The second most basic decision to make when designing a custom knife is the type of tang. Here are a couple of the more common styles, but others exist also. The full tang offers superior strength and durability because the knife is one solid piece of steel. The hidden tang is strong, but also allows the use of bone, horn, or other hollow materials to create the handle. A through tang is similar to a hidden tang, but extends through the bottom of the handle material and ends in a metal pommel. Lastly, a slotted tang, which is common in kitchen cutlery, is a hidden tang that rests along the top edge of the blade so it fits into a slot drilled into the handle material, creating a hybrid between the full tang and the hidden tang. We would love to answer your questions and help you choose the tang style that is right for you!