CS original tanto

I

ichor

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Aug 27, 2002
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The original CS Tanto, that kinda started it all, I guess, came in Carbon V (Made in Ventura) and, I think, AUS 8 (Made in Japan). Both had brass guard and pommel and black leather sheath. Later, I bought one that was the original Recon Tanto which was exactly the same except for bead blasted Carbon V blade(not that one they call Recon Tanto now, with 7" epoxied blade and Westernized handle).

I noticed that the new ones are AUS 8 with stainless steel guard and pommel with leather or concealex sheath, and run around the $125 to $200 mark.

Anyone have a notion of the quality (fit and finish) of the older models or worth of the older ones compared to the new ones?? (in mint conditon)
 
I have an original tanto with the brass hilt and skull crusher pommel. They were made in Japan, at least mine is so marked. I don't think CS used Carbon V in those blades. Rather, it was something called Series 400 stainless steel which was heat treated and tempered and then ground. Whatever the steel, it is very tough and holds an excellent edge. There is also a distinct curve to the blade, the better for slashing. These had some cutouts in the tang beneath the Kraton grip for better balance. Later CS changed the design, eliminating the very small likelihood of failure by eliminating the holes in the tang. I think that may have been when they changed from whatever Series 400 was to AUS8.
 
Originally posted by Alberta Ed
I have an original tanto with the brass hilt and skull crusher pommel. They were made in Japan, at least mine is so marked. I don't think CS used Carbon V in those blades. Rather, it was something called Series 400 stainless steel which was heat treated and tempered and then ground. Whatever the steel, it is very tough and holds an excellent edge. There is also a distinct curve to the blade, the better for slashing. These had some cutouts in the tang beneath the Kraton grip for better balance. Later CS changed the design, eliminating the very small likelihood of failure by eliminating the holes in the tang. I think that may have been when they changed from whatever Series 400 was to AUS8.
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Thanks for jogging my memory, Ed. I now remember them being Series 400 stainless. Since I moved, I can't find my CS catalogs from those days. I do remember that my Recon Tanto, was the same size and shape as the regular tanto and was, in fact, bead blasted Carbon V (I'm looking at it as I type). That is probably why I remember, incorrectly, the original tanto as being available in Carbon V.

So, the next question is, if it is an older model, with the brass guard and pommel, is it Series 400 stainless, or did some of the AUS8 knives come with brass? And what, exactly, was Series 400 stainless.
 
I stand to be corrected (as usual:) ) but I think the brass fittings were discontinued with the change to AUS8 steel. I have also wondered with "400 Series" means; Joe Talmage refers to this in the steel FAQ (I think) but no one has confirmed what it was. I suspect something like 440A or 440B, since it's quite tough, very stain resistant and relatively easy to resharpen. I have a CS California drop point which I suspect is also the "400 Series" steel since it exhibits similar characteristics. Maybe not as sexy as the newer wonder steels, but it works well. I wish Lynn C. Thompson would answer some of these questions:confused: .
 
I remember the original recon tanto from a catalog, and it looked a hell of a lot better than the current model (which I own). Does anyone have a pic of the original recon tanto so I can engage in some nostalgic drooling?
 
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