Offy what do you suggest ? Why ?

IRLConor

Thankyou so much for the offer of help

I'll be in touch via PM if that's ok

Davy

Let's start the debate between Full Tang and Hidden Tang

I want to start off by dispelling a myth

First of all let me say that Lordapard is correct in saying that there is very little difference in the strength of these handles. But and it's a big But that is generally provided that the hidden tang has been forged to shape and not simply machined out.

Most cheap off the shelf blades will have been machined or stamped from a sheet of steel prior to grinding. This simple mass manufacturing error has been the primary cause behind the Myth that Hidden tang blades are weaker and more likely to break at The Ricasso (The Ricasso is the point on a knife where Blade Meets Handle, More on this later) and if hidden tang knife is built this way then it is a very likely assumption to make.

However good knifemakers can get over this hurdle by shaping the tang by forging it to shape. Simply put, the Bar of flat steel is heated up and hammered on its edges until the tang is formed. Forging the steel in this way actually bulks up the ricasso and tang thus eliminating the likelyhood of breaking . It has been suggested in fact that a knife made in this Fashion is even stronger at the ricasso area because of this method.

See diag. below



So hopefully by eliminating this myth you will now be able to Vote on this particular secton of the build based on Aesthetics alone.

I think you should see now why I earlier suggested a Hidden Tang. It was simply to allow us more choices and greater control over the design elements of the handle itself and therefore allowing us to get more Irish.

That being said this topic is open to debate and if you guys want either a Full Tang or a Hidden Tang it's up to you.

Voting will begin hopefully tomorrow but feel free to put forward your arguments for each case.

Regards

Davy

Hidden tang knives can be lighter than Full Tang but this is not always a good assumption to make.

Full tang knives can also be lightened by removing some of the stock from the handle area. either by drilling extra holes in the handle or by tapering the sides of the handle (Taper Tang)

See diag.





Trog ?? Sorry not familiar with this

Tanks for the offer of making the Damascus Offy you are very kind indeed.
I am a knifemaker and not a bladesmith but would love to work with some of that steel. What hardness are you able to achieve via your heat treating ? Were tou thinking of adding nickel or stainless also to help combat the climate here

Davy

Mellor I think you are on to something here and it is something important. While I like to look back at the Seax and marvel at the craft it took to make it let alone the guts to use it, I think we need to think about a modern useable knife with a definite sense of Irishness to the aesthetics.

Davy