Cold Steel Tanto's

S

sam45colt

Joined
Jun 12, 2004
Messages
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:confused: Does anyone have any information on old style Cold Steel Tanto's. I'm starting to collect a few of them and can't seem to find any info on them. I think Cold Steel started production about 1980 or there abouts. Any info anyone could give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Gino
 
Come on, someone has to know something about Cold Steel Tantos. I haven't read much good about Cold Steel in general in these forums. I don't know why either because I think they make fine blades. Sorry, Market Fine Blades. I know they don't make them, but some of the best blades in the world come from Japan. They have been making Fine blades for thousands of years and they are only getting better. I don't think anyone really makes all the pieces of their knives either. They put them together, but someone else makes all the different parts. I like and own a few Benchmade knives and I doubt if they make all the parts of their knived either. Well I guess I'll be going for now and continue my search for info on Cold Steel Tanto's. Thanks

Gino
 
Many of us have abandoned Cold Steel due to marketing hype over the years. If some of us were honest we would have to admit that Cold Steel got us interested in knife collecting. The original Cold Steel tanto with San Mai steel and brass skull crushing pommel got me started. From that point my must have knife for many years was the Cold Steel Imperial Damascus Tanto. I finally purchased one but sold it later on as my interest in custom Japanese tanto blades began to develop. I still have a few Cold Steel knives and really like the design of the Outdoorsman. Today I focus my collection less on production blades and more on custom Japanese style blades.

You can usually find older Cold Steel blades on the various for sale forums and on eBay. I should have kept my Imperial Damascus Tanto. They are difficult to find. Every once in a while one will show up on eBay for $700-$1000. It is still the coolest Cold Steel tanto around.

Good luck!
 
Gino, I still have an original leaflet Cold Steel. I can scan it in and post it to
you if you want.

Dirk
 
The CS tantos should be fine for collecting, but don't try stabbing one into any hard material.

There was a post once by a guy who severly injured his hand while stabbing something - I can remember what - with a CS tanto. The guard was too short to stop his hand from sliding onto the blade.

Guards are a controversial subject. Some people want little or no guard on a knife because it gets in the way of making certain cuts. However, I'll bet that guy who cut himself with the CS tanto loves long guards now. I prefer them too, having cut myself with knives having slippery handles and short, rounded guards.

Anyhow, if you are just wanting to collect the CS tantos to look at and show off then the short guards are irrelevant. Just be aware when you are handling them that short, forward-slanting single guards are not entirely effective in hard stabs.
 
I used to be a big CS fan. I probably have about 20 of them in various makes and models, but none more recent than about 10 years old. The mini-outdoorsman is one of my favorites, and my one of my edc's used to be a mini-tanto worn in my boot, or, during winter, the inside pocket of my leather jacket. I don't like many of their new products, but, like a previous poster said, CS whetted my interested in knives.

The early tantos had brass guards and "skull crusher" pommel, which was changed to stainless steel around 1994. They blades were made from CS's "400 Series " stainless steel (whatever that might be) and their San Mai steel, which was a laminated blade featureing a harder core sandwitched between to more flexible outside layers.

I have a couple of Special Projects catalogs from 1994 that gives a good description of 'em.
 
I thought the older (pre-'94) tantos were AUS-8? I've got one of the brass-fitted ones, and yes, this is the knife that got me really interested in knives... about 20 years ago. I don't particularly care for the americanized tanto point any more, but I've got one for mostly sentimental value.
 
Thank all of you for the info so far,that leaflet would be great Vanman. Any old literature would be great too. I do like the older Tantos with the brass guards better. I have 5 of them now in different varriations.Only have a couple of the newer Master and Magnum Tantos. I saw a very cool Custom Made Damascus Tanto yeaterday online but can't find it now. Oh well I guess I'll be going for now, Keep that great Info coming guys. Thanks again

Gino
 
The only reference I can find to their steel is that they are the 400 Series, but this is from a '94 catalog. I sure wouldn't argue with anyone that said the early ones were AUS *.
 
I have one with the old-style brass guards. It's currently up for trade over at the trade forum if you're interested. I collect mostly bowies. (Might also consider selling it at a bargain price). Let me know. :)
 
I have (about) a 1991 MASTER (san mai 3) SPECIAL OPS (steel instead of brass) TANTO I'm not sure how good it is, I'm too scared to use it and mess it up! It definately got me into collecting...
 
I have one of the 'original' tantos with brass fittings and 'Series 400' steel, whatever that is. I do know that it is an extremely tough knife and holds a very good edge; if I needed a knife for combat that would be it. The nice curve on the blade also makes it a highly useful slicer -- I've used mine for butchering game and it worked very well.
 
I too, have one of those 'originals', with the brass. Mine is a mini/boot model and is a high quality knife. But, just a tad small for my hand. That guard is just too small. But, I'll still keep it around.

Chuck
 
Hey VANMAN what about that scan of that leaflet you were going to do for me. Any and all old sales catalogs or any other literature with the different models in it would be appreciated. All the info that has been posted so far is helping out a lot, keep it coming. Thanks again Folks for all the help!!

Gino
 
bladefoolish said:
.

The early tantos had brass guards and "skull crusher" pommel... their San Mai steel, which was a laminated blade featureing a harder core sandwitched between to more flexible outside layers.
Click to expand...

I have one of these San Mai III tantos that I picked up in 1984 while dating a Cold Steel manger's daughter, even got their whole line of "push" knives. I was in the Navy stationed at Point Mugu and carried it as a boot knife during three deployments to McMurdo Station, Antarctica. I was a Huey Crewchief; they issued us OD cloth Mucklucks. The leather sheath covered a bit much of the handle, luckily I had gotten the Kydex sheath which fit nicely into the Muckluck. I used it to cut 2" webbing, 1/8" cable, open ration cans, split volcanic rocks, punctured 55 gallon drums for air vents, chip ice off off the glaciers, pry open ice hut doors, scrape grounding points, cut steaks in the mess hall, etc.. Had one of the sailors (a bowsun) wrap the handle with black leather lacing in an interesting decorative style that improved the grip. That hard core steel takes a great edge. I think that concept of using a softer wrap steel forged over a hard center should be revived to build some tough knives.
 
Sorry for keeping you waiting. I'm not online everyday due a lot of work in
the garden. Where do I have to post it to ? :)
 
If all Cold Steel Tantos had REAL tanto points, such as the Outdoorsman or the O-tanto, I'd be in heaven....
 
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