I hate American tantos

I remember the first time I ever saw one! I was 15 years old in 1984 and Danny foster and I were in the pecanland mall. Haha. Danny was a g.i. Joe type, soldier of fortune reading, throwing star collecting, covert 9th grade badass. He wore trenchcoats and combat boots every day. Obviously I thought he was pretty cool! Anyway, he was excited when we got to the mall because there was a knife at one of the kiosks that he said I had to see! It was a very "katana" looking blade with a tanto tip. We sat there and ogled the thing for awhile as he described to me everything that made this the most awesome knife that money could buy. I don't really remember his sales pitch, but I know he kept trying to convince me that it was "armor piercing"! I actually remember Danny saying that this was the "worlds only armor piercing knife"! Well, that's all I needed to hear. This was certainly something that I needed! Unfortunately, the empty wallet of a 15 year old kept me from owning "the worlds only armor piercing knife" that day and other pressing concerns of youth (like who were those girls at the orange Julius) took the forefront. Alas, life went on, and the dreaded armor piercing tanto was forgotten. I am a little ashamed to admit it, but to this day I have still never pierced armor with a knife :(.

That's a true story (best I can remember) of my introduction to the tanto. So no mystery that I see it as a mall ninja kind of design. I guess I never really shook that image that ole Danny burned into my psyche! Heheh

I will say, however, that I really liked what midnight flyer had to say about how he uses this blade style! Makes a ton of sense. I'm not gonna run out and buy a tanto yet, but that made me at least drop some of my notions and actually give the blade shape a little thought.
 
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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That last part had me rolling! :tyrannosaurus:
 
Surfingringo said:
IIRC we stalked them to the arcade where I tried to impress them with my mad Stargate skills! Was anyone not a complete dork when they were 15??
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Haha nice:thumbup: Hell, I'm still a dork at 30 years old! I'm gonna go put on Stargate now...
 
By the way, we received a decent amount of stuff at work and this guy helped me take down a few boxes.

 
I don't hate Tanto blades, but If I never in my life own a Spyderco Tenacious I will die a happy man.
 
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I don't mind very aggressive american tantos (i.e. a very acute angle at the tip), but I would have to agree that the more obtuse ones are pretty ugly looking. I think Emerson does a very good tanto, especially on the CQC-6.
 
I carry a CQC7 for work and I love it. I can scrape with it, use it like a Chisel if I need to, pierce with it for work I have to say I find it handy.
 
I like Americanized Tanto blades. I own a pile of them
Kershaw Zing (few)
Spyderco Lum Tanto folders
Emerson CQC 7 (few)
Sebenza Tanto (sold in an emergency)
ZT 0400 Scavenger
Benchmade 553
Benchmade Nitrous Stryker
Cold Steel Voyager tanto
Cold Steel Recon Tanto (fixed blade)
Possibly a few others. Now since I've actually used these things for years, I cannot say that I have encountered many things at all that I cannot do with one, at I could with a regular drop point, clip point, Sheepsfoot, or Wharncliffe style blade. It's not about the tool, rather the skill you employ. They can do a hell of a lot more than simply scrape and penetrate Flack vest. Also, no I am not a mall ninja

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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:D
 
I don't care either way. I've seen a lot of American-tanto type blades that have been sharpened into rounded drop-points, where the forward angle leading up to the point gets rounded when being sharpened, I assume due to negligence or laziness.

The main reason I like American-tanto points is . . . well, with me, they don't stay tantos for long. I've found that I can convert a tanto point to a sheepsfoot blade pretty easily; tantos seem to have a slightly longer straight edge than drop- or clip-points. The blade ends up a little shorter (usually no more than 1/2"-5/8" shorter at most), but to me it's a lot more useful. Heck, if I had my way, all my blades would be sheepsfoot or Wharncliffe anyway.

I had a big ol' hulkin' S&W liner lock that I converted to a sheepsfoot, and I was able to shorten the handle as well. Made for a very solid, chunky handful. A friend of mine who runs crab pots decided he liked it, so it lives with him now. (The bum. I still haven't got my !@%!!#!#! whole fresh crabs from him yet. :p )

~Chris
 
RevDevil said:
I like Americanized Tanto blades. I own a pile of them
Kershaw Zing (few)
Spyderco Lum Tanto folders
Emerson CQC 7 (few)
Sebenza Tanto (sold in an emergency)
ZT 0400 Scavenger
Benchmade 553
Benchmade Nitrous Stryker
Cold Steel Voyager tanto
Cold Steel Recon Tanto (fixed blade)
Possibly a few others. Now since I've actually used these things for years, I cannot say that I have encountered many things at all that I cannot do with one, at I could with a regular drop point, clip point, Sheepsfoot, or Wharncliffe style blade. It's not about the tool, rather the skill you employ. They can do a hell of a lot more than simply scrape and penetrate Flack vest. Also, no I am not a mall ninja


:D
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Hogwash. The truth is that revs real name is Danny Foster! He was the kid in the trenchcoat and the combat boots! Sorry rev, I just couldn't keep your secret any longer! ;) :D
 
orca8589 said:
I don't care either way. I've seen a lot of American-tanto type blades that have been sharpened into rounded drop-points, where the forward angle leading up to the point gets rounded when being sharpened, I assume due to negligence or laziness.

The main reason I like American-tanto points is . . . well, with me, they don't stay tantos for long. I've found that I can convert a tanto point to a sheepsfoot blade pretty easily; tantos seem to have a slightly longer straight edge than drop- or clip-points. The blade ends up a little shorter (usually no more than 1/2"-5/8" shorter at most), but to me it's a lot more useful. Heck, if I had my way, all my blades would be sheepsfoot or Wharncliffe anyway.

I had a big ol' hulkin' S&W liner lock that I converted to a sheepsfoot, and I was able to shorten the handle as well. Made for a very solid, chunky handful. A friend of mine who runs crab pots decided he liked it, so it lives with him now. (The bum. I still haven't got my !@%!!#!#! whole fresh crabs from him yet. :p )

~Chris
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First time I've heard a man complain about another man not giving him crabs. :)
 
Love or hate Cold Steel, it was their Master Tanto that not only made Cold Steel but changed the blade making business forever.
Carried a Master Tanto for several years, and then found out it wasn't much cop in the woods over older more utilitarian designs; as a sharpened crow bar it excelled. Still have it and its still going strong. They no spin throw well too. Its replacement was a CR Project II (shows my age). However, as an urban carry the Tanto has its place.

Don't like Tanto's folders, as they don't work for what I do. Also I don't think as a folder they can be built tough enough for what the design is best for.

Everything else is personal choice and what you do with your knives. The above is what I found for what I do.
 
I suppose this isn't really an American Tanto shape, but thought I'd mention this here -- it's the newest design by Gil & Wesley Hibben; a radical tanto type of blade. (Only available for pre-order.)

United Gil Hibben GH5039 Hibben Legacy II Fighter 8" Blade, Pakkawood Handles

http://www2.knifecenter.com/item/UC...39-hibben-legacy-ii-fighter-pakkawood-handles

UCGH5039.jpg


Retail Price: $275.00
Our Price: $148.95
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Once again, Gil and Wesley Hibben have teamed up to design the latest masterpiece to bear the Hibben name. Bringing more than 75 years of combined knife-making experience, this collaborative Legacy II Hibben Fighter epitomizes their innovative vision and continues the proud Hibben legacy. From the handsome black pakkawood handle to the razor-sharp blade, no detail was overlooked.
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Razor-sharp blade with non-reflective finish

7Cr17MoV stainless steel construction

Handsome pakkawood handle

Premium Micarta spacers

Oversized guard & pommel

Embossed leather sheath

8” blade; 13-3/8" overall

Made in China
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What do you guys think of this?
 
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