A full tang knife is considered the strongest and most durable construction available. It’s ideal for any knife that will be used intensively or taken to a place where you want to be sure it can survive the conditions.
Frame handle construction presents its own challenges. One of those is ensuring the guard, spacers and frame all index properly during assembly.
Threaded rod
Full tang knives have an unbroken line of steel from the blade to the handle. Partial tang knives don’t have this same line of metal, so they’re not as strong.
Compared to partial tangs, full tang knives are also heavier. This is because the center of mass is shifted towards the back, which makes them a little more cumbersome than knives without a fully extended tang.
If you’re going to be using your knife heavily, a full tang is the way to go. The metal will be stronger and the knife will feel more solid and sturdy.
Material
Full tang knives offer superior strength and balance because they have a single piece of metal that runs down the length of the handle. This is ideal for survival blades and other knives that you need to use in tough situations.
However, full tangs can also be heavy, so it’s important to choose the right material for your knife guard. There are many options available, but some of the most common include aluminum bronze, nickel silver and steel.
If you’re looking for a lightweight guard that won’t compromise the strength of your knife, stainless steel is a great choice. It’s also durable and resistant to corrosion, which is a problem for regular-use knives.
Spacers
A full tang knife has a steel blade that runs all the way through from the tip to the base of the handle. This gives the user a visual assurance that the knife will not break off in an emergency.
A partial tang is different in that the steel only goes through half of the handle. The rest of the handle is made up of a different material, either wood or plastic.
This is an excellent option for making a custom knife with a more pronounced look and feel. But it also has a few challenges.
Pomel
A guard is a section of metal that lines up with the handle and protects your hand from slipping up the blade. These can be purely decorative or designed to provide balance and strength.
There are many types of guards. Some are purely for decoration, some have quillions to protect your hands and some are a combination of both.
Whether you are making a full tang or rat tail tang knife, a guard is an important part of the overall design. It can help to keep the blade firmly attached to the handle, as well as serve as a holder for items like a sheath or tool. To make a guard, you need a threaded rod and a good quality material to match the diameter of your tang.
Guard
If you have a full tang knife, it’s important to make sure you have a good guard on the blade. A guard will keep the blade safe and prevent it from breaking off.
In order to make a guard, you must first decide what kind of tang your knife has. There are several different types of tangs, including full, partial, push, and skeletonized.
A full tang is the most common type of tang. It’s typically a solid piece of metal that extends all the way through the handle and is fastened on either side with metallic rivets.
Partial tang knives have a tang that extends only through part of the handle. They are usually lighter than full tang knives and are cheaper to manufacture. However, they are not very durable. They are also susceptible to snapping the blade.