Slow Learner

[JamesBro]

I love knives with guards and since they go better with hidden tang knives, that's what I usually make.(stock removal). A while back I figured why do all my pre heat treat grinding hanging on to a stick tang for no reason. So I left a handle shape on the knife profile and profiled it down to the stick tang after the serious grinding. So it worked out great, I am sure others have done it this way but here's the issue......
Since then I always forget and profile the knife with the hidden tang shape and then think what a idiot, wait till next time. Hopefully I provided a tip or just knife guy humor.
James

 

[Richard338]

I'll admit I've never thought of that and I have two in progress now that are not only stick, but threaded on the end...

 

[JamesBro]

And your probably already looking for some scrap to put a hole in and make a temporary handle!

 

[Richard338]

Nope, they are already off for HT and will get stacked leather handles when they get back.

 

[Hubert S.]

I made a few wa handles for practice out of construction lumber and use those as handles during grinding. I drilled holes in them and use slotted dowels to hold the blade in place. The dowels act like a wedge and hold the blade pretty well.

Your story reminds me of my own forgetfulness. On the last batch of knives I profiled, I left extra material at the tip and profiled the tip after grinding the bevels. That worked really well and I told myself to remember to do that on my next knives. Obviously, I forgot and just profiled and heat treated a batch and none of them had extra material at the tip. When I watched the video Natlek linked in the other thread I immediately realized it because Don Nguyen had left extra material at the tip in the video. I'll remember next time, maybe...