Tapered tang WIP?

A.McPherson

A.McPherson

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Jan 27, 2012
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Hey folks, is there a good tutorial on how to make tapered tangs? I searched with the custom Google search and most of what I found were WIPs with tapered tangs, but without much detail.

Any with really good detail? I'm kinda dumb when it comes to this whole process...
 
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I don't know if I've seen a detailed wip on the subject. If you can do a full flat grind freehanded, then you can do a tapered tang.

-scribe 2 lines around the tang as you would before grinding bevels
-Drill your pin holes now
-I use a welding magnet to hold onto the blade.
-Hold the knife vertically to your belt.
-grind a steep angle to your scribed line on the butt of the tang
-Walk the grind up the tang until it reaches the ricasso, and a point past where the front of your scales will be.
-flip the knife over and grind the other side.
-check for flatness and symmetry.
-grind your blade bevels
-have a beer and congratulate yourself.
 
Oh, I can get the taper on the tang, It's matching the holes up once you get the scales matching the tang... I just can't get my head around it. Other than building a jig to hold the scales at a particular angle, then surface grinding to get a flat surface to drill on. There's got to be an easier way. 'specially since I don't have a surface grinder. Heck I don't even have a 2x72 grinder!
 
If you drill the tang holes before you taper the tang, the holes will be square. When you're ready to drill holes through your scales, then you have to wedge the back of the scale slightly.

Edit: you could also make your tang holes oversized so the pin fit is sloppy. Hold it against your scale, and drill the proper sized hole through the scale. Epoxy will fill the sloppy tang holes.
 
Hmmmm. The oversized trick sounds like a good one... I'll have to give that one a go. Any other tricks out there?
 
Don't overthink it. If you want to shim it go for it, but personally I just drill it like normal. A 4" handle with 1/8" stock, even if you grind it to zero is only 0.4 degrees per side. That is closer tolerances than my cheap little drill press can maintain I'm sure.

Good luck!
Chris
 
Here is a jig I built to drill holes in the scales on tapered tang knives. I glue one side on lightly with "Stick-fast" glue and support the bottom with a wooden wedge and drill.....then I pry the scale off and glue the other sider on and repeat. I copied this jig made from aluminum and a "123 block" from David Sharp I think. It works super and was easy to make. Larry Lehman


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I always just drill the holes first, then taper the tang. It has always worked well for me.
 
I talked to Andy Roy about this last week at the Kansas City knife expo. He said he just book matches the scales and lays the tang on top and drills the holes. Even with the taper he said he's never had an issue. I've not tried it yet. So I'm not sure.
 
Thanks for all the replys fellas! It's been really helpful! I'll report back when I make one, so you can see the fruits of your labors!
 
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