spear tangs

[Sammy Mickel]

I,ve been following the "50$ knife" articles running in "Blade" since january. I've only made two knives both being full tang.In last months issue showing the spear or hidden tang I have what may be a dumb question,but the only dumb one is the one I don't ask, what keeps the blade from coming out? Do you epoxie or pin it in? Thanks,Sammy.

 

[george tichbourne]

Sammy
To be very brief factory made knives usually injection mold plastic handles around a serrated tang. Custom knifemakers are in the habit of both pinning and epoxying the tangs in place if they use this sort of design at all. I for one will not use this design because of it's inherant weakness,

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george

 

[Darrel Ralph]

George is right, For chopping a heavy full tang is much better. In some materials you will have a split tang after some heavy use .
If you make a short hidden tang grind notches in it .. the epoxy it in palce . Put a pin through the handle to help make it stronger. This is still not a great way to do handles though :]

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[tom mayo]

2cents worth.....if you are using thick enough stock...and leave the portion just behind the ricasso large enough...i feel that a stick tang can be just as strong as a full tang...just do it with some thought involved....i always pin AND epoxy my handles on....for those who would like to argue....just look at japanese swords...held together with one LITTLE bamboo stick...in real war time.....ps....never seen one come apart in 17 years....

 

[mikeS]

I believe what holds the tang in, is the tight fit of the burned in hole, then the whole thing is held in compression, by the ferrule. Just as files and other tools in the, good old days were held together. This method probably beats a rawhide wrap.