Recommendation? How to chose handle options

E

ErikMB

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Jul 27, 2017
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870
Hi All,

I just ordered these blades and am trying to figure out what kinds of handles are possible with each one. Please correct me if my thinking is off. I've never done a fixed blade before this past weekend.

From top to bottom, the top blade appears to have a full length tang, implying that it can support both stacked and wood blocks (or antler which I don't have right now).

The second, the coffin pattern, can only take scales on both sides.

The third has a short tang. To me, this means it cannot support a stacked handle and requires a blocks of wood with a space routed (routered?) out for the tang.

The bottom appears to be a full tang but with the tang on the spine, not in the middle. Therefore, it cannot support a stacked handle.

Are there special constraints on stacked handles due to the shape of the bottom of the tang? I have seen on the internet a round rod at the end with threads and then screwing in the butt cap. Also, I think some types can have the butt of the tang peened. The bottom tang in the photo has a hole drilled, implying it can support a butt cap with a matching hole and a peened rod put through.

Last question, do tangs like these come in a standard width? Is there a convention for them, like when building a house the studs are spaced 16" apart or like many slipjoints have 3/32" holes and pins? Or are tangs usually of any size and shape?

Thanks heaps for your advice, folks!

8e5298d5-d882-4d13-86ec-aa48ccd10b57.png

PS - I'm thinking of naming the two bowies David and Daniel. ;-)
 
The most obvious way to finish the first three are hidden tang wood block for 1 and 3, and slabs for the coffin in the middle. Not sure what I'd do with the last one as I don't like the profile.
Stacked leather would be trickier and need further modification for a pommel or buttcap.
For the hidden tang block you can drill a hole the thickness of the tang and then open it up to fit using some cheap ($5) wood needle rasps. Put the pin hole about 1/16" too far back and then slowly remove material from the front of the block until you get a snug fit.

In my opinion by buying blanks you are missing at least 80 percent of the fun. I like to plan the profile, choose some steel type, etc, etc. Profiling is actually the easiest step.

Good luck.
 
I agree with Richard.
1. Hidden tang. Lots of great tutorials, but the split dowel seems easiest.
2. Coffin slabs with exposed tang
3. Hidden tang.
4. Maybe a split, or half stacked shape. The top spine would be exposed and the bottom would be hidden. That way you can contour the grip shape on the finger side and the top does not stick up above the blade spine. The handle looks really long to me too, so I would consider cutting it off somewhere between the last and middle pin holes. Maybe even right at the middle pin.
 
Thanks, folks.

For now, I am buying blanks, learning about handles, how to use tools, and mostly making slipjoints, actually. With time I will hopefully graduate to forging but for now, I have to start with the blanks.
 
Okay, package arrived. The topmost knife actually has plenty of space on both top and bottom of the tang which was not obvious in the photo. The tang is long and pretty even on all sides so sliding it into a block or putting on stack-pieces ought to work fine. That's pretty cool to me. :-)

Still have to figure out how to manage the butt, though.

My wife is annoyed that I made that short-machete and skinning knife.

"What are these for? You don't hunt. We don't camp. It's just clutter! More clutter!!!!!"

"No, my love, it's art."

My mother-in-law, who is visiting, saved me from her.... 🤣
 
ErikMB said:
Okay, package arrived. The topmost knife actually has plenty of space on both top and bottom of the tang which was not obvious in the photo. The tang is long and pretty even on all sides so sliding it into a block or putting on stack-pieces ought to work fine. That's pretty cool to me. :-)

Still have to figure out how to manage the butt, though.

My wife is annoyed that I made that short-machete and skinning knife.

"What are these for? You don't hunt. We don't camp. It's just clutter! More clutter!!!!!"

"No, my love, it's art."

My mother-in-law, who is visiting, saved me from her.... 🤣
Click to expand...
You fool!! The first 8-10 knives I made were all kitchen knives carefully designed according to my wife's hands and preferences.
Now I'm free to make smatchets and have partially completed projects all over the house...
 
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