PeteF, you asked for our opinions, so here's mine...
Honestly? I don't like the handle at all in the first pic.
- It is too wide (uniform 1¼" width is just too wide to be comfortable)
- It is parallel in width (widest in the center and slightly narrower on both ends is also more comfortable, but not necessary)
- The actual handle is too short; from where the fade ends and the shelf starts, you have basically 3" length to put your hand. Not enough.
- The shelf is personal, but yours is just too deep and too short. It'll get in the way when your sighting down the shaft, and the feathers will brush a lot of surrounding wood. Instead, I would not cut in a window into the handle, but only add some material (wood, leather, cork etc.) to the side of the handle. A sliver of material only 1" long and 3/8" thick is plenty to keep your arrow in place.
I am liking your second handle a lot better! Just the right width, no fancy shelf, just down to earth. If you want to add an arrow pass, you can still glue some wood or leather to the side of the handle after you've shaped it. There's no need to cut a shelf into the handle itself, if you want something for your arrow to rest on.
Those saw marks that make your board appear 'swirley' are not a problem at the moment, but make sure they are completely gone by the time you start bending the wood.
