<Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Look up tang in Wiktionary, the free dictionary . </Td> </Tr> <P> A tang or shank is the back portion of the blade component of a tool where it extends into stock material or connects to a handle--as on a knife, sword, spear, arrowhead, chisel, file, coulter, pike, scythe, screwdriver, etc . One can classify various tang designs by their appearance, by the manner in which they attach to a handle, and by their length in relation to the handle . </P> <P> A full tang extends the full length of the grip - portion of a handle, versus a partial tang which does not . A full tang may or may not be as wide as the handle itself, but will still run the full length of the handle . </P> <P> There are a wide variety of full and partial tang designs . In perhaps the most common design in full tang knives, the handle is cut in the shape of the tang and handle scales are then fastened to the tang by means of pins, screws, bolts, metal tubing, epoxy, etc . The tang is left exposed along the belly, butt, and spine of the handle, extending both the full length and width of the handle . </P>

Why is a knife with a full tang better than one with a rattail tang