Regardless of the "common internet knowledge" that profuse the idea that "full tangs" are
inherently stronger and better, the persistent wisdom of the ages, and many of the current ABS master-smiths prevails that stick tangs have numerous advantages, one of which is the vibration issue.
I agree,
stick tang is equal or better. Lighter,
just as strong, reduced vibration and hand fatigue, less prone to corrosion.
Try taking a large piece of flat steel stock, and striking it against a rock if you're masochist.
I favor stick tangs, and replace anywhere I can for my users.
Reference to the parts in bold:
First of all, I don't know of any HI products that use a stick tang. There may have been a couple of special models. All the rest are full tang. "Full tang" means the tang runs the entire length of the handle. I've never seen it referred to as anything else until i got on the interwebz. When I contacted Yangdu the first time, she clarified that she calls a full tang any tang that goes all the way through the handle. What would be called an exposed tang, HI calls a Chiruwa handle. Avoids confusion that way.
Now, a Chiruwa handle is stronger, period. There can be no contention on that. The question becomes "Is the standard tang weak enough to break by hand use?" The answer is a resounding "No!". There's more metal in the HI standard tang than in a lot of medium sized knives. However, the handle can be broken off, depending on how you use it -- which is why the Ak is not warrantied for prying and the CAK is. For those whose endeavors may require such use -- SAR, military, some LEO, folks in the zombie apocalypse, etc (guys who have enough to carry and can't carry a separate prybar in addition to everything else), the Chiruwa handle is the better idea. For normal, intended use, the handle on the standard tang probably isn't in much danger of breakage as long as you take care of it.
As for vibration, I don't feel any more with my Chiruwa handles than my non Chiruwa handles, and here's why I think that is the case:
When you strike on the near side of the sweet spot, where the blade curves up toward the handle, the kukri will want to wrap around what you are chopping and will drive the handle into your palm. If you strike on the far sid eof the sweet spot (note, both times still striking on the sweet spot), where the blade curves up toward the tip, the kukri will want to lever down into your fingers, reducing the shock transmitted to your arm, because it's hitting softeer, more forgiving flesh, rather than larger bones. This is especially true if you use the somewhat loose grip used for a good snap cut.
I often see people striking much further back toward the handle than I do, and they often are the ones that complain of vibration and pooh-pooh the capabilities of the kukri.
YMMV
