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I am not sure how long tapered tangs have been around but I turned 65 last week and Bob and Lin loveless were my next door neighbors in the early to mid 1970 . He was doing some of his knives that way back then .
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Tapered Tangs
- Thread starter danbot
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I don't know how economically they could do it. There would have to be a pretty big demand for it before they would even consider doing tapered tangs on production I would think.
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Cool! Did you buy a knife from him?
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Nice! Maybe post a pic for us when you get it?!
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Hi! I like a lot tapered tangs from an aesthetical point of view 
but I think it’s a nice feature mainly for “light” users. If the knife is thought for a “harder use” 
, I think this tang geometry is more subject to flex and, in the medium/long run, the scales are more subject to moving and lose stability or, in worst cases, they can even come lose. I have seen this (coming lose) happening a couple of times on very nice customs knives owned by a friend 
. Maker fixed it eventually (and for free) but it’s something that I have seen happening with tapered tangs.
but I think it’s a nice feature mainly for “light” users. If the knife is thought for a “harder use” , I think this tang geometry is more subject to flex and, in the medium/long run, the scales are more subject to moving and lose stability or, in worst cases, they can even come lose. I have seen this (coming lose) happening a couple of times on very nice customs knives owned by a friend . Maker fixed it eventually (and for free) but it’s something that I have seen happening with tapered tangs.
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Hi! I like a lot tapered tangs from an aesthetical point of view
Interesting, I never thought of that happening with hard use.
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Nice! Thanks for sharing that!
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?? Not worth my time?Not worth your time, sorry.
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Some production knives have tapered tangs.
Cold Steel Warcraft Tanto series.
Spyderco Lum Tanto
I'm sure there are others.
NJBillK
Custom Leather and Fixed Blade modifications.
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As far as modern makers, Fiddleback Forge, Osprey Knife and Tool, and W.A. Surls all make a wide variety of knives with tapered tangs. If you can't find one knife amongst the three of them that catches your eye, your not into fixed blades...
They are all supporters of the site, and each has their own subforum in the custom makers section.
They are all supporters of the site, and each has their own subforum in the custom makers section.
chiral.grolim
Universal Kydex Sheath Extension
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Hi! I like a lot tapered tangs from an aesthetical point of view
That would be some CRAZY "hard use"!!! The tang is under the handle scales and usually affixed securely with both epoxy and bolts or pins, and then is HELD (being the handle) while the blade is usually subjected to abuse. I use my knives "hard" (imo) and have flexed my 1/4" thick Rodent 9's blade but the entire length from before the choil down to the pommel experienced no flex at all. On my thin fillet knives which flex with ease and the tangs of which are FAR thinner than any of my tapered-tang knives achieve at their thinnest, the same thing occurs - flex in the blade but no deflection whatsoever into the tang or even beyond the choil. Indeed, to get the tang (any tang) to flex within the handle, you would need to be levering the the blade with the fulcrum almost at the handle-scales themselves, which is bad news for UNtapered tangs already.
I am skeptical of tapered tangs resulting in any greater flex than would be experienced by the full-thickness counterpart when inflexible micarta or G10 or stabilized wood, etc. is securely attached. On the other hand, I HAVE seen wood scales warp just enough to pull loose from a tang and defeat the epoxy. This can happen regardless of tang design. *shrug*
Love the look of tapered tangs
Shows skill and dedication when done right. Loveless was the champion of this and I am glad he brought it to popularity, and Steingass does a great job. These days, with CNC skeletonizing of tangs, I am sure we will see less and less of it except from custom makers. Good thread.
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Just took a nice long look in their forums, that is awesome work they do! I would buy a knife from any of them. (at least one!
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NJBillK
Custom Leather and Fixed Blade modifications.
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I agree. I tend to prefer some of the Osprey K&T options (especially his Raptor K and the Mamushi K). On top of that, the maker is a Very stand up guy, that is goal and customer driven. Also worth noting that he is a Veteran.Just took a nice long look in their forums, that is awesome work they do! I would buy a knife from any of them. (at least one!
Brian77
Gold Member
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Showcases skill and talent
I agree with the above. My son and I asked Andy Roy about this at the KC Show couple years ago. We were admiring his blades on display and several had tapered tangs. We started doing that to a lot of our knives since then, and we like it, and our customers really love it. It has some appeal to the eye, and is a neat way to help balance a blade. I agree with Chiral on his thoughts about flex and scales. I don't think that would be a factor on a small or mid size blade for sure.
