- Joined
- Sep 5, 2005
- Messages
- 2,826
I ordered a couple of each, cleaned them up and compared them. I was impressed with both. The obvious one for self defense is the Tanto Lite due to its size. It has a 6-inch blade while the Kobun has a 5.5-inch blade, though it looks shorter.
The Tanto Lite has a 4116 stainless steel blade, while the Kobun sports an AUS8 stainless blade. The Kobun is shorter and thicker, and comes with a Kydex sheath. It's also significantly shorter with a 10-inch overall length, while the Tanto Lite has an overall length of 11 3/8 inches.
Both are outstanding self defense knives and I enthusiastically recommend both . The Tanto Lite comes with a sharper blade, but the sheath is a Cor-Ex tough fabric pouch that is tougher than it looks. The Kobun comes with a Secure-Ex military styled sheath and is marketed as a "boot knife."
Much of the question seems to surround the steels used in both of these knives. The 4116 blades are most likely not as good as the AUS8, as the latter is a more expensive steel. But the 4116 is most likely better in resisting rust and corrosion. The Kobun and Tanto Lite both have Kray-Ex (Kraton) grips, and the blades are full tang. And, finally, the prices of both are extremely reasonable, making them bonafide bargains. You won't go wrong with either. The Tanto Lite can be had for about $25 shipped, while the Kobun goes for about ten dollars more. Because of the cost, the blade steel and reach, I chose the Tanto Lite to throw into the trunk of my car; however, I wanted to ask the folks here which knife they prefer, which is the better deal and what are the pluses and minuses of the respective blade steels and size of blades and the knives themselves.
I'm also interested in hearing any stories of failures and so forth. I don't expect either of these knives to be used in rough duty. They're essentially self defense/combat knives. Both can be sharpened to vicious sharp, and they can be resharpened easily. And both will hold a decent edge.
So what are your thoughts?
The Tanto Lite is the first knife I bought. I later got the Kobun; both
great knives.
The Tanto Lite has a 4116 stainless steel blade, while the Kobun sports an AUS8 stainless blade. The Kobun is shorter and thicker, and comes with a Kydex sheath. It's also significantly shorter with a 10-inch overall length, while the Tanto Lite has an overall length of 11 3/8 inches.
Both are outstanding self defense knives and I enthusiastically recommend both . The Tanto Lite comes with a sharper blade, but the sheath is a Cor-Ex tough fabric pouch that is tougher than it looks. The Kobun comes with a Secure-Ex military styled sheath and is marketed as a "boot knife."
Much of the question seems to surround the steels used in both of these knives. The 4116 blades are most likely not as good as the AUS8, as the latter is a more expensive steel. But the 4116 is most likely better in resisting rust and corrosion. The Kobun and Tanto Lite both have Kray-Ex (Kraton) grips, and the blades are full tang. And, finally, the prices of both are extremely reasonable, making them bonafide bargains. You won't go wrong with either. The Tanto Lite can be had for about $25 shipped, while the Kobun goes for about ten dollars more. Because of the cost, the blade steel and reach, I chose the Tanto Lite to throw into the trunk of my car; however, I wanted to ask the folks here which knife they prefer, which is the better deal and what are the pluses and minuses of the respective blade steels and size of blades and the knives themselves.
I'm also interested in hearing any stories of failures and so forth. I don't expect either of these knives to be used in rough duty. They're essentially self defense/combat knives. Both can be sharpened to vicious sharp, and they can be resharpened easily. And both will hold a decent edge.
So what are your thoughts?
The Tanto Lite is the first knife I bought. I later got the Kobun; both
great knives.
