As stated below, the tang is the part of a
sword blade which is inside of the
handle. Here are some examples of the several types of tangs:
Full Tang: The whole handle is the tang, with handle scales attached to the sides.
Half Tang: Half of the handle is the tang.
Push Tang: The tang is pushed into the handle and is fixed in place.
Encapsulated Tang: The handle is molded around the tang.
Rat-Tail Tang: The blade is secured to the handle by a bolt or threaded
pommel.