Partial tang in a Bowie?

[WillB]

I understand partial tangs are perfectly fine dependent on the design and intent of the knife, but I tend to view a Bowie as a knife that would be a field/utility/camp knife. That is, the potential for hard use is there. I "get" full tangs are partially marketing and few will push their knives to the point the partial tang (assuming quality construction and materials of the handle are GTG) will be a weak point and fail. I admit my bias, I tend to view partial tangs as a cost saving approach, and that's likely due in part to marketing getting in my brain.

Having said all that, this is a MSRP: $560.00 and the street price of $364.00 (BladeHQ, etc) knife from Spiderco. It's a Respect Bowie. Thoughts? I took that pic from a FB page where there's a rather heated debate over that pic. I have a Lum Tanto from Spiderco that's a beautiful knife and screams quality and I felt fair-ish price for it.

Encased like that in G10 It's probably pretty strong, but as strong as a full tang? I have my doubts and as that price, well.... Learn me of my ignorance. Stats:

• Overall Length:13.15"
• Blade Length:7.94"
• Cutting Edge:7.00"
• Blade Width:1.50"
• Blade Thickness:0.30"
• Blade Material:CPM-154
• Blade Style:Clip Point
• Blade Grind:Flat

 

[katanas]

Well, there are full tangs, full "hidden" tangs and various partial tangs. I agree that, on a bowie, the more tang the better (at least I think that's what you meant) though a well done "relatively large" partial tang should suffice. The one shown, however, would NOT satisfy me. If I want a chopper (and that is what most bowies are frequently called into action for these days), I want a large, if not full, tang. Just my .02

 

[WillB]

Well, there are full tangs, full "hidden" tangs and various partial tangs. I agree that, on a bowie, the more tang the better (at least I think that's what you meant) though a well done "relatively large" partial tang should suffice. The one shown, however, would NOT satisfy me. If I want a chopper (and that is what most bowies are frequently called into action for these days), I want a large, if not full, tang. Just my .02

That's pretty much what I'm saying, but trying to at least give this otherwise solid company the benefit of the doubt here. A well made hidden full tang would be fine too, but that?

 

[eveled]

All the Randall Made Bowie’s are full length partial width tangs. The same with the most of the rest of their knives. I’ve never heard of one break. The RMK Bowie’s may not see lots of hard use but the model 1 and 2’s have seen a lot of abuse.

Not everyone likes full width tangs.

 

[NapalmCheese]

The big Sami knife (stuorraniibi, a.k.a. Leuku) is typically a stick tang knife used as an overall camp knife for wood and large game processing by people who have to rely on it to work.

The seax, which historically worked for the same purposes as well as occasionally used for fighting was also a stick tang knife, often not even peined over the hand of the handle just being glued/burned in.

Swords were also stick tangs, though all the way through.

You don't NEED a full tang knife for hard work, and I have never personally seen anyone break a stick tang knife doing knife things. The only ones I've seen broken were used for non-knife tasks like trying to split a knotty 12 inch round (often to prove that stick tangs are wholly unacceptable on a 'survival' knife).

 

[WillB]

All the Randall Made Bowie’s are full length partial width tangs. The same with the most of the rest of their knives. I’ve never heard of one break. The RMK Bowie’s may not see lots of hard use but the model 1 and 2’s have seen a lot of abuse.

Not everyone likes full width tangs.

A full length partial width tang is not the same as above and to my mind, acceptable option. That's a partial (full width?) stubby tang surrounded by a lot of G10.

 

[justjed]

As that particular design is strictly for self-defense, and is very light in weight, I don't consider the partial tang a defect. In THAT particular design. Were it to be advertised as a proper outdoorsy heavy duty tool, I'd be more than a bit leery of its durability....

 

[eveled]

Yes I agree the above would not be acceptable to me either. Sorry, I did not look at the picture good enough.

At that price it’s a bad joke. IMHO

 

[WillB]

The big Sami knife (stuorraniibi, a.k.a. Leuku) is typically a stick tang knife used as an overall camp knife for wood and large game processing by people who have to rely on it to work.

The seax, which historically worked for the same purposes as well as occasionally used for fighting was also a stick tang knife, often not even peined over the hand of the handle just being glued/burned in.

Swords were also stick tangs, though all the way through.

You don't NEED a full tang knife for hard work, and I have never personally seen anyone break a stick tang knife doing knife things. The only ones I've seen broken were used for non-knife tasks like trying to split a knotty 12 inch round (often to prove that stick tangs are wholly unacceptable on a 'survival' knife).

Well, do you view a large-ish Bowie a possible survival knife? I would, or at least did...

 

[NapalmCheese]

Well, do you view a large-ish Bowie a possible survival knife? I would, or at least did...

Do you NOT view Leuku, Seax, and swords as hard use 'knives' whose owners depended on them for their very survival?

Do you think it'll be necessary to split a 12 inch knotty round in a 'survival' situation?

Personally? A 'survival knife' is whatever knife you have on hand when you need to survive something. Knowledge is what saves your life, not the ability to split 12 inch diameter knotty rounds.

 

[WillB]

As that particular design is strictly for self-defense, and is very light in weight, I don't consider the partial tang a defect. In THAT particular design. Were it to be advertised as a proper outdoorsy heavy duty tool, I'd be more than a bit leery of its durability....

I see what you're saying, but not too many people would carry a 3.15" bowie knife for SD and not also view it as a knife that could be used hard for "proper outdoorsy heavy duty tool" especially at that price point. A full length partial width, perhaps tapered, tang for example would increase strength and save weight no?

 

[JParanee]

The finest Bowie’s in the world are stick tangs

A full tang Bowie unless it is a tapered tang is a camp knife and not in the same world as its peers

 

[justjed]

When people think/thought of Jim Bowie, they don't think of him the same way they do Daniel Boone, or even Davey Crockett. The latter were proper outdoorsmen, and known survivalists of the time. Bowie was a fighter, and by all accounts, a mean, tough, SOB. People looking for a 'Bowie" knife were fascinated by the fighting aspects of the various and sundry 'Bowie' designs. They weren't looking for a camp knife. In MY opinion, had the Respect been available in 1830, they'd have sold them by the trainloads.

 

[wayneblocker5369]

If in doubt, go with the full length an partial width imho

 

[JParanee]

When people think/thought of Jim Bowie, they don't think of him the same way they do Daniel Boone, or even Davey Crockett. The latter were proper outdoorsmen, and known survivalists of the time. Bowie was a fighter, and by all accounts, a mean, tough, SOB. People looking for a 'Bowie" knife were fascinated by the fighting aspects of the various and sundry 'Bowie' designs. They weren't looking for a camp knife. In MY opinion, had the Respect been available in 1830, they'd have sold them by the trainloads.

I agree

A modern fighting Bowie has nothing to do with a camp knife

It’s all about balance weight and feel

Two of the finest performance Bowie’s on the planet

Both stick tangs

Bagwell






Wheeler










Bagwell proved long ago a Stick tang Bowie can be plenty Strong

 

[WillB]

When people think/thought of Jim Bowie, they don't think of him the same way they do Daniel Boone, or even Davey Crockett. The latter were proper outdoorsmen, and known survivalists of the time. Bowie was a fighter, and by all accounts, a mean, tough, SOB. People looking for a 'Bowie" knife were fascinated by the fighting aspects of the various and sundry 'Bowie' designs. They weren't looking for a camp knife. In MY opinion, had the Respect been available in 1830, they'd have sold them by the trainloads.

To be honest, what would sell in 1830 does not alter my POV on the issue. I will say that I will no longer view that Bowie in the Op as a fighter vs a camp/utility/survival knife per se, and respect (no pun intended) the differences. Subjective to me only, I see very little value in a large Bowie dedicated to fighting I wouldn't feel comfortable using in the field, but that's me. I'm no SME on knife fighting, but those I know that are, don't carry 13.5" Bowie knives, that's for sure. I learned something new today!

 

[Twindog]

The stick tang is going to be 0.30 inches thick, so that's pretty robust. I don't see you breaking it while chopping. I'd be more worried about the lateral strength because of the non-radiused plunge line and what is probably a squared off transition between the stick tang and the main blade. Those things create stress risers. If the blade is going to break, it will probably be there or at the tip, not farther back on the stick, tang.

I've never considered the Bowie to be a chopper. The weight is too far back. It's more a fighter, that needs a long, pointy blade for penetration.

The stick tang allows you to get a much nicer handle and a forward balance point that can aid in quick movements.

There's a Mozolic Bowie in the custom sales subforum that is very similar, with better finishing details and sheath. It's just a bit more pointy than the Spyderco, which I think makes it a better and more attractive Bowie. The listed price is about what you're looking at for the street price of a Spyderco.

 

[katanas]

I've never considered the Bowie to be a chopper. The weight is too far back. It's more a fighter, that needs a long, pointy blade for penetration.

Though that is correct technically, the fact is that they are rarely used for fighting these days and tend to be used as choppers. Your stress riser point is right on since chopping and batoning (which I avoid except for small kindling) is the most common use. I would not trust the pictured knife/tang for much hard work.

 

[justjed]

It really wouldn't bother me much to take the Respect with me as an outdoors tool. But I would also carry a tomahawk for serious chopping. If forced to use the Respect in a traditional camp knife role, I would be giving serious consideration to proper cutting techniques.

 

[McFeeli]

I thought that the design was geared more towards self defense as well. That’s not to say you can’t use it for camp chores, but you just have to realize it’s not an overbuilt camp knife. If you would bring along a hatchet you’d be set. Food prep, carving, even skinning would be normal knife chores for such a blade. Chopping through 4 inch logs and such, not so much. I mean of course I still do it with some of my knives because it’s fun and all, but I wouldn’t with a blade like that. It’s more like traditional Bowie than a modern day “do-it-all” camp knife.