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

i got an early cat tanto.
does that count?
it won't puncture car hoods or oil drums.
but that wasn't the kind of objects which i had in mind ;-)
it sure worked well with melons though.
i have that tiny tanto para edge neck knife version
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which gave me all the edge i required.
 
My first tanto was the GI Tanto. It was also my first knife that didn't suck, and my first knife from Cold Steel.

I've cut things with it, opened packages, thrown it, it's a darn fine piece of cutlery, at an insanely low price point. It'l out-perform and outlast knives that cost ten times as much, I love it.
 
I have one of the old Recon Ones with the axis lock, and I restored it and it still works great. I'll upload pictures if there's any desire for it, but it's nothing you can't see pictures of on google.
 
My tanto lite.

#1 from hollow grind to high sabre grind:thumbup:

#2 from american tanto to original tanto:p




pss
more comparison pics maybe will pop up later


 
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Magnum Tanto II (VG1 San Mai III)
Master Tanto (Pre 2006 San Mai III - probably Aus8a in the middle)
Tanto Lite
Kobun
 
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The only tanto I have owned was the Kobun. I'm not generally a fan of the style, and I eventually sold it, but just lately I've been missing it and so ordered a replacement.

Part of my renewed interest is because I recently started working in a military disposals store and about 60% of our customer base are active military personnel, and the boss is a big fan of tantos. He's got some GI Tantos on the shelf but they don't sell, mostly due to their size I am guessing, so this thread, and especially pics like 416isToronto's above is excellent. (Could we ID the knives in that pic please? Still not up to knowing them all on sight).
 
ozgooner said:
The only tanto I have owned was the Kobun. I'm not generally a fan of the style, and I eventually sold it, but just lately I've been missing it and so ordered a replacement.

Part of my renewed interest is because I recently started working in a military disposals store and about 60% of our customer base are active military personnel, and the boss is a big fan of tantos. He's got some GI Tantos on the shelf but they don't sell, mostly due to their size I am guessing, so this thread, and especially pics like 416isToronto's above is excellent. (Could we ID the knives in that pic please? Still not up to knowing them all on sight).
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From top to bottom: Magnum Tanto II, Master Tanto, Tanto Lite, and of course the Kobun. I own the bottom two; I'm looking to get a Master Tanto once I have achieved certain goals.
 
I used to own a Recon Tanto in Carbon V, I loved that thing, but one day finances dictated it to go. I'll find another someday.
 
gunfixrjoe said:
I used to own a Recon Tanto in Carbon V, I loved that thing, but one day finances dictated it to go. I'll find another someday.
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I've got the Carbon V version and the San Mai III. Out of the two, I think the SMIII has better geometry for what it was made for but the Carbon V is doubtlessly the stronger knife.
 
Kwon Kwang said:
I've got the Carbon V version and the San Mai III. Out of the two, I think the SMIII has better geometry for what it was made for but the Carbon V is doubtlessly the stronger knife.
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I've got a friend who has done testing for certain groups in the military, and the Recon Tanto is the one he never broke.
 
This is not my oldest knife, but it is the one that I have carried and used the most in my life until it was retired (from carrying) in 2009. I originally got my CS Tanto from a cutlery shop in a local mall back in 1984, some 29 years ago. I had to put it on layaway and pay for it over 1/2 the summer as my wife wouldn't let me pay for it outright with (our) money as she thought it was too expensive.. So I had to cut back on some beer and fun for a couple of months. Boy was it worth it.

A couple weeks after getting it, I noticed the gorgeous Kydex sheath (in my pics, but did not come with my Tanto) was on display at the cutlery shop with no knife in or around it. I asked the manager if it was for sale, and he said "No, it's a dealer's sample and not for sale." or some such thing. Well, I wanted it, and after several trips back to the store, badgering him on how much I spent there, good customer, yada, yada, he finally sold it to me for $25.00. It seemed like a great deal at the time as my knife didn't come with a sheath originally.

After that, my Tanto was on my belt or in my carry pack on every family or individual camping trip, hunting or fishing trip, 3 or 4 wheeling trips, and anything in the back woods or outdoor type adventures. It has been the most faithful, sharp and useful knife I've ever owned to date. It has been used for things I can't even remember (nothing bad mind you) and has never let me down. I carried it faithfully for 25 years and a couple hundred trips of all sorts, until late 2009 when I was just getting ready for a short outdoor getaway, and the belt loop securing plastic gizmo on the sheath just cracked open and the loop holder became detached. (see the pic below)

Anyway, my Tanto with the busted sheath will still be in a pack or luggage, but unfortunately it's been replaced on my belt by another knife until I find a way to repair or replace the kydex sheath.

That's my story, experience, and here are some pics..... Thanks, Mark.....










Here is sheath busted in 2009 after 25 years of use! Still functional, just can't mount on a belt.

 
Viper1357 said:
This is not my oldest knife, but it is the one that I have carried and used the most in my life until it was retired (from carrying) in 2009. I originally got my CS Tanto from a cutlery shop in a local mall back in 1984, some 29 years ago. I had to put it on layaway and pay for it over 1/2 the summer as my wife wouldn't let me pay for it outright with (our) money as she thought it was too expensive.. So I had to cut back on some beer and fun for a couple of months. Boy was it worth it.

A couple weeks after getting it, I noticed the gorgeous Kydex sheath (in my pics, but did not come with my Tanto) was on display at the cutlery shop with no knife in or around it. I asked the manager if it was for sale, and he said "No, it's a dealer's sample and not for sale." or some such thing. Well, I wanted it, and after several trips back to the store, badgering him on how much I spent there, good customer, yada, yada, he finally sold it to me for $25.00. It seemed like a great deal at the time as my knife didn't come with a sheath originally.

After that, my Tanto was on my belt or in my carry pack on every family or individual camping trip, hunting or fishing trip, 3 or 4 wheeling trips, and anything in the back woods or outdoor type adventures. It has been the most faithful, sharp and useful knife I've ever owned to date. It has been used for things I can't even remember (nothing bad mind you) and has never let me down. I carried it faithfully for 25 years and a couple hundred trips of all sorts, until late 2009 when I was just getting ready for a short outdoor getaway, and the belt loop securing plastic gizmo on the sheath just cracked open and the loop holder became detached. (see the pic below)

Anyway, my Tanto with the busted sheath will still be in a pack or luggage, but unfortunately it's been replaced on my belt by another knife until I find a way to repair or replace the kydex sheath.

That's my story, experience, and here are some pics..... Thanks, Mark.....










Here is sheath busted in 2009 after 25 years of use! Still functional, just can't mount on a belt.

Click to expand...

That's a great story and a beautiful knife. There are definitely plenty of sheath options for you. I suggest you send a message to one of the many awesome custom sheathmakers here on BF. :thumbup:
 
I bought a Recon Tanto in Carbon V years ago. I had the itch to try making a new handle, and here begins the cautionary tale. I removed the kraton handle and wanted another hole in the tang for a second corby bolt. It took a lot of work, more grinding than drilling as the steel just laughed at my drill bits. I got a nice handle on it, except for a gouge at the front. The repair job was badly done, so it ended up as you see below. The handle is not pretty but it's functional, and a bit larger than the original.

ReconTantomod01.jpg
 
I just received a GI Tanto as part of a trade. The black finish was looking pretty bad so I just removed it. It only took about 1/2 hour and another 15 minutes to sharpen it. I like it a lot better now.

i-2JbFMMf-XL.jpg
 
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Well, I did pick up a GI Tanto and a Kobun since I last posted...maybe I'll post a pic of my 3 CS tantos together later on. I don't really expect to get many others...maybe a Tanto Lite since it's so cheap. I'm just not enough of a tanto guy to pay for the other designs.
 
Old thread, but this is my old CSRT in Carbon "V"anadium. David DeLaRosa of DeLaRosa Tactical Holsters handled the new kydex sheaths which I just received yesterday.
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No Tanto for me yet. But I did manage to grab an older Outdoorsman from Grinder,

Definitely has a bit of a Tanto feel to it.

Nice knife,

Just makes me want to chase the Tantos even more.
 
I have a early made in USA V black finish carried maybe 1 time never sharpened. I like the knife but my Voyager's just seem to get all the carry.
 
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