I like big knives and I cannot lie...

[stabman]

Finally got the beast in my personal possession...The Spyderco Tatanka!!!

It's what the Police wanted to grow up to be...

Spyderco's encroaching on Cold Steel territory here

Shot of them closed:

Spine shot (sorry about the crappy cell-phone pics):

It also fits the hand well in riot control gloves, and can be opened and closed with them on (sometimes that's handy...don't ask ):

And it looks good with art:

All in all it's a very solid knife, with good handle ergonomics and a sharp blade.
It is somewhat thick behind the edge...it is not a "cheese slicer."
But it sure does cut paper and paracord with great ease; time will tell how well it does with wood (when I get to the woods...that's where the wood is ).

The blade on this is far stouter than the Large Espada or the Rajah 2, but the stop pin is not quite as big. It ships with a card saying not to chop with it though, so that's not really a huge deal.

I give it rating of 5 out of 5 stabs. :thumbup:

 

[stabman]

Oh yeah, and the handle has no ivory in it...

 

[grownstar]

Great looking knife!

My favorite part had to be the riot gloves :thumbup:

 

[stabman]

Great looking knife!

My favorite part had to be the riot gloves :thumbup:

They're pretty good.
They're padded up the forearm to resist impact, and have plastic strips to resist knives.
They aren't so great at blocking bats though...I tested that by blocking a baseball bat swung by my wife; it hurt.

 

[Rhinoknives1]

They're pretty good.
They're padded up the forearm to resist impact, and have plastic strips to resist knives.
They aren't so great at blocking bats though...I tested that by blocking a baseball bat swung by my wife; it hurt.

Mine uses an iron skillet and goes for the head or knee caps!

I've taught her too well for my own safety!

 

[Mayenard]

That Tatanka is beastly. How do you like the lock?

 

[stabman]

Mine uses an iron skillet and goes for the head or knee caps!

I've taught her too well for my own safety!

I bought my wife an axe, and a couple years back she reversed an arm-lock on me, injuring my left elbow.
I have to be nice to her.

That Tatanka is beastly. How do you like the lock?

I'm liking the way the lock works so far. It definitely has room for wear, and as it wears will engage even more securely.
It's easier to disengage than many Tri-ad locks, mainly because the lock doesn't have to be depressed as far.

Eventually the chronic knife abusers will come along to show us the resistance to shock; that would actually be interesting data.

As far as being a user-friendly lock that I trust my fingers to though, I think it's a good design.

 

[Charlie Mike]

I also like big knives.

 

[craytab]

Very nice stabman! I will have to look in to that one.

I like big knives too. My largest folder is my SOG Spec Elite II. 5 inches of VG-10.

 

[stabman]

Big is good.

This is about the limit for size that can be comfortably carried in most pockets though.
I think I prefer the "grip neutral" handle of this as opposed to the Espada, to tell the truth.

 

[ncrockclimb]

Finally got the beast in my personal possession...The Spyderco Tatanka!!!

It's what the Police wanted to grow up to be...

What is the beast at the top. It looks totally cool. I cannot see myself ever carrying one, but love the curve of the handle and the blade. It looks MEAN sitting there!

 

[stabman]

What is the beast at the top. It looks totally cool. I cannot see myself ever carrying one, but love the curve of the handle and the blade. It looks MEAN sitting there!

That's the Cold Steel Large Espada, the version with the aluminum frame and polished G-10.
It is quite nice, and has been used to clear a few branches out of the way while hiking around.
Being a hollow grind blade--one which thins out quite a bit behind the edge--it will slice better than the Tatanka, but the Tatanka's edge will resist "rolling" or warping better.

It sure opens with an authoritative "Clack!!!" though.

 

[Icky Thump]

 

[stabman]

Also good choices.
I saw the Benchmade in the top pic at the local gun store, and if I'd had the cash at the time, it would've come home with me.

 

[22-rimfire]

Glad you like it. I don't care much for huge folders other than I might consider them cool, but I like big fixed blades (but seldom use them). I do prefer larger slipjoints, but certainly nothing that would not fit in my pocket. I'd kind of like to handle one in person to get the feel of the beast.

 

[Zakk Wylde]

Love the riot control gloves

Tri-ad lock is a beast how is the power lock so far ? i hope they integrate it to classic lockbacks like endura, vertical play annoys even though i love it.

 

[stabman]

Love the riot control gloves

Tri-ad lock is a beast how is the power lock so far ? i hope they integrate it to classic lockbacks like endura, vertical play annoys even though i love it.

It appears to be a solid locking mechanism, and certainly gets rid of the vertical play inherent to lock-backs.

Here's a link to a page which shows the production prototype, including one with a Plexiglas side so you can see the locking mechanism.

https://spydercollector.wordpress.com/2014/03/13/spyderco-2014-production-sample-tatanka/

 

[@LeathermanGX]

 

[stabman]

The Rajah 2 is longer, but I'd bet good money on the Tatanka's blade being more stout.
The stop pin on the Rajah is pretty massive though, so it would be more suited to chopping chores.

 

[Krissig12]

Love my Contego.......never carry it though......

These were taken last Halloween in my friends styrofoam graveyard