Pros and cons of a one piece and others?

T.O.M.

T.O.M.

Joined
Jan 2, 2011
Messages
174
For an example knife, i'll start off with KA-BARs. Blade ( with the tang leading down to the handle ) , handle, end cap.


For a second example ( the one piece ) , let's use an ESEE. Complete knife and the micarta attachments.

Between these two types of design, what are the pros and cons?

Besides the fact that ESEEs are harder to break, of course.

I'm still a newb, sorry if I got some of the terminology wrong. :p
 
The Kabar has a tang that goes through the handle and is peened to the end cap. It's like a rattail. I don't know the correct termnology for it. I'm a folder guy.

Don't mistake a Kabar for one of those cheap bud-k hollow handled "survival" knives with the blade epoxied to the handle. A Kabar has a tang that runs the length of the handle.
 
i would think that's just it. you want as few components to a field knife as possible. and on knives like esee, you could easily replace the handle components if they were to break.
 
I think the fixed-blade descriptions that you want to discuss are:

full-tang

wire-tang, which can have flat or round tangs (rat tail)

partial tang, sometimes called push tang
 
One is stronger than the other. I think that's just about the only practical difference, unless I'm really overlooking something...
 
It would be so easy for Ka-Bar to modernize and strengthen their design by making the blade-tang transition radiused, but noooo let's keep using the 100 year old design, what could ever go wrong.
 
I've been wondering, can striking an object with a one piece design be more tiring than the KA-BAR design? Seeing the vibrations after striking an object would dissipate faster with the KA-BAR, could it possibly contribute to less fatigue? Or am I thinking too much on this?

:P
 
well how many times do you think you can strike something with a rat or wire tang before it fails? a one-piece knife (full tang) doesn't suffer from these weaknesses.

some illustrations can be found here: http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/MediaPages/ArticleDetail.aspx?mediaid=37
it should become apparent where the weak points are.

i'm not sure how the kabar is constructed but it sure doesn't look like it could be as stout as esee or the like. i mean the tang has to taper for the handle to fit.
 
Any knife can be broken if it's beat on improperly. You can find ANY brand knife had been broken by abuse, yes, even ESEE. For anything short of flat out wailing on the knife, the Kabar hiddden tang will be just fine.

Hidden tang knives are more comfortable for long term use for me.

I have/had knives of all tang designs, and I've never broken one at the tang. The only fixed blades I've broken were a Buck 639 Fieldmate and a Normark Hunter. I broke both of them in the center of the blade, while batoning logs that were too thick for their blade lengths. Nothing to do with the tang. Those are both hidden tangs knives, and the Normark tang was less than 3/4 length. I've got Mora Clippers (half tang) knives that I use hard all the time and I've never had one fail.
 
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