I hate American tantos

S

Showler

Joined
Jul 14, 2013
Messages
140
Seriously. I can't stand how squared off and boxy looking the tip is. I love the traditional tanto but I hate the Americanized version. Is anyone with me for this?
 
I've more or less moved past tantos in general, and there are only a few of them left in my collection. When I was younger and was sort of a mall ninja with my taste in knives, I thought they were the best. Thankfully I moved past that period in my life. :D
 
Depending on the use, I like them. They sharpen up super easy and the tips are strong yet still have enough sharpened surface to puncture stuff. I find I can be a lot more precise doing pencil hold cuts with them as well for more detailed work.

My recommendation is to spend less time hating grinds you don't like the looks of, and spend more time enjoying the grinds that work best for you. :)
 
Well I specifically didn't want a tanto blade for my current carry... just wanted something different, so I decided to try a modified sheepsfoot out with my newest purchase (and I'm liking it more than I expected). But the tanto shape was useful at times when fishing or diving. I'd be open to carrying a tanto blade again in the future anyway - definitely don't hate it.
 
Traditional tantos are just drop points and straightbacks anyway. I do understand why you wouldn't like them but they can be pretty useful for things like making shallow piercing cuts.
 
Quiet said:
I've more or less moved past tantos in general, and there are only a few of them left in my collection. When I was younger and was sort of a mall ninja with my taste in knives, I thought they were the best. Thankfully I moved past that period in my life. :D
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Is this what most people feel about the tanto? Or were you a superior mall ninja? I'd imagine that several other blade styles would appeal much more to the mall ninja, especially compared to the tanto?
 
I like the sub-tip for really pressing into those long cuts. Takes a lot of work out of my wrist because it allows for lots of leverage. I work with vinyl flooring material all day so with a normal blade, the tip would be duller than a stick of butter by the end of the day.
 
jac_solar said:
Is this what most people feel about the tanto? Or were you a superior mall ninja? I'd imagine that several other blade styles would appeal much more to the mall ninja, especially compared to the tanto?
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I couldn't tell you, man. But as I see things today, I see no use for tanto blades. Your mileage may vary. I see tanto bladed knives the same way I see people who won't buy any AR-15 parts unless they're "mil-spec".
 
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I do want a katana tip yanagi for sure.
 
I sort of like the look of them, but I don't own one. Whenever I've been tempted to buy a tanto Voyager I've ended up with a vaquero instead.

Now I have five vaqueros and no tantos. Only missing the plain edge XL.
 
jac_solar said:
I'd imagine that several other blade styles would appeal much more to the mall ninja, especially compared to the tanto?
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Nope. Tanto tips are closest to a "katana" shape, and as we all know, to the mall ninja, the katana is "ultimate, sharpest sword in the world".
 
I used to feel the same way about Americanized tantos, then I saw a video showing a man performing snap cuts on a side of raw meat. The secondary point of the tanto effortlessly penetrated the muscle tissue causing very deep traumatizing wounds/cuts. Then the guy performed the same snap cut with a traditional Tanto and a spear point dagger. Even using more forceful cuts the traditional blades failed to penetrate the "skin" superficially. The Americanized Tanto also penetrated better using a stabbing technique, while sustaining less damage than the other blades. It really illustrated the effectiveness of the Tanto as a fighting/self defense blade...
 
I have never thought of a knife as a self defense tool, and like so many others I thought of tantos as mall ninja gear so I always stayed far away from that pattern.

However, I ran across a Joe Pardue Utilitac II at a gun show and it was one of the sharpest, finest edge knives I had ever handled. I had to have it.

I don't use it to chop myself out of downed aircraft, cut myself out of a crowd of gang bangers or even to cut my sandwich. I found this one, particular model of knife is excellent for wood work. The flatter point with the fine edge makes it a perfect trimming tool for my everyday chores as a trim carpenter and I use it a lot like a really sharp chisel. I love that knife for its utility value to me a as a tool.

Robert
 
I have a mini k bar tanto grind. I never use it. I liked the looks of it, I found that with my limited use for any knife day to day a tanto grind has no advantages. But to each his own.
 
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Most don't really appeal to me, and the only one I've got in my collection was a gift (a Fox Folgore). I do like the look of Bob Lum's tantos, though.

I've been toying with the idea of trying out a couple of tanto folders, if only to add a bit of variety to my collection and see how they work for my EDC needs.
 
I am way too cool to be seen with a mall ninja wanna be tanto. I prefer internet forum keyboard warrior style blades because I know more...
 
Smokinape said:
I am way too cool to be seen with a mall ninja wanna be tanto. I prefer internet forum keyboard warrior style blades because I know more...
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Only a Rambo wannabe would own anything but an Opinel. Knives should only be used for skinning apples, shaving armhair, and being set gently down in the wooded area on a jogging trail for iphone pictures.
 
o4tg said:
Only a Rambo wannabe would own anything but an Opinel. Knives should only be used for skinning apples, shaving armhair, and being set gently down in the wooded area on a jogging trail for iphone pictures.
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YES!!!! LOLOL

First laugh of what's sure to be a long Monday. Thanks for that!
 
The "tanto" is a battlefield knife.
Both the curved and the straight traditional points can easily snap-cut effectively.
rolf
 
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