I am looking at getting a larger tanto fixed blade. The 2 I am looking at are the Kobun and Tanto Lite. Has anybody gotten either? The price difference is no issue, just talking about the knives themselves. What about similar tanto options, fixed blades, for under $40 with a blade over 5in. I only picked these ones because they are the only ones I know of, and I do not want the Ka-bar tanto (people always seem to say them when you ask for a cheaper tanto, I just don't want another Ka-bar of the same style as mine). Any comment or suggestions?
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Cold Steel tanto blades
- Thread starter Cold Kill
- Start date
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2009
- Messages
- 707
I have a Kobun. It's really a boot knife (exactly as advertised by Cold Steel). Pretty lightweight. The handle is quite thin. Don't get one if you're looking for something thick & robust 'cause it is not. If you want a fairly long concealable blade then it's fine.
As for the Tanto Lite... 4116 Krupp isn't the best steel. I assume the tang runs no more than 1/2 the length of the handle. Surely it offers a bigger grip than the Kobun, but meh.
You might want to consider the CS G.I. Tanto, 1055 carbon, full profile tang, tough, cheap, and now with a decent sheath.
BTW, just scrape the coating off the top swedge and it becomes somewhat sharp.
As for the Tanto Lite... 4116 Krupp isn't the best steel. I assume the tang runs no more than 1/2 the length of the handle. Surely it offers a bigger grip than the Kobun, but meh.
You might want to consider the CS G.I. Tanto, 1055 carbon, full profile tang, tough, cheap, and now with a decent sheath.
BTW, just scrape the coating off the top swedge and it becomes somewhat sharp.
- Joined
- Oct 24, 2005
- Messages
- 1,836
Of the two you listed, I'd probably go with the Tanto Lite. It would not be my first choice in a tanto blade, but most of my prefered choices would be much more expensive ($80-120). For a no-nonsense tactial (i.e. fighting) tanto, I'd probably look at the CS Recon Tanto.
If you want something more traditional looking I might suggest one of the Chen "Practical" Tanto's. Both can be found in the $80-100 range with a bit of shopping.
Personally, I don't care for the chisel-like "american style" tanto blades like the G.I. Tanto above, as I find them ugly and less functional than a more standard tanto style blade for just about anything but poking holes in sheetmetal, but YMMV.
If you want something more traditional looking I might suggest one of the Chen "Practical" Tanto's. Both can be found in the $80-100 range with a bit of shopping.
Personally, I don't care for the chisel-like "american style" tanto blades like the G.I. Tanto above, as I find them ugly and less functional than a more standard tanto style blade for just about anything but poking holes in sheetmetal, but YMMV.
Does the AUS-8 for the Kobun preform worse than the Krupp 4116 does for the tanto lite? Never had either so I can't say. Another question about the two, and the G.I. Tanto, how low are the belt loops on the sheaths, because if the sit much lower than the top of the sheath or above the sheath, out will sit entirely too high for me to use unless I suspend the sheath off a belt loop with cord.