full vs hidden tang.

[beaver#1]

this not really a which one is better question but rather a does one or the other hold any advantages against the  other. im getting the full tang knives down pretty good considering i have only been at it about 2 months but.. makinga full tang knifeif eating my breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

[beaver#1]

tttt

[theunluckyhunter]

keep the tang as heavy as you can on a hidden tang, so that it's not weak.


im not sure which one your having trouble with lol. you typed full tang on both of them

[beaver#1]

opps...  yah i am mostly having problems getting the bolster or finger guard to fit properly with the blade width wise.  my slot in the guard is fitting from spine to edge but the width is always too much leave a big gap between the guard and the blade.  maybe that made it clear as mud for yall.lol

[theunluckyhunter]

how are you cutting the gaurd? you have to go sloowwwwwww. i cut a narrow slot with a fine toothed hack saw or coping saw and then go to town with an 8 inch file, after getting close i use needle files.

all of my gaurds arefriction set also, meaning the slot is just barely undersized and i tap it onto the blade with a hammer with a piece of leather over the head so it doesnt ding anything up.

then glue it to the blade with jb-weld, before it cures cut off all of the excess.

it usually helps to have the handle allready shaped before installing the gaurd also, that way you can angle the guard to the handle not the handle to the gaurd

[beaver#1]

i see what you are saying.  i was trying to make one with out cutting one side. know what i mean.

[theunluckyhunter]

if you are doing that then drill a line of holes in the material, and file out between them.

[Brad Singley]

Beaver,  If you taper the tang like the distal taper on you blade almost without exception the knife will balance and feel right in the hand.  You also gain the benefit of being to drive fit the guard on the back of the ricasso you have filed flat.  If you mill or file your slot approx.  .020 undersize you will have a perfect guard fit always.  I hope this makes sense, to many knifemakers rush this part of knifemaking and the experienced collectors look here first to guage the quality of your work. Take your time and let me know if I could be of help to you.

[Ray Hammond]

Brad...you never sent me those pics of the thing you wanted to trade for the thing. Call me? 678-300-2883