Post by Lobster on Jan 30, 2016 12:14:42 GMT 3
The fixed blade knife has been around for thousands of years and is arguably the most important tool and weapon in the history of the development of modern man.
A fixed blade knife is generally bulkier to carry, even the most compact fixed blade is larger than a folder with an equivalent blade length, it is a very simple thing with no moving parts. And because of that it is much stronger than any folding knife. It also doesn't require opening to be ready and can be deployed quicker and easier than a folding knife.
The tang on fixed blade knives
image courtesy of www.hunterblades.com
There are a wide variety of tang designs both for full and partial tangs. In full tang knives, usually the handle is cut in the shape of the tang and handle "slabs" are then fitted to the tang using pins, screws, bolts& nuts and other fasteners. Often, the tang is left exposed along the belly, butt, and spine of the handle.
Full tang knives tend to be the strongest knives but tend to be heavier than partial tang knives.
Partial tang designs include stub, half, and three-quarter tangs, describing how far the tang extends into the handle of the tool. Hollow handle knives have a stubby tang to allow for the handle tube to be used as a storage compartment for small items.
Folding knives also have a stubby tang only extending as far as the pivot point offering very little strength.
Some full tang knives use the skeletonized tang itself as the handle for the knife, often it is wrapped with leather or paracord for better grip:
The sheath
A sheath, (or a scabbard as they are called for swords and the like) is important because it not only provides the means to safely carry your blade, it also protects it from exposure that could damage it.
Sheaths and scabbards are made from very different materials. Wood, sheet metals like steel, copper and brass, leather and synhtetic materials. Below some of the most common materials:
Leather
The most common material is leather, it has been used for thousands of years and is tough, durable and can be worked to a beautiful finish. It’s still one of the best sheath materials, it looks great, feels nice and is very quiet when you’re drawing a knife from it. As it a natural material, it ages beautifully but it can dry out or become moldy so it needs maintenance.
Kydex
Kydex is a thermoplastic that is used in a wide range of applications from automotive to safety equipment and aerospace and also to make holsters and sheaths. Kydex is very durable and regardless of the environment it is used in, it needs no maintenance beyond cleaning. Its only (perceived) disadvantage is that Kydex is a hard plastic with no personality. Also, it tends to be a bit noisier and it can dull the knife's edge.
Nylon/Cordura fabric
They are common with budget knives and in the tactical world. They are functional but often a bit flimsy and they tend do look a bit cheap. They also need some sort of protection not to be cut when drawing or inserting the kife.
On the plus side, a quality nylon sheath can be very versatile with the carry options, it is impervious to heat, cold, water and other adverse influences, requires minimal maintenancs beyond cleaning, it is light and quiet.
Plastic
Sheaths made from ABS, PP and other plastics have the advantage of being the cheap to produce, but they tend to be of inferior quality and usually come only with budget knives.
A few exceptions and the custom market aside, usually the buyer is stuck with whatever sheath the manufacturer is selling it so it is worth considering the material of the sheath when buying a knife for any specific purpose.