With so many new wa handle makers coming on the scene there seems to be apparent trends emerging.
I see a ton of what I like to call "High End Broom Handles". These are handles made of great materials, great construction and execution but lack the subtle nuances that make a custom wa handle more than just a fancy stick to rest your digits on. They're mostly seen too thick, not tapered, or too thin, or tapered too much. Basically these handles are made by a skilled wood worker who has no clue what-so-ever what is expected of a high end kitchen knife. Someone jumped into the deep end before wading the shallows.
The other trend I see is what I call the "Everything But the Kitchen Sink Handle". These handles can be seen from low to high end in both materials used and skill level of work performed. Sometimes they're shaped better than a "Broom Handle" but the maker fails when he throws in ugly obnoxious materials as spacers, butt caps, ferrules, more spacers, and more spacers, and even more spacers, etc. This maker appears to have poor taste in styling, he has obviously no ability to control himself.
I'm just sharing my :my2cents: take it for what it's worth.
I see a ton of what I like to call "High End Broom Handles". These are handles made of great materials, great construction and execution but lack the subtle nuances that make a custom wa handle more than just a fancy stick to rest your digits on. They're mostly seen too thick, not tapered, or too thin, or tapered too much. Basically these handles are made by a skilled wood worker who has no clue what-so-ever what is expected of a high end kitchen knife. Someone jumped into the deep end before wading the shallows.
The other trend I see is what I call the "Everything But the Kitchen Sink Handle". These handles can be seen from low to high end in both materials used and skill level of work performed. Sometimes they're shaped better than a "Broom Handle" but the maker fails when he throws in ugly obnoxious materials as spacers, butt caps, ferrules, more spacers, and more spacers, and even more spacers, etc. This maker appears to have poor taste in styling, he has obviously no ability to control himself.
I'm just sharing my :my2cents: take it for what it's worth.