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Ed Caffrey's Workshop Talk to Ed Caffrey ... The Montana Bladesmith! Tips, tricks and more from an ABS Mastersmith.

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  #1  
Old 07-18-2008, 02:07 PM
fbgraver62 fbgraver62 is offline
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Distal Taper

I have read this term a thousand times but have never really thought about what it is. I was asked the other day what a distal taper is and I could not answer it. Can anyone help me out. I am sure that as a wannabe knife maker I should know this.

Thanks, Fred
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Old 07-18-2008, 02:53 PM
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Ed Caffrey Ed Caffrey is offline
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Hi Fred!

A lot of folks have trouble with that one.

Distal: Directed away from the midline or mesial plane of the body

In this case we're talking about the "midline" of the knife, which in most cases is located in, or near the ricasso.

Taper: 1. to become smaller or thinner toward one end.
2. to grow gradually lean.

So, generally the term Distal Taper means that a blades thickest spot is located at the "mid point"/ricasso, with the blade tapering all the way to the point. In addition, for the best balance, the tang of a knife should be tapered too...again with the thickest spot at the ricasso, and tapering towards the end of the tang/handle.

Distal tapers do some very important things for a knife.

1. They lighten the entire knife, making it feel faster/quicker in the hand.

2. Distal Tapers actually make a knife stronger. If something is tapered, and you apply bending force to it, it creates an arch....distributing the stresses evenly, over the entire length of the arch. Blades that are equal thickness throughout their length, and especially those with sharp corners along the spine are much more prone to breakage. With this situation the stresses will seek out the weakest portion of the blade and concentrate themselves there.

3. When distal tapers are included in a knife, it is very difficult NOT to make it balance out well (feel) ....unless you hang a huge chunk of material on as a buttcap.


Over the years I have listened as many makers claim that a ricasso MUST be perfectly flat and level. I've NEVER done it that way. I have a high point in the general area of the ricasso's center, and the blade tapers from that point forward, and the handle tampers from that point back. Hidden or full tangs, it makes no difference. It makes fitting guards, bolsters, and just general assembly of the knife much easier.


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Old 07-18-2008, 03:22 PM
fbgraver62 fbgraver62 is offline
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Thank you very much. I thought that was what it meant but wasn't sure. Also makes it a bit easier to understand what others are talking about.
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Old 07-18-2008, 03:38 PM
cdent cdent is offline
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Thanks Ed. You packed a lot of good stuff in your reply.

Take care, Craig
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Old 08-06-2008, 07:06 PM
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jonwelder jonwelder is offline
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Cool here is a picture--

I'll try to get a picture here so you can see some distal taper in my knife. In this one, the "fattest" point is just inside the handle, and it tapers both ways from there. --Jon


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Last edited by jonwelder; 09-04-2008 at 09:36 PM.
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