Favorite handles.

[fortheloveofmoar]

I got a custom in the works and was debating on handle shapes. So what is your favorite handles?

Would love to also see some discussion why. I’ve been digging the D shape and it’s something a bit different because wi have a lot of the standard octogon shapes which is tried and true.

 

[BillHanna]

I was pleasantly surprised by wrong side D. Felt verrrrry comfortable.

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

Maybe this belongs in the Unpopular Thread but for pure function, it's really hard to beat a round/oval handle, especially in ho wood .

I also really like D shaped handles.

 

[Choppin]

D handle for me. Even better with a Tsourkan-style taper.

 

[zizirex]

Yo Handle.
Maumasi and Shig Yo is still my fav for looks.

 

[M1k3]

D-shape, oval or heart for me. Yo/western handles, done right, are nice also.

 

[fortheloveofmoar]

D handle for me. Even better with a Tsourkan-style taper.

I was meh on the tsourkan taper. But I did like the d style.

 

[fortheloveofmoar]

Maybe this belongs in the Unpopular Thread but for pure function, it's really hard to beat a round/oval handle, especially in ho wood .

I also really like D shaped handles.

The only unpopular opinion is that some of you trolls picked dodecagon

 

[Just a DK]

Curious what other is.... just holding a knife by the tang?

 

[shobudonnie]

Rosewood handles by joe at sugi. Any quality burnt chestnut handle.

 

[Mikeadunne]

D handle for me. Even better with a Tsourkan-style taper.

Tsourkan d ftw

 

[Tethien]

Weirdly d handles are horrible for me unless it’s reverse, I want an oval handle but pretty much nobody does them but I’m perfectly fine with octagonal

 

[BillHanna]

Curious what other is.... just holding a knife by the tang?

Tosa nakiri style @stringer

 

[fortheloveofmoar]

Curious what other is.... just holding a knife by the tang?

Yes lol. I think someone threw up a TxK and said it was pretty good using it by the tang lol

I also put it there as a catch all

 

[tostadas]

I was pleasantly surprised by wrong side D. Felt verrrrry comfortable.

So basically a oval. But I bet you just wanted to get the D from the wrong side

 

[dragjp]

rokkaku hanmaru is my poison.

 

[AT5760]

Ovals are nice. HHH westerns are best.

 

[Kippington]

Octagonal - All day, erry day!

Same with tennis/squash/badminton racket handles.

 

[Delat]

Weirdly d handles are horrible for me unless it’s reverse, I want an oval handle but pretty much nobody does them but I’m perfectly fine with octagonal

Sounds like rokkaku hanmaru might fit the bill - it’s basically oval but with facets on the upper half. Henry Hyde does a smoothed out (no facets) semi-Western that’s also oval in cross-section, it’s a touch on the small side for my large hands but very comfortable.

Back on topic, I rarely notice the back half of the handle in use unless it’s uncomfortable - the transition area from ferrule to neck is typically where my focus is. If I had to pick I think rokkaku hanmaru is quite comfortable, but a plain old tapered wa is also nice. I never really care enough to pay extra for anything different from the maker’s default option when selecting a custom though, except usually I’ll pick an upgraded wood.

 

[sumis]

pinch grip, home use, shape doesn't really matter to me, as long as the surface is smooth and nothing gets in the way (i.e. wa handle).
if handle is aesthetically not pleasing, knife gets used less.

slicing, carving, handle shape makes more of a difference because of different grip with index finger on spine.

pro quantity prep for hours, different story. i don't really do that.

.

 

[jaydee]

It depends for me.
Took a while to realize that most WA handles are not ideal because they have no taper (ideally starting thinner at the heel).
My favourite is this western handle from a MAC pro 270. Tapered, starts thin, relatively short and nice grip and creates this perfect feel of making the knife an extension of your hands.