Cold Steel Master Tanto

[Hombre]

I have two Cold Steel Master Tanto... They have a little bit different kind of sheaths... Hope you can see what I mean in the pictures... Is it possible to say which one came first? maybe a silly question but I am just curious...

Best,
Stefan

 

[Benjamin Liu]

I was not aware that they came with a version that had an external loop.

My Tanto with brass fittings came with the version that had two sets of slots to use as belt loops. I bought it in December 1989.

In 1985 I was given a Taylor-Seto MCR-11 which was a knock-off of the CS Tanto, and the sheath was similar to my CS Tanto sheath but with only one set of slots and made from thinner leather. The reason I mention this knife is that the sheath resembles the one without an external belt loop so it was probably copied from the CS sheath.

I'm going to guess that the one without the external loop is older.

I just looked again and saw the blades are different. The one on top is the older blade design and looks like the blade used with the brass fittings.

 

[1stID]

My Magnum Tanto II had a sheath with the belt loop. It also has a snap "wrap around", whatever the proper name is, while the above one is Velcro.

It's my understanding that the first sheaths had the double sets of slots, to vary the height of the sheath on your belt, while later ones just had a single slot or loop. So, I'd say the double one is older.