Thread: Carving Knife Handles

Originally Posted by funkychicken

The most important thing is how the handle feels in the hand. How would you imagine the ultimate carving knife handle to look like?

it's all about compromise FC,
the most comfortable handle is one you make to fit your own hand,
squeeze a piece of plasticene in your hand, copy the shape in wood and poke a blade in one end....ergonomically perfect......except when you rotate the knife to do a different
cut the handle shape becomes useless
so you'd reckon round would be the go, .... no reference points, rotates in your hand too easily.
I'd say, after all these years ,most of the major chisel makers have got it right,
straight handle, 5/6inches long, and a rounded rectangle in cross section.
having said that, marking knives are handled differently, aren't they , I've never used em.

Hi Funky, also depends what you are carving. Maybe you could have two models, one as Undy sugests and one a little more Chris Vesper like which I always feel is more a whitler style hold.

Hi Funky,
Are you making a marking knife or a carving knife? Different beasts really!
I reckon that a marking knife handle shape doesn't matter all that much. A turned one will work well, as long as there is a place to put your pointing finger down low- like holding a pencil. A carving kife is held differently, with the thumb coming into play more. A curve through its length, to fit the whole palm is more common, as shown here.

Cheers

Oops..I meant carving knife not marking knife I already know about marking knives