Nokta FORS Handle/Grip Details & Notes

[steve herschbach]

I got a question on the handle/grip and decided to start a new thread. I had made a comment elsewhere about the grip and how you sort of hold it with three fingers, but that was not quite accurate and so I wanted to clarify it here with photos.

The handle on the FORS Gold and FORS CoRe is packing quite a bit in what for other companies is just a handle. There is a top mounted LCD display that temporarily lights up and displays a target id number whenever you pass over a target. This happens in all three hunt modes including the all metal mode. The button just under the display activates the ground balance. Press and hold and a ground balance number is displayed. Pump the coil a couple times over the ground, the units will beep, release the button, you are done.

There is a pinpoint trigger on the front of the handle that activates a pinpoint mode that displays a number on the screen. The numbers unfortunately are in centimeters and calibrated to a large European coin. Just treat it like the target id number display. Do you know that 82 means for a target number? You do not know now but with use you learn it is usually a zinc penny. Same thing with the depth display. Big numbers deeper, small numbers shallower. Depending on what you are hunting you will soon correlate numbers with depth.

Above the pinpoint trigger is a mini-trigger that activates the forward facing LED flashlight that illuminates the coil area on low light conditions. Finally, inside the handle you have a vibration mechanism similar to that used in popular pinpointers. This has obvious use for people with hearing disabilities but can be an aid for anyone in very noisy environments.

Stuffing so much in the handle makes it a bit odd to hold compared to a bare handle. Your index finger normally rides up in between the trigger switch and LED light switch. You can grip tightly here, but shift your finger up a bit to activate the light, or down to activate the pinpoint function. This, combined with an aggressive forward stance of the handle itself, makes for what I personally feel is a less than comfortable grip. In practice I use it and it is fine but when I grab other detectors the difference is apparent. I think the design is more to accommodate the control set than for pure comfort.

I will caution however that handle grips are one of those things that seem to hit people different ways. Some people like S rods, some do not. So the Nokta grip may or may not feel great to you. I do think that is a bit unforgiving to criticize too much when you consider all the functionality built into the handle. The LCD screen largely negates the issues with having a side mount control system by putting all relevant information on the mini-screen. There is the flashlight. The built in vibration mode could be the difference between owning this or never going detecting for a deaf person. Put in that light, the handle is a marvel and so I can forgive a bit of oddness in the way it feels.

[attachment 306375 nokta-fors-pistol-grip.jpg]
Nokta FORS Handle System

[attachment 306376 nokta0fors-core-handle-display.jpg]
Nokta FORS Handle System - Top view showing display

[attachment 306377 nokta-fors-pistol-trigger-grip.jpg]
Nokta FORS Handle System - Left showing normal grip, right showing pinpoint trigger being activated

 

[D&P-OR]

Steve-----That's an excellent post & answers some of the questions I (and I'm sure many others) have about the grip configuration/set up.-----When you say the grip can be a bit uncomfortable---is it ever to the point of wrist pain (on long hunts)?----I realize the grip configuration can/does effect different people differently.-------I have had an interest in the CoRe (mostly because of the early reports on it here in the U.S.).-------It will also be VERY interesting to see what the Makro Racer brings to the table.--------Anyway, good stuff Steve----thanks for posting.----------Del

 

[steve herschbach]

The detector is very well balanced and no, the grip does not cause me any pain. My ATX for instance, something about that hard plastic post and the way I grip it causes tendon pain in my forearm. I need to wrap that post. The FORS grip just feels awkward at first but after 15 minutes I am not thinking about it. I do think I could redesign it myself to be better but it sure as heck is not a deal breaker by any means. Other folks, unfortunately, all I can do is post photos and stuff but until you hold it you just don't know.

Racer may make it all moot for a lot of people.

 

[togg77]

Thanks for the pixs and comments--I switch hands often while detecting and was wondering if the grip would be a problem with the button being on the underside.

 

[GroundScanner]

Thanks Steve for the info and your opinions on the handle . It has answered a few of my question and concerns I had. Thanks for the pics.

 

[Monte]

The handle on the FORS Gold and FORS CoRe is packing quite a bit in what for other companies is just a handle.

There's an understatement! At that, many companies can't quite get a plain old hand-grip comfortable. I like the FORS CoRe overall.

Stuffing so much in the handle makes it a bit odd to hold compared to a bare handle. Your index finger normally rides up in between the trigger switch and LED light switch. You can grip tightly here, but shift your finger up a bit to activate the light, or down to activate the pinpoint function. This, combined with an aggressive forward stance of the handle itself, makes for what I personally feel is a less than comfortable grip. In practice I use it and it is fine but when I grab other detectors the difference is apparent. I think the design is more to accommodate the control set than for pure comfort.

I have spent a lot of time using models like the White's Classic series or M6 and they have that forward trigger toggle pod. I usually just rest my index finger along side of it and hold/work the detector with the thumb and other three fingers. Have hunted that way for almost two decades and it's not uncomfortable. With that little projection below the Nokta's Pinpoint trigger it just kind of rinds comfortably on my middle finger . And, as you stated, the 'trigger-finger' kind of 'fits' at the upper-part of the Pinpoint trigger and that makes its use very comfortable and you don't have to readjust the rest of your hand.

I will caution however that handle grips are one of those things that seem to hit people different ways. Some people like S rods, some do not. So the Nokta grip may or may not feel great to you. I do think that is a bit unforgiving to criticize too much when you consider all the functionality built into the handle. The LCD screen largely negates the issues with having a side mount control system by putting all relevant information on the mini-screen. There is the flashlight. The built in vibration mode could be the difference between owning this or never going detecting for a deaf person. Put in that light, the handle is a marvel and so I can forgive a bit of oddness in the way it feels.

It's difficult to make a whole detector physical configuration appeal to everyone. I know I never liked the too-lazy 'S' rod of the Minelab Sovereigns, and then some models might have an OK grip, if it wasn't trying to control a top-heavy detector with a control housing mounted aloft to throw the weight and balance off.

It has been too cold and wet to know how the plastic grip will feel when hot and sweaty summer days arrive, and the only issue I have now is that I am used to a foam-type grip that isn't slick-feeling. I am working on a fix for that today while I'm out detecting. Matter of fact, it's time to head out right now!

Thanks for your post Steve, and I agree that the Nokta FORS Gold and Coin & Relic models are a surprise to actually hold, handle and use afield. Comfortable. Even less fatigue on my back, neck, shoulder and elbow than models I usually hunt with. Well, if the rains hold off I am headed to a freshwater beach with a 'comfortable' to handle Nokta FORS CoRe.

Monte

 

[Monte]

I switch hands often while detecting and was wondering if the grip would be a problem with the button being on the underside.

By button' I presume you are referring to the pinpoint switch on the grip handle. If so, there is no concern as it is a rocker-switch and the grip design is uniform and the switch is easily accessed with either hand. Unless you're missing an index 'trigger-finger' you will like the CoRe's grip feel, grip angle, and very functional Pinpoint switch, regardless of the hand in use.

Monte

 

[togg77]

Thanks for your comment Monte. My concern was that gripping the handle with just 3 fingers is unnatural and any unnatural position of any part of the human anatomy will cause the effected muscle group to compensate usually with pain/cramps. However with your and Steve's explanation I don't see this as an issue. Thanks for all your helpful input.