When discussing knives with experts, there's a good chance you'll hear about the full Tang knife. The term may be unfamiliar to you, but in the context of survival weapons, this knife is well-known and highly appreciated. In this article, you will have all the important information related to this knife.
Definition of the Full Tang knife
As you may have noticed, the term "Full Tang" is an expression that comes to us from English. It simply means that the tang is fully extended into the knife handle. Before continuing, it might be worth revisiting certain terms that describe the different parts of a knife, because for a novice it's not necessarily obvious. The knife is essentially made up of the blade (which is composed of the point, the side, and the edge) and the handle in which we find the tang.
The term "tang" is the key word to understand what a full-Tang knife is. Indeed, the tang is nothing other than the extension of the blade into the handle. The tang is the element that determines the type of knife you have. When the tang only reaches halfway into the handle, we say we are in the presence of a partial Tang knife. However, if it is fully inserted into the knife handle, we will speak of a Full Tang knife.
Thus, a Full Tang knife is a knife where the blade is fully inserted into its handle. This type of knife is also known as a one-piece knife because it can still be used even in the absence of a handle. However, it is important to note that the presence of a handle is preferable for reasons of comfort and safety.
Speaking of handles, it's important to know that adding it to the knife can be done in several different ways. Indeed, it is possible to fix the handle either by small series injection of material, or by mounting it with rivets, or simply by using glue.
Fixing the handle is a part of knife design that should absolutely not be neglected. If the handle is well fixed, thanks to the different techniques mentioned above, the knife will have the advantage of being very hygienic and easily washable. A full tang knife with a well-fixed handle is therefore an excellent knife that can be used in the kitchen.
The origin of the Full Tang knife
The appearance of the Full Tang knife doesn't date from today. In truth, we could even say that this type of knife has always existed. But thanks to its many advantageous characteristics, it has managed to make its place in the world of cutlery.
This good reputation of the full tang knife and its great renown compared to other knives is explained by the fact that the latter presented many weaknesses due to the fragility of the tang, poor handle fixation, or poor blade retention. These few defects sometimes resulted in knives with broken handles or play in the blade. To overcome all these problems and the fragility of knives, the full tang appeared as the best solution.
However, it must be acknowledged that there are reliable and solid partial tang and folding knives on the market. It's just a matter of finding the right brands that sell quality, such as KA-BAR, Condor, or Gerber.
Advantages and Disadvantages of the full tang knife
Full Tang knives have countless advantages. But when discussing the Full Tang knife, the main asset that stands out is its solidity. Indeed, it's this robustness of the Full Tang that makes its reputation, and it's also what gives it this versatile aspect. Full tang knives are therefore usable in all circumstances.
The weaknesses and defects present in other knives do not exist in Full Tang knives. For example, unlike folding knives, there is very little risk of seeing the full tang knife bend during strenuous work that puts pressure on the blade.
Compared to the partial Tang knife as well, the Full Tang knife has the advantage of having a well-fixed blade without play that ensures its stability. Also, it must be recognized that the partial Tang has a handle that can break more or less easily and its repair is not very easy. Whereas for a full tang knife, the handle only breaks under extreme conditions, and even if it does, it's always possible to use it without a handle. It's these advantages that make the Full Tang a survival knife that is preferable to bring with you when you're in the wild. In terms of reliability and safety, there really isn't anything better than the full tang.
However, the Full Tang doesn't only have advantages. Regarding its disadvantages, it's worth noting its rather significant weight which makes it more difficult to transport and also more cumbersome. In terms of transportability, it's true that folding and partial Tang knives are preferable to full tang knives.
The uses of Full Tang knives and weapons in general
When it comes to using Full Tang weapons, versatility is key. Indeed, the full tang knife is usable in all circumstances. It's not for nothing that it's described as a survival knife and ideal for Bushcraft. For example, when in nature or in a hostile environment, you'll need to perform many tasks to eat, stay warm, etc. To meet your most essential needs in an unfavorable environment, it will be necessary to make some tools, hunt and skin for food. All these activities can be performed with a full tang knife thanks to the robustness and strength of its handle, and also thanks to the stability of its blade. You can totally rely on a Full Tang in this kind of context.
Other Full Tang weapons
The Full Tang has proven to be a very practical and reassuring concept. This is why it has been extended to many other survival weapons and tools. Indeed, there are many other tools that are made of a single block. We can mention among these weapons:
- The hatchet: for survival, the hatchet is a very useful tool. It's even more so when it's full tang. With a Full Tang hatchet, you have the certainty of not ending up with a blade separated from the handle while you're cutting wood. Solidity is guaranteed. For better grip and more comfort in use, the handle is sometimes covered with cord. This is the case with hatchets from the Bushcraft brand.
- The axe: a Full Tang axe is, in principle, constructed in the same way as a Full Tang hatchet. The only difference lies in the weight. Indeed, the axe being much larger than the hatchet, the latter has the advantage of being easier to handle.
- The machete: the Full Tang machete is very often made of stainless steel, which makes it very easy to maintain and clean. Like all other Full Tang tools, the machete is also very solid and resistant. The handle of a Full Tang machete breaks in extremely rare cases. It can be used for brushcutting work, for example.
- Daggers and dirks: in full tang manufacturing, daggers and dirks are not left out. Indeed, these two tools belonging to the categories of defense weapons are also designed with full tang for better resistance. Full Tang daggers and dirks are often made with stainless steel blades and also with non-slip handles for more safety. This is the case with daggers from the Extreme Knife brand. For novices who wouldn't know how to distinguish a dagger from a dirk, it's enough to remember that a dirk is simply a longer dagger.
- The katana: a katana is a curved, sharp Japanese sword. It is traditionally made from raw steel that has been transformed into composite steel. In Full Tang, it is even more solid and resistant. But it should be noted that a Full Tang katana can be very heavy and difficult to carry and use.
Other tools and weapons made with full tang have the same characteristics and advantages as the Full Tang knife. The key words remain strength and resistance. What you need to keep in mind is that a Full Tang weapon or tool is always more advantageous in its category. Full Tang is synonymous with safety, robustness, and efficiency.