double checking before attempting a hitten tang, help

Derek Bergstrom

Derek Bergstrom

Joined
Mar 5, 2014
Messages
140
Hi gents, just saw a thread of a modified knife i currently have and the owner put a G10 handle on instead of the rubber one. im curious how one makes a square hole that is several inches long in a block of something. like a knife block for cutlery, do you just use a square file? i did a leather handle and it was forgiving enough to just use my drill press and slide it on one washer at a time. thanks
 
Well, you can just drill multiple holes and then kind of work your way through the bits left over. Also there is the technique where you drill the holes, clamp the handle into a vise, then heat up the tang and burn through. You have to repeat this step a lot for it to work. However it does leave a black or burned ring all through the wood so keep that in mind.
 
hm that may work with G10 as well, that makes sense, it would fit quite snug. round hole and a square tang fitting has always seemed odd to me but i hope i can do something with it soon
 
You can drill the hole with a long drill bit, then use a thin coping saw to cut the square hole. Most files are too short. Fill the voids with epoxy when you set the handle.
 
You can also use three pieces of material. Two are just slabs. The center one is cut out to fit the tang. They are all glued together to make one assembly. This is called a frame handle construction. It is popular with fancy tang shapes where there are curves and such that don't allow a simple hole.
You can also use just two pieces of material, and inlet the handle shape in one or both. This is called a mortise handle construction.
 
Last edited:
You will want one of these....
orig.jpg

(image borrowed from Mr. Newton)
The odd looking little device at the bottom, we refer to them as a tang or handle broach. It can turn a round hole into a rectangular hole very quickly. A lot of knifemakers make their own (I made a set), and there are a few outfits that sell them also.

A mortise or frame handle construction will also work well, as Stacy suggested.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top