Stick Tang or Full Tang

I preffer full tang... or hidden full tang (Ala Mad Dog)...

Stick tang, rat tail tang... I just dont trust 'em that much. prolly just me being weird I know...

But I like full tang.
 
I prefer a stick tang for a couple of resions, one
is less exposed edge and if done right is very
strong after all when you stop to think abort it all
the swords way back when thay were the main side arm
of choice were made this way and thay were used on
iron armor, talk about abuse. Any way that is the way
I like to do the construction and the way it looks
Gib
 
I prefer the hidden stick tang, but its because of the style knives and guards I make and use, I like the less exposure of the tang, therefore leaving less chance for moisture to invade and cause problems around the handle material. Don't get me wrong, I do both and find both types to test very strong, I just prefer stick tangs.

Bill
 
For me it depends on the knife but to be honest, I am impressed with the framed handle I just built. I sure wouldn't want to put a full tang on a stag handled bowie, but I wouldn't want a stick tang on a state of the art fighter.
 
I own a bunch of khukuris, all but 2 stick tangs, and I like the stick tangs the most. You can contour the handle so that you can 'expose' more of the beauty of the product you work on, and in Khukuris it absorbes alot of the shock.

Alot also depends on the design of the knife. In my M43, a WWII design full tang Khukri, the balance is designed for the full tang and it is as close to perfect as balance can get.

Your choice in what you do. I feel that the maker and his skill is the bottom line in what works and what dosent.
 
Wow, I am very suprised. I figured that most people preferred full tang knives, and fewer liked hidden or stick tang knives. I like stick tang knives myself, because they offer more freedom in designing/shaping the handle. Full tang knives have their place, but I prefer stick tang...

Well thanks for responding guys...

--Matt
 
Stick tang knives or ok on some knives. A full tang knife is better for ruff use. Depending on the steel being used and how hard it has been heat treated too are the key factors. A knife made of ATS-34 or 440C RC 59 is not a good choice for a stick tang. A knife made of 5160 heat treated properly is a good choice for a stick tang.
 
I prefer the hidden tags knives myself,this includes the framed handle over the hidden tang...They have stood the test of time and held up ..I have hade my frame handled knives tested and will hold up as well as a full tang knife will.
Plus I gorge and like doing the hiddentang,it is just a forging tradition to me..I may be crazy,in fact I know I'm crazy:D
Guess it is like putting a hollow grind on a forges to shape blade,just doesn't seem wright...
Bruce
 
I have done both...I started with fulltangs because that was how it was in my first book (Boye´s book )...I shifted to hidden tang because of all the nordic books I then got......but several years ago I changed back to fulltang....I like it alot...I belive it is stronger, I like the way a tapered tang looks...I enjoy the precision involved (just take down the template and profile the new blade and drill for holes....I feel I can make more and better shape with fulltang and I can make thinner handles in materials tha would crack on hidden tangs...I like a very slim handle and that is perfect for a fulltang...I do not feel that I am restained in anyway by making fulltang...actually I think it is the other way around...only thing I miss is spacers..I like spacers like on the Scagel etc...
 
When I first learned to make knives it was stock removal full tangs. That's what I made for almost 5 years because I didn't know any better. Hollow ground, full tangs. I learned that method pretty well in the 5 years I used it. Now it's mostly all forged hidden tangs.

My very first hidden or stick tang knife was for our very own beloved 'Phil' the pic makin bastid. That knife gave me one hell of a hard time. I didn't read a book or watch a video on how to do it. I just figured it out as I went. Like some people have already said, I didn't have any faith in the strength of hidden tang knives. Now I do. Don't kid yourself. A well done hidden tang is just as strong as a full tang unless you're going to use the knife as a pry bar. But be reasonable, who does that besides Cliff Stamp? Use a knife for it's intended purpose and there will never be a problem with either type of construction as long as it's done properly.

Of course, I've made lots more hidden tang knives since Phil's baby. And I've learned to love that method for several reasons. The main one is the ease of setting a guard. With a full tang it can be a real challenge to get everything to come out right. There are some drawbacks to the hidden tang but they're minor as far as I'm concerned. When using crown stag or antler with the crown left on you have to make a choice. Mess up that nice crown with a nut or washer with peined tang or move to the half tang. The half tang is a compromise of strength in my opinion. But once again if they're done right they are quite strong and I will use that technique once in a while. But a full hidden tang with a nut on the pommel or at least a threaded pommel is extremely strong. As long as you heat treat the tang right. Too soft and it'll bend, too hard and it'll snap off.

My favorite would be the hidden full tang. I have alot of confidence in that method.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top