And yet another framed handle question

peter nap

peter nap

Joined
Nov 27, 1999
Messages
3,745
A while back when I built the first framed handle knife, Bruce Evans posted that he made the tang somewhere around 1/4 inch. My question for Bruce and others is, do you square the tang at the front or taper it like a normal stick tang. Under normal conditions I wouldn't even consider squaring the tang but on these things I'll blindly follow the advice of the folks making them. I have torture tested this knife and I agree that the framed handles are the greatest thing since belt grinders.
 
TJ...Follow this link..
http://www.homestead.com/beknivessite2/cokebottlehandle~ns4.html

Peter,I have a small rounding at the tang to blade joint,You just don't want a square joint,that can cause a crack.The radius can be very small and that way you can keep a tighter fit between the frame and tang.I have found that when I make the bigger gradual taper into the tang my frame is to narrow to put pins through and thus not as much strength to hold the scales on.
Hope this helps..
Bruce
 
Thanks Bruce. I'll build another one this week. The pins were a problem. On the last one I had to use hidden pins to keep them from becoming part of the roundover at the edge.
 
Peter,Make sure you have enough room around the edges to hold the pins.I shape my handle 99% then set the pins.And when I finsh shaping the handle I go ahead and round the pins with the handle.Just make sure they are not to close to the edge and weaken the handle material when you round them over.
Or shape the handle completely and then just round over the ends of the pins when you peen them and then hand sand them smooth and buff the handle,this gives a nice raised pin pattern on the handle and added gripping.I do them both ways,just depends on the look I am after or what the customer asks for.
Good Luck,Lets see the next one when you get it done.
Bruce
 
I forgot...I try to keep mine at least 1/4 inch from the edge of the handle,that works great and keeps enough handle material between the edge and the pins to keep the handle material strong.
Bruce
 
I just don't know if pins are strong enough with this construction method for a user knife like a camp knife so I was thinking about welding the tang together. Anyone ever tried this??
 
Michale,I have had no problems with type of handle construction on a using knife like a camp knife.Heck they had been making them this way for years on the old Bowies,and they held up great.I would think it would be harder to weld the frame on after setting the guard and keeping it square and then flattening it back out.But it might work,Let us know if you try it.
Bruce
 
Michael, I had the same misgivings. I have also learned to just accept what Bruce says as fact. I like to build two of my using knives. I built a serious business knife and I built a practice knife that has all the same features and balance, just not the finish. I wanted to see if I could break the practice one.
I really torture tested it during several practice bouts.

I sliced through several pieces of rotten wood 2" thick.

Chopped a 2X4

stuck it through an old bullet proof vest panel I use to test with (this is hard on guards).

both front slashed and backslashed through wet mats and newspaper.

Did a back thrust through my cutting dummy. (this really torques the handle)

Then I tried the biggie. I've broken several knives and swords on this one but I consider it an absolute must for practice and testing.

I have an arm for my cutting dummy. It has replacable bones made of 1.5" PVC pipe. It is positioned the same as someones arm in the ready to draw your weapon with the hand on the weapon. The idea is to start from 15 feet and cut the group of tendons etc in the strong arm that control finger movement. Take a look at Grays Anatomy and you will see what I mean. After that slash and still pretty much at a full run you turn and cut through the bone (PVC) just above the elbow.

This is pure hell on a knife or sword because of the twisting motions. The bottom line is that I have not loosened the handle at all. I expected to split the slabs where the pins come through. I can find no signs of stress at all. The worst thing that happened in this test is that I cut myself:D

Try it yourself, I think you will like the pinned framed handle.
 
Man !!!!! What a test Peter..
Knife torture:eek:
Sounds like you was having fun when you did all this,That is to cool.Bet the neighbors think you are a little CRAZY when they see you doing this,or do they hide there kids when they see the crazy knife maker coming:D
Bruce
 
They would if they could see me Bruce. I have this back in the woods with my shooting range. They would really think I was nuts in the morning. I do an hour of sword practice every morning at 5:00. Just use the range lights. It's quiet then and I can concentrate. I have to do it more often now that I'm older. My body loses it's flex quickly. Gettin old ain't no fun.
 
Boy Do I here that..Peter..
I need to figure out a way to make myself do something like that,When I was younger it was no problem to want to go to the gym all the time,now that i am getting older it just seems like that isn't as important anymore.Of course making knives has took my life over,don't do nothing like I used to except want to play with Donna.
Bruce
 
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