Arrived today - Older CS Tanto

[watchcollector1968]

I know, its not a new model by any means, but I do think this is one that Cold Steel did very well. Just got a new one from Newgraham. Just as well made as I remember from many many years ago.

 

[yoz's friend]

those early tantos where nice. ive got an old model outdoorsman and i think it is the most underrated knife cold steel ever made.youve really got to handle one to know.

 

[TheFlash]

Nice CS Tanto!

I've sold all of my CS Tantos with the guard and pointed butt-cap except one:
In the late 1980's/early 1990's, I bought a Special Ops Tanto from the Cutlery Shoppe (exclusive) that came with a cordura sheath (rather than leather) and was individually numbered. It even came with a Gerber shoulder harness strap as part of the package.
All the fittings were stainless steel at the time when Cold Steel was still using the brass fittings for their tantos.
And, the guard is the old 'wedge' design rather than the sculpted guard that you see today.
Not going to sell that one...that's for certain...

watchcollector1968 - enjoy your CS Tanto!

Regards,
Mike

 

[watchcollector1968]

I remember that one from CutleryShoppe. A friend of mine has one and I remember way back then having never known that anybody ever made a shoulder holster setup for a knife. Its very nice.

I should have asked this in my first post. Is there a reputable place that makes/sells IWB kydex sheaths for this knife?...I would prefer ready made sheaths as I dont want to have to send it off.

 

[crossada]

cs used to have ready made iwb sheaths for the tanto. you might check their website.

i have one of the sanmai versions that i bought back in the 90's, it was one of my favorite hiking knives. still have it.

 

[Bimmer1]

The coolest Cold Steel tanto from the early 1990's was the Imperial Damascus Tanto.

 

[Mike Sastre]

I remember that one from CutleryShoppe. A friend of mine has one and I remember way back then having never known that anybody ever made a shoulder holster setup for a knife. Its very nice.

I should have asked this in my first post. Is there a reputable place that makes/sells IWB kydex sheaths for this knife?...I would prefer ready made sheaths as I dont want to have to send it off.

I've made a lot of kydex/Concealex sheaths for the CS Tanto, and can tell you it is far better to send it in to someone to get a good fit. Different runs of that knife definitely have a different fit. I've made batches of them in advance to have at Gun & Knife shows and/or sent them to customers not wanting to send in their knife, and at least half of them wind up being different enough to require a custom fit. I've taken the same sheath with four different vintage Tantos and all fit a little different or not at all. Recently sent one for a Master Tanto to a gentleman in San Francisco that fit the one here perfectly - good retention, quick drag free release - and it wound up being way too tight on his, so he had to send his in for a custom fit to get the same result.

 

[Unbreakable]

I know a lot of folks don't like CS or it's Owner... But those knives always take me back. When I was a young man and old enough to where my father would buy me a fixed blade... those were the Knives of Legend. Those were the knives that such incredible stories were told about. I look at a CS Tanto and just travel back in time. My first was a Magnum Tanto II in San Mai III. The dealer sold me on it when he spun it on the table top and the thing was so well centered on the oval guard that it really did spin nearly for ever. Nice score bro... enjoy that thing. I think they're beautiful and probably one of the most copied knives of all time.

 

[GIRLYmann]

stuff of legends.
the first production fixed blade tanto that started the ball rollin'; and the rest, as they say - is history.
it's the real thing alrite.
i wonder just how many owners actually tried out the car door/hood test back then.

 

[bladefoolish]

I don't like the newer CS products, but I have several that are 15 years old or more, and I do like then. My favorites are the mini-tanto, the mini-California drop point, and the Outdoorsman.