I’ve met a lot of new hunters in our club and the other day, I noticed one of them struggling to process a big game. I asked him to hand over his knife and it is, a hidden tang. I had to explain to him that it isn’t suitable for this task because it can’t handle the stress you are putting on it. You must go with a full tang one.
That’s not a single instance. I’ve seen many people make this mistake and had to explain this multiple times. For more than a decade, I’ve used various knives with these two tangs and I always pick the one based on my requirement.
I’ve created this post to clear the doubts on this topic so that people can go with the right one.
What does a tang on a knife mean?
A tang is a piece of steel attached inside the handle of a knife to manage the stress. This extended part plays a crucial part in its balance, strength and durability.
There are two main types of tangs; full and partial tang. There are multiple variations in these two tangs and you must know about it before selecting the right knife.
Today, I’ll focus mainly on the major differences between the two tangs.
What Is a Full Tang Knife?
This tang consists of a single piece of steel from the blade tip to the butt and it’ll have the same width, thickness and length throughout the knife. The entire tang will be visible to the eyes. It is the strongest tang among all the options as it provides great strength and balance.
For hunting, I always go with this tang because I need to perform heavy tasks like game processing, skinning, butchering etc and it handles the stress easily. If you need a knife to perform such demanding tasks, I suggest you get the same.
If you have a wooden full tang knife, you are going to have some trouble carrying it during the winter because you’ll contact the visible part of the tang and will get a tiny shock. This isn’t the case on hidden tangs as they are fully covered in the handle.
Pros:
1. For precision cuts and delicate tasks, it provides excellent control.
2. It is better durability due to its high-quality build using a single piece of steel.
3. They are easy to maintain.
Cons:
1. Most of these knives are heavy and may not offer portability.
2. It may be expensive compared to hidden tangs.
3. The handle aesthetics are simple.
Many of my knives are full tang and I own dozens of them. One of my favorite models is the KA-BAR Becker BK2.
Let’s take a look at its specifications.
1. Steel: Carbon Steel
2. Blade Length: 5.25-inches
3. Blade Thickness: 1/4 inch
4. Handle material: Zytel
5. Weight: 1 LBS
6. Tang: Full tang
7. Blade Type: Drop point
This model costs about $110 and is slightly expensive than hidden tang knives. However, I invested in this one a few years back and am still using it every few months.
I use this knife for hunting, bushcraft or any other outdoor activities that require a powerful blade.
What does a hidden tang mean?
This tang extends only a partway of the handle. It is thinner, narrower and shorter than a full tang blade.
It requires less steel and compared to a full tang blade, it’ll weigh at least 10-20% less. The handle of these knives are mostly made from the woods that provide excellent grip.
This tang is capable of performing most tasks such as opening boxes, cutting & slicing food, carving, food preparation etc but you can’t do heavy-duty tasks such as batoning, butching, thrusting, game processing etc.
As the tang is hidden, manufacturers provide aesthetic handles that make the knife attractive which is missing on a full tang knife.
I own multiple knives and used them for various purposes; from kitchen work to everyday tasks like opening packages, cutting ropes, removing unwanted saplings etc and had no problem with them. I bring a hidden tang blade when I go hunting to perform lightweight activities such as skinning, caping, field dressing but I carry full tangs to perform heavy-duty tasks.
Pros:
1. Flexible to operate due to reduced weight.
2. Suitable for less demanding and everyday tasks.
3. Affordable pricing.
Cons:
1. It can’t handle stress from heavy-duty tasks.
2. Not easy to repair.
I own many knives with this tang as well. One of my favorite models is Helle Temagami.
Specifications:
1. Steel: Stainless Steel
2. Blade Length: 4.5 inches
4. Handle material: Birch wood
5. Weight: 3 lbs
6. Tang: Hidden tang
7. Blade Type: V-grind
I’ve owned this knife for over 5 years and still use it whenever I go camping, hiking or trekking with my friends. It costs about $89 which is less than a full tang knife and many other models with this tang are usually cheaper.
If you want to know more about these tangs, I suggest you watch this video.
FAQs
1. What are the benefits of a full tang knife?
These knives are heavy and have high-strength which provides the right balance and control to perform heavy tasks. It can resist stress from any activity and may last longer.
2. What does it mean if a knife is full tang?
It means the knife is made out of a single piece of steel from the tip to the bottom of the handle. The tang will be visible through the entire handle.
3. Are hidden tang knives strong?
Yes, they are strong enough to perform daily activities, preparing foods, carving, slicing breads but may not be able to resist stress from powerful tasks like batoning, prying etc.
4. What are the disadvantages of full tang?
These knives can’t resist stress from heavy tasks and may not be durable.
5. What is the difference between a full tang and a hidden tang?
A full tang is made out of a single piece of steel and it’ll have the same thickness, width and extend till the bottom of the handle. A hidden one extends till a partway of the handle and it’ll be thinner, short length and have less durability.
6. Can a full tang knife break?
Yes, it can break if you use it for the wrong purpose, put an excessive amount of stress or not maintain it regularly.
Conclusion
For me, both tangs matter because I need the full one to perform demanding tasks for hunting whereas the hidden one helps me while doing household chores like opening delivery packages, cooking, gardening, cutting fruits and vegetables etc.
If you need a knife to perform demanding tasks, you must go with the full tang or else, you will be just fine with a hidden tang. If you need any other help on this topic, please share it in the comments and I’ll talk to you soon. Thanks!
