COLD STEEL: Recon Tanto VS. Master Tanto

[Iconic Tanto]

I have a question about 2 cold steel blades and how they compare against one another for the price tag:

The Master Tanto is like $400!

...whereas the Recon Tanto is around $80 if you look online.

Is the master tanto THAAAAT much better? Or is it just the right thing to do to buy a Recon Tanto?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic

 

[Iconic Tanto]

Is it the steel that is making the big difference in price? And is that difference justified at a $400 price tag?

 

[BePrepared]

The steel is better in the Master, but in no way, by any definition i can conceive, does that justify even a $100 price difference, much less the actual difference. If it was M4 steel, M390, etc. it might be worth 200 more, but still, not close to the price tag it gets.

It's a no brainer. If you want to cut things, and you're set on CS, get the Recon. VG1 isn't even all that great. It's good, but not amazing by any means

 

[Kwon Kwang]

You can get a Master Tanto for under $300. That said, there's a lot that goes into the Master Tanto that you don't see on these stock images. For starters, rather than an inexpensive Tuff-ex finish, which is similar to Teflon, the Master Tanto has a contrasting finish that is different on the grind and on the flats. The Master Tanto series also features that skull crusher pommel, which is held in place via a special kind of screw which is made from "shock absorbing steel" (don't know which steel) to absorb the forces of blows made by the pommel. You're also paying for the sheath, 300 series stainless guard, and the fact that they're made in limited numbers and under exacting quality control standards - as well as the fact that San Mai construction is an expensive process.

That said, I don't have one, but it's on my list. I do, however, have a San Mai III Recon Tanto, and I really, really like it. One of my favorite fixed blades, hands down.