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nevermind. I found the proof of this. Very interesting.
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Can someone help me understand Tanto blades
- Thread starter Caleb M.
- Start date
nevermind. I found the proof of this. Very interesting.
The tanto exists so some people here can make fun of them for ignorant reasons.
In reality, they're about the easiest thing to sharpen aside from a wharncliffe, and they offer two cutting edges, both of which are very common angles. In addition, the sub tip at the upsweep is like having a second tip in a much more ergonomic handling position. I can be almost surgical with a tanto holding it by the handle, but with a drop or clip point I usually have to pencil grasp the blade to be precise, but that's just me. I personally like them most for ease of sharpening. I use the heck out of my blades and a tanto can be sharpened by an ape with a rock (me) in literally seconds.
In reality, they're about the easiest thing to sharpen aside from a wharncliffe, and they offer two cutting edges, both of which are very common angles. In addition, the sub tip at the upsweep is like having a second tip in a much more ergonomic handling position. I can be almost surgical with a tanto holding it by the handle, but with a drop or clip point I usually have to pencil grasp the blade to be precise, but that's just me. I personally like them most for ease of sharpening. I use the heck out of my blades and a tanto can be sharpened by an ape with a rock (me) in literally seconds.
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2013
- Messages
- 616
The two cutting edges are great, boxes or even food prep..never really tried much piercing, other than wood or cans... Not too hard to sharpen, once you've done it a few times...
Got a Magnum Tanto because I had seen one as a kid in the early 90s, grew up wanting one, picked up one last year and then a few more..
To try out a fixed blade tanto, the CS Tanto Lite is great value for around $30...6 inch, 4116 Krupps...Easy to sharpen and very corrosion resistant...not the best at keeping that edge though...comes with a not so great but usable sheath...
The Kobun is also great, thinner blade, Aus8a 5.5 inch, with a decent plastic like sheath for just over $40 or so..
Got a Magnum Tanto because I had seen one as a kid in the early 90s, grew up wanting one, picked up one last year and then a few more..
To try out a fixed blade tanto, the CS Tanto Lite is great value for around $30...6 inch, 4116 Krupps...Easy to sharpen and very corrosion resistant...not the best at keeping that edge though...comes with a not so great but usable sheath...
The Kobun is also great, thinner blade, Aus8a 5.5 inch, with a decent plastic like sheath for just over $40 or so..
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2012
- Messages
- 2,659
The cold steels are still heavily americanized...
http://japaneseswordindex.com/nihonto.htm
That's great site if you're interested in checking out some traditional blades.
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2012
- Messages
- 157
Thanks. I'll definitely give that site a look see.
My first experience with a tanto type blade was by accident... I broke the tip on my Buck 110 many years ago, and after seeing a commercial for the cold steel tanto I decided to file it down a bit to mimic the tanto as best I could... working as an electrician that Buck knife turned tanto realy worked well for in the trade until it was stolen.
Two years ago as a replacement I decided to try out the Cold Steel Voyager tanto blade... I have used it to chip concrete out of outlet boxes once slabs have been poured... cut tons of drywall without any trouble... goes through stucco and plaster when doing renovations... it jabs through just about anything... a swooping belly is not required for skinning wire so the blade does very well for that too, and the tanto blade allows me to have one more use that cannot be duplicated well with a typically curved blade and that is scribing aluminum for quick just bend it and snap it cuts when putting cable trays together.
The Voyager could use an upgrade in steel from the Aus 8 which has to be sharpened every day that it is used but it does sharpen quick and easy being such a soft steel... and the fact that it chips (micro chips so easily) is fine because I don't intend on slicing much paper at work although it eats cardboard like crazy when busting up boxes.
Funny thing about the Aus8... after shredding a couple of boxes I find it needs a good sharpening but I can widdle a two by four down to a pencil and it will still be sharp... go figure??
If you work in construction and want something that is going to take abuse I suggest you try one out... it might work very well for you... if you are intending on using it in the woods, or on meat, I suggest you go with a traditional curved blade.
Two years ago as a replacement I decided to try out the Cold Steel Voyager tanto blade... I have used it to chip concrete out of outlet boxes once slabs have been poured... cut tons of drywall without any trouble... goes through stucco and plaster when doing renovations... it jabs through just about anything... a swooping belly is not required for skinning wire so the blade does very well for that too, and the tanto blade allows me to have one more use that cannot be duplicated well with a typically curved blade and that is scribing aluminum for quick just bend it and snap it cuts when putting cable trays together.
The Voyager could use an upgrade in steel from the Aus 8 which has to be sharpened every day that it is used but it does sharpen quick and easy being such a soft steel... and the fact that it chips (micro chips so easily) is fine because I don't intend on slicing much paper at work although it eats cardboard like crazy when busting up boxes.
Funny thing about the Aus8... after shredding a couple of boxes I find it needs a good sharpening but I can widdle a two by four down to a pencil and it will still be sharp... go figure??
If you work in construction and want something that is going to take abuse I suggest you try one out... it might work very well for you... if you are intending on using it in the woods, or on meat, I suggest you go with a traditional curved blade.