Abstract: A handle on blades of knives, or the like, with a cross section which is substantially elliptical over its entire length and having the longer axis of the ellipse in the plane of the knife blade. The cross section reduces towards both ends of the handle in such a manner that the two ellipse axes of the ellipse cross sections of the offset end of the handle and of the free end of the handle are shortened by approximately the same amount. In this connection the two more narrowly curved ellipse arcs develop two vertex lines extending in longitudinal direction and lying in the plane of the knife blade.