Spyderco Forums

While I am all for ergonomics and knife handles that comfortably fit the user, there are some folders and fixed blades I have seen that have squared or rectangular-shaped handles that work well with the blade. What are your opinions on this for Spyderco in particular? Do you want to see more of these or do you prefer handle scales with more curvature?

A related question: Can ergonomics go too far, when it comes to adding such things as finger-grooves, because then what happens is the knife is not as "one size fits all", because some have larger and smaller hands?

I much prefer a more versatile, simple handle design.
One of my favorite features of the SpydieChef, for example. Also why I love the Sebenza 21, traditional folders and other knives with similar handle designs.

All these contours, finger choild, etc. only restrict the versatility of the knife, IMO.

Round and contour literally everything.

Ergonomics > pocket thinness.

I'll gladly accept a little thicker handle in my pocket for far better feeling in my hand.

Depends on the knife. On a bushcraft or wood carving knife where you will be gripping really hard and making hard cuts a round handle feels nice. On some other knives I can appreciate how a slab handled knife indexes in the hand. I think the Shaman handle is brilliant. It has nicely contoured edges for comfort but has enough flat to index well in the hand.

I don't mind the handles that aren't as rounded at the edge as some of the others. I still think a little more contour feels a little better but it's really not a huge difference for me. I can handle my 40th Anniversary Native and then use one of my others (Native 5 LW or G10, etc) and they feel fine.

I prefer the scales on my Spydies to be flat but slightly chamfered (as on Manix2s and PM2s) or rolled (as on Stretches and Delicas) on the edges. Apart from minimized pocket-hoggery, I like having leverage against rolling, which flat offers my hand more than rounded.

And yet I like my Shaman, and do have the S90V Native5 coming.

I didn't think I'd like square handles. Then I got a Chokwe. :p

Overall, I prefer generically rounded and contoured. And by "generic", I mean ones that aren't overly sculpted to lock in only one particular hand size and grip. As you mention, it can be overdone to the point where a handle doesn't accommodate different hand sizes very well, though I think Spyderco is good about avoiding that.

a lot of people hate on the manix for having a blocky grip, but i think it’s perfect. after holding the native salt, i understand what they are saying though. it still doesn’t bother me at all, but it is slightly less ergonomic to me than the manix. what this tells me is that the manix just happens to fit my hand perfectly, but if my hand was a different size compared with the grip, it would be less comfortable.
that said, having tried the shaman, i found it less comfortable in my hand than the manix because it thins out toward my pinky and gives me less to hold on to. normally, i like a contoured grip, but i didn’t care for it on the shaman.
some people hate the manix and love the shaman. i happen to be opposite. there are just too many variables to please everyone, so i’m glad spyderco has a wide range of knives. i think the happy medium might be the para3 because it’s still blocky, but has just enough rounding of the edges to be nicer in the hand. i don’t own one, but i remember it being more comfortable in my hand than the pm2. i think they did this to the caribbean too, but i haven’t held one yet.

Of my small collection, I like the One-Eyed Jack handle shape because it’s a combination of sort of rectangular and slightly contoured in such a way that it really accommodates my grip. It’s both comfortable, secure and orienting. My Para 3 is in the same class but a bit more sculpted to orient the hand and contoured just enough on the edges to be comfortable. The Ikuchi is in its own class and I find that the grip and the feel is just fine. So I suppose it varies with the knife design and user preference.

Although I don’t own one, I suspect that handle designs on knives like the Yojimbo are made to fit its specific purpose. You certainly want a firm orienting and secure grip I think that would be excellent.

flat
squared
peel ply g10 or textured frn

I think the bigger issue is chamfering vs squared edges. A nice chamfer makes every handle better. I wish they did this on all G10 models. The Lil Temp 3 does this well.

I thought I would like a smooth round handle more, but it turns out I don't.

The slab handled Manix is my all time favorite, but the PM2 is great too.

I have found that I like the way a slab sided handle indexes in my hand. And I like a coarse textured scale surface as well, pocket wear be what it will.

All this has me thinking of the Shaman versus the Manix, and my thoughts are a lot like ladybug93. I get along fine with the Shaman, but I think I will like it better with a scale material with more tooth (like some micarta). If you are going to contour the handle, some extra friction in the scale material is a plus.

But when it is all said and done, it is no big deal either way -- we are talking about fine points here.

I prefer a neutral handle design as I don’t feel I need anything beyond grip strength to securely hold a knife. That said, there are degrees of neutral. I don’t want every knife I own to look like a broomstick with a blade.

As for flat scales. I like em in a pocket knife as long as they’re also thin and not too wide. I can’t be cutting things while trying to hold onto a deck of cards.

Don't carry it much these days, but the rectangular handles of my emerson mini7 are great. Gives you more freedom to hold the knife any way you want. I also like contured, ergo'd handles for different reasons. I like them all on a case by case basis.

I like thin flat smooth scales, with a generous chamfer, like the Sage 2 or Spydiechef.

I need some ergonomic features in a handle design. A plain Sebenza is too flat and straight for my hands, but with a micarta/wood inlay they become great (for me). Spyderco usually puts in a few key ergonomic features, like the profile of a Sage 2 or the onlay of the Centofante Memory.

I am with the camp that likes flat, to control turning in hand. With eased edges of course.

I wonder how a fuller on a grip would perform? I bet it would help a lot in preventing the handle from twisting and rolling in use. This is one reason I'm not a fan of traditional Ka-bars, I just can't live with literally round handles. When I push for rounded handles I really mean elliptical. I wouldn't want all my knives to be an inch and a half thick in the handle but another 1/4 inch in overall thickness to round off the shoulders more is ok by me.

After comparing the Lightweight Native 5 and the Lightweight Para 3 I think I prefer the more rounded Para 3

Hands are curved and as such, contoured handles are more comfortable to me.