I need a Tanto!

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Bionic589

Joined
Feb 21, 2013
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17
Well guys as my collection grows I still do not have a knife with a tanto blade. I find them ugly in pictures and always end up getting something else instead. I think it is time for a tanto so I can experience one first hand and maybe I will develop a liking for them.

My requirements would be a folder in the $50-$250 range. I don't really have any other requirements other than that, so what should I get.
 
Go buy a Cold Steel GI Tanto and beat the crap out of it to see how you like them. They're cheap and tough, so it's the perfect test knife. If you don't like it, at least you'll have had fun. If you do, you'll still have $200+ to buy a nicer tanto with.
 
I've had a few, sold them all. Not a fan at all of that blade style, even the ones that are ground on both sides. I have no need to be stabbing anything hard, so do not see the point of them. I think I may have one left, and the only reason I kept it is it is a White Wolf Brend automatic with a tanto blade. If it had not been an auto, it would also be gone. Never get's carried, it's in a display case with all my other autos.

I've had a couple of Cold Steel Voyager tantos, including a Gunsite. A couple of Benchmade Emerson's. All sold and gone. DO not care at all for that blade style. It's been overhyped by the "tactical" craze.

But if you have to have one, get one that's an automatic. You probably will not be toting it for long before you discover it's not a very good utility blade.
 
Cold Steel Recon 1. Straight from the company that put the tanto on the map, with their most iconic tanto folder.

I've got one, and it's awesome. It's one of the strongest folders around, with the strongest lock. Comes wicked sharp out of the box.

I wouldn't recommend getting a tanto from anyone other than Cold Steel, because they tend to forget the whole idea behind the tanto, wwhich is point strength. In doing so, they end up putting swedges, weird tacticlol shapes, etc.

If you want comparable strength at a lower price point, with a stone washed blade, there's the Voyager, which also comes in tanto point. I have one of these too, and not only does it cut well and feel great in hand, it opens and closes slick as grease (the Recon 1 is stronger but not as smooth). I highly recommend both, they will serve you well and offer you superior strength (especially concerning the lock, which is the Tri-Ad lock) at a price that won't break the bank.
 
Assuming you're referring to the "American tanto"(which is actually pretty different from the Japanese blade they took the name from), go with a Cold Steel Voyager or Recon 1.
 
Kwon Kwang said:
Cold Steel Recon 1. Straight from the company that put the tanto on the map, with their most iconic tanto folder.

I've got one, and it's awesome. It's one of the strongest folders around, with the strongest lock. Comes wicked sharp out of the box.

I wouldn't recommend getting a tanto from anyone other than Cold Steel, because they tend to forget the whole idea behind the tanto, wwhich is point strength. In doing so, they end up putting swedges, weird tacticlol shapes, etc.

If you want comparable strength at a lower price point, with a stone washed blade, there's the Voyager, which also comes in tanto point. I have one of these too, and not only does it cut well and feel great in hand, it opens and closes slick as grease (the Recon 1 is stronger but not as smooth). I highly recommend both, they will serve you well and offer you superior strength (especially concerning the lock, which is the Tri-Ad lock) at a price that won't break the bank.
Click to expand...
Cold Steel makes angled chisels rather than real tantos. Yes, tip strength is important, but so is actually having a decent point. It's a folder, doesn't need to penetrate armor, but it may need to pierce something without ruining it.
 
I'd recommend anything but an Emerson CQC-7B . . . mine was possibly the worst knife I've purchased to date, at least for knives that cost more than $20. For a more traditional tanto blade shape, go Kwaiken, though beware of QC issues and difficulty opening them one-handed with the original version that don't have the improved disc. For the American style tanto, why not go Cold Steel?

If you just want to try out the blade shape, you could always get yourself a ~$10 Bee L01. It locks up better than my CQC-7, and it comes in various handle materials/colors:

zBDjZ5R.jpg
 
I cherish my CS tanto, the original model with the brass fittings. The blade has an elegant curve, in addition to the reinforced tip, and it is beautifully balanced. I tried it one time when I was cutting up a moose; the tip worked great separating joints, and the curved edge sliced beautifully. The Kraton grip is superb. Never had to use the skull crusher, so far, but it appears to be as well designed as the rest.
 
I just received a DLC coated Kershaw Zing from KershawGuy for like $35. Designed by R J Martin. Really digging the style and ergonomics, but it's a smaller folder. Mini-Grip size.
 
For those not aware of the difference, this is what an actual tanto looks like, before the "American" version you see today came out:
tori-tanto-samurai-swords-japanese-swords-SH6007KFT.jpg
 
DShiflet said:
For those not aware of the difference, this is what an actual tanto looks like, before the "American" version you see today came out:
tori-tanto-samurai-swords-japanese-swords-SH6007KFT.jpg
Click to expand...

Andrew Demko tests Cold Steel's Master Tanto against the Gerber Mk. II and a traditional tanto that looks an awful lot like that one.

The tests are extensive and highly conclusive. It's easy to see which knife offers superior performance.

[video=youtube;bYozOCQM7CI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYozOCQM7CI[/video]
 
I have the bottom three blades in the top picture, 416, and I hope you know that I am very jealous of you. :D
 
Kwon Kwang said:
Andrew Demko tests Cold Steel's Master Tanto against the Gerber Mk. II and a traditional tanto that looks an awful lot like that one.

The tests are extensive and highly conclusive. It's easy to see which knife offers superior performance.

[video=youtube;bYozOCQM7CI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYozOCQM7CI[/video]
Click to expand...

And yet the samurai found the traditional tanto handled their needs just fine. They refined their blades many times, there were many master swordsmiths, yet somehow they never refined it to the design of the "American" tanto. Why do you think that is? Maybe it's just me, but I trust a culture that was basically DEVOTED to the sword know which weapon was more useful in the blade-oriented combat they practiced.
 
Bionic589 said:
Well guys as my collection grows I still do not have a knife with a tanto blade. I find them ugly in pictures and always end up getting something else instead. I think it is time for a tanto so I can experience one first hand and maybe I will develop a liking for them.

My requirements would be a folder in the $50-$250 range. I don't really have any other requirements other than that, so what should I get.
Click to expand...

Some tanto folders that are pretty nice are the hogue ex01 Tanto version,voyager xl tanto,crkt m16sf.
 
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