I want a tanto

Ruari said:
Cold Steel Recon tanto. Great knife, strong, dependable, always seems nice and slim and shorter than it's actual 7" blade length. Try and get an older Carbon V model, they're still available on the 2nd hand market.
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Hand guard is rubber, friend has SK-5 version (with GSM logo) and the guard has broken off.

I just wanna know if Leatherneck fits Ka-Bar sheath.

Then I'll decide Leatherneck or Recon.
 
Hogue makes a tanto fixed blade and I've been happy with their folders. Also you can get a Braford Guardian in tanto. All depends on what will break the bank for you
 
IMG-2022-12-02-09-16-57-592-2.jpg

I have an SK-5 Recon Tanto that was purchased in March of this year. I have not used it to cut anything... until now. I was going to keep it LNIB, but, for the sake of science, I decided to test it.

I have only taken it out of the sheath to fondle it, probably a couple dozen times by now. I cut phone book paper to establish a base line.

START: razor sharp edge, except for a couple spots that snag.
0-30 EXTRACTIONS, HOLDING IN HAND: I tested after every 10 extractions, no issues.
31-50 EXTRACTIONS, SHEATH VERTICAL IWB: I noticed dulling, right in the middle of the curved blade, the blade starts to tear paper. Stropped the edge back up and did more testing.
51-60 EXTRACTIONS, SHEATH VERTICAL IWB: Same dulling.

Conclusion: If you can pull the knife out without touching the sheath, it is fine. I noticed when the knife was tucked into my waist, the blade would touch as I extracted. Knowing that now, I would be careful about drawing the blade. If I had to quick draw in a life or death situation, I don't think the knife dulls enough to make a difference.

One thing I will say is I have not scrutinized other sheaths in this way, I am sure they all dull the blade to some degree. I'm not going to rush out and get a custom sheath, because this is not my user, I just have it to admire from time to time.
 
Lee D said:
KaBar’s customer service/warranty vs Cold Steel’s…which would you rather deal with?
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I would agree, in most cases, but in this case, what is customer service going to do about a sheath that dulls your blade?
 
dogstar said:
IMG-2022-12-02-09-16-57-592-2.jpg

I have an SK-5 Recon Tanto that was purchased in March of this year. I have not used it to cut anything... until now. I was going to keep it LNIB, but, for the sake of science, I decided to test it.

I have only taken it out of the sheath to fondle it, probably a couple dozen times by now. I cut phone book paper to establish a base line.

START: razor sharp edge, except for a couple spots that snag.
0-30 EXTRACTIONS, HOLDING IN HAND: I tested after every 10 extractions, no issues.
31-50 EXTRACTIONS, SHEATH VERTICAL IWB: I noticed dulling, right in the middle of the curved blade, the blade starts to tear paper. Stropped the edge back up and did more testing.
51-60 EXTRACTIONS, SHEATH VERTICAL IWB: Same dulling.

Conclusion: If you can pull the knife out without touching the sheath, it is fine. I noticed when the knife was tucked into my waist, the blade would touch as I extracted. Knowing that now, I would be careful about drawing the blade. If I had to quick draw in a life or death situation, I don't think the knife dulls enough to make a difference.

One thing I will say is I have not scrutinized other sheaths in this way, I am sure they all dull the blade to some degree. I'm not going to rush out and get a custom sheath, because this is not my user, I just have it to admire from time to time.
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Thank you a lot for this brother.

Then Leatherneck Tanto and Ka-Bar leather sheath would be the way to go I guess?
 
LostCause said:
Thank you a lot for this brother.

Then Leatherneck Tanto and Ka-Bar leather sheath would be the way to go I guess?
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You are welcome! I don't own either; can't help you there. IMO there are other options out there that would satisfy your requirements. Just do a little searching 👍
 
Kabar short tanto comes with leather sheath.

Another way to go: kydex sheaths for recon tanto run about $40 on the auction site.
 
dogstar said:
I would agree, in most cases, but in this case, what is customer service going to do about a sheath that dulls your blade?
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You’d probably get a speedy response from someone who actually knows the various models Ka Bar offers, and what a sheath actually is. lol
The kinda folks who can actually help with the problem…something GSM seems to be lacking.
 
Lee D said:
You’d probably get a speedy response from someone who actually knows the various models Ka Bar offers, and what a sheath actually is. lol
The kinda folks who can actually help with the problem…something GSM seems to be lacking.
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... and then what? They custom make a new sheath for you?

Not arguing about CS customer service (there is none).
 
dogstar said:
... and then what? They custom make a new sheath for you?
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I’m not saying that at all, but I bet they’d be more than willing to help you solve the problem in any way they could. Sorry man, but between the two, I trust KaBar to make things right long before I’d EVER trust GSM owned Cold Steel.
 
Ruari said:
Cold Steel Recon tanto. Great knife, strong, dependable, always seems nice and slim and shorter than it's actual 7" blade length. Try and get an older Carbon V model, they're still available on the 2nd hand market.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I am also pleased with how well balanced and light it is.
 
Lee D said:
I’m not saying that at all, but I bet they’d be more than willing to help you solve the problem in any way they could. Sorry man, but between the two, I trust KaBar to make things right long before I’d EVER trust GSM owned Cold Steel.
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Not arguing about customer service of Kabar vs CS. Let's say you purchased a knife with a glass filled nylon sheath, having already heard stories about knives getting dulled by them. You call customer service and complain about this. How are they going to "make it right?"
 
dogstar said:
Not arguing about customer service of Kabar vs CS. Let's say you purchased a knife with a glass filled nylon sheath, having already heard stories about knives getting dulled by them. You call customer service and complain about this. How are they going to "make it right?"
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Send me a leather one
 
Lee D said:
Send me a leather one
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Assuming that one exists.
If it did, why wouldn't you just purchase the knife with the leather sheath in the first place?

For example, the kabar modified tanto looks awesome. Comes with a GFN sheath. Would I buy one, and hope to get a leather sheath (that fits) from customer service? No.
 
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