Tang construction, Gil Hibben tundra bushcraft knife

[deltablade]

I like the shape and size of this knife, and have one on the way. I wonder if it has a full tang, or something different. Does anyone have the answer?

 

[Mk-211]

Looks like it does.

 

[tltt]

I'd ask BudK directly just to be sure. They've been sneaking the short tang welded in frame* construction more and more lately in knives at that price point.

.

 

[deltablade]

This photo shows what could be a slight gap where the blade contacts the guard on each side of the guard, suggesting the tang may be a partial. Guess I will have better info when I get one in hand.

 

[killgar]

Just like tltt said. Here's a picture of a Gil Hibben Tundra Hunter.

Sneaky bastards.

 

[DocJD]

So sneaky !

 

[oldmanwilly]

Just like tltt said. Here's a picture of a Gil Hibben Tundra Hunter.

Sneaky bastards.


View attachment 2880347

How is that construction any cheaper or efficient than just doing a through tang, or a longer partial tang? Is the cost for the extra few ounces of steel really enough to justify this?

 

[Mk-211]

 

[DeadPineKnives]

I had a similar experience with an Old Timer fixed blade where there was a fake full tang.

If a knife has a full tang but a wrap around guard, and either the handle isn't wider than the blade or the blade isn't wider than the handle, it absolutely cannot be a full tang because as far as I know they aren't smart enough to injection mold brass

 

[jeepin]

That’s an awesome design. It’s too bad they did the tang like that.

 

[J. Doyle]

Just to be clear, there are ways to make frame handles INCREDIBLY strong. But that isn't the way.

 

[J. Doyle]

How is that construction any cheaper or efficient than just doing a through tang, or a longer partial tang? Is the cost for the extra few ounces of steel really enough to justify this?

You wouldn't think so, but it must be cheaper somewhere in the process or they wouldn't do it.

 

[jeepin]

I wish Gil Hibben had a real knife company make this.

 

[killgar]

How is that construction any cheaper or efficient than just doing a through tang, or a longer partial tang? Is the cost for the extra few ounces of steel really enough to justify this?

I was thinking the same thing. It just seems like deception to me. Trying to make people believe it's a full tang.

And as long as we're on this topic, here's another version of a "fake full tang". This was actually my knife, I bought it on a whim for $20. Not surprisingly it turned out to be a piece of junk. So I broke off the handle to confirm my suspicions about the tang construction. The spine of the blade goes straight back into the top portion of the tang. So along the top it looked like a real full tang. The welded on piece holds the guard in place.

 

[toker]

It's $50, so I can't say I'm surprised. But even still...

The handsome CNC machined Micarta handle scales are secured to the tang by brass pins and the handle features a lanyard hole.

 

[knarfeng]

How is that construction any cheaper or efficient than just doing a through tang, or a longer partial tang? Is the cost for the extra few ounces of steel really enough to justify this?

"There Is Nothing in This World That Someone Cannot Make a Little Worse and Sell a Little Cheaper" -- J. A. Richards

"All goods worth price charged." New England Hardware store.

 

[DeadPineKnives]

I was thinking the same thing. It just seems like deception to me. Trying to make people believe it's a full tang.

And as long as we're on this topic, here's another version of a "fake full tang". This was actually my knife, I bought it on a whim for $20. Not surprisingly it turned out to be a piece of junk. So I broke off the handle to confirm my suspicions about the tang construction. The spine of the blade goes straight back into the top portion of the tang. So along the top it looked like a real full tang. The welded on piece holds the guard in place.


View attachment 2880430

As shady as that is, it is kind of neat from an engineering perspective...

 

[RPZIP]

Just like tltt said. Here's a picture of a Gil Hibben Tundra Hunter.

Sneaky bastards.


View attachment 2880347

I've been tempted to buy a few Hibben knives in the past - now glad I didn't, and I won't be tempted again.

 

[RPZIP]

How is that construction any cheaper or efficient than just doing a through tang, or a longer partial tang? Is the cost for the extra few ounces of steel really enough to justify this?

This was exactly my thought. I don't get it.

 

[oldmanwilly]

You wouldn't think so, but it must be cheaper somewhere in the process or they wouldn't do it.

I reckon you're right. Surely they wouldn't do something so whacky if it didn't directly benefit them. But still, it just seems so much more complicated than it has to be for absolutely zero benefit to the end user.

I'm having deja vu of an old thread about the tang construction on Cold Steel Bowies. Some walnut railed on about Lynn Thompson cutting corners to save a buck by using the partial cable tang on the Laredo Bowie. Someone came along and pointed out that the cable tang was much more difficult and expensive to manufacture and appeared to deliver the promised effects: less weight in the tang and more shock absorption. Plus, there isn't a slew of youtube videos and negative reviews claiming tang failure. This thread is kinda opposite of that, although I'm glad nobody is trying to defend OP's knife.

I was thinking the same thing. It just seems like deception to me. Trying to make people believe it's a full tang.

And as long as we're on this topic, here's another version of a "fake full tang". This was actually my knife, I bought it on a whim for $20. Not surprisingly it turned out to be a piece of junk. So I broke off the handle to confirm my suspicions about the tang construction. The spine of the blade goes straight back into the top portion of the tang. So along the top it looked like a real full tang. The welded on piece holds the guard in place.


View attachment 2880430

At least yours has more tang than OP's knife. Still laughable.