Tangs...

[dirtyphil]

on a hidden tang knife like a puukko is there an equation for how long the tang should be or is it a guess. I’ve seen awful short tangs on Roselli blades and wonder at the effectiveness and liability to breakage.

 

[Hengelo_77]

I use 2/3 to 3/4 handle lenght

 

[Natlek]

on a hidden tang knife like a puukko is there an equation for how long the tang should be or is it a guess. I’ve seen awful short tangs on Roselli blades and wonder at the effectiveness and liability to breakage.

IF you think on steel breakage , it doesn't change anything if tang is only two inch or two mile long Steel will break in front of handle not inside handle .... If you think about handle integrity , more depends on used material for handle then length of tang inside handle . .. .

 

[Natlek]

I have make two puukko so far and on both tang goes try handle and is peened ...not that it is must but I have enough steel in tang to do that

 

[Natlek]

Wootz UHC steel in HRC 66-68 Anybody try this ??
Ok , overall lenght is 141mm ,blade length is 85mm which mean tang is 56mm .I don t see any problem with that ? Small knife not chopper

 

[Busto]

You pointed out a determining factor and in this photo the key area is the transition where the blade has a Radius into the tang that is the area most often where a break occurs. A straight Sharp edge/corner will likely create a stress fracture where the Radius will eliminate those.

 

[Natlek]

You pointed out a determining factor and in this photo the key area is the transition where the blade has a Radius into the tang that is the area most often where a break occurs. A straight Sharp edge/corner will likely create a stress fracture where the Radius will eliminate those.

Well , many years ago ............maybe more then 35 years....... I disassembled many engines with a broken crankshaft... all freshly restored/rebuild by someone ...... Crankshaft on all that engines broke because shop which grind it don t follow that rule .They even don t hear about that that there MUST be radius They grind all of it in new dimension for new bearing

 

[dirtyphil]

Thanks for the comments, my fear was that the wood may give way on a short tang more than the steel breaking...

 

[i4Marc]

That is more or less of a concern depending upon the handle wood chosen, design of the handle, etc. Definitely radius the tang shoulders. There is no formula but try to put as much steel in the handle as is practical.

 

[Mikko Pitkanen]

Most traditional puuko blades had tangs that were peened at the end of the handle. In my experience most modern puukko blades that aren't peened have a tang that is almost as long as the handle.