The word you searched for throughout the video is fingerguard. I completely agree with your philosophy that the handle is more important than the steel. Of all the factors that make a great knife: type of steel, blade profile, size of the knife, balance of the knife, etc., in my opinion the most important is the shape and size of the handle. I also agree that increasing or decreasing the size of the blade in a particular brand's line of knives should not change the size of the handle, i.e. that the branding of the entire line of knives should begin and end with a specific handle model. Finally, I will conclude by saying that a sharpened piece of steel only becomes a knife when you add a handle to it, otherwise it is just a blade.
How silly of me, fingerguard.. Thanx! Its really wierd with some knife manufactors, not naming names (starts with B and ends with R, lol). I had to sell one knife away, that was like that. Totally unusable (yet wierdly highly praised knife) Almost like the designing was made using computers zoom out zoom in tool😂. Thanx for watching my friend! Have a great day!🌲❄️🌲
I agree with you, which is why I prefer to buy knife blanks and make my own handles. I have made a Brisa / Enzo Elver in D2 with round handles and it is a joy to handle. It is for sale in case you are interested 😉. Take care, Irène.
I agree 100%. The handle is what connects the knife to the user. So far, I have never really had any problems with the steel types, heat treatment or even re-sharpening my knives. But I have had problems with the ergonomics of the handles/grip scales. On more than one occasion, I have put a visually beautiful knife in the drawer because I couldn't connect with it. The Peltonen M07 is now my Goto knife, although the look of the handle is perhaps not particularly appealing. But the handle created a bond with the knife for me. And once there is a connection to / a bond with the knife, the knife becomes beautiful. A deeper beauty, so to speak. I'm looking forward to testing the Brisa Trooper! And to comparing it with my new Jääkäripuukko... and.... and....and... 😁
Right on, the steel types are usually not my main concern. Im pretty fast with sharpening. (sure I like the supersteels like 3v what not. but not really my main obsession). You put it nicely, the connection starts with handle. It determines, more often than not if the bond is created! M07 is a great knife. Will meet with JP Peltonen at his home next week. Thanx for watching, have an awesome day!🌲🔪🌲
Thank you! Indeed, simple is just the best. The more complex conturings, the more possibilities, of the handle not fitting, and creating hotspots and what not.. (been there with many knives) Thanx for watching and have a great sunday!🌲🔪🌲❄️🌲
Another great video! Lots of conversation to be had around handle shapes, materials, designs etc. I too have been favouring a very plain handle (broomstick handles etc.) and find that the more complex the design is the more the chance that it might not fit. Great knives, awesome day. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you! It is exactly like you said: more complex conturings, more opportunities that handle just doesnt fit, and will at the end create hotspots and whatnot.. (been there with many knives) Keeping it Simple if often the way to go. Also in life in general, I believe. Thanx for watching and have great Sunday!🌲🔪🌲❄️🌲
Excellent discussion. I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I used to buy knives based mostly on how they looked, rather than thinking about what I intend to use the knife for. Your videos, along with those from Kukkeli Bushcraft and a few others, have taught me so much about the different grinds and what they do best. Thanks for educating me in a friendly and welcoming manner. Take care, my friend.
Lol. Me too. My latest knife purchase is a Cold Steel Chaos double edged trench knife. I have absolutely no use for it, but it looks cool and I've wanted one for years.@@ed.barker7069
Thank you! I admit I buy them also based on looks sometimes! The looks are nothing to scoff about also. For example my Bark River Wilderness Explorer just wanted to have as it looked so cool! kind of a. chilhood dream knife, Classical Americana, Wild West, great frontier etc etc. Turned out I could also use it! LOL ( I was a huge Western fan as a kid, well I still am). Thanx for watching, have a greag sunday!🌲🔪🌲❄️🌲
What a great selection of outdoor knives. I have a Mora Kansbol that is similar to the 2000. The blades are almost identical. It is a great food prep knife on camping trips, but will also perform well at bushcraft tasks. Not the best carver as you said, but I have other knives for that. Another wonderful Scandi video. Thanks
Thank you! Yes the blade design in Kansbol/2000 is fantastic all rounder. Love it! Has also functional and comfortable handle. Thanx for watching, and have a great sunday!🌲🐺🌲
Excellent video! Yes, what good is a great blade if it is not comfortable to work with. Excellent choices! When doing delicate work, the round broomstick style handles are so comfortable to me. Love them all though! Very nice line up! I must admit, Bark River's are some of my FAV's, they make such a robust knife, their "Coke" Bottle style handles are really nice!
Thank you!! Indeed blade is no good if one cant work with it comfortably. I just rather then have knife with worse steel and grind but with supreme handle (just something I’ve noticed). I love also Bark Rivers designs. The Bravo line is imo a trully groundbreaking design (from which I think many knife makers have taken influence) . Thanx for watching, and have an awesome sunday!🌲🐺🌲❄🌲
@@OldForestBushcraft You are so right! Yes, I personally believe the BRK Bravo 1/1.25. and 1.5 are the closest thing to an all around "Perfect" design. Not that they do one particular job particularly well, but does many things well! The perfect balance! No matter how many new styles and designs emerge, I always go back to my Bravo's! in particular, my Bravo 1 and 1.25!
I totally agree with you regarding handle materials. My favourite is wood then micarta but like you I also prefer grippy micarta as opposed to polished micarta. Then my third favourite would be rubber and again I like grippy rubber. The SOG field knife has the grippiest rubber handle I've ever felt. I absolutely hate plastic handles and don't like the fact that Mora use it on knives like the Robust and Eldriss as a part of the handle. I'd prefer them to be fully rubber. Have you ever owned a Casstrom no.10? They have a really nice handle shape.( For me).
I with you there, I really dislike plastic handles. That has indeed been my problem with many Mora knives (and the reason why Mora classic was/is my favorite). Rubber is not that bad. Often very good in certain situations, f.e. fishing knives etc. Never tested Caström knives, but I definitely should change that, they look very nice. Thanx for watching and have a great Sunday! 🌲❄️🌲
If you intend to use different grips than a more neutral ,less contoured handle is favored. Getting a well contoured handle that works for many different grips is a bit of a trick. Only by using the knife do we determine if the handle will suit us. I tend to buy blades and make my own handles , when I've the room and material I visualize the cross-section as an egg resting in the hollow of the hand. it works for me, but ymmv. This was a good treatise on handles , your next video will discuss blades,choils ricassos etc? I hope you touch on the concept of Lagom for us. Blade length I determine by distance, the further I go out in the wilderness, the longer the knife I want. ;) :D
how sillä of me, fingerguard! Its really wierd with some knife manufactors, not naming names (starts with B and ends with R, lol). I had to sell one knife away, that was like that. Almost like it was made smaller using computers zoom out zoom in tool. Like the idea, the further you go to the woods, the blade length increses, Haha. I've noticed that indeed also, even in my lets say, home wilderness area. Thanx for watching, have great day!🌲❄️🌲
Oval handles with subtle contours provide a good grasp, however there is much to be gained in terms of power transfer to the blade with handles that are contoured to your hand size & finger length. To optimize our ability to transfer power to the blades it's advantageous to contour a handle with facets that engage each segment of all four fingers & the thumb. We can reduce the grip strength required to control the rotation & direction of the knife blade significantly. I am curious if there is any interest in this type of knife handle ?
I love your passion for Bushcraft knives , I cannot agree more with ya . In my opinion, handle comfort and edge geometry is so important. You you would really like the Condor Trivitatta Puukko. I just reviewed it a couple of weeks ago. The handle just melts into your hand and the blade geometry is excellent. I stopped buying Condor knives years ago, but that one caught my eye, plus its 1095hc and not their 1075hc. Its one of my most favorite knives now , until I find another one LOL 😂
I’ve been eyeing on the Trivitatta Puukko lately. I looks to be a winner indeed. I will probably get that knife. And good that it is in 1095! I owned one Condor years back (bushlore). but sold it away. Havent though of buying them, until I saw the Trivitatta, lol. Have to check your review! Thanx for watching, have a great sunday!
Interesting comments on the handles of the knives you presented - it's nice to see them all lined up together for comparison purposes. So speaking of handles, do Finns consider the the Tapio Wirkkala Puukko a "real" working pukka or more of a style statement?
I'd say that Wirkkala Puukkos were kind of use knives also. (At least I know many from older generation who used them a lot. Like my Uncle, who has still two. I think they weren't super expensive back in the day. Though they werent definitely a normal everyday puukkos a la Marttiini, Iisakki etc. Thanx for watching, have a great sunday!🌲❄️🌲
Great video. Your thoughts on handles have really got my brain ticking. As far as steels are concerned, we are very privileged to have so many excellent options, but honestly they are given too much emphasis due to marketing. The handles are definitely lower in importance for most buyers, but as you said the handle is how we interact with the knife. I like natural materials like wood, bone, stag and buffalo horn, but I've never tried a birch bark handle. Do you have any opinions on octagonal wooden handles? I have heard that an octagonal (or 5 or 6 facets) handle requires less force to grip than a round or oval handle, thus it is less fatiguing. Some carving knives have faceted handles. I may try making one in the style of Peter Kovacs or Woodsmans Finest here on TH-cam with a simple Laurin carbon blade. All the best.
Never tested those handles. Could be nice! Its with the constant use of knives, the importance of handle grows and of supersteels lessens. Just my observatorio. And I do like my 3vs or whatnot. Thanx for watching, have a great day!
Hallo Kumpel, das sehe ich genauso. Griffe sind extrem wichtig. Leider neigen die Hersteller mittelgroßer Messer oftmals dazu, Griffe zu klein/schmal zu gestalten. Mit meiner großen Hand habe ich da oft Probleme. Vielen Dank für das Video. Viele Grüße Jörg
Jawohl, bin oftmals sehr enttäuscht gewesen, weil der Messer, mit vielleicht sehr schöne Klinge, einfach zu kleiner Griff hatte. Mit bestimmten Messern hatte ich fast ein gefühl dass das Design war mit dem computers Zoom out, Zoom in Funktion gemacht😂 “ ok, die Klinge geht jetzt kleiner, also müssen wir auch der Griff kleiner machen..” lol Danke fürs Zuschauen mein Freund!🌲🐺🌲
Excellent video that raises a great issue. A knife is primarily a tool. It needs to have the business end do it's job, but this must be designed in conjunction with the handle. And everyone's hands are slightly different from each other. Good video!
I have one knife with a stacked leather handle, and it is the best material I have found for shock absorption, better than wood or any other material, in my opinion.
Thank you! Those are indeed extremely important. There have been so many knives I had to sell because bad handle geometry, just one yesterday.. Thanks for watching!🌲🐺🌲
Great video Llari, simple handles are the best. Mora do good ones, the clipper and the 2000 are great. 2000 significantly nicer than the Kansbol I think. I also really like the Roseli carpenter, Joker Nessmuk and of course the Peltonen. Have a fantastic weekend mate.
Have always thought that Roselli carpenter handle looks very comfortable! Need to get that puukko. Also Joker Nessmuk is on my shopping list. (embarrasing that I havent tested Joker knives, lol) Thanx for watching Tim! 🌲🔪🌲❄️🌲
@@OldForestBushcraft Do it! 😈 I only got mine recently and I'm sure you'll like it. And yesterday I received my very first Joker. The Grandfather model which has a full size handle but a small but very sharp blade so I think you now need to get a Joker too.😁😁
Thank you sir! I have for longer trip always my trusted Fällkniven compact sharpening stone (diamond and stone). At home I have more waterstones etc. I must admit I dont keep my Puukkos razor razor sharp. I just found theres no need for that imo. They become too brittle and. prone to chipping etc. Fishing knives etc. are a different thing.. Thanx for watching, have a great day!🌲🔪🌲
The word you searched for throughout the video is fingerguard.
I completely agree with your philosophy that the handle is more important than the steel. Of all the factors that make a great knife: type of steel, blade profile, size of the knife, balance of the knife, etc., in my opinion the most important is the shape and size of the handle.
I also agree that increasing or decreasing the size of the blade in a particular brand's line of knives should not change the size of the handle, i.e. that the branding of the entire line of knives should begin and end with a specific handle model.
Finally, I will conclude by saying that a sharpened piece of steel only becomes a knife when you add a handle to it, otherwise it is just a blade.
How silly of me, fingerguard.. Thanx!
Its really wierd with some knife manufactors, not naming names (starts with B and ends with R, lol).
I had to sell one knife away, that was like that. Totally unusable (yet wierdly highly praised knife)
Almost like the designing was made using computers zoom out zoom in tool😂.
Thanx for watching my friend! Have a great day!🌲❄️🌲
I agree with you, which is why I prefer to buy knife blanks and make my own handles. I have made a Brisa / Enzo Elver in D2 with round handles and it is a joy to handle. It is for sale in case you are interested 😉. Take care, Irène.
nice, in my opinion...the more plain and uncomplicated is the handle, the better.
Yeah, keeping it simple is the way to go!
Thanx for watching, have s great day!🌲🐺🔪
I agree 100%. The handle is what connects the knife to the user. So far, I have never really had any problems with the steel types, heat treatment or even re-sharpening my knives. But I have had problems with the ergonomics of the handles/grip scales. On more than one occasion, I have put a visually beautiful knife in the drawer because I couldn't connect with it. The Peltonen M07 is now my Goto knife, although the look of the handle is perhaps not particularly appealing. But the handle created a bond with the knife for me. And once there is a connection to / a bond with the knife, the knife becomes beautiful. A deeper beauty, so to speak. I'm looking forward to testing the Brisa Trooper! And to comparing it with my new Jääkäripuukko... and.... and....and... 😁
Right on, the steel types are usually not my main concern. Im pretty fast with sharpening. (sure I like the supersteels like 3v what not. but not really my main obsession).
You put it nicely, the connection starts with handle. It determines, more often than not if the bond is created! M07 is a great knife. Will meet with JP Peltonen at his home next week.
Thanx for watching, have an awesome day!🌲🔪🌲
Great video. In general, I think simple is best. I love birch bark and use it a lot in my own knives. Lightweight and, as you say, very comfortable.
Thank you! Indeed, simple is just the best. The more complex conturings, the more possibilities, of the handle not fitting, and creating hotspots and what not.. (been there with many knives)
Thanx for watching and have a great sunday!🌲🔪🌲❄️🌲
Another great video! Lots of conversation to be had around handle shapes, materials, designs etc. I too have been favouring a very plain handle (broomstick handles etc.) and find that the more complex the design is the more the chance that it might not fit.
Great knives, awesome day. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you!
It is exactly like you said: more complex conturings, more opportunities that handle just doesnt fit, and will at the end create hotspots and whatnot..
(been there with many knives)
Keeping it Simple if often the way to go. Also in life in general, I believe.
Thanx for watching and have great Sunday!🌲🔪🌲❄️🌲
I see that Tarava brother!
All good knives! Thanks for sharing :)
-Seth
Thanx for watching man, have a great day!🌲🔪🌲
Excellent discussion. I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I used to buy knives based mostly on how they looked, rather than thinking about what I intend to use the knife for. Your videos, along with those from Kukkeli Bushcraft and a few others, have taught me so much about the different grinds and what they do best. Thanks for educating me in a friendly and welcoming manner. Take care, my friend.
I still buy knives based on their looks.😬😲😁
Lol. Me too. My latest knife purchase is a Cold Steel Chaos double edged trench knife. I have absolutely no use for it, but it looks cool and I've wanted one for years.@@ed.barker7069
Thank you! I admit I buy them also based on looks sometimes! The looks are nothing to scoff about also. For example my Bark River Wilderness Explorer just wanted to have as it looked so cool! kind of a. chilhood dream knife, Classical Americana, Wild West, great frontier etc etc. Turned out I could also use it! LOL
( I was a huge Western fan as a kid, well I still am).
Thanx for watching, have a greag sunday!🌲🔪🌲❄️🌲
@@ed.barker7069 me too..😄
Me too! Lol.@@ed.barker7069
What a great selection of outdoor knives. I have a Mora Kansbol that is similar to the 2000. The blades are almost identical. It is a great food prep knife on camping trips, but will also perform well at bushcraft tasks. Not the best carver as you said, but I have other knives for that. Another wonderful Scandi video. Thanks
Thank you!
Yes the blade design in Kansbol/2000 is fantastic all rounder. Love it! Has also functional and comfortable handle.
Thanx for watching, and have a great sunday!🌲🐺🌲
Excellent video! Yes, what good is a great blade if it is not comfortable to work with. Excellent choices! When doing delicate work, the round broomstick style handles are so comfortable to me. Love them all though! Very nice line up! I must admit, Bark River's are some of my FAV's, they make such a robust knife, their "Coke" Bottle style handles are really nice!
Thank you!! Indeed blade is no good if one cant work with it comfortably. I just rather then have knife with worse steel and grind but with supreme handle (just something I’ve noticed). I love also Bark Rivers designs. The Bravo line is imo a trully groundbreaking design (from which I think many knife makers have taken influence) .
Thanx for watching, and have an awesome sunday!🌲🐺🌲❄🌲
@@OldForestBushcraft You are so right! Yes, I personally believe the BRK Bravo 1/1.25. and 1.5 are the closest thing to an all around "Perfect" design. Not that they do one particular job particularly well, but does many things well! The perfect balance! No matter how many new styles and designs emerge, I always go back to my Bravo's! in particular, my Bravo 1 and 1.25!
I totally agree with you regarding handle materials. My favourite is wood then micarta but like you I also prefer grippy micarta as opposed to polished micarta. Then my third favourite would be rubber and again I like grippy rubber. The SOG field knife has the grippiest rubber handle I've ever felt. I absolutely hate plastic handles and don't like the fact that Mora use it on knives like the Robust and Eldriss as a part of the handle. I'd prefer them to be fully rubber.
Have you ever owned a Casstrom no.10? They have a really nice handle shape.( For me).
I with you there, I really dislike plastic handles. That has indeed been my problem with many Mora knives (and the reason why Mora classic was/is my favorite). Rubber is not that bad. Often very good in certain situations, f.e. fishing knives etc.
Never tested Caström knives, but I definitely should change that, they look very nice.
Thanx for watching and have a great Sunday! 🌲❄️🌲
I love my Ahti knives, such great quality for a decent price, really hard to beat.
Indeed! This Tikka is one of my absolute favorite neck knife. Will buy also the curly birch version..
Than for watching!🌲❄️🌲🐺🌲
If you intend to use different grips than a more neutral ,less contoured handle is favored. Getting a well contoured handle that works for many different grips is a bit of a trick. Only by using the knife do we determine if the handle will suit us. I tend to buy blades and make my own handles , when I've the room and material I visualize the cross-section as an egg resting in the hollow of the hand. it works for me, but ymmv. This was a good treatise on handles , your next video will discuss blades,choils ricassos etc? I hope you touch on the concept of Lagom for us. Blade length I determine by distance, the further I go out in the wilderness, the longer the knife I want. ;) :D
how sillä of me, fingerguard!
Its really wierd with some knife manufactors, not naming names (starts with B and ends with R, lol).
I had to sell one knife away, that was like that. Almost like it was made smaller using computers zoom out zoom in tool.
Like the idea, the further you go to the woods, the blade length increses, Haha. I've noticed that indeed also, even in my lets say, home wilderness area.
Thanx for watching, have great day!🌲❄️🌲
Oval handles with subtle contours provide a good grasp, however there is much to be gained in terms of power transfer to the blade with handles that are contoured to your hand size & finger length.
To optimize our ability to transfer power to the blades it's advantageous to contour a handle with facets that engage each segment of all four fingers & the thumb.
We can reduce the grip strength required to control the rotation & direction of the knife blade significantly. I am curious if there is any interest in this type of knife handle ?
Good ideas also, thanx for sharing!🌲🔪🌲
I love your passion for Bushcraft knives , I cannot agree more with ya . In my opinion, handle comfort and edge geometry is so important.
You you would really like the Condor Trivitatta Puukko. I just reviewed it a couple of weeks ago. The handle just melts into your hand and the blade geometry is excellent. I stopped buying Condor knives years ago, but that one caught my eye, plus its 1095hc and not their 1075hc. Its one of my most favorite knives now , until I find another one LOL 😂
I’ve been eyeing on the Trivitatta Puukko lately. I looks to be a winner indeed. I will probably get that knife. And good that it is in 1095!
I owned one Condor years back (bushlore). but sold it away. Havent though of buying them, until I saw the Trivitatta, lol.
Have to check your review!
Thanx for watching, have a great sunday!
Interesting comments on the handles of the knives you presented - it's nice to see them all lined up together for comparison purposes. So speaking of handles, do Finns consider the the Tapio Wirkkala Puukko a "real" working pukka or more of a style statement?
I'd say that Wirkkala Puukkos were kind of use knives also. (At least I know many from older generation who used them a lot. Like my Uncle, who has still two. I think they weren't super expensive back in the day.
Though they werent definitely a normal everyday puukkos a la Marttiini, Iisakki etc.
Thanx for watching, have a great sunday!🌲❄️🌲
Great video. Your thoughts on handles have really got my brain ticking. As far as steels are concerned, we are very privileged to have so many excellent options, but honestly they are given too much emphasis due to marketing. The handles are definitely lower in importance for most buyers, but as you said the handle is how we interact with the knife. I like natural materials like wood, bone, stag and buffalo horn, but I've never tried a birch bark handle.
Do you have any opinions on octagonal wooden handles? I have heard that an octagonal (or 5 or 6 facets) handle requires less force to grip than a round or oval handle, thus it is less fatiguing. Some carving knives have faceted handles. I may try making one in the style of Peter Kovacs or Woodsmans Finest here on TH-cam with a simple Laurin carbon blade.
All the best.
Never tested those handles. Could be nice!
Its with the constant use of knives, the importance of handle grows and of supersteels lessens. Just my observatorio. And I do like my 3vs or whatnot.
Thanx for watching, have a great day!
Hallo Kumpel, das sehe ich genauso. Griffe sind extrem wichtig. Leider neigen die Hersteller mittelgroßer Messer oftmals dazu, Griffe zu klein/schmal zu gestalten. Mit meiner großen Hand habe ich da oft Probleme. Vielen Dank für das Video. Viele Grüße Jörg
Jawohl, bin oftmals sehr enttäuscht gewesen, weil der Messer, mit vielleicht sehr schöne Klinge, einfach zu kleiner Griff hatte. Mit bestimmten Messern hatte ich fast ein gefühl dass das Design war mit dem computers Zoom out, Zoom in Funktion gemacht😂
“ ok, die Klinge geht jetzt kleiner, also müssen wir auch der Griff kleiner machen..” lol
Danke fürs Zuschauen mein Freund!🌲🐺🌲
Mora 👍
Mora makes good blades indeed!
Thanx for watching!🌲🔪🌲
Awesome video. Great points! 🌲🪵🔥
Thank you! And thanx for watching my friend!🌲🔪🌲🐺🌲
Excellent video that raises a great issue. A knife is primarily a tool. It needs to have the business end do it's job, but this must be designed in conjunction with the handle. And everyone's hands are slightly different from each other. Good video!
I have one knife with a stacked leather handle, and it is the best material I have found for shock absorption, better than wood or any other material, in my opinion.
Thank you! Those are indeed extremely important. There have been so many knives I had to sell because bad handle geometry, just one yesterday..
Thanks for watching!🌲🐺🌲
Yeah those are really comfortable!
Great video Llari, simple handles are the best. Mora do good ones, the clipper and the 2000 are great. 2000 significantly nicer than the Kansbol I think. I also really like the Roseli carpenter, Joker Nessmuk and of course the Peltonen.
Have a fantastic weekend mate.
I agree with Kuukkeli here. The Roselli Carpenter handle is lovely and comfortable. 👍
Have always thought that Roselli carpenter handle looks very comfortable! Need to get that puukko. Also Joker Nessmuk is on my shopping list. (embarrasing that I havent tested Joker knives, lol)
Thanx for watching Tim! 🌲🔪🌲❄️🌲
@@ed.barker7069That really looks nice! I've been meaning to get that one for ages..
@@OldForestBushcraft Do it! 😈 I only got mine recently and I'm sure you'll like it. And yesterday I received my very first Joker. The Grandfather model which has a full size handle but a small but very sharp blade so I think you now need to get a Joker too.😁😁
@@ed.barker7069 ok, I have to now get both of them, just too much preassure, lol😂
Beautiful selection 😊 Interesting video. How do you keep your traditional puukkos sharp? In the field/at home.
Thank you sir! I have for longer trip always my trusted Fällkniven compact sharpening stone (diamond and stone).
At home I have more waterstones etc. I must admit I dont keep my Puukkos razor razor sharp. I just found theres no need for that imo. They become too brittle and. prone to chipping etc.
Fishing knives etc. are a different thing..
Thanx for watching, have a great day!🌲🔪🌲