Am I the only one in the world who hates tapered tang knives?

Jack Black said:
Mr Lehman, you might benefit from reading the forum rules here (http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...Don-t-get-mad-at-me-if-you-ignore-these-RULES) from which the abbreviated quotes below are taken:

“Posters are expected to be nice and post with respect...”

“Political topics will not be tolerated in the General Knife Forums...Use the political forum for those types of comments, trolling and insults are not acceptable in the knife discussion forums.”

“If you desire to make inflammatory posts we have a place for that called Whine & Cheese...The same goes for posts that come across as having the intention of or resulting in stirring the pot in an inflammatory manner (I.E. trolling).”

“We want you to relax, enjoy yourself here and make friends...”
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I do not not believe that I will be able to "relax" here ever again. I tried to apologise for a bad choice of word and was guilty of being "inflammatory" with my poor choice of not so clever vernacular but some of you are not satified. I will be ever careful of what I say on the this site from now on to be sure. Let it go. L
 
Your last post is just as disingenuous as some of your others in my opinion.

LARRYZ10 said:
I do not not believe that I will be able to "relax" here ever again.
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Poor old you. You’ve certainly not made a good first impression have you?

LARRYZ10 said:
I tried to apologise for a bad choice of word
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You initially ignored the comments of other posters about your choice of language, and then tried to justify it, suggesting that it was other posters who were intolerant, rather than you yourself. You’re still doing that. You could have edited your post at any time, you chose not to.

LARRYZ10 said:
I will be ever careful of what I say on the this site from now on to be sure. Let it go. L
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Will you really? I hope so, but I kind of doubt it, because you don’t seem to have learned anything from this exchange.

The fact that, of all the thousands of adjectives available to you in the English language, you chose to use the word "gay" in relation to a particular design of knife tang is something I think a certain Mr Freud might have viewed as deeply significant. But then I think he also talked a lot of nonsense.
 
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Yikes.

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Goosey said:
Yikes.

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Sorry Goosey :) I stay out of Whine & Cheese for a reason. I think that the General Forum should be for polite discussion about knives in respectful language.
 
Goosey said:
Totally agreed. This whole thread makes me cringe, yeeee...:o
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Great pic by the way. I tried Googling an image for 'Hiding behind the sofa' relating to another thread, but nothing appropriate came up :)
 
Jack Black said:
With respect James, I don't think that's the case (and I've read post 49 as I have the other posts on this thread). It was quickly apparent that the OP's use of language - rather odd and stupid use of language in my opinion - had caused offense to some other posters. He could have apologised and edited his post, substituting a more appropriate word for the one that had caused offense. In my opinion, this whole thread is a bit stupid, but it could have been easily sorted out. We shouldn't be having this sort of discussion in 'General', in my opinion this is a 'Whine & Cheese' thread.
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You reported the post didn't you? The use of the word "gay" wasn't directed at anyone in a derogatory sense. You're making a mountain out of a mole hill. I asked you to stay on topic earlier now I'm telling you stay on topic. If this thread offends you so much stay out of it.
 
As someone who attempts to make knives in his spare time I appreciate how difficult it is to make a well done tapered tang. I know it's not needed. But I think it differentiates the men from the boys when it comes to knifemaking.

Seen many production tapered tangs lately? No? Because they're difficult to do well. There's a few. (I think Böker has at least one) but the ones that ARE available are very spendy because it's tough to make them cost effectively.
 
Morrow said:
You reported the post didn't you? The use of the word "gay" wasn't directed at anyone in a derogatory sense. You're making a mountain out of a mole hill. I asked you to stay on topic earlier now I'm telling you stay on topic. If this thread offends you so much stay out of it.
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Not wishing to be pedantic, but it was actually a different post I reported. Your instructions will be heeded of course. My apologies.
 
Jack Black said:
Your last post is just as disingenuous as some of your others in my opinion.



Poor old you. You’ve certainly not made a good first impression have you?



You initially ignored the comments of other posters about your choice of language, and then tried to justify it, suggesting that it was other posters who were intolerant, rather than you yourself. You’re still doing that. You could have edited your post at any time, you chose not to.



Will you really? I hope so, but I kind of doubt it, because you don’t seem to have learned anything from this exchange.

The fact that, of all the thousands of adjectives available to you in the English language, you chose to use the word "gay" in relation to a particular design of knife tang is something I think a certain Mr Freud might have viewed as deeply significant. But then I think he also talked a lot of nonsense.
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Back at you;)

it seems that most of the time when someone breaks someone else's post into multiple quotes it comes off as inflammatory...tone is difficult to convey...jsut say'in;)

OP was out of line with his word choice, he acknowledges that and has indicated that it wont happen again...what more do we need from him?

Regarding the never relaxing bit. I agree...and I think many would. Relaxing and typing as you might speak around a table of friends is practically impossible in General...if for no other reason, because more people will see it than just your friends that might be able to garner your true tone from the post. There are places on the web where guys can truly relax and whip zingers at each other...as the rules state, this is not permitted in General. Not everyone "relaxes" in the same manner, and shame on anyone for suggesting that we all should;)

I disagree with almost every opinion stated by the OP in the OP and quite a few other "fact"/opinions that some others have posted in this thread...this is pretty common on the web...it happens (shrug)

Back on topic, Tapered tangs have a place and utility. I would suggest that it is similar to other choices like synthetic handle materials, swedges, fullers, serrations, and re-curves...They all have a purpose and it would be (in my opinion) a statement of ignorance to claim they are never warranted. However, if a person wants to say they NEVER care for them, that is their opinion and they can have it (even if our opinion does not agree).

Take it for what it is worth and design/build knives any way you like. Truly GREAT makers that I have dealt with generally make a practice of not stating their opinions outside of private meetings with clients during design...and generally these opinions are based in understanding of conveyed desires from the client coupled with the makers experience with designs and features as they apply to the conveyed desires for the knife...and lastly perhaps based on personal prejudices for the feature....that said a commissioner of fine knives knows better than to deal with someone that holds prejudices against the features/options they desire;)
 
unit said:
it seems that most of the time when someone breaks someone else's post into multiple quotes it comes off as inflammatory...tone is difficult to convey...jsut say'in
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I almost always reply with "multiquotes." Doing so allows me to address each comment that the poster has made. It also allows me to address each question that's been asked, in turn. Many posters will ask several questions and many replies only answer some (or one) of them. If my post disagrees with the poster, they take it as inflammatory. If my post agrees, I'm told that I'm "being thorough." This comes under the heading of not being able to please all of the people all of the time.

Back on topic. I appreciate the craftsmanship and skill that a custom knife maker puts into tapering a tang. I've handled many knives that had the feel of a crowbar with a sharp edge on it. Universally, their tangs were not tapered. Tapering a tang does not automatically make a knife "feel" better, but if it's done properly, it may.
 
LARRYZ10 said:
I was just trying trying to have a little fun with my comment on tapered tangs knives but it seems some of the readers are taking this too seriously. I am sorry I posted my opinion. Comments like " I would never buy from you" and suggesting that I am a "JERK" OR "A-HOLE" really shows how tolerant some of you guys are. By the way I just finished a tapered tang knife knife this morning. I won't be posting anymore comments . No room for humor on this site. Larry Lehman
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If insulting the work others do, while touting how great you are, with no proof, then your humor will probably not seen as such. You will be seen as a jerk or ahole. If the shoe fits........
 
Maddogg774 said:
If it achieves a better forward balance yet doesn't weaken the knife then I'm all for it.
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This.

I've got a Browning Crowell / Barker Competition knife with a tapered tang that moves the center of balance forward for chopping.
Very clean, intelligent and elegant (but not gay) design.
 
The Browning Crowell / Barker Competition knife is a very good example of a large, powerful camp knife that uses tapers to keep weight and balance under control. I have one and like it very much. This isn't mine - just a pic I found on the web - but it shows the geometry pretty well.

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It has outstanding speed and power, yet it isn't unwieldy or tiring to use throughout long sessions of clearing brush or cutting up wood for the campfire. A similarly-profiled knife with full-thickness tang and blade would be much heavier and exhausting to use for any length of time.

A certain hockey-masked individual did a long video wherein he beat the living snot out of one, and it really took him a long time to destroy it. He himself was surprised it held up so well. I mention that only to illustrate that even under extreme abuse, the tapers that help it perform so well did not weaken it.
 
I wouldn't think a tapered tang would make the knife much weaker. Maybe if you held the tapered part in a vice and beat on it you could break a knife that way, but with a gradual taper I really don't see much loss of strength under normal use.
 
My first thoughts on reading the initial post were, "Hmm, despite my penchant for knives that are typically classed as survival knives, and my well documented and oft lamented weakness for a well-shaped bowie, there's something about a tapered tang that draws me to knives from a broad spectrum of designs and classifications. That "something" is probably the skill and attention to detail that a maker must put in to the knife and its corresponding scales."

After 4 pages of responses that were exponentially more offensive than the initial post, I feel the entire topic has been sullied. Let's remember what we learned at our parent's laps regarding two wrongs not making a right and a gentle answer turning away wrath. It seems an opportunity to correct and befriend was lost.

It's truly a sad and strange day when I become the voice reason, though not as sad as someone spending $900 on Ferragamos that aren't oxblood wingtips.
 
Wyszrd, You are a voice of reason. I am the idiot who originally posed the provocative question and did so to elicit a spirited debate. I was guilty of not knowing the posting rules very well and I let loose the hornets on myself. I apologised for any slight to people who are offended by the word "gay" and tried to ease out of it. I had no idea how inflamitory my little joke was. Ironically I am getting ready to display my knives in Bakersfield at a show on November 15th where I have two tapered tang knives for sale. I apologise again to anyone who was offended by my remarks about tapered tang knives and my choice of terms. Larry Lehman P.S. I was also accused of crass self promotion so I should say that 3 of my knives were purchased this month by the producers of the movie "Hangover III" filming scenes in Tehachapi, California for use in their movie being released this coming summer. Larry Lehman
 
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