Doug Lester
Well-Known Member
I've go two hidden tang knives that I'm grinding now and should have ready for heat treating by the end of the week. Here's my question. Would it be better not to quench the part of the tang where it joins the ricasso or not? I know that if I hold the tang out of the quenchant that the tang will be all pearletic steel which is tougher but not as strong as martensetic steel. If I put the knife into the quenchant to just over the ricasso then the tang at the union with the ricasso will be stronger but less tough, thus more susceptible to brittle failure. Though I could reduce this risk by drawing the temper at this spot with a torch. I can see advantages both ways so what's the experience of those out there who have made stick tang knives?
Doug
Doug