What does a tang add to a knife?

A tang extending the length of the handle not only gives the user more leverage but also better balance, since the knife’s balance point will typically fall toward the middle. If a knife is used in lifesaving operations or survival situations, a full tang knife is highly recommended.

What is a peened tang?

On a sword or dagger the part that is peened is the end of the tang (the part of the blade that is inside the guard, grip, and pommel) where it projects through the pommel. This process will mechanically tighten the hilt of the sword locking the pommel down and holding the guard, grip, and pommel as a unit.

Why do knives have a tang?

Full tang construction allows more force to be applied to the blade without a risk of the knife snapping at the bolster, which is the area of the knife where the blade transitions to the handle. Some knives have a full tang, even though you might not be able to see it through the length of the handle.

How are pommels attached?

The second, and most common method of pommel attachment, is the threaded pommel. In this construction, the end of the tang is threaded and the pommel is essentially a giant nut that screws down onto it. This narrows the tang in one of the weakest areas of the sword, the junction of the grip and the pommel.

What is a sword pommel?

The pommel (Anglo-Norman pomel “little apple”) is an enlarged fitting at the top of the handle. They were originally developed to prevent the sword slipping from the hand. From around the 11th century in Europe they became heavy enough to be a counterweight to the blade.

What is an integrated pommel?

Generally it means that the pommel is either made from the same piece/blank of steel as the blade, from the other end of the hilt (Think “full tang” with an extension, and that extension is formed into a “pommel”), or that the pommel is one piece with the rest of the hilt (grip, guard, etc.

How are swords attached to Hilts?

The hilt is usually slipped over the tang to rest at the blade shoulder on a sword. (Knife hilts are normally riveted or glued on.) It is held in place by the pommel. A few swords have the pommel and even the guard all created as one piece with the blade.

What were medieval sword handles made of?

The handle, called the hilt, can be made of many materials, but the material most common is wood covered by leather, fish skin or metal wiring. The parts of a sword are remarkably consistent between cultures.

How big should the peening pins be on a knife handle?

The pins should be just long enough so that about 1/16″ 1.5mm) sticks out on both sides of the knife handle. Too short and you won’t be able to peen the ends enough so they hold anything together.

What’s the best way to make a peening pin?

Using the round or ball end of your ball-peen hammer, start tapping around the edge of the pin. You want to strike the edge of the pin, not the centre. Peening pins calls for finesse not brute strength. Use a small hammer and gently tap around the edge. You’ll see the pin start to develop a dome that is wider than the pin below.

What kind of glue is used to glue peening pins?

Some knifemakers use epoxy to simply glue pins in place but epoxy will eventually degrade and fail. Correctly peened pins will last a lifetime. So what does peening pins mean?