Question about wood spacers on hidden tangs?

[Darrin Sanders]

When using wood spacers on hidden tangs which way is best for the grain to run and why? I've been doing it with the grain running across the blade instead of up and down (spine to edge). My reasoning for this is with the grain running vertically the tang slot should make it easier for the wood to split. Am I correct? Just got to pondering this and had to ask. Thanks for any and all input.

Darrin

 

[GHEzell]

I've done it both ways and prefer for the end-grain not to show... if you are worried about the wood splitting, make the tang-hole a bit larger?

 

[Will52100]

Depends on the thickness of the wood and how large/strong your tang is. I destroyed a knife a while back, with a stabilized handle and wood spacer. The spacer did crack, but it was a burl and the blade bent to 90 deg and finally broke before the spacer cracked. If it's made rite with materials that don't allow a lot of flex a hidden tang can be very strong, the handle acts as a unit, not separate handle and tang.