I think in any design, there will be inherent compromises, and no design, no matter how well-intentioned and executed, is foolproof. Any design advantage will find a person or situation out there that will defeat it. Specialised tools could be employed to best attack a specific problem, and there is no magic bullet. So-called do-it-all tools generally don't do ANYTHING particularly well.
I would back what Bruce Buxton said, and what Nick seconded.
There are also too many variables in the way different makers construct hidden and full tangs to make generalised statements like Full tang is superior to Hidden tang, etc.
In the actual bend test, I think it also depends on where the maker torques on the knife to bend the blade in bending tests. A visegrip clamped on the very tail end is different to a "cheater" lead pipe placed all the way down to the tang shoulders.
Then, let me say... I was made to understand FROM THE START, that the ABS JS bend tests were NEVER meant to imply strength in a knife, in case this is where the problem comes from. The bending test was to show that the maker had good understanding and control of the heat treatment processes to meet the demands of the testing requirements.
Any maker who had mastered the basic concept could then modify and adapt the heat treatment to suit their desired performance characteristics in the blade. More bendy, less bendy, soft tang, spring tempered tang, etc. etc. If the test criteria were for a blade to spring and not bend, or even to break , rather than bend, I'm sure bladesmiths would then be concentrating on achieving that, instead.
The chopping and rope cutting tests were a measure of edge durability and correct application of edge geometry, and to a lesser degree, bevel geometry, blade toughness and user skill.
The ABS tests don't specify that the test knife be either full tang or hidden tang. Its up to the maker to make what they make and to do their own homework to create a test knife that will survive the tests. Some will make hidden tangs, some will make full tangs.
As if to state the obvious, AGAIN, the ABS tests are not to determine who makes the best pry bar, club or hammer.
Folks who demand other performance parameters, such as prying ability are more than welcome to perform the tests. Again, I say, select your compromise and be aware of its limitations.
I know that little spiel is pretty off track, but I just had to get it off my chest...
Jason.
