Fun Question About Hidden Tang Traditionals

Trout Hound

Trout Hound

Joined
Sep 28, 2014
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693
So, here’s a fun question that I’ve been thinking about. Has anyone here ever ACTUALLY broken a hidden tang knife? Or even seen one broken? I totally get the logic about a full tang being theoretically more robust than a hidden tang, and if you need a knife you can really rely on when you’re lost in the woods, etc., etc.

But, I don’t think anyone would question the Ka-Bar’s reputation for hard use reliability. The USAF survival knife that my uncle carried in Vietnam? Hidden tang. I would bet next week’s lunch money that I could go out right now, with a brand new Mora No. 1, and baton it through half a cord of hickory, and the handle would still be tight when I was done. (I’d bet tonight’s dessert that it might still slice printer paper afterwards, too.) Heck, the knife I keep in my survival pack is a Mora Companion.

So, has anyone ever seen a hidden tang broken? If so, how? Thanks!
 
I've never seen one broken.
However, there is a Barracks Legend* of some Marine Drill Sargeant that broke a Kabar with his bare hands, back in the '60's or 70's.

I do not believe that particular legend to be true.

*A "Barracks Legend" is similar to an "Urban Legend".
 
I don't worry about it. Is a full exposed tang stronger than a full length hidden tang? Of course, there is more material there. Does it make a difference? Not to me, I view a knife as a precision instrument and try to use them with finesse. Besides, exposed or hidden tang, I figure the weakest part of the blade is the edge. The edge will get destroyed (something I try very hard to avoid) long before I break the tang.
 
afishhunter said:
I've never seen one broken.
However, there is a Barracks Legend* of some Marine Drill Sargeant that broke a Kabar with his bare hands, back in the '60's or 70's.

I do not believe that particular legend to be true.

*A "Barracks Legend" is similar to an "Urban Legend".
Click to expand...
My dad has told me a story of a barracks during basic which I believe was at Ft Benning ( he was stationed at 3 and I don't remember which he tool basic at )
It was an old barracks they were working on or cleaning and in the wall was an old combat knife and a machete with a user modified serrated edge.
Both had some engraving on them and were from WW2 I believe. I think him and a buddy found them but regardless the SGT took both and kept them for himself.

Now on to the topic at hand, I've never broke one or know anyone personally who has broken a proper one but YouTube is full of videos of people who have and they're almost all from those who think batoning on a knife is more than something done in an emergency. They think you have to do this to every new knife to see if it's " any good " because apparently any knife you can break by misusing is garbage.
 
For years I've used a Mora no. 1 for camp/bushcraft duties and never broken a tang. I've used it hard, not quite abused but I was never gentle on it.
I've never felt the need for a full tang, just as I've never felt the need for a locking pocket knife.
Today there is simply an overemphasis on things being indestructible, when most of the time they don't need to be.
 
I’ve seen many handles broken on hidden tang knives but not the tang itself. And one tang bent but not broken. Don’t ask me how it happened, it was in a toolbox at my grandmothers house.
 
I've never broken one either, though I've not used my Mora for anything that would threaten such an outcome. Personally, I like the reduced weight that results from reducing the tang.
 
Knives and other cutting implements were made this way for hundreds, if not longer, of years. Even if it does happen, which law of averages says that it must, it’s such an uncommon occurrence it never deterred smiths from continuing to use this method.
Thanks, Neal
 
neal70 said:
Knives and other cutting implements were made this way for hundreds, if not longer, of years. Even if it does happen, which law of averages says that it must, it’s such an uncommon occurrence it never deterred smiths from continuing to use this method.
Thanks, Neal
Click to expand...

Precisely. Khukuris are the quintessential big knife, and yet the preferred construction method remains the full hidden tang. Never mind that the kamis are well aware of the full exposed tang (chiruwa or pana butta), they still build the majority of khukuris with a hidden tang. A khukuri experiences more stresses compared to most designs; it's still strong enough. Plus the hidden tang transmits less shock back to the user's hand than an exposed tang does.

14716572449_5a7d083451_c.jpg
 
kamagong said:
Precisely. Khukuris are the quintessential big knife, and yet the preferred construction method remains the full hidden tang. Never mind that the kamis are well aware of the full exposed tang (chiruwa or pana butta), they still build the majority of khukuris with a hidden tang. A khukuri experiences more stresses compared to most designs; it's still strong enough. Plus the hidden tang transmits less shock back to the user's hand than an exposed tang does.

14716572449_5a7d083451_c.jpg
Click to expand...

That is an excellent point!
 
The Varusteleka Skrama is another big chopper that uses a hidden tang. I can’t imagine what kind of abuse it might take to break it. At the same time, reducing the tang shifts the weight forward, putting the balance point right at the juncture of the handle and the blade. I’d venture to say that this knife chops better than it would with a full tang.

On my other Scandinavian knives, using a stick tang keeps the weight of the knife low. Yet these are not easy knives to break. I will never break one in my lifetime, but that’s faint praise, of course.
 
I think it has been almost two weeks since I last saw the stick tang versus full tang opinionating. The real amusing bit is that the posters think that they have come up with something novel instead of something that has been discussed to death. In defense of stick tangs, I am using a stick tang spoon to stir my coffee and it is holding up very well. We'll see how it does when I cross - grain baton it through a leftover piece of last night's cheesecake. I am optimistic based on what I have read above.
 
This is the first time I have seen this issue come up here. Could have been a troll, of course, but I would have no way of knowing that, since I spend most of my Forum time on the porch.
 
popedandy said:
I think it has been almost two weeks since I last saw the stick tang versus full tang opinionating. The real amusing bit is that the posters think that they have come up with something novel instead of something that has been discussed to death. In defense of stick tangs, I am using a stick tang spoon to stir my coffee and it is holding up very well. We'll see how it does when I cross - grain baton it through a leftover piece of last night's cheesecake. I am optimistic based on what I have read above.
Click to expand...

Lol...snark much?
 
Yes, I was mainly interested in hearing from my friends here on the porch about what they have actually seen, as opposed to the endless conjecture that usually takes place on this issue. I hear a lot of people talk about it, but I never really hear anyone say that they have really seen a stick tang fail, first-hand. Thus, the way my question was worded. Not intended to kick too many dead horses. Thanks to everyone for the valuable input.
 
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