Full tang VS narrow tang?

Hidden tang has it's place, though. More intricate handles can be easily stacked, it is easier for putting on a guard (not to say it is easy to do it right), it is lighter, there is no metal touching the skin and it is plenty strong for most things. Full tangs are defiantly stronger, though.
 
I agree. I actually like the thorough tang (also mortised tang) more for the reasons you mentioned, plus it reduces weight in the handle area better than any tapered tang will do.
 
Unless you're going to be prying open manholes or standing on it, I don't think it matters too much.
 
Reason I ask is because my friend thinks a properly constructed narrow tang is stronger because the tang is round (harder to bend) and everything is pulled up tight with the threaded pommel and he thinks that if you did have to use your knife as a pry bar, the full tang scales would pop loose unlike a solid handle with a narrow tang which would cause the blade to break before your handle ever did. I don't know...I'm with you guys, a full tang has to be stronger.
 
I believe full tang is stronger, but most swords are narrow tang. I would think if a narrow tang is good enough for a sword, it is certainly more than good enough for a knife.
 
Concaves are significantly harder to bend, if the stick tang was hollow it might be more difficult to bend, but just being round isn't giving it any appreciable bend resistance.
 
I would say it is dependent on many factors. What size knife are we talking about? What use is the knife designed for? What kind of forces will be applied to the knife? How is the handle done?

I do think a full tang is stronger, but a full tang may not be what is best for a particular use.

For smaller knives mainly used for cutting, no appreciable difference. But in larger knives used for chopping, I think a hidden tang offers several advantages.

Simple strength is found in a full tang, but strength is not always what is needed.

Andy
 
Don't forget that a hidden tang has other advantages when carbon steel (O-1, D2, 1095) is used. Less exposed metal = fewer areas to worry about rust.

There are no shortage of hidden-tang knives in this world that are known for their durability and strength (Randalls and Ka-Bars, to name a couple). I for one am not convinced that a full-tang knife is necessarily better, even though, at least in theory, it should be stronger. But then again, I'm not planning on using my knives to chop down any trees any time soon.
 
I have one thing to add to this. For a hidden tang to be strong it must be forged. This allow the grain to flow without breaks in the grain line. That is not to say that is stronger that full tangs.
Just my thoughts, for what its worth
Eric Knight
 
1984nitro said:
I have one thing to add to this. For a hidden tang to be strong it must be forged. This allow the grain to flow without breaks in the grain line. That is not to say that is stronger that full tangs.
Just my thoughts, for what its worth
Eric Knight
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This information is not correct.
 
Bill Burke said:
have any of you advise givers done any testing or is this just Unsubstantiated advise?
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Why don't you answer the question that was asked, insted of taking a shot at people who are trying to help?:confused:
seems a bit counter productive is all i'm saying.
 
First, I would like to second Acridsaints last post on the tang having to be forged. Forging a tang changes nothing as to strength. In fact, there is a better chance of failure if the forging was poorly done. As to strength between the two, I repeat. Swords through the ages have been predominately narrow tanged. If a full tang was that much better, then it is my opinion that someone would have figured that out long ago. All the broken swords I have seen, broke somewhere down the blade. Not the in the tang. If one is that worried about the matter, maybe they should just go with a full tang in order to be at ease. Come to think of it, I have never seen a broken narrow tang, but I have seen more than one broken full tang. Probably due to the HT though.
 
SShepherd said:
Why don't you answer the question that was asked, insted of taking a shot at people who are trying to help?:confused:
seems a bit counter productive is all i'm saying.
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If I were to give an answer it would simply be taken as my personal opinion. I ask what I did to see if anyone giving an opinion had actually done any testing or if the answers provided were just that opinions. since there seems to be so much incorrect or incomplete advice floating around scientific testing would seem to be the only way to arrive at anykind of conclusive answer.
 
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