Hi, I am still on the hunt for a more ergonimic flute for the smaller stretch. I know there are very good makers in America who make these, Casey Burns for example who makes great flutes and has been very helpful, the problem I am having with this option for now is the twenty percent customs which adds considerably to the price.Though I haven’t totally ruled out having to do this. So in a final research bid does anyone out there know of and recommend any European makers that can make flutes for the smaller stretch? Or know of anything second hand in Europe? Thanks folks and happy New Year 
What is the spread between the tip of your pinkie and the tip of your thumb (with your fingers spread out of course)? Casey’s own page says if 7.5" or above you don’t need a smaller hands flute.
I’ve known several people who thought they needed a small hands flute but were fine after a bid of adjustment to most non-small hand flutes.
What are you playing now? Tony Dixon’s 3 piece delrin flute has a rather easy hole spacing.
Eric
Unless you’re me? (9"+ span with custom LH arrangement still an absolute requirement!)
Not in the sense of actively advertising them. But how about contacting some, discussing your needs (always my starting point these days) and taking it from there? (On which note a two-way dialogue with an understanding and interested maker can be a wonderful thing!)
Hi, I have just under a 7.5 inch stretch, so I manage but it hurts. I have contacted a few flute makers, posted this to get some more ideas and opinions as am struggling to find makers in Europe that make flutes for the smaller stretch. You never know what nugget of information is out there that may lead me to my flute
Ah, those are small mitts! Desi Seery had a small handed model, but I found the stretch to be just as much as on his regular model flute (just with smaller holes).
Dominic Allan is very responsive to email and might be a good person to contact. Jem Hammond (Jem the Flute on the board) sells some second hand, but repaired, German flutes and those often are forgiving of smaller hands.
Let us know if you find someone willing/able to work with you.
Eric
Why not get a Siccama flute? I know a nice antique William Hall Siccama that would be perfect… The flute has much promise… http://www.antiqueflutes.com/product.php?id=978
Jon - The link says that the flute is unrepairable with the tuning slide protruding into the embouchure. Is this the right link for the OP? 
It’s great that there is a wide selection of flutes, keyless and keyed for this kind of fingering issue. Whereas flute makers can address the ergonomics of the flute, there are also player ergonomics which I’ve had to deal with.
I’ve given up playing low whistles with the incredible finger stretch problems. Recently I’m finding Boehm keyed wooden flutes (or any kind of simple system key!) very attractive - none of the fingering space problems, and none of the shrill metal sound properties. However no way about it - they are just not as fast as a keyless flute. Not that I’m in a race or anything.
You could look for some of the early (read vintage) simple system flutes: all the Breitkopf, Schwedler types and the Meyer style flutes I’ve had, have reaches which I can handle at 7.5". In contrast, the modern Peter Worrell simple system flute has a finger stretch that left me reeling with finger cramp. I couldn’t cover the low D consistently and it really can only be played using the piper’s grip. Even with piper’s grip, I still have problems with the lower hand (right, for right handed people) especially with that massive middle index finger hole (larger than the other holes usually).
The left hand is less of a problem with the wider spread. Thinking about player ergonomics - there are a number of grips which can compensate for this problem with the left upper hand (for right handed players). The baroque traverso grip I’m comfortable with, and can manage the longer spread easily. Perhaps it’s the right lower hand dexterity issue with the wider finger spread which is the reason why I prefer closer holes or keyless holes too. There are a number of English flute makers (including Dominic Allen, and Paul Windridge), as well as the other guys in Norfolk whom someone linked a thread review to. The Windridge simple system flute is rather specialist/niche, however the fingering holes might put you off:
If not, try calling him
In France, there is an active circuit of flute makers in Bretagne and Finistere. You could end up spending years buying second hand flutes and moving on, moving up. Or perhaps just book a visit to a flutemaker, and try it out to decide. I’ve tried both..! I definitely recommend the latter
No, David is just over-reacting a bit… it will be a great flute after it is re-padded. I have it in my shop, I am tempted to buy it myself, but I am short on cash… (and have 20 flutes already!)
Phil Bleazey’s Rudall model flutes are very comfortable. The holes aren’t particularly close-spaced, but they’re small, and I find his a lot more comfortable than the “ergonomic” flutes I’ve tried, plus the E note is very strong.
The problem with ergonomic hole patterns, if you try to play a regular flute, your fingers can’t find the holes!
Think you can adjust to flutes that fit, but why worry about ‘regular flutes’ when you’re presumably going ergonomic/custom because you’ve found them more or less unplayable?
I remember a girl that was using a “ergonomic flute” she couldn’t play the nice antiques I brought to the session, her fingers couldn’t find the holes. Just seems like a bad habit…
Since I’d also struggle (nice big span and all) to play your nice antiques, I’d have to dispute that playing a playable flute can possibly be a ‘bad habit’ if you couldn’t otherwise play at all. For sure I wouldn’t advise anyone to specify heavily non-standard/customised layouts (like mine) casually, but some of us have literally no choice!
See also Casey’s arguments at http://www.caseyburnsflutes.com/faq.php#ergo (and, no, I don’t have a Burns flute).
I think its more important to have a flute that suits you that you can play and enjoy than be able to pick up everyone elses flute at a session. Well the saga is moving on when yesterday a very clever and skilled instrument making friend of mine(fiiddles and fixing nowadays) came round and I bent her ear for ages about what I should do, when she said she had made some flutes when she was at instrument making college that were designed to be easy to play for a small stretch, that she has the rimmers and with my help she would try to make me a flute i’m happy with, experimenting with various half finished pieces that have been in her workshop for years as a project so that was a turn up for the books! I’ve been trying out the fingering on one today and its not far off what I need so…watch this space.
Sounds like a good option, let us know how it goes!
There’s a parisian maker who can makes flutes with unaligned holes, which can help in case of small hands, I tried one of his flute last summer, with unaligned holes for the left hand (but he can do it for both hands), and it’s easier to play, but I don’t really need it, I have long fingers.
A friend has ordered one.
The maker’s site, Sébastien Villoing, a very nice guy :
Some examples of how it can sound, by my flute teacher :