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What is this tang?

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Author	Topic: What is this tang?
June Martin Forum Master Posts: 1326 Registered: Apr 93	posted 12-23-2006 01:14 PM [01-2532] I was flipping through a catalog on a Sheffield silver exhibition when I came across a photo of a very odd looking cheese scoop from 1799. The associated description said that the cheese scoop was an example of a piece having only a partial mark and that said mark was on the tang. I confess, I had no idea what a tang was so I sifted through the library and finally found the definition. But before I share it, does anyone else want to tell? IP: Logged
jersey Posts: 1203 Registered: Feb 2005	posted 12-23-2006 02:03 PM Hi June! Is it refering to the blade that goes throughout the handle? Happy Holiday's. Jersey IP: Logged
Dale Posts: 2132 Registered: Nov 2002	posted 12-24-2006 12:26 AM I believe 'tang' refers to the part of the blade, usually a much narrower piece, that goes inside the handle. The tang is used to 'set' the blade. IP: Logged
IJP Posts: 326 Registered: Oct 2004	posted 12-24-2006 12:53 AM I'm pretty certain that jersey and Dale are correct. The word definitely means just that in the context of swords and sword-making, and I'm sure that cutlers would use it likewise. IP: Logged
adelapt Posts: 418 Registered: May 2003	posted 12-24-2006 08:09 AM Yes, the tang is the "fixing" part which goes into the handle. Birmingham smallwork, like fruit knives and forks, with not much room for marks, often had part of the mark exposed, the remainer on the tang. Silver handles were marked separately, and were often provided by specialist makers, thus the two parts had separate trips to the assay office. IP: Logged
wev Moderator Posts: 4121 Registered: Apr 99	posted 12-24-2006 08:48 AM And here I thought it was a powdered orange juice substitute that even vodka can't rescue. . . IP: Logged
swarter Moderator Posts: 2920 Registered: May 2003	posted 12-24-2006 12:46 PM Well. the astronauts took it into space -- you can't get higher than that! IP: Logged
June Martin Forum Master Posts: 1326 Registered: Apr 93	posted 12-24-2006 01:39 PM Ah, you are all so well versed in flatware construction terminology! I am thinking maybe we should have a term of the week feature to get everyone up to speed. The funny looking cheese scoop that started this whole thread is shown below with the tang delineated. The reason the scoop looks funny is because the actual handle (probably ivory) is missing allowing us to see the hallmarks that would be hidden when the handle was attached. So, you are all correct, on your definition of tang (except for you, wev). According to The Random House Dictionary of the English Language, Second Edition, a tang is “a long and slender projecting strip, tongue or prong forming part of an object.” An Illustrated Dictionary of Silverware by Harold Newman defines a tang as “the shank forming the extension from the blade of a knife or the head of a fork and connecting it to the handle; usually it is tapered and inserted into the handle.” Thanks everyone for helping to answer this question. Now let’s all sit back and enjoy our holiday tang martinis. IP: Logged
wev Moderator Posts: 4121 Registered: Apr 99	posted 12-24-2006 01:45 PM bleck! tangs for nothing IP: Logged
Clive E Taylor Posts: 450 Registered: Jul 2000	posted 12-24-2006 07:31 PM Tang to crossword complilers is a small insect that flies backwards. A Very Happy Chistmas to every one. IP: Logged
witzhall Posts: 124 Registered: Mar 2006	posted 12-24-2006 10:08 PM I thought that would have been a gnat . . . IP: Logged
swarter Moderator Posts: 2920 Registered: May 2003	posted 12-25-2006 12:03 PM That's what happens when you get your tang toungled over your eyetooth and can't see what you are saying. . . . Happy New Year everyone! [This message has been edited by swarter (edited 12-25-2006).] IP: Logged
witzhall Posts: 124 Registered: Mar 2006	posted 12-25-2006 06:00 PM And to you, swarter, and all the good SMP-SSF folks! (Let's drink a nog to that!) IP: Logged

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