I know what you mean about wanting a small gap between the blade and the handle.
Especially on a small knife that inch of blade is very useful. The choil on the Muttly is big because the Busse Basic handles are quite small.

I want a talon hole because front lanyards are much safer and better for comp style chopping. It makes a great lashing point and a neat way to hold the knife in the sheath. This is the picture of a sheath I sent to Rainwalker and it has the talon hole pin for a retention method. I am getting this sheath without the talon hole pin but with a frog.


The last thing I would want it for is a D Guard although I would probably try one.
I might make a steel attachable D Guard though I would never attach it because that would be illegal in Canada.