle and cut at about a 35 degree angle slanting forward.
Click to expand...

Hi T tim37a - are you saying LOOKS too long or for practical purposes is too long? As you describe, if I understand, the handle would be fully 5-1/4" +. Maybe that's the sweet spot. I'm assembling and fitting all my components now - a WIP. An antler crown, an 1/8" bronze spacer, some stacked birch bark and another 1/8" bronze for the guard. Before I start cutting down the tang I will see how these pieces layout and what dimension works best visually for this assembly.

I can always take out more birch bark but I want the proportions to work, handle pieces to one another and all to the blade. I'll sneak up on a final length. My instincts are to agree that 6" is too long. Will 5-1/4" be too short? o_O Even that is longer than I typically prefer, though A Astrogator and A Alberta Ed are making a valid consideration. I don't mind that this knife will be the king of my belt knives. It will have a crown after all. :)
 
Here's my Helle which is supposed to have a puukko style handle:

IMG_1027.jpg

With the lanyard hole, the handle length is only about 4.5 inches, which is about the same as the blade length.

For your knife, I'd cut at or around the pencil mark, which looks close to blade length, and add the lanyard hole inboard of that. This gives you a bit of room on the end in case you need some leverage.

Nice looking project!
 
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