is my "go to " knife ok

D

dullblades

Joined
Mar 21, 2010
Messages
145
howdy folks. back in the late 80's, maybe '87, i bought the then "in" cold steel tanto. it was their main knife, probably the one that started them up. i have kept it near and close to me for over 20 years now. and in the early 90's i put it through lots of 55 gallon drums, just cause it could. in times i was without a handgun, it was my 1st defensive tool. the only thing that is negative to me is that the blade is over the legal limit for carrying it, unless it is exposed on a belt, which i have never done . if the situation came up, where i had to take it with me, it rode in my front pocket under a long shirt. for some reason i have a bond with it, even though its never prepared a meal, never helped me with cleaning any game, never been used in a defensive situation. but, it has always been there. so, what do you guys who have had one, or used one think of them. i know one thing, the secondary market has long been a higher price than the price i got it for, and believe me, i paid full market retail at a neat little knife shop in a mall, so i didnt get a deal at the time. it has aged well too, the brass is dull, scratched and worn, just like me. :D........ sure wished i would have snagged the mini tanto way back then.
 
Sounds like you've got a tool you're comfortable with, and it's lasted you for some years. :thumbup:

I had a nice old 80s tanto like that... mine was a Taylor/Seto Japan. It walked off during my college experience... I still miss it.
 
I think that they're overpriced since 1986 and still do. There are a lot better fighters out there than the CS 6" tanto at that price point. YMMV Glad you love your blade - it's quite obvious that you do. :thumbup:
 
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I still have mine that I bought in 1986, still an awesome blade, mine has a 5 3/4" blade.

cziv said:
I think that they're overpriced since 1986 and still do. There are a lot better fighters out there than the CS 6" tanto at that price point. YMMV Glad you love your blade - it's quite obvious that you do. :thumbup:
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Not back in the 80's there wasn't..... ;)

It was the best factory knife on the planet when it came out. :)
 
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It was the best factory knife on the planet when it came out.
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I much preferred my KA-BAR USMC "issue" fighting knife. I drove 2 hrs to a CS vendor to check out the Tanto and it was nice, rugged, cool, but too much money and not as light in the hand and as wicked a slicer as my Marine Corps KA-Bar with a tuned-up edge on it.

I figured for utility and self defense, mine was better. Who goes around needing to stab through Ford Pinto doors and hoods? I passed.

I respect both of your opinions though but I'm left a bit cold on the Tanto. Now the Taipan - well that was truly a dedicated fighter to behold, wicked fast blade speed - a fighting veg-o-matic!! :D
 
That Tanto was my first Cold Steel too, bought it in the early eighties, carried it in two different armies (was laughed at but didn't care). Still have it, still a good knife, mine saw A LOT of use and it shows. Still in very good shape too.
My favourite medium sized fixed blade nowadays is a Busse Satin Jack, but I still love tanto's, up to 44" :D
 
Great to hear of your "connection" with your knife, I know the feeling, thanks for sharing. Best of luck with it in the future!
 
thanks alot guys. i was curious how the crew here felt about them. i know its not the best knife in the world, and i know its not the worst. it just really grabbed my attention all those years ago, so i got it. stay sharp.
 
sounds to me like you have a "go to" knife that you're very happy with.

hell, you've been carrying the thing for over 20 years. if there was something wrong with it, you'd have found out by now.
 
What blade steel did the original 6" CS tanto come in guys? I think the current ones are VG-1 San Mai III but if memory serves me, that was an "option" back in the mid to late 80's.
 
cziv said:
What blade steel did the original 6" CS tanto come in guys? I think the current ones are VG-1 San Mai III but if memory serves me, that was an "option" back in the mid to late 80's.
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The Original was 5 3/4" and it was either AUS8 or 440B I don't remember.

It was however better made than any other factory fixed blade at the time.

99% of the knives back then couldn't even be sold today with today's standards being so high, there was a ton of real junk on the market in those days.

It really was way ahead of it's time. :thumbup:
 
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