Cold Steel 3V Recon Tanto, Master Tanto, Warcraft Tanto, Tai Pan

Comeuppance

Comeuppance

Fixed Blade EDC Emisssary
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
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I have the firstest of world problem: I'm torn between four $150+ blades in exceptional steel and am considering selling my remaining modern folders and just having the full set. I've already purchased the Medium Warcraft Tanto and have a San Mai III Recon Tanto inbound, but, still looking at the 3V version all the same.

There are little to no videos or reviews out there for the 3V versions of these knives, so please do share your experiences and thoughts! Balance, sheathing, edge retention - anything you think is noteworthy!

For reference, so you know what I'm looking at:

Recon Tanto:

Blade Length: 7"
Overall Length: 11 3/4"
Handle: 4 3/4" Long Kray-Ex™
Weight: 9.6 oz
Blade Thickness: 5mm

13qrtk_3v_recon_tanto_medium.jpg

What I like about this one is the relatively light weight for the overall length. It's very streamlined and seems to have the best balance of cutting ability out of the three - the tip isn't as obtuse as the Warcraft Tanto, but it isn't as thinly-ground as the Master Tanto. It's also the longest of the Tantos but has a good inch of blade that is not sharpened. Also, despite being the longest of the tantos, it is tied for shortest handle - which makes me concerned about the balance; I'm not looking for a machete, but a all-purpose cutting tool.

Master Tanto:

Weight: 9.5 oz.
Blade Thickness: 5 mm
Blade Length: 6"
Handle: 5 1/2" Long. Kray-Ex™
Overall: 11 1/2"

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This one has the most style in my eyes. I like the single guard and the metal cap on the handle, as well as the blade profile. Very sleek. I like this one across the board, and it seems to be the classiest of the bunch.


Medium Warcraft Tanto:

Weight: 9.5 oz.
Blade Thickness: 5 mm
Blade Length: 5 1/2"
Handle: 4 1/2" Long. G-10
Overall: 10"

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I already have this one on order, so this is basically just for reference. I had the 7-inch version when I was in Denver, but ended up parting with it because it was really just too big and heavy (for reference, the 7-inch is 13oz, and the Recon Tanto with the same blade length is 9.6oz) so I picked the smaller version up as a general-use knife. The handle being raised relative to the cutting edge makes for a very comfortable and natural cutting angle, and the handle is really very comfy indeed. The tip is pretty obtuse, but also essentially indestructible.



Tai Pan:

Weight: 10.8 oz.
Blade Thickness: 5 mm
Blade Length: 7 1/2"
Handle: 5 1/2" Long. Kray-Ex™
Overall: 13"

13Q_m.jpg

This is the one I fight with myself over the most, which is surprising given that I'm also looking at getting another Recon Tanto despite having one inbound already. Daggers are going to be legal for public carry in Oklahoma very soon, and I honestly cannot think of a dagger I would rather carry than this one. The Counter Tac series is more affordable and more reasonably-sized, but I really dislike how the chisel-grind looks. With the 3V, metal guard and handle cap, and fully-hollow-ground blade, my only hesitation is the overall size of this knife. I worry that I'm not going to be able to really maneuver this as a cutting tool. I think I want it as a sort of indulgence more than I want it as a cutting tool, but please feel free to convince me that it could be useful so I can justify buying this.


These are all relatively large fixed blades, made from my favorite steel (3V) with my favorite sheath system (kydex with loads of eyelets) with a corrosion-resistant high-wear coating (DLC). Each one of these runs about $130-190, which puts them in the "quality production folder" price range. Given that I've almost completely abandoned folding knives at this point (I just have some traditional folders, a Kershaw Launch 6, and an 0452CF for carry at the moment) I think I can justify the expense if I really want to, especially if I sell the 0452CF. My concern is that these will prove to be unwieldy as cutting tools because they are clearly designed for totally killing dudes.

So, assuming you had the option of getting anywhere between one and all of them, which ones would you choose and why? Which have you handled and have experience with?
 
It's worth noting that I generally carry crossdraw or at an angle (~45 degrees) behind the back for larger fixed blades, if that changes what you might suggest.
 
I've been quite fascinated from the outside looking in as you've completely changed your edc ideology over the past couple of years. I vaguely remember when you were neck deep into kershaws and similar knives and now your talking about leaving that genre completely.

As someone who binge purchases knives (I buy all the knives I've been wanting for a year in a 1 month period) I often find that one knife is my preferred and the others go to the way side. I would advise getting the one you like the most, (master tanto), try it out and see if you still want another of the knives you've listed from there.

Good luck with the hunt.
 
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155440 said:
I've been quite fascinated from the outside looking in as you've completely changed your edc ideology over the past couple of years. I vaguely remember when you were neck deep into kershaws and similar knives and now your talking about leaving that genre completely.

As someone who binge purchases knives (I buy all the knives I've been wanting for a year in a 1 month period) I often find that one knife is my preferred and the others go to the way side. I would advise getting the one you like the most, (master tanto), try it out and see if you still want another of the knives you've listed from there.

Good luck with the hunt.
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I think you may be right with both the observation and the suggestion. The master Tanto is the one that I look at and think "Well, obviously I'm getting that one" and the rest I am on the fence about.

The Tai Pan is the outlier and requires almost completely separate consideration, but is a 3V DLC Cold Steel knife and seemed fitting to lump it in.
 
Tai pan uber alles!

I don't claim to be any world class expert, but I've had a Tai Pan & recon tanto many years. Nothing wrong with the recon...fwiw, i don't have any problem with or dislike of the balance...but the tai pan is one of my all time favorites. Sweet.

IMO, i think you'd find it's entirely possible to use any of those knives for more utility chores than many think, once you overcome the psychological barriers.
 
I like the master tanto because it has the shortest blade. But really like the looks of the recon.
 
Ed Ricketts said:
Tai pan uber alles!

I don't claim to be any world class expert, but I've had a Tai Pan & recon tanto many years. Nothing wrong with the recon...fwiw, i don't have any problem with or dislike of the balance...but the tai pan is one of my all time favorites. Sweet.

IMO, i think you'd find it's entirely possible to use any of those knives for more utility chores than many think, once you overcome the psychological barriers.
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Yay! Enabling! I feel moderately justified buying a Tai Pan now, and the Master Tanto would just be a nice companion to the order >.>
 
You're right, the dagger needs unique consideration.

Considering you live in a state where dagger carry is about to be legal, whether your getting one for carry is no longer the question. The more pressing question should be 'which one do I get?'.

I think the Tai Pan in 3V may be the way to go. One common knock on the dagger is that the tip is very thin and not suited for hard use. You may be able to get away with harder use with the Tai Pan because of the 5mm thickness and 3V steel. The dagger might be the ultimate blade shape for opening the clam pack or slickly cutting through tape to open a box. Any efficiency lost in slicing would be made up for by the easy penetration.

I would carry a dagger like it was the 14th century. If only it were legal to in my state and the concentration of soccer mom was less than 1 per acre.
 
155440 said:
You're right, the dagger needs unique consideration.

Considering you live in a state where dagger carry is about to be legal, whether your getting one for carry is no longer the question. The more pressing question should be 'which one do I get?'.

I think the Tai Pan in 3V may be the way to go. One common knock on the dagger is that the tip is very thin and not suited for hard use. You may be able to get away with harder use with the Tai Pan because of the 5mm thickness and 3V steel. The dagger might be the ultimate blade shape for opening the clam pack or slickly cutting through tape to open a box. Any efficiency lost in slicing would be made up for by the easy penetration.

I would carry a dagger like it was the 14th century. If only it were legal to in my state and the concentration of soccer mom was less than 1 per acre.
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Fixed blades and daggers are my bread and butter at work. To quote a post I made in the fixed blade EDC thread:

I have some other things coming in, but, generally, at work, I'm carrying two of any combination of these:



(Top row: Boker Plus Trigonaut, Cold Steel Mini Tac Kiridashi, Cold Steel Safe Keeper II. Bottom knife: CRKT C/K Dragon)


And, yes, the push dagger is a great utility knife, and I use it all the time at work on boxes:



"Take that, you corrugated son of a bitch."
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The push dagger has been an absolute pleasure at work, but the lack of a pommel to smash boxes open with has been frustrating more than once. The Tai Pan has that nifty little metal cap...

Addendum:
To be honest, another reason I was looking at getting the other Recon Tanto was so I could carry both simultaneously on either side. I've entirely given up on moderation or being subtle.
 
Although I would have opted for the 3v Recon instead of the San Mai one, I dont think getting two knives you may not use to the fullest is best in your situation.

There are knives more indestructible and useful than the Warcraft, and it's the most gimmicky of the bunch.

I also can think of some other daggers I'd prefer over the Tai Pan, and it's also heavy and has some design features I dont like for a dagger.

I think your best choice is the Master Tanto. Classic Cold Steel worthy of being featured in a Yakuza movie of the 80's or 90's.

I wouldnt pick a coated knife over an uncoated one whichever one I chose, save for the Recon.

Master Tanto all the way.
 
The rubber "guard" was (Recon tanto has the same guard) a real turn off for me on the SRK. So I'd opt for the tanto with the steel or aluminum whatever it is these days, guard. I didn't know they were being made with coated blades.
 
crom said:
The rubber "guard" was (Recon tanto has the same guard) a real turn off for me on the SRK. So I'd opt for the tanto with the steel or aluminum whatever it is these days, guard. I didn't know they were being made with coated blades.
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I know what you mean, but I am also not evaluating these from a combat perspective - the rubber guard never bothered me on the Kobun, so I doubt it will bother me on the Recon.

The consensus does seem to be a Master Tanto, though, and I have to say that one has the most appeal to me as well.
It is time to start price comparing, methinks.
 
I recently got the Master Tanto in 3V and it's absolutely awesome.I attached a Tek Lok clip to the factory sheath and it rides at about 45 degrees behind the back. The fit and finish are perfect and the edge is razor sharp. Hard to go wrong with the Master Tanto.
 
shadowofleaves said:
I recently got the Master Tanto in 3V and it's absolutely awesome.I attached a Tek Lok clip to the factory sheath and it rides at about 45 degrees behind the back. The fit and finish are perfect and the edge is razor sharp. Hard to go wrong with the Master Tanto.
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I just finished doing that -exact- same thing with my freshly-delivered Medium Warcraft, at a slightly lower angle to account for the handle shape. Most excellent. Very light in the hand and very capable due to the leverage and maneuverability the design lends itself to. A wholly different beast from the 7" Warcraft Tanto, which, despite being only 1.5" longer in blade length, feels more like an overly-robust machete (to me) than a knife.

I've already used it a handful of times and even did some (minor) prying. The peace of mind that the overbuilt nature of the knife lends is really fantastic. I am fully confident that I could dig this into a rock face without much appreciable damage, so I doubt I will ever be concerned about the legions of cardboard boxes and zip ties it will destroy without hesitation or remorse.

Also probably going to get a Master Tanto too.
 
After very little deliberation, I have ordered a Master Tanto. I think I will skip getting the 3V Recon for now and see how I like the San Mai version first - the Tai Pan is still on the table, though... I'm not ashamed to admit that the mall ninja in me keeps looking at my bank account and looking at that knife and elbow-nudging me closer and closer to "add to cart."

I realllllly wish their FGX version came with a sheath so I could get a feel for the whole package! I also wish someone - anyone - would produce a kydex-sheathed double-edged knife with good steel at a good price and keep it under 6" in blade length.
 
I'd recommend the Spartan/EK collab dagger, but you mentioned a good price and I don't really consider $385 MSRP a 'good price' for the knife-buying masses.
 
KingMC said:
I'd recommend the Spartan/EK collab dagger, but you mentioned a good price and I don't really consider $385 MSRP a 'good price' for the knife-buying masses.
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Aye - at $385, my options open up dramatically. $190 is a friggin' steal for a 3V DLC dagger, which is why I've stopped even considering the Applegate fixed blades by Boker ($115 for 5.5" 440C and kydex isn't too terrible, but it's chisel-ground and $75 extra gets me the Tai Pan) and the Counter Tac ($70 for 5" VG-1 is a good deal, but chisel-ground still kills it for me)

Honestly, if I were to go higher than the $200 mark, I could just have one made to my specifications. $400 production fixed blades are a hard sell to me because we have makers on this forum that put out some really incredible stuff for less. $400 would get me a Big Chris knife with a heat treat and grind that would blow any production knife out of the water.

$200, though, is just a hair more than I could get for my 0452CF...
 
Ebony

and

Grivory

living together in perfect

har mo ny


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I also seem to be doing my absolute best to make the stupidest face possible in that last picture.
 
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