Idea or not

caine

caine

Gold Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2003
Messages
4,184
How about a ESEE 3 or ESEE 4 with a tanto point maybe even a sharpened clip :)
 
well they already have sharpened clips as an option, but tantos? not sure about that one...
 
or not. What good does a tanto point offer as a bushcrafting or survival knife? It's a tacticool novelty item designed for piercing armor... I dunno about you but the bears we have out here aren't wearing DragonSkin just yet
 
I don't like tantos. I don't think they would add to anything, really. The only reason I can see them being made is perhaps someone contacting ESEE to make it specially for them.
 
Yeah, I wouldn't even consider buying a tanto version... Do you have any reason to support WHY a tanto version would be a good idea?
 
i saw in one of the esee pics a tanto on top of a log. forgot where i saw it, maybe in the old picture pages here. definitely had the old rat cutlery logo on it. maybe a prototype?

with regards to others questioning why? isn't the esee-3 being used by law enforcement? straight quote from the 2009 esee catalog: "the industry standard in law enforcement and special team sheath knives". sounds like a perfect application for a tanto tip to me. i highly doubt they carry them just in case they need to survive in the bush.

esee-4 tanto with no choil? yes, i'd buy one in a heart beat. it's just another tool that i can add to my home defense equipment...and because i'm an esee gear whore.
 
Don't everyone act like Caine has just uttered the unforgivable "T" word.

The whole "tantos aren't usable" thing is a bunch of hogwash that has become internet "truth" by virtue of "experts" saying it often enough. In some places it seems like you aren't cool on the survival boards unless you chime in about how much you don't like tantos every time they are mentioned. They do work and they can be effective for certain tasks. The American tanto is as useful (or maybe more thanks to the leading edge) than anything with a long straight edge (ie sheepsfoot, wharncliffe).

Thankfully, there are a large number of actual knife USERs on the ESEE board so those who do not prefer the tanto may actually be basing it on some experience. However, in my experience, tantos, like any other sharpened piece of metal are very woods worthy. I have even dressed small game with a tanto which some people would have you believe is impossible.

Certainly, a tanto wouldn't be the first choice for a wilderness survival knife but neither would a sharpened clip model. ESEE has shown that they aren't afraid to dabble in purely "tactical" (for lack of a better term) designs. That is a market that they serve and it also happens to be a market that eats up tanto shaped blades.

It doesn't sound too far fetched to me. I might even have to buy two of them.
 
I concur on the usefulness of a Tanto style in other-than-tactical situations. Specifically, as Matthew mentioned, the "American Tanto". However, I personally feel that it works better in a longer blade - say, the 6.
 
I'm not sure it would add anything to an Esee but I'd be more then game for one. I think it would be awesome. :cool:
 
It would be pretty cool, but I wouldn't get one. Now a scandi grind would be cool.
 
matthewdanger said:
Don't everyone act like Caine has just uttered the unforgivable "T" word.

The whole "tantos aren't usable" thing is a bunch of hogwash that has become internet "truth" by virtue of "experts" saying it often enough. In some places it seems like you aren't cool on the survival boards unless you chime in about how much you don't like tantos every time they are mentioned. They do work and they can be effective for certain tasks. The American tanto is as useful (or maybe more thanks to the leading edge) than anything with a long straight edge (ie sheepsfoot, wharncliffe).

Thankfully, there are a large number of actual knife USERs on the ESEE board so those who do not prefer the tanto may actually be basing it on some experience. However, in my experience, tantos, like any other sharpened piece of metal are very woods worthy. I have even dressed small game with a tanto which some people would have you believe is impossible.

Certainly, a tanto wouldn't be the first choice for a wilderness survival knife but neither would a sharpened clip model. ESEE has shown that they aren't afraid to dabble in purely "tactical" (for lack of a better term) designs. That is a market that they serve and it also happens to be a market that eats up tanto shaped blades.

It doesn't sound too far fetched to me. I might even have to buy two of them.
Click to expand...

Ya, because my HEST is a total safe queen :jerkit: Flat edges have their uses-I do like the chisel tipped woodworking knives a LOT, and drawknives as well, but in my opinion the more belly you can squeeze into a blade the better. I love traditional scandis for this reason. The more useable cutting edge the more I like it, and the ungodly aweful seam of two flat edges make it damn near useless for skinning, woodworking, cleaning game etc. For the primary carry knives, like these ESEE blades are designed to be, a Tanto is definately not practical or ideal.
 
Tantos are very good knives, and have alot of good uses. Certainly, I have yet to own a fixed blade one, but I do own a few tanto folders; one of which was a recent purchase and has become my edc knife.
 
matthewdanger said:
The whole "tantos aren't usable" thing is a bunch of hogwash that has become internet "truth" by virtue of "experts" saying it often enough.
Click to expand...
I don't think that they aren't useful, but I do not find them ideal for my own personal use of a knife. I don't see how they would benefit anything I do more then the current versions do. Some people may feel that it would work better for them, however I don't. :thumbup:
 
matthewdanger said:
Don't everyone act like Caine has just uttered the unforgivable "T" word.

The whole "tantos aren't usable" thing is a bunch of hogwash that has become internet "truth" by virtue of "experts" saying it often enough. In some places it seems like you aren't cool on the survival boards unless you chime in about how much you don't like tantos every time they are mentioned. They do work and they can be effective for certain tasks. The American tanto is as useful (or maybe more thanks to the leading edge) than anything with a long straight edge (ie sheepsfoot, wharncliffe).

Thankfully, there are a large number of actual knife USERs on the ESEE board so those who do not prefer the tanto may actually be basing it on some experience. However, in my experience, tantos, like any other sharpened piece of metal are very woods worthy. I have even dressed small game with a tanto which some people would have you believe is impossible.

Certainly, a tanto wouldn't be the first choice for a wilderness survival knife but neither would a sharpened clip model. ESEE has shown that they aren't afraid to dabble in purely "tactical" (for lack of a better term) designs. That is a market that they serve and it also happens to be a market that eats up tanto shaped blades.

It doesn't sound too far fetched to me. I might even have to buy two of them.
Click to expand...

As you stated, any piece of sharpened metal can be useful. Nobody said that a tanto blade couldn't prove useful, we simply voiced our opinions on the matter, which I thought was the point of the thread, was it not?
 
TOPS (also made by Rowen I think) already makes lots of tanto models for those who want 'em. Just a thought.
 
PayetteRucker said:
Ya, because my HEST is a total safe queen :jerkit: Flat edges have their uses-I do like the chisel tipped woodworking knives a LOT, and drawknives as well, but in my opinion the more belly you can squeeze into a blade the better. I love traditional scandis for this reason. The more useable cutting edge the more I like it, and the ungodly aweful seam of two flat edges make it damn near useless for skinning, woodworking, cleaning game etc. For the primary carry knives, like these ESEE blades are designed to be, a Tanto is definately not practical or ideal.
Click to expand...

I hate that jerking icon. Please keep the rude icons to yourself. That is just a request. You may feel free to ignore it.

I will generally never choose a tanto. I think we probably have similar taste in knives (except I don't really care for scandi edges). You should give a tanto a try Rucker. You might find your horizons being broadened a bit. I have tried them and they absolutely challenged my preconceived notions. "Damn near useless" is not even close to a fitting description.

And, given that ESEE has already brought out sharpened clips, I would say that the tanto is not that far fetched (or any less "practical or ideal).

TheGame said:
I don't think that they aren't useful, but I do not find them ideal for my own personal use of a knife. I don't see how they would benefit anything I do more then the current versions do. Some people may feel that it would work better for them, however I don't. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Right on. I wasn't calling everyone out in this thread. Caine asked for opinions and they were given. This thread looked like it was about to be monopolized by anti-tanto voices, so I played a bit of devil's advocate. :)

oguruma said:
As you stated, any piece of sharpened metal can be useful. Nobody said that a tanto blade couldn't prove useful, we simply voiced our opinions on the matter, which I thought was the point of the thread, was it not?
Click to expand...

Yup and I voiced one that referred specifically to the well versed users on this board and the knee jerk users on other boards. Please don't take it personally.
 
I've come to carrying my tanto Sebenza more than my regular. I don't worry as much about breaking the reinforced tip. ESEE does have a tactical market -- that's what the ESEE-5 is for, too.
 
Tantos have their place. I, for one, refuse to go along with the general consenus on any particular piece of gear just because it's "written in stone" somewhere. I've found that a lot of that stuff was authored by those who can't seem to think outside the box anyway, thus spewing the same old traditional bullshit.

True, I like knives with belly in them but I guarantee that I can make out just as well with a tanto if need be. People put way too much emphasis on design, steel, etc when it comes to knives and forget that it's just a piece of sharp steel. For the most part, the user makes the knife, not the other way around. So a tanto idea is not that far-fetched and could possibly see birth in the DPx line in the future.
 
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