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I want a tanto
- Thread starter LostCause
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Cold Steel Warcraft Tanto. Some of the best 3V I've come across in a production knife.
4th from the left in this pic:
4th from the left in this pic:
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I've the CS medium tanto and it's a great knife if the magnum is too large. Not sure if they make them now (mines the Italian made one). I'll second what Shane said re the 3v. Strops great and I can take it up to 2000 grit happily when sharpening. Holds an edge well and they are very well built. Comfortable handle too, I'm XL (hands) and thought it might be a little small but it's fine.
I really want to keep budget low... and with Cold Steel - I gotta get custom sheath too, if I plan to use the knife.
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How low? Cold Steel also makes some more "economic" tantos, as well. I can't speak to the quality of them under GSM now, however.
Why would you need a custom sheath? Any issues with the Secure Ex sheaths was resolved a long time ago.
In that case, Recon Tanto seems to be the way to go, if sheath issues persist then I guess I'll have to either find custom maker or make something myself.
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That's not true, at all. The Secure Ex sheaths sold now are the same old secure ex sheaths they have always sold. The issue is the material they are made from, it dulls the edge like no other. Cold Steel once made a random comment here on BF that the issue had been addressed and fixed, and sadly that line gets repeated. It's very much still a problem, and as long as those Secure Ex sheaths are made from that glass/nylon crap, it's going to continue to be a problem.
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The sheaths are 100 percent still a problem. Watched my brother totally wipe the edge off a brand new SRK in 3V that was hair popping sharp. Several pulls in and out of that sheath and it would barely cut paper.
Some sheaths provide a nice wide gap for the blade to fit inside the sheath, others like the SRK's sheath are very small and make it easy to drag the edge, just depends on the model at hand.
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They re-tooled the dimensions of the sheaths. They do not rub anywhere near as much as they used to. Of course, old stock may still exist through various distributors however. But any knives made by CS a couple years before the GSM buyout had the new Secure Ex sheaths. I assume that tooling went to GSM and is currently being used.
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Someone from Cold Steel years ago made a random comment here that the sheaths were retooled and "fixed". I don't buy it. I have recent Secure Ex sheaths from SRK's, Recon Tanto's, Black Bear classic, OSS, Tai pan, multiple Magnum Tanto's, and many more, and the sheaths aren't any different now than were before. My brother just received a brand new, new logo SRK, and the opening in the sheath is so damn tight and narrow that it would be virtually impossible to not drag the edge.
Even IF retooling was done, it's a moot point, as long as the sheath is made of the same material, glass filled nylon, it's going to dull the knife, as in everyday usage, it's virtually impossible not to drag the edge in the sheath at some point, regardless of how wide the opening is.
To add, Andrew Demko, with his new line of fixed blades, specifically address the Secure Ex problem, and has provided a solution with a new line of sheaths he designed.
DocJD
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That's a Warcraft , pic below beside a Magnum II .Cold Steel Magnum Tanto. Some of the best 3V I've come across in a production knife.
4th from the left in this pic:
Both great tough 3V with Cold Steel "Amercanized Tanto " tips . 
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Lynn sent me old and new sheaths for several CS models, to compare. There is definitely a difference, and I have had ZERO issues with the new sheaths on several CS models I own.
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Indeed, you are correct. I don't know why I always say "Magnum" instead of "Warcraft."
Regardless, I corrected my initial post. Thanks.
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The secure ex sheaths are very much still a problem and will dull the edge faster than anything I have ever seen. Cold Steel can retool or redesign until they are blue in the face, as long the sheath is made from the same glass filled nylon, it's going to dull the blade. As I said, it's virtually impossible to use the knives in the real world and not at some point drag the edge inside, regardless of how much retooling or width is added to the sheath.
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I won't argue with you. Talk to Lynn. Believe me, I had issues with the old sheaths.
My new sheaths are perfectly fine. Good retention yet easy to remove knife, and no dragging whatsover unless you are pulling out your knife at a weird angle.
As with any knife in ANY sheath, keep minimal pressure on the spine of the blade as it is removed. THE NEW SECURE EX SHEATHS DO NOT TOUCH THE KNIFE EDGE if you do this.
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shane45-1911
's post, directly after yours. Fourth knife from Left to Right is Cold Steel Warcraft tanto. This would be my first choice for useful, inexpensive and well designed tanto fixed blade.
You can also try CS XL (or smaller size) Voyager folder, it'll give you good idea what to expect when using it.