What is the ergonomics and shape on a knife and why. All the text is from my personal feel and research.
Ergonomics on a handle and blade serves the purpose for what the knife was made for.
I will talk some on the 130mm New Ranger design with evolution and grip. The handle design
is made to be safe and comfortable in many different situations and for the different uses. It is made to fit as best as it can for the different positions and for all the functions. Quality is a factor = safety.
Next is how nice it looks for the eye and that one may use different colors for the personal and different situations and needs. It is important to remember that the balance between how nice it look and the ergonomics and quality must be there.
The thickness and number of functions influence the ergonomics.
An ergonomic handle prevents slipping and thus prevents injuries. The handle scales on a Swiss Army Knife is usually made of strong
plastics and rubber and it is responsible for all the information written above. It does not serve the purpose of giving strength and stability so much for the SAK. If so it is very minor. The handle is the face outward and holds the emblem or additional functions
hidden in them.
The use of press fit scales and strong plastics are already usually the best material and design that could be used on a SAK. Plastic and rubber does not make the hand cold or to
hot usually, depending on the surroundings and climate. Water is no problem for the plastic or rubber. The use of press fit scales makes it possible for the Swiss Army Knife to flex. By this I mean that the construction under more hard use may flex or bend.
The design of the blade is very important for what it is made to be used for. The steel, edge and shape are responsible for this. The ergonomics of the handle is very much related to the shape of the blade
and functions.
Usually the ergonomics of a handle is made for the average hands. On the New Rangers or old Rangers for that matter the handle would fit very well from medium to larger hands.
In the history of knives we can see a multitude of different shapes and designs. Enormous amounts of materials used. The shape and design of the handle are not always made to be the most ergonomic. This can
be because of traditions or for other reasons as well.
If we look on a traditional scandi then we see a very good handle made to be as best as it can for use for most tasks. The handle is very important
on a traditional knife. There is no need to make the “tollekniv” handle better. It is already perfected by history.
When Wenger changed the design of the little red Swiss Army Knife then
people reacted. If we look upon the result of making the evolution handle then many would agree it was smart and useful. It is very difficult to make the ergonomics and design to be perfect on a large SAK because of the use of many functions in one pack.
On a medium thick 130mm RangerGrip the ergonomics is very nice and comfortable. It looks very good!
It is not so that Wenger just changed the shape of the SAK because they needed a running change
and that the economy was down. It was done to make it better.
The ergonomics and handle shape very much influence the safety and comfort. If the design is correct it will prevent fatigue in the hand.