Questions about scales and liners

[Led Boots]

Hello all. I am new here, and I had a couple questions about handle materials and designs I've seen on many of the custom made knives.

1) Of all the knives I've seen in the different maker's forums here, nearly all incorporate liners of some sort in the handles. Is there a functional advantage or need for liners? or are they added simply for aesthetics?

2) I've also noticed that a lot of makers incorporate tapered tangs in their designs. What is the benefit of doing this?

The reason I ask these questions is twofold...first, I am considering purchasing a custom knife of my own, and am trying to decide on the handle scales I want. Secondly, I am seriously considering pursuing knife making as a hobby. Rather than just jump right in and end up over my head or doing something incorrectly, I'd like to learn as much about the craft as I can before hand. To that end, any help, advice or knowledge that can be shared would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Adam Buttry]

Liners are not necessary. Neither are tapered tangs. With that said, I use both on nearly every knife I make. Most of the knives I'm currently building are what I consider smaller, more practical, knives. Knives with 3"-5" blade lengths. Tapering the tang on knives of this size greatly improves the balance and handling IMO. I use thin (.030" or less) liners to highlight and accentuate the fact that the tang has been tapered. By the time the liner is 1/8" or greater, it's more of a laminated/layered handle at that point IMO. The tapered tang is just one of those things that aren't found on factory knives, and is a sign of custom work. The liners are just more of personal taste thing I suppose.

 

[Led Boots]

Liners are not necessary. Neither are tapered tangs. With that said, I use both on nearly every knife I make. Most of the knives I'm currently building are what I consider smaller, more practical, knives. Knives with 3"-5" blade lengths. Tapering the tang on knives of this size greatly improves the balance and handling IMO. I use thin (.030" or less) liners to highlight and accentuate the fact that the tang has been tapered. By the time the liner is 1/8" or greater, it's more of a laminated/layered handle at that point IMO. The tapered tang is just one of those things that aren't found on factory knives, and is a sign of custom work. The liners are just more of personal taste thing I suppose.

Thank you. That is very helpful.

 

[Salem Straub]

To add a little to that good reply you got, sometimes a nice piece of handle material that you want to use will be just a bit too thin, or sometimes you can only get a color or type of material in a certain thickness. Adding liners may bulk your material up enough for your handle dimensions in this case.

Led Boots, is that a reference to the Jeff Beck song off of "Wired"? If so, good job.

 

[Led Boots]

To add a little to that good reply you got, sometimes a nice piece of handle material that you want to use will be just a bit too thin, or sometimes you can only get a color or type of material in a certain thickness. Adding liners may bulk your material up enough for your handle dimensions in this case.

Led Boots, is that a reference to the Jeff Beck song off of "Wired"? If so, good job.

Thanks for the reply, SS. About the song, Yes. I was 12 years old when my older brother bought Wired new. Ain't been right since LOL