Hello guys!

I've got a question for you all!

When using choppers and/or machetes I almost always wear leather work gloves because no matter what the maker/manufacturer claims are about their handle design and finish, I get blisters almost every time after some extensive work. Also, I often use my free hand to hold/grab/get out the way the cut brushes or small lumbers etc. and gloves provide good protection and grip.

My point is that, despite my very normal/medium size hand, I always find that choppers' and machetes' handles are too short and don't provide enough space for the fingers, they get squeezed sorta, especially when using lined gloves during the winter. Of course, with bare hands it's fine, but it seems to me that makers/manufacturers don't consider the use of gloves when working with their choppers and machetes.

Do you have the same problem? So far, my father and I agree on this (might be about the only thing we agree on!). How about you?

Just to give you an idea, the chopper I'm currently using provides 4 5/8'' of finger span (total handle length is about 6 3/8''), which is plenty when using it bare hand, but is just right with plain leather gloves and slightly short with lined winter gloves.

What confuses me is this chopper is one with about the longest handle on the market and my father and I feel squeezed using it with gloves...


What is your experience in regard to choppers/machetes handle length folks?

Thanks a lot for your input!

I feel the same ESP. In the winter. I got a new machete earlier this year and will try my winter gloves and let you know.

You could always make your winter chopper a scrapizashi <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Hmm, I never use gloves when I chop, but my go to choppers are this one



And this one



Both have plenty of room on the handle, I'll take a couple inland shots later if I remember after I get home from work

Wow they are beauts! Is the bottom a fiddleback? The zilla is a Grail knife for me

Thanks,yeah the bottom is a Fiddleback Bow legged chopper

Hi Jared,


How about in cold weather? How about working many hours cutting surveying lanes or such?





If you could take them with the knives along a measuring tape it would be greatly appreciated, this way I could precisely deduce the measures I would like (handle length and finger span).

I think the finger span measure should be part of the usual knife specs from makes/manufacturers BTW.


If anyone of you has a Busse FBM and/or Bushwacker and could take the same pics along a measuring tape, it would be of great help as it's a deciding factor of chopper purchase for me...


Thank you very much!

i had to rush these but hope they help. if you need better or more i can do it tomm.

these are the basic 11, cgfbm, and the bushwacker



cgfbm


b11


bwbm

There are countless sulotions out there like Cold Steels two handed machete line.



I would love to see a practical Bussekin two-hander like this.

Took the pics







I hope you don't think I was being dismissive or anything when I said I don't wear gloves, I don't have to deal with cold weather ( being in south Florida the coldest it usually gets to to 50 or 60 degrees, I've done a fair bit of extended property clearing, that's why I prefer smooth handles over machined grooves so I don't get hot spots with long term use. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Welcome to the yard from the left coast
I should be in Quebec for a few days in the first quarter of 2012

On a different note as a 40 plus years Habs fan I am glad they just fired their coach

Go Wings! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />