Grinding Hidden Tang Knives

[colu41]

So. I started my first crack at a hidden tang knife. And I have a question.

Do you guys leave the tang FULL while grinding, and then cut out after? Or no?

Because I cut mine out from a very old blank I had laying around. And when I decided to do the grind, I very quickly realized that there wasn't much there to hold on to and "feel" while grinding. It turned out ok but, was just way more difficult than it needed to be.

 

[i4Marc]

I profile the hidden tang before grinding the bevels. I typically have a file guide mounted at the plunge/ricasso area so that is plenty to hang onto for me.

 

[Fred.Rowe]

Some makers use a wooden screw down file handle to give purchase if the tang is ground first. I grind the tang and ricasso area first, leaving the bevels and finally the tip, until last.

You can check out what I mean in this video, The handle set up is at about the 37 second mark.
[video]https://youtu.be/Jp5NLNmMe2Y[/video]

 

[colu41]

Some makers use a wooden screw down file handle to give purchase if the tang is ground first. I grind the tang and ricasso area first, leaving the bevels and finally the tip, until last.

You can check out what I mean in this video, The handle set up is at about the 37 second mark.
[video]https://youtu.be/Jp5NLNmMe2Y[/video]

Ah yes, the Bubble Jig. That handle looks to be a nice little tool. I may look into that. Might just pick up a 1 wooden dowel and make something similar.

 

[Fred.Rowe]

Ah yes, the Bubble Jig. That handle looks to be a nice little tool. I may look into that. Might just pick up a 1 wooden dowel and make something similar.

Amazon carries these file handles, I think they were 10 or 12 dollars.

Fred