Which handles are full tang?

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Dec 3, 2007
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I am looking at the 18" AK, Ganga Ram & M43. Was wondering which have full tang handles.
Thanks, Greg.
 
I hope someone else will weight in on this. My understanding is the CAK's are the only full tangs (thus their warranty as a pry bar). That said, I have never heard of a handle on any other model breaking. Keep in mind that a few hundred years of evolution have gone into making these knives (even when not full tang) strong enough to take out tree after tree without issue. There are some pics floating around of the knives with handles removed. The tang itself appears to pass nearly the full length of the handle, and is held at end by the butt cap. So well not full tang, they are nearly so.

The handle is not going to suddenly seperate from the blade, if that is your concern, and if you are worried about durability, with these knives the full tang won't be needed to get it.

That said, of the three models you mention, I believe the AK is the most indestructible.
 
I am looking at the 18" AK, Ganga Ram & M43. Was wondering which have full tang handles.
Thanks, Greg.
Any full tang model will usually carry the term Chiruwa.
The M-43 is almost always Chiruwa, The AK comes in both styles, and the Ganga Ram has been made with Chiruwa handles in the past. Both Chiruwa and rat tail tangs are tough as nails and you will be hard pressed to break either of them.

Only the Chiruwa Ang Khola is warranted for use as a prybar.
 
Greg,
The M43 has a full tang but no ring on the handle unless you order it with one. The Ganga Ram tang is peened over the keeper on the buttcap.

Rick

edit: Glad to see Karda's quicker than I. He knows more, too.
 
I might be bringing up old controversies on nothing but terminology here, but these are my 2 cents:

Most every HI product is full tang in the general sense of "the tang goes the entire length of the handle all the way to the butt." Here, full tang is opposed to rat-tail tang by which I mean tang which only goes in some of the length of the handle and doesn't come out the butt (as with the first few GMUBAKS with horn handles from the recent DOTD).

However, if one is not only looking for full tang but also "exposed" tang that goes not only the full lenth but the full (vertical) width of the handle, then one needs to get a Chiruwa model (or Panawal, as some call it).

I think that only CAKs and M43 (and some everest katanas) are Chiruwa from the shopping site regular models. But on DOTD there are many more chiruwa offerings that I can't even begin to list so I will leave that to HI veterans. (okay, I can begin: bonecutter, AK bowie, Giant Chitlangi Bowie, BDC, the recent addition: ASTK, etc.)
 
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Thank you guys! Great fast response. I have to ask... what does DOTD stand for?
 
DOTD= DotD = Deal of the Day

Those are the posts on this forum by Yangdu in which she offers products on Sale; usually models (ot at least size variants) which are not available on the regular shopping site.
Sometimes those products are "blems," i.e., with very minor defects not affecting the cutting performance (like loose sheath, missing sheath, minor rust spots, or cracked handle, etc.)
 
Thank you for the explanation alexs! My batteries are running low tonight.
 
DOTD= DotD = Deal of the Day

Those are the posts on this forum by Yangdu in which she offers products on Sale; usually models (ot at least size variants) which are not available on the regular shopping site.
Sometimes those products are "blems," i.e., with very minor defects not affecting the cutting performance (like loose sheath, missing sheath, minor rust spots, or cracked handle, etc.)

Wow those sound perfect. Then I won't feel bad about breaking it in.
 
Look at the picture. Basically, if you see rivets on the handle, it's a full flat tang. If not, it's a (very, very substantial) full stick tang.
 
It wasn't mentioned that the rats these rat-tail tangs come from are giant, mutant rats with tails like dinosaurs. ;)
 
Just as an addition, I know many folk have a preference for full tangs, but don't let the lack of one turn you off an otherwise excellent khukuri. The through tangs are still plenty tough, and would probably outlast the handles themselves. There are plenty of khuk users that have done a lot of work with them and had no issues. :thumbup:
 
Just as an addition, I know many folk have a preference for full tangs, but don't let the lack of one turn you off an otherwise excellent khukuri. The through tangs are still plenty tough, and would probably outlast the handles themselves. There are plenty of khuk users that have done a lot of work with them and had no issues. :thumbup:

Not to mention that hidden tang kukris have their own benefits as well: generally a more comfortable grip (IMO), added shock absorption, and less handle weight making the khuk more tip-heavy and thus strike harder for the overall weight.

While full tangs are inherently stronger than hidden tangs, I very much doubt that you'd be able to put enough stress one to break it (unless you weigh 300lbs, stab it between a crack and try to use what's exposed as a stepping stone)
 
Well I put in for the CAK on the deal of the day. Hope I get it not sure about timing. If I didn't I will wait for another CAK. That seems to be the one for me.
 
I very much doubt that you'd be able to put enough stress one to break it (unless you weigh 300lbs, stab it between a crack and try to use what's exposed as a stepping stone)

I think that still won't be enough; you might have to step on the very end of the handle and start hopping on it.
 
If you were to see one of H.I.'s internal tangs without the handle, you'd notice that it's almost as wide as the blade is where the bolster and ricasso meet.

With most (western) knives, an internal tang is usually about 1/4 to 1/2 the width of the blade at the same area. With H.I. that tang is more like 3/4 as wide as the blade, perhaps a little more.


I only prefer the chiruwa handle for balancing out a longer/heavier blade. I doubt very much you could break the tang on any H.I. khukuri, chiruwa or not.
 
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