Recommendation? Could you please help me to choose between SAN MAI SRK or SAN MAI Recon Tanto?

F

Falcenberg

Joined
Mar 29, 1999
Messages
332
Dear Friends, first of all, I wish you a very Happy New Year!
I hope this is the right thread where to post this.
My questions: a very good friend of mine wants to buy a good not-large camping/trekking/I-would-say-a-little-fighting knife. He asked me for an advice, and according to the requirements he told me and, after some Cold Steel site surfing, the candidates are:
- either San Mai SRK or San Mai Recon Tanto;
- less probable, Warcraft Tanto San Mai Regular.
SRK and Recon Tanto prices are more or less the same, Warcraft Tanto price is very higher. So:
- I think SRK or Recon Tanto are more or less "the same" for steel quality and use cases, obviously the blade point are different (in some works is better SRK, in some others Recon Tanto). Recon Tanto is a little longer, so it is a little better for cutting and "small branches chopping". Am I right?
- why Warcraft is so more expensive? Same steel and heat treatment, as far as I know, isn't it? Is the price difference just related to G10 handle and to the full tang design? Or does it have so better performances?

Thank you for your help and advice.
Falcenberg, from Italy
 
Falcenberg said:
Dear Friends, first of all, I wish you a very Happy New Year!
I hope this is the right thread where to post this.
My questions: a very good friend of mine wants to buy a good not-large camping/trekking/I-would-say-a-little-fighting knife. He asked me for an advice, and according to the requirements he told me and, after some Cold Steel site surfing, the candidates are:
- either San Mai SRK or San Mai Recon Tanto;
- less probable, Warcraft Tanto San Mai Regular.
SRK and Recon Tanto prices are more or less the same, Warcraft Tanto price is very higher. So:
- I think SRK or Recon Tanto are more or less "the same" for steel quality and use cases, obviously the blade point are different (in some works is better SRK, in some others Recon Tanto). Recon Tanto is a little longer, so it is a little better for cutting and "small branches chopping". Am I right?
- why Warcraft is so more expensive? Same steel and heat treatment, as far as I know, isn't it? Is the price difference just related to G10 handle and to the full tang design? Or does it have so better performances?

Thank you for your help and advice.
Falcenberg, from Italy
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I guess it depends on how you use your knife in the field, but I've never really considered a tanto to be a good general-purpose outdoors knife. I think a clip point is more versatile for camping/trekking activities (food preparation, woodcraft, etc.), so my choice would be the SRK.

However, your point about the longer blade of the Recon Tanto making it slightly better at chopping is valid (though its light weight prevents it from being a great chopper). It's also a better fighting knife. If those are both real considerations, then the Recon Tanto might be the choice. The Warcraft Tanto has some advantages over the Recon Tanto, such as a wider blade and a slightly heavier weight. But I agree that the price difference probably won't be worth it for your friend's uses.

I don't mean to complicate your decision, but did you consider the Outdoorsman in San Mai? I'm not sure about European pricing, but here in the States it's comparably priced to the San Mai versions of the SRK and the Recon Tanto. In overall function, it's an excellent compromise and would perform in all the areas you list.


-Steve
 
I had a recon tanto and it wasn't a good chopper. The SRK has a more useful blade profile IMO. The one advantage the longer RT could have over the SRK is for use as a draw knife, pulling it towards you to plane wood flat. I'd say for "fighting" the lower pointier tip of the SRK is better. But the SRK tip is more durable for puncturing metal, in case armored knights are wandering the forest.
 
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Falcenberg said:
for cutting and "small branches chopping"
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Trail Master in 3V, ideally , or 52100 for cheaper .

Drop Forged Survivalist or the long Bowie , should be cheaper yet .

But if buying in Italy , I have no idea of costs . Probably ridiculous .

SRK in 3V would be fine for general purpose/ easy carry , and better than the Recon Tanto for most folks ; but it's pretty short and light for much chopping .
 
Tantos don't make good woods knives. The SRK was designed to be a great all around knife for woods use, survival and fighting/combat. The Drop Forged Survivalist is an incredible knife. It is a budget Recon Scout, with a thinner blade. It's plenty tough, though. If you can get a Recon Scout, that's kinda the ultimate IMHO. It's big, but it's so bad a$$. Much more useful than the Trailmaster, which is a little long, though really cool.
 
Depends if your friend’s going to use it for serious outdoor tasks or for more so just d**kin around in the brush. Tanto will handle all the fun stuff like throwing, prying and some batoning.
SRK might too if it’s flat ground and not hollow, if it’s hollow (and San maii blades usually are) forget abusing it.

SRK will be a better skinner, and with the tip centered a better piercer too for pesky plastic wrap and food prep like others have said.

My advice, Get the San Mai SRK, AND a cheap SK-5 Recon Tanto for d**kin around.

Or id highly consider looking for a flat ground 3V SRK.
 
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