Odd story but a friend of mines who has some friends that own LFSs recently ordered a "hybrid tang" from the list for $75.00 and they end up sending him a 3-4" black tang. Fortunately, the LFS owner didnt keep it himself or spike the price on it. Not sure how anyone mixed that up, given that a black tang that size probably retails for 3-500.00, but what a steal! And yes, this is a black tang, hands down, not possibly a hybrid. Sorry to detract the thread