Hidden tang question for the blade sharpies out there

[Mattysams]

I picked up a couple Enzo Nordic hidden tang blanks in Elmax steel. They come already heat treated and finished and the tang is just a plain straight slightly tapered laser EDM cut profile. With my handle design being multi piece composed of antler and wood I don't trust just the epoxy to secure it all together and would like to some sort of tensioned fastener at the end of the tang. It seem my options are to: 1) cut and notch the tang and tig braze a piece of threaded stock to the end for a tang nut. 2) attempt to anneal the end of the tang and grind and file it round to run a die down it and thread it for a tang nut. 3) run the tang all the way through the handle and cut to length and peen over after glue up. 4) notch the tang along its length and run it all the way through the handle and allow the epoxy to cure while in a press and grind the tang flush hoping the glue holds it all together. I'm leaning towards option 2 but never used elmax before and am concerned about damaging the blade when attempting to anneal and I think I'd just be ruining dies and files if trying to shape and thread the hardened steel. Anyway what would you guys do? Thanks in advance and any input is greatly appreciated.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

You aren't going to get a proper anneal on Elmax by just heating the tang. Your best option is to TIG a piece of threaded rod on and use a screw on pommel.