Tanto

[Michael_Schaap]

I saw a knife called a Tanto that looked realy cool! Is this considered a knife? Looked more like a small sword...kinda... Been trying to get a close up of the handle to see what its made of....I think its wood but it also had the traditional webbing on it (or is it cord???) Well at any rate it looked like a real cool thing to make

Michael

[Crayola]

Technically, a tanto is a knife with a guard on it, traditionally having the same furniture (guard and such) as is on a full sword (katana) but in appropriate proportions. If you have a pic of it, please post it! There are as many "tanto" knives as there are bowies it seems! There is also a split between "americanized" tantos and traditional ones. Americanized tantos have a straight edge on the tip that liiks like a chisel up front. The traditional ones had rounded tips. THe rounded tips are great penetrators where the americanized tantos are super strong and, if the blade has a good chisel grind, will create a larger wound channel. I like a good tanto too! Dollar for dollar, I think the Cold Steel Recon Tanto is a great knife. I hope to get one for X-Mass.

Welcome to the forums!

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