- Cold Steel Tantos - Pics. Experiences. Stories...

416isToronto

416isToronto

Joined
Mar 4, 2013
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616
The Tantos have been a mainstay in the Cold Steel line up since the early days.
There have been changes in the steels over the years, and then the switch over from Aus8a to VG-1 San Mai III, The 2006 CS catalog is when VG1 made an appearance, so it is likely that was when it switched over. The angles on the blade may have changed a little over the years, but yet it is unmistakably the same...

i had SAKs and other cheap folders since a young age, but for me the Master Tanto is what really got me interested in knives in the first place. I saw one as a teenager in the 90's, after i played around with it, trying to see how many pages in a phone book we could through, slicing paper, cutting various things...i always knew i wanted one.
After a number of years, i finally had a chance to get my first CS Tanto blade earlier this year, it was a new Magnum Tanto II, shortly after that i bought an older Master Tanto (no VG1 marking, so i guess it is AUS8a, and a more gentle transition angle near the tip of the blade.)
Since then, needless to say, i have ended up getting a few other knives...

Some of you out there have had these knives for many years, and surely a few must have put them through some good use... would be great to hear about your experiences and see those blades...so please do share!

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The CS Master Tanto was also my first inspiration to start collecting knives. I admired them for years and finally bought one of a member of this forum. I have carried it a few times otherwise it is almost too nice to use everyday. The CS tantos are truly a classic line and I hope to purchase a couple more in the future.
 
A CS Tanto through a car door ad, and I was sold. Never used mine for car door penetration, but a car hood on the other hand, like butter. Love em'!
 
Only one I have is a Voyager XL tanto. Not a huge fan of the tanto aesthetics tbh, I'm more of a spear or clip point guy. But I did want the Voyager so I could have a full line of the XL plain edge Voyagers. I may get me a GI Tanto some day, that one looks kinda unique, and it's only around $25 so it won't set me back much.
 
My first cs tanto. Not normally a tanto fan but really liked the way it looks on the code 4
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Sweet pic. I'm looking forward to picking up this same configuration of the Code-4 :thumbup:

xICEMANx said:
My first cs tanto. Not normally a tanto fan but really liked the way it looks on the code 4
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How do you like it?
 
DShiflet said:
Only one I have is a Voyager XL tanto. Not a huge fan of the tanto aesthetics tbh, I'm more of a spear or clip point guy. But I did want the Voyager so I could have a full line of the XL plain edge Voyagers. I may get me a GI Tanto some day, that one looks kinda unique, and it's only around $25 so it won't set me back much.
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As big as a CS fan that I am, careful with your opinion of CS products if you buy the GI Tanto model. Have several of them myself and picked many of them up for friends, and I don't know if it's the new grind profile on that design or if the grinding process changed forging, but my friends and I have had many of these roll the tip slightly. One through a phone book, a piece of sheet metal, a pine board, and a hardwood board. But, I also have put one through a 55 gallon drum lid, one bounce off a concrete floor tip first and no issues other than marring.

Definately not a design I would choose to prove the strength of CS Tanto knife designs their so famous for, but I guess just like anything that has millions in circulation and your bound to catch a lemon or two!
 
ChukaSifu2 said:
As big as a CS fan that I am, careful with your opinion of CS products if you buy the GI Tanto model. Have several of them myself and picked many of them up for friends, and I don't know if it's the new grind profile on that design or if the grinding process changed forging, but my friends and I have had many of these roll the tip slightly. One through a phone book, a piece of sheet metal, a pine board, and a hardwood board. But, I also have put one through a 55 gallon drum lid, one bounce off a concrete floor tip first and no issues other than marring.

Definately not a design I would choose to prove the strength of CS Tanto knife designs their so famous for, but I guess just like anything that has millions in circulation and your bound to catch a lemon or two!
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Lol. Well, it sucks about the tip getting damaged, but in truth I don't really plan on taking it out to stab through car doors or phonebooks or metal drums, heh.
 
don't have a CS folding knife yet...but that Code 4 looks pretty good...nice pic xICEMANx

The Tantos i currently have...
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Here's my GI Tanto




And my Tanto Lite. This is one of the best deals I have ever gotten and one of my favourite fixed blades. It is currently out getting a custom leather sheath made for it.



 
The Tanto Lite is really great value for money. the sheath it comes with is not great, but for the price, it is functional...
i got one to learn sharpening the tanto style blade..
 
I've owned a CS Tanto since the the mid 80's. I bought a Kobun two years ago. The knives are great but limited in utility - great for combat, but not so much for camping, survival or general use. My Kobun is attached to my LB vest for training and details, but the Original Tanto has been put away for future generations:)
 
Charlie Fox said:
I've owned a CS Tanto since the the mid 80's. I bought a Kobun two years ago. The knives are great but limited in utility - great for combat, but not so much for camping, survival or general use. My Kobun is attached to my LB vest for training and details, but the Original Tanto has been put away for future generations:)
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I actually use my Tanto Lite in the kitchen, since that is the only thing I can use it for, other than combat. I haven't been in the army since '98 and I work in IT, so I ain't seein' much combat. I do still work on my knife skills though.
 
The Tanto Lite does make a great kitchen knife. The blade being not as thick as the Recon Tanto and Master / Magnum helps too.
 
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