Full tang to subhilt?

Hogwash

Hogwash

Joined
Jun 17, 2006
Messages
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I have tried to search but my browser just gives me a blank page instead of results.

If you know of a good thread, please post a link.

I have a full tang knife and the handle just doesn't fit my hand.

I want to grind away some of the tang so that I can make a couple of Micarta slabs that circle the entire tang (I think that's called a subhilt).

How can I make the cut without wrecking the heat treat?

I would prefer a method I could do myself but I don't want to buy machines or spend 10 years with a piece of sand paper. If there is no DIY way, would wire EDM work?
 
A subhilt is a mini half guard (usually) between the middle and index fingers as seen here http://www.coldsteel.com/14bbcj.html.. It sounds (to me) that you are looking to put a bolster/spacer on your knife; or else to have a mortised tang for a hidden tang knife. some more defining is needed before I can be of more assistance- sorry.
 
This is a Sub-Hilt!
Loveless_JuniorBear-w.jpg
By the man who invented it!
 
He wants a "mortised handle".
Grind the tang down behind the guard to something larger than a stick tang,and less than a full tang. Allow at least 3/16" for the handle sides,more is better. Once the tang is shaped,place it on one of the scales and draw around it. Route out or mill out the wood so the tang sits 1/2 way in the scale. Do the same for the other scale. When placed together, they will encase the tang with the mortise you carved out.Drill the rivet holes. It is often easier to pre-shape the scales with them temporarily stuck together off the knife (two tricks here are to lightly glue them together with a piece of paper in the joint - it can be split apart with a thin blade. Or, Use wooden dowels for the rivets and grind the scales to shape. Tap out the dowels and assemble on the tang with the metal rivets.). Once ready, assemble and finish as if it were any other handle project.The Japanese mortise only one scale,as it makes a stronger joint. The only difference is the joint is the tiniest bit to one side of center. I usually mortise only one scale. If the wood is cut from a block (grain lines up) and sanded truly flat, the joint is often nearly invisible,anyway.
Hope this helps - Stacy
 
wash said:
I want to grind away some of the tang so that I can make a couple of Micarta slabs that circle the entire tang
Click to expand...

Have you taken the current handle off yet?
I ask because on some knives that make the tang less heavy by drilling lots of holes in the tang.

So be sure that there is enough steel under the current handle to have enough left over after you trim some off.

If I were going to just thin down a full-tang handle to become a sub-tang handle, I believe try first a file. A file would work because most of the time the tang is not as hard as the cutting edge steel.
 
Thanks for the answers.

Bladsmth had it right, I want a morticed handle. I just didn't know the right terminology.

So, northcoast recomends a hacksaw and Alan M. recomends a file. I thought a handle would be too hard for a file and I never thought a hacksaw could cut through hardened steel.

I guess I will just have to try and see what works.

If any one else knows a good way to cut a tang without screwing up the heat treat, let me know.
 
Grinding it down on the belt grinder will do the job fine. Just don't overheat it. Even a bench grinder will do this job.Few tangs are soft enough to saw or file ,in my experience.
Stacy
 
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