Tapered Hidden Tang

[colu41]

I have a question on properly tapering the tang on a hidden tang. What I have been doing this entire time, was milling out the shoulders on the blade, and cutting a slight "trench" across the tang. This made it easier to grind the remaining excess steel from the tang, without grinding the now squared shoulders, and also makes the guard fit up easier.. Ive been having problems lately doing it this way, and since the guard is not necessarily press fit, it becomes a mess come fit up. So my question is, how do you guys taper the tang precisely. (Like in the 2nd pic) And does the taper HAVE to go all the way up to the shoulders of the blade? Or do you keep it down the tang a bit for a proper press fit? I hope you guys understand my questions... I have a strange way of asking about things.

 

[DEllis]

I do it like the second pic, but usually I forge it in and clean it up a bit with the grinder(freehand). Usually not very much taper at the ricasso end of the tang, so the press fit is quite snug.

Darcy

 

[NickWheeler]

Not being a smart ass, but I think you're overthinking it. As long as it's slightly tapered, it makes guard fit up easier... I don't do much more than about 0.010-0.020 thinner at the ass end than the ricasso.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Nick has it ... just a little taper in thickness will make the guard wedge up snug as it comes up to the shoulders. As long as the thickest and widest part is at or near the shoulders the exact taper isn't important.

Initially, I just leave the tang flat, or grind in a very basic taper. As I sand the ricasso flat while doing the blade sanding, I carry that back onto the tang to assure the seat for the guard is the same thickness as the ricasso. Once all the pre-HT sanding is done, I clean up the tang taper up to 1/2" or so from the shoulders, and leave that area flat and smooth. This assures a good guard fit-up and solder joint later on after HT and final sanding.

 

[colu41]

Thanks guys. Nick I over think everything. Btw Just finished watching your Bowie videos for the 3rd time. They've helped tremendously. Just got a few more tweeks until I'm actually happy with them.