The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details:
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is $300 $250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
In looking more closely at this old ad, I noticed that the Tanto pictured possesses no blade markings. The pommel point looks slightly more acute than those on production models, too. Is this possibly one of Joe Cordova's prototypes in its completed form?
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-Steve
Not counting the unicorn that Whip found, haven't ever seen a sterile one, but the very early ones only had markings on one side. If the one in the ad were one of those, then theoretically you should see markings on the one in the guy's hand, but not on the other one since it is showing the other side. But looking at it closer, the ricasso looks shorter than the regular production versions...don't think the markings would even fit in that space. It actually looks very similar to the pics of the blank from Cordova, so think it's a good bet. But why doesn't the blank have the threaded end for the pommel?
Magnum Tanto II - #13MII (regular) & #13MBII (SMIII)
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The Magnum Tanto II replaced the Magnum Tanto in 1990. Along with the blade length difference, the other main difference is that it no longer has the raised spine.
Period: 1990 - 2015
Blade Steel: Cold Steel’s “400 Series Stainless” (1990 – 1994) and San Mai III (1992? - 2015). Not exactly sure when they started offering it in San Mai III…the 1990 flyer only mentions 400 Series Stainless, while the 1992 catalog has both 400 Series Stainless and San Mai III versions.
Blade Length: 7 1/2"
Blade Markings: There are 3 versions that I know of:
1) Side 1:
MAGNUM TANTO II logo
Side 2:
COLD STEEL, INC (in plain block print, not logo font).
VENTURA, CALIF
MADE IN JAPAN
2) Side 1:
MAGNUM TANTO II logo
SAN MAi III logo
Side 2:
COLD STEEL, INC (in plain block print, not logo font).
VENTURA, CALIF
MADE IN JAPAN
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3) Side 1:
MAGNUM TANTO II logo
VG-1 SAN MAi III logo
Side 2:
COLD STEEL logo
MADE IN JAPAN
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Sheath: According to the 1990 flyer, it originally had a black Cordura/nylon sheath. At some point this changed to black leather with a snap strap (not Velcro). Not exactly sure then this happened, but the 1992 Special Projects catalog I have shows the leather sheath, so looks like the Cordura sheath only lasted a year or two.
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Misc: Seems to be a lot of fake Magnum Tanto II/IX/XII’s out there. There are a few things to look out for…1) No lamination line on knives marked as San Mai III…2) I see many that just say “JAPAN” instead of “MADE IN JAPAN”…3) Bad fit/finish, such as rounded corners, gaps, etc…4) Leather sheath with Velcro strap instead of snap. Velcro was only used on the original Magnum Tanto sheath back in the 80’s…5) Many fakes come with plastic sheaths. This used to be an obvious red flag, as the Magnums always came with leather sheaths. But the waters have been muddied with the introduction of the 3V Nightfall Series Tantos (2015) and Taiwan San Mai III Tantos (2018), which come with plastic sheaths.
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Magnum Tanto IX and XII - #13MBIX & #13MBXII
There isn't much mystery to these guys. They are just longer versions of the Magnum Tanto II, available in 9" (IX) and 12" (XII) blades, and as far as I know they have always been San Mai III steel exclusively. They came with black leather sheaths, with snap straps (not Velcro). They first appeared in the 1998 catalog, and were last seen in the 2011 catalog.
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Mini Tanto with Stainless fittings - #13ASG
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Strangely, when the Tanto, Master Tanto, and Mini Tanto got updated with stainless fittings for 1992, only the Mini Tanto received a full oval guard like the Magnum Tantos. Also, the jimping that was on the brass version was removed.
Period: 1992 - 2000
Blade Steel: AUS 8A Stainless
Blade Length: 4 1/4"
Blade Markings:
Side 1: MiNi TANTO logo
Side 2: COLD STEEL logo
VENTURA, CALIF
MADE IN JAPAN
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Sheath: Black leather with Velcro strap and metal belt clip.
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Just Japan and not "made in Japan" means its fake?????
Quick question.
The Recon Tanto #13R : although cheaper, aside from the pommel and the beaded finish, what’s the difference?
Is the thickness of the blade different?
That said, I have seen one example of a genuine Master Tanto that only said Japan.