Guys,

I have been watching 'Forged in Fire'.  I'm not a bladesmith but just find it fascinating.

A couple of times though I have been wondering why a smith would choose to make a full tang versus a hidden tang knife, and in fact a couple of times they have actually specified which to make as a requirement on the challenges.

What goes into the thinking process there - full tang is stronger?  Hidden tang is lighter, more aesthetic, cheaper?

Would like to hear your opinions.

Other things (material, heat treat, etc.) equal, wouldn't a larger tang be stronger?  It seems like a full-length, full-width exposed tang would be strongest, full-length stick tangs (like the ones on Moras) would be weakest and wide full-length hidden tangs (like the ones Busse used on their old Respirene handled knives and Fallkniven uses on their Kraton handled knives) would be somewhere in between.  Hidden tangs can be more comfortable, though.

Depends on the size of the tang. A Ka-Bar USMC has a big blade with a really small tang that will break somewhat easily compared to a full tang. There's a company called Utility Tool Knives that makes hidden tang outdoor knives that have a pretty thick tang that I can't imagine breaking sooner than a full tang. It really depends on the design. The advantage of a hidden tang isn't necessarily weight since both types can be skeletonized, but more so that in cold weather or wet weather that there is more grip rather than smooth metal on the hand.