It would work ok for me too, because when I'm holding a knife edge up, my thumb is still behind the guard. The short handle would be OK too, as I almost never hold a knife like a hammer handle unless it's a really big knife.
I've noticed most people when they pick up a knife to see how it feels grab it like that, but rarely use it that way unless they are chopping. I don't chop with a small knife.
Ron