you'll see the word economics used all the time to describe the type of feel
you get when you use and hold a knife in your hand great ergonomics are just what
they sound like it means the knife has a comfortable
grip and you won't easily fatigue when using the knife for long periods of time
it's very important that your knife has good ergonomics think of it like sitting
in a chair if the chair is designed to be comfortable and has features that aim
to improve your posture you're going to be able to sit in it longer without
aches and pains a knife follows those same principles the better the fit and
feel the longer you can use it without getting blisters and sore joints or
having an accident because there's no support to maintain a secure grip while
every knife should have a comfortable hand feel economics are especially
important when it comes to hunting knives outdoor knives survival knives
work knives and kitchen knives since those knives tend to have a bit more
weight or are used for very repetitive tasks like chopping vegetables the
ergonomics are essential so let's go through what makes a knife the right fit
some knives have finger grooves that are designed specifically to give your
fingers a comfortable indented place to rest on the handle holding a knife with
finger grooves that fit your hand size is a beautiful thing the grooves keep
your fingers from blistering or slipping forward and there's something very
satisfying about perfectly spaced grooves that cradle your fingers during
use however keep in mind that each knife design is different a great fit for one
hand could be terribly uncomfortable for another if the grooves don't fit your
fingers well they could give you a hot spot or a place that will blister or rub
uncomfortably due to frequent impact from the knife's movement if finger
grooves aren't right for you opt for a handle with a nice swell that Nestle's
in your palm or maybe a finger guard flare that will allow you to choke up a
bit on the blade another economic knife feature is a thumb ramp which is located
on the spine of the blade where it meets the handle a thumb ramp can go a long
way in improving the ergonomics of your knife when you need to use more force
for cutting and want to choke up on a handle the thumb ramp allows you to do
so safely and with precision the slight protrusion of a thumb ramp keeps your
hand steady so it doesn't slide forward some ramps may also have jimping which
means they'll have notches that provide additional grip and keep your thumb from
slipping of the ramp some knifes have a finger
choil which is the indented unsharpened portion of the blade that joins with the
handle and is designed to comfortably fit your index finger just like a thumb
ramp it gives extra protection for when you choke up on the knife for more
powerful cuts you also need to take into account the material of your handle grippyness
is an important factor when you're doing heavy-duty tasks like skinning
animals or cutting rigging rope on a boat where there could be potential wet
conditions a grippy handle will usually have some form of texturing that will
help you keep a more secure hold a textured g10 handle scale is going to
perform much differently than a smooth wood handle in these circumstances with
its smooth surface wood handles can increase your chances of slipping and
having an accident while performing water related tasks at the same time you
may prefer a smoother bone or wood handle for your EDC if you have a
trapper knife that you keep in your pocket or use randomly throughout the
day and even polished surface may feel better in your hand than an extremely
textured material the best handle material really is part preference part
recognizing which types will be ideal for whatever task you're using your
knife or tool for besides handles there are a few other things that will help
make sure that your knife has premium ergonomics and is the best choice for
you the size of your knife and by extension
its overall length is important when choosing the right fit for your hand
knife Center helps to ensure the perfect fit by providing you with knife specs on
most product pages we try to make sure you know the blade length the weight the
overall length and in the case of folding knives the closed length
whenever possible these are all important details that will influence
your decision many of our products have quick flick videos you can reference so
you can see the knife in hand which will help give you an idea of the actual size
of the knife if numbers just don't cut it
compared to folding knives fixed blade knives are almost always gonna give you
more weight most fixed blades are designed for heavy-duty applications
that require robust blades which are then encased and heavily built handles
that can endure some abuse folding knives on the other hand are often
coveted for their slim profile and compact frame since they're typically
carried in a pocket or bag knife Center labels all knives and tools in either
ounces or pounds which will give you an idea of what the knife will feel like in
your hand for example here's the very popular benchmade grip tool Ian this
folding knife weighs in at 3.25 ounces has a close length of four point six two
inches and an overall length of eight point zero 7 inches this is by no means
a petit pocket knife let's look at it in a small hand this weight and size may
not be a comfortable fit for them if you look at the knife in a larger hand you
can see that it actually makes for a pretty great fit don't worry that
doesn't mean there aren't options for everyone some brands make smaller and
larger versions of their knives so here we have the mini grip Tilian also made
by Benchmade this knife weighs in at 2.56 ounces has a closed a length of 3.8
seven inches and an overall length of six point seven eight inches as you can
see it provides a much better fit for the smaller hand and at a lighter weight
it may be less fatiguing for this particular user during repetitive use
keeping your knife sharp also helps the less pressure you have to apply to make
cuts the less energy you'll exert and the less fatigue you'll feel over time
it's also much safer to use a sharp knife for these exact same reasons nice
Center also understands the importance of buying the right knife that gives you
not only great performance but a comfortable feel that's why we have a 60
day return policy as well as a wonderful staff ready to suggest a knife that will
complement your lifestyle we're always happy to help you find the perfect knife
at knife Center the original and largest online catalog of knives anywhere in the
world we're constantly updating our website
and youtube channel with new videos and tutorials so check back often thanks for
watching
you