Japanese Tanto: Who has one? Where did you get it? etc...

K

Kai Winters

Joined
Mar 16, 2012
Messages
939
Hi all,
I'm interested in a Japanese style Tanto.
I'll use it to a degree but really it isn't a "bushcraft" or "skinning" knife lol.
I suspect I'll spend more time sharpening and stropping it than anything else but I've been enamored of Bushido for decades and studied and instructed a form of Jiu Jitsu called Kumiuchi Style/Ryu. A very practical form leaning towards close in methods suited to a small/short person as I am.

I've no real interest in a Katana, though I've handled them in the past, including a 500 year old museum piece a collector/dealer person I knew had in his possession. Mainly as a "working" katana is a bit above my budget and I've not time to study/practice Iaido.

But I'm interested in spending under $100.00 for a decent piece.
Suggestions, etc. are gratefully accepted...with my thanks.
 
Are you looking for something that is zero ground?

At any rate, its going to be difficult at that price point unless you're OK with something cheap from CRKT.
 
Kai Winters said:
Hi all,
I'm interested in a Japanese style Tanto.
I'll use it to a degree but really it isn't a "bushcraft" or "skinning" knife lol.
I suspect I'll spend more time sharpening and stropping it than anything else but I've been enamored of Bushido for decades and studied and instructed a form of Jiu Jitsu called Kumiuchi Style/Ryu. A very practical form leaning towards close in methods suited to a small/short person as I am.

I've no real interest in a Katana, though I've handled them in the past, including a 500 year old museum piece a collector/dealer person I knew had in his possession. Mainly as a "working" katana is a bit above my budget and I've not time to study/practice Iaido.

But I'm interested in spending under $100.00 for a decent piece.
Suggestions, etc. are gratefully accepted...with my thanks.
Click to expand...

From your writing I thought you were looking for a REAL Japanese Tanto? You may find some thing shaped like one for under $100.00?
 
I found a used Cold Steel Warrior O-Tanto for around $150. It was less than half of retail, so I felt I had to have it. Quality seems pretty high.

That's about the lowest quality I would go, for actually using, though I believe CAS Iberia, (Paul Chen) Hanwei may sell some "practical" tantos in that price range, also decent quality.

For less than $100, you're looking at United Cutlery, Shinwa, Honshu, that type of stuff, which may be okay in the looks dept. but probably lacking in the useage arena.

Worth doing a search on EvilBay, if you want to get a ball-park estimate on what's out there.
 
Well, I have a tanto made in Japan for/by Smoky Mountain Knife Works, which is (or appears to be) a single piece of unknown steel that I would consider "blued" as one would expect of a gun. I also have a couple of Explorer brand tanto-style boot knives purchased in the late `80s, made in Japan. But my favorite, incidentally not made in Japan, is the SOG Tsunami. People have varying opinions about SOG and their use of AUS8 at prices that some feel call for a higher grade of steel, but I didn't buy it - or any of the other aforementioned knives - for hard use. I just like the the look and feel of each. On the other hand, there are very few tanto folders that I like, because I personally feel like a tanto with a longer handle than blade just doesn't look right, regardless of whether or not the blade itself has a traditional look to it. The knife as a whole just has to look right to me, and done right, a tanto can be a real thing of beauty.
 
You probably aren't going to get a real Japanese tanto for $100.00. My father has a sword collection which includes a few tantos and he practices Iaido. According to him, some of those Hanwei swords are OK for the money, but nothing like the real deal. You can probably find someone selling a Hanwei on Ebay for much less than what it would cost new.
 
evanPGH is your man for Japanese blades. Anything he suggests is your best bet, maybe PM him for best info.
 
No way I can afford a "real" Tanto. "Real" has a lot of different meanings in that world...different periods, etc.
I've looked around quite a bit on the interwebz and there is a lot available from "letter opener" quality for a few bucks to museum quality for much, much more.

Hanwei has some at a reasonable price.
Thanks for the ebay suggestion...good one.

I was more curious if anyone on the forum had one, etc....thanks
 
Kai Winters said:
No way I can afford a "real" Tanto. "Real" has a lot of different meanings in that world...different periods, etc.
I've looked around quite a bit on the interwebz and there is a lot available from "letter opener" quality for a few bucks to museum quality for much, much more.

Hanwei has some at a reasonable price.
Thanks for the ebay suggestion...good one.

I was more curious if anyone on the forum had one, etc....thanks
Click to expand...

My dad has a few tantos, some real, some cheap lol. None for sale though. The reason I mentioned Ebay is because he did sell off a bunch of swords, including some Hanwei blades, and they don't sell for much on Ebay. We were forced to sell them for significantly less than what was paid for them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top