Cold Steel GI Tanto Video Destruction Test Completed

jfive: It seems to cut well enough for it's design. The edge is fairly thin for this type of knife.
How long will it hold an edge, I can not answer. My test did not cover this.
I'm working on a test cutting machine to do cutting tests with numbered results.

The knife was able to make fairly thin slices from the orange. It was also able to very easily peel the apple only removing the peel and leaving the apple whole as possible
So far it was the best knife to accomplish the apple task. This can be viewed in Video 1
 
I received The GI Tanto, JGarth sent me today as a gift for performing the test.
He beautifully wrapped the handle in a Green Camo combination. He did a fantastic job. I like the feel of it. It fills up my hand and feels very secure.
It feels and looks much better then the way it comes from the factory.
Thanks JGarth for your generosity. I appreciate it a lot. :)

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GarageBoy: You ignore all the CS mess and just buy it. Why worry about the politic slop ?
 
noss4 said:
GarageBoy: You ignore all the CS mess and just buy it. Why worry about the politic slop ?
Click to expand...


Ditto.

It is either a good product that is worth what you pay for it or it is not. Ignore the political propoganda.
 
My wife ordered the last one Grand Prairie had yesterday. I can't wait to get it next week. I've got a Spec Ops sheath lined up for it.
 
Noss,
No need. I enjoy your tests, even if I wasn't into the knives a little.
Now get a nice Spec Ops CM sheath for it. A 7" blade will actually fit in the short sheath, IF you remove that liner retaining screw at the bottom. I use the long version, but thought some guys might be wondering.
Take Care,
JGarth
 
JTC: I glad you were able to find one I think you will like it. Posts some photos of it when you get it.

JGarth: I'll defiantly order the Spec ops CM sheath for it. You seem to really like them. Thanks again For the Tanto. :)

Cliff: I'll drop CS a line.


GarageBoy: Read BRASMAN and thombrogan's posts. Their words are clear and to the point. All the political stuff and arguing has nothing to do with the knife itself and it's capability's. It is just a battle of words and in no way determines if the knife is a good knife or a bad knife for the money you spend.
 
GTC, glad you got it,I was going to order 3,but only got 1. If you havent orderd the Spec-Ops sheath yet,get the big one. It takes up to an 8 1/2 inch blade. I realy like my Combat Masters in coyote brown.(the long,and the short) These things are built to last. PS:nice work noss4. Thanks!
 
Hey noss4, long time no chat. I've been off the site for ages, dying to check out the new videos and get the GI Tanto and all the other stuff. Too bad the tip didn't hold up, but other then that for the cash it seems to hold its own versus the Strider.
 
Eric N.: your welcome... I'm glad you were able to get one. It looks like their is going to be a lot of GI Tantos running around in Spec-Ops sheaths.


psinide: Welcome back :) The tip is very thin on the GI an doesn't take very much to snap it. One could easily grind it back a little and sharpen it. It's an amazing value for the cash. If you do manage to break it (very hard to do)
one shouldn't be very upset about 16 bucks. It's not like a house payment or something.
 
Noss what do you see as pro's/con's between the bushman, GI tanto and KaBar bowie?
The bushman: seems to take a tonne of punishment and hollow handle is unique. However no finger guard and can transfer vibration through the handle. Seems the blade held up to more abuse from the hammer than the bowie. Handle could get slippery.
Bowie: seems to chop through wood easier due to it's length, weight and shape. Handle should absorb more vibration, better grip and some finger guard. Of course it's more money too.
GI Tanto: Opportunity to customize the handle, tough blade, benefit of the tanto tip if the knife were required for self-defence and price point is very good. Not really a good comparable to the bowie I suppose or bushman as it serves a different purpose. Much better finger guard than either of the above. Seems all three offer good value for the money without the glamour!
I'd love to see a test on the Kabar Kuhkri (or however you spell that!)
 
Charles9c1: You laid out some pros and cons well yourself. All three are good knives. The Bowie is a good chopper/splitter the handle is comfortable and shock absorbing. The Bushman is a versatile knife.It can handle many different tasks well. Con: low on chopping power But not as bad as on might think. The GI Tanto makes a good urban tactical knife for prying and such. It wouldn't be my first choice to take into the wilderness because of it's low chopping power.

All three knives are very tough. You can buy all three for a total of 80 dollars. Not bad :thumbup:

I have a Cold Steel Kukri Machete the 15 dollar one and It's hard for me to say anything bad about it. I would like to try the K-Bar as well.
 
Great review! You'll quickly discover that the vids will be great back-up 'proof' but that most of your readers will act on your reputation and the writing alone.
A little Outline formatting would be nice ;) In fact, allow me to suggest that you build a mega-table and start by applying the test parameters over the top (y) and the blade models along the left side (x). Then filling in the boxes with numbers that represent mean time or strikes or targets before failure.
Great work! Keep it up.
 
Moodino: Thanks for the suggestions.


Charles9c1: I can't say the Bushman took more hammering. All three took a lot. All three knives have no problem with a hammer being used on their spines and was not the knives death. It was when trying to cut metal while using a hammer on it's spine. They chipped out then the end was near. The GI Tanto did the best at this, cutting through 1/8"x 2" flat mild steel flat stock before tearing out on 1/'4 steel stock. I did use different steel objects for all three. From now on I will use the same for all knives so a comparison can be made.
 
I apreaciate all those test and can't wait to see the Busse. Also just wondering if there were plans in the future for folders?
 
KinJames: Your welcome. I do plan to test a few folders. I'm not much of a folder guy. The only folder I own Is a Spyderco Endura. I have had a lot of requests for folders and I would like to push one to the edge. After I'm done I may have more respect for them. Because of the design they have obvious limitations compared to a fixed blade. I have a long list of folder recommendations.

What folder or folders would you like to see tested ?
 
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