Options to prevent tang scratching

[Joseph H.]

Hi knifemakers,
I've been making knives as a hobby the last 2 years. I recently started to make slipjoints and they are a chalenge! (Big fun!)
I would like to show my first slipjoint i dear to show on this forum. I think i'm doing ok but feedback will make me better... so. Please let me know.

Most of all i've been wondering how to prevent scratches on the tang. I use washers on one knife but didn't like the difference in thickness of the blade and spring. On this knife i releaved the liners and that worked well.
I think i've read every thread on this topic but never read anything about leaving the end of the tang a little thicker than the blade itself. Like an integrated washer. I thought would you before doing something that might not work.

As an example. I would grind the blade and a part of the tang a couple thousants thinner than the part of the tang with the pivot hole. Would this work?
Thanks for the reactions...

 

[Sam Dean]

Sorry, I have no idea, but looking forward to other responses.

Just wanted to say that knife looks awesome - the swedge & nail nick are spot on! Great job!!

 

[argel55]

Normally grind the tang smaller the difference of the washers used in construction. Most will mark the tang arc circle and grind and polish an area outside of this arc to prevent scratching.

 

[Don Hanson III]

I've seen it done three ways. Washers, relieve liners, or grind a few thou off the front part of the tang. They all work.

I use .005" washers & grind blades .010" thinner than spring. Surface grinder helps here for tight, no gap fits.

 

[Joseph H.]

Sam Dean :
thanks for you feedback! I really appreciate it.

A argel55 and Don Hanson III:
Good to hear it is done this way more often. I didn't found the option in older threads. Maby its because its the most logical option? And i don't have a mentor...

Something in the back of my head said that milling the liners was the way to go. But this is low tech and, as i can presume, nice looking and technicaly working.

 

[Joseph H.]

I was thinking... both argel55 and Don Hanson III use washers and i have seen a lot of milled out liners. Are these the most prefered methods by makers? Is the third option maybe a bit... not done on a higher end knife?

And i forgot to say thanks. Thanks!

 

[HSC ///]

i've been using .005 bronze washers and tried milling a .003 deep pocket for the washer to sit in.
I'm still trying to dial this concept in.

also J Joseph H. I would not consider milling the liners low tech at all.

grind blades .010" thinner than spring.

Don you mean the portion of the blade forward of the tang is ground .010 thinner? Or the entire blade/tang is .010 thinner than the spring?

this is what I get with .005 washers and no washer pocket relief

 

[Joseph H.]

J Joseph H. I would not consider milling the liners low tech at all.

I dont either... i was refering to grinding the front of the tang a few thou. Now reading my post again... it doesn't say so.

this is what I get with .005 washers and no washer pocket relief

That looks good! Is the blade the same thickness as the spring? Am i right you just added the washers?

 

[HSC ///]

That looks good! Is the blade the same thickness as the spring? Am i right you just added the washers?

thanks, and yes, yes

this one is with .003 deep washer pockets milled in

 

[Joseph H.]

Oke... such tolerances are way beyond my abillity.
Thanks for sharing en thanks for you time! Never realised there are so many different ways to use washers.

 

[Don Hanson III]

Don you mean the portion of the blade forward of the tang is ground .010 thinner? Or the entire blade/tang is .010 thinner than the spring?

this is what I get with .005 washers and no washer pocket relief

I grind the whole blade .010" thinner than the spring. With a . 005" washer on either side of the blade there is no gap between spring and liners.

 

[Don Hanson III]

I was thinking... both argel55 and Don Hanson III use washers and i have seen a lot of milled out liners. Are these the most prefered methods by makers? Is the third option maybe a bit... not done on a higher end knife?

And i forgot to say thanks. Thanks!

Milled liners is what most slip joint makers do. It's probably easier in the long run. You won't need a surface grinder as blade and spring are same thickness.

The third opption, taking a few thou off the front part of the tang isn't done much. It's hard to do and have it look good. I've only seen it done by a couple old time makers. P. J. Thomes was one.

 

[Joseph H.]

Thank you all for your time. It help me a lot!

So i have 3 options.
-Washers (in lots of different ways)
-releaving the liners ( most done.)
-taking a thou of the front of the tang (hard to make it look good, not done so much today)

Now i just have to find a match between a methode, the machines i have and my level of ability...

 

[KillerGriller]

No advice for you, but THAT is a great looking blade/shape

 

[Joseph H.]

Thank you K KillerGriller !

Its on this knife.