Has the tanto style blade grown on you?

F

FirstFreedom

Joined
Jul 21, 2004
Messages
31
1. Yes, always liked them.
2. Yes, didn't used to but they grew on me.
3. No, used to like them but now don't.
4. No, what's the point of them?
 
My first tanto was a Cold Steel Ultra-Lock, which at the time referred to an augmented liner lock, similar to what's on their Scimitar. Great v-grind, held a sharp edge.

My next was a Benchmade Emerson 975, combo edge black blade chisel grind. Dangerously sharp.

My latest is a large tanto Sebenza. Razor sharp v-grind, very strong point.

I continue to like them. I find they have many of the virtues of the wharnecliff, along with a stronger tip, and the secondary point is good for accurate cutting without jabbing through the surface.
 
The Americanized Tanto brought to the American market by Lum and Cold Steel is what first got me into actually collectiong knives -
A large handmade by and unknown Canadian Bladesmith
The original Cold Steel Tanto
The miniature version of the same
CRK's 9" Tanto
CRK's 4" Tanto
2 Taylor Aikuchi style Tanto's...
Which led me to my first commisioned piece - a cable damascus version made by C.D. Childs...

I still have the custom piece, the two Cold Steels, the 9" CRK (gave best friend the 4" one,) the Taylors and the Child's version...

My only true regret was selling a 14th-16th century Katana tip that had been remounted as a Tanto - I know who has it, and M. Bell may be working on it - I do hope to see it once it's polished... so I'll know what I gave up!

The Americanized Tanto may have it's faults and detractors...But I am still fascinated by good verisons of it!
 
I like 'em fine.Not for everything (like skinning)but edc and sd they work for me.Right now I carry my Lum Spyderco fixed blade a lot.Opens mail,cuts food,cleans nails,works in yard and so on.
 
The tanto was, more or less, what got me into knife enthusiasm. I was learning Roppokai from my cousin and he taught me about the Japanese style points and the "American Generation" as he put them. I took to them as being part of my current craft, but now I seem to have grown appart from the shape. I don't dislike them, I'm just not as excited by them anymore. ...Not the American ones at least. Althought I may be rekindling my favor for them as I am considering buying a Spyderco Bob Lum tanto fixed blade.
All in all, they are not my favorite point but I still appreciate them.
 
I resisted the tanto point for a very long time but finally caved in and have preferred it for general utility ever since.I compare every new knife that I'm considering to my Benchmade 722 and have not found anything I like better but then I'm a lefty so if it isn't totally ambidextrious I don't want it and there isn't a lot to choose from with a tanto point.
 
Well, I guess I'm going to be the odd one out here and say that I'm not especially keen on them. I'm not suggesting there is anything wrong with them and I'm sure they have their own advantages but I simply don't particularly like the look of a tanto blade.

Yeah, OK, so I'm strange.
 
Used to hate tantos and serrations with a purple passion, now I love them in certain instances. Basically I've found that they're fantastic for shop work, and in the construction area. The serrations will do for cutting alot of plastic, and denser stuff, the tip is usable for light prying, piercing and light use as a screwdriver. (carpet tacks, etc.) and the chisel ground ones are very handy for scraping gaskets and gunk. Obviously I do somethings with my tanto that aren't highly recommended at all, but I'm comfortable with the limitations, and also figure ya' gotta do what ya' gotta do to get the job done when your an hour and a half from your toolbox.

my three current favorites are CRKT M-16/12 (the smaller one) Benchmade Stryker, and my Emerson CQC-7


I still think they're next to useless for camping and hunting, But incredibly handy in other instances. I guess it's like any other tool, ya' just gotta spend some time with 'em and learn the strengths and weaknesses.
 
Always liked them, they have their niche, as a mechanic by trade they are the handiest blade shape, and if they're chisel ground they make excellent scrapers.

I own several, including CRKTs and a Bud Nealy Custom.
 
Must be in the Asian blood or something, but I think a well-made tanto style blade is a thing of beauty.

However, "well-made" is the keyword here, a poorly designed tanto can look terribly clunky and brutish, and lacks the artistic curves of a real tanto. I guess I'm not a real fan of the American tanto, though some renditions are quite nice.
 
i only like a tanto on very heavy and rough use blades. the only tanto i own is my Camillus Mini-CUDA and i luv it's penetration ability, prying ability, and how you almost sorta have two different tools on the blade. you have the tanto which i use for penetrating, prying, digging, scraping, screw-drivering and the like, and then you have the rest of your razor sharp blade for cutting.

i respect the tanto, but in general i don't care for them since i only use them in certain instances. they're just not as versatile as other blade shapes.
 
#3 for me. I liked them when I first got into knives. After owning and using them, I don't like them at all.

I got rid of them all except the Impulse from OE. And that's not even an "American Generation" type or classic. Sort of DDR's tweak on a beefy slicer.

Phil
 
For me it very much depends. I love the traditional tanto, but do not care for modernized tantos at all. I used to really like them, but that has changed. I now find them impractical and ugly; a terrible combination.
 
No, not a big fan of tanto's. Some look cool, but for the basic cutting I do, I prefer a clip or drop point. I don't scrape or pry with my knives as I have other tools that work better for those tasks.
 
I used to like them, but have grown OFF them. I am referring to the Americanised tanto point pattern. I think it has visually striking points (literally), but for the most part, I think it is entirely that - a cosmetic thing. The thing I have the greatest problem with is the secondary edge along the tip. I prefer an edge continuous from ricasso to tip. Mike Snody makes some tantos which have the secondary grind at the tip, but the edge curves all the way from ricasso to tip, unlike the original Lum and recent Cold Steel iterations, which come to a sharp "tooth" edge, where main edge meets the second edge at the point.

Not sure if this makes sense. Jason.
 
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