Hidden Tang

HELLGAP

HELLGAP

Dealer - Purveyor
I am in the process of doing one of my damascus blades I just etched and thought a wart hog tusk would be really good. I almost ruined it. Hidden tang knives In my opinion are the hardest to finish of all knives. Lining up the pin so there is no gap is as tuff as it gets. Through tang are hard but they still leave you lots of room for error. The only thing I should have done was made a larger spacer to allow a little more room in the grip as the tusk I chose was a little small I could have lenghtend it by using A 1/2 inch thick piece of buffalow scale. I chose a thin piece and also had a fingerr gaurd I tried to solder it and that didnt work I now see how difficult this is. What other ways can I attach a brass finger gaurd on a hidden tang knife.
 
J&B WELD for the guard. Hidden tangs are not hard, you are just doing it the hard way. Epoxy alone will hold the grip, but a pin is good security. Soften the tang, or leave it out of the quench. Epoxy the grip on then drill for the pin through the grip and tang at the same time after the epoxy has set.
 
+1 on LRB's suggestions. If you don't like soldering, JB weld is the answer. If some of the JB weld squeezes out on the blade ( and some will ) let it start setting up then before it sets too hard carefully remove it with a popsicle stick or something else that won't scratch the blade. I use a special clamp I made to keep pressure on the guard while the JB weld sets.

Larry
 
Another way to line up a pin hole in the tang is to clamp your blade in a drill press vise, one of the adjustable cross slide ones works best, and line the bit up with the hole, then slip your handle on and drill. If you have a rounded surface on the handle such as an antler or horn, use a end mill the same size as or smaller than your drill bit, to start the hole, the end mill won't wander around as bad as the drill bit. I use to have problems with hidden tangs fitting up good, till I tried this method. And another vote for JB weld for guards.
Dale
 
Looks like Ill go get some JB weld. The solder isnt working for me maybee cuzz Im scared to over heat the blade . thanks guys
 
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