Grip Band

As a huge Prince Valiant fan, I absolutely love it! Looks great even with the grip band (perhaps even better than without, lol).

No photos this time, besides what I did in all likelihood wouldn’t show up. I wrapped my kukri Longleaf’s handle with friction tape as I was having a hard time controlling the torque on impact and this just about cured the issue. And then the BhojPure began acting up but not as badly, probably because I started using it more. After adjusting my grip with no real improvement I wrapped that one too. Both have just a single wrap, not enough to noticeably change neither the size nor shape. And with the wood so near the colour of black that really doesn’t show up colour wise. I just finished the first cutting session with the BhojPure and it didn’t make the slightest attempt to twist. I wish there was more testing but the targets were limited. Time will take care of that. My kukris are the only things I have friction tape on. That started some years back on my polished horn handle kukri. I had no real issue with that one but I felt uneasy with it as it seemed borderline slippery especially when wet. And the friction tape cured that problem. I have another unpolished horn kukri that feels good other than being a smidgen short for me but it works fine. I did take a file to the dorsal flare reducing it slightly and thereby it stopped digging into my palm’s heel.

As an update; I've had several sessions with the BhojPure without the first torque.  

I didn’t realize you had gotten a M1840 NCO sword. I’d like to know your comments. I finally wrapped mine also but with one layer of rescue tape. That didn’t appreciably change the size but did make it feel more comfortable. That grip looks about like the one I wound up with on my Universal P1796.

Windlass 1860 Naval Cutlass with one layer of grip band over upholstering with thin felt furniture sliders as drawn in the second picture. 
Much better grip now, but not good looking. 
Maybe a add another layer which usually gives a better more evenly look but I need my two remaining bands for the Avalon. 

Original: too thin and too straight. 

I never find grip band. So I make do with hockey tape, the Canadian way. If you don't mind I wouldn't mind posting it here lol

The hockey tape bandit strikes again 




I prefer how it makes the handle look and feel, plus in the scabbard, it gives a nice spot to hold it by when carrying it

APOC Longsword without and with grip band.





The original grip tapers from the pommel end to the guard, not bad but for me a bit too thin at the guard. 
Also the slabs are hard and uncomfortable. 

Those long handles need two bands and the overlapping part is always a bit thicker. 
On such long handles I make a hourglass shape for a single hand grip close to the guard with thicker parts at the guard and under the little finger.
I can also grip it lower with the strong fingers at the thicker part which gives more power to handle it when having more mass above. 

Excellent balance, what I hoped for. 
The broadsword is a bit blade heavy (for this sword good), the katana is a bit hilt heavy with a very nimble blade, the longsword is neutral balanced. 
For its size it is well to handle single handed. 
I posted it in the New Acquisition Thread already. 

Lol I did th exact same thing to my bush man, only I used hockey tape and epoxy. I don't have a picture of it, and I've given it to a friend, but that Bush man sure benefits from a handle wrapping

What kind of sword is that? Is the blade bronze?