Bolster wrote: ↑Thu Jun 03, 2021 9:06 pm
Karl, I am a big fan of your mods.
I really understand #2, making the radius of the guard match your finger radius. That's a big thing for me too. (7/16" finger radius for me.) I raised the radius issue in a post some time ago and NOBODY was sympathetic with it, so it must be just you and me, pal.
See: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=89207
If you look at the mods I made to my backpacking Mule you'll notice I did the same exact thing: Decrease the radius of the guard curve. Makes a major comfort difference for me and it effectively "lengthens" the handle by allowing your finger to grip closer to the blade.
#3 also. I did same flattening of the "pregnant cow" shape of my backpacking mule. No discrespect to pregnancy or cows, I like them both. Just sayin' I don't need so much palm swell. I don't have a huge hollow in the palm of my hand that needs filling.
#4 I also did to my Mule, but then, it's a mule, with no rounded edge whatsoever.
So: What method did you use to modify the arc/radius of the guard?
RE: Radius of Spydiehole access cutout... that is not a good finger groove
It seems to me that the cut out behind the pivot is primarily designed to improve access to the Spydiehole and its secondary function as a finger groove is severely compromised due to the wide radius and the big hump behind it. If you compare the Native to a CS Tuff-Lite you will see that this cutout has a much tighter radius that more closely matches that of the finger and lacks a big hump. It therefore works much better as a finger groove. In the case of the Manix, the cutout is purely designed to work as a finger groove and has a tight radius to match the radius of a finger, which is much more ergonomic.
I wrapped sand paper around my index finger to shape the guard to match the radius of my finger. If you have the LW model, just pay attention to the skeletonization of the inside of the scales and don't grind too far.
RE: The hump... that is not a good palm swell
I am still puzzled by the hump behind the spydiehole access cutout. This seems to be a recent addition to the Native, and I cannot figure out why it is there. It either unnaturally forces my fingers apart or acts as a pressure point. It doesn't function as a palm swell because the radius doesn't match the hand. The Manix has as actual palm swell that fits the hand.
I flattened it and have no regrets. I am still not sure what the optimal shape is here, but I the convexity (after flattening) seems to fit my palm well for a chest lever grip, so I plan on leaving it slightly convex rather than making it completely flat or concave.
On the LW model, I also don't want to grind into the skeletonized part of the scales, so that also contributes my decision not to make it completely flat or concave.