Looking for custom tactical L6 Tanto-styled fixed fighter blade, where can I find?

L

L6Hunter

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Oct 25, 2014
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Hello, members of BladeForum. I am new to the field of cutlery and I have heard good things about L6 steel in particular. I'm searching for L6 blades all over the net, it seems you can only get them custom-made these days. Unfortunately, being new to the field, I don't know which manufacturers/makers are good or bad. Any helpful input would be appreciated
 
I don't think I know of anything like that offhand.

Svörd makes all of their knives out of L6, so you could check them out, but I'm not sure they will be your style from the sound of things. They make great knives, but they are very utilitarian in design and they don't really have any fighting knives ( unless you count the von tempsky bowie, but at 11 in of blade, is much bigger than most fighters are typically).

You may have to see if one of the custom makes here on the forum could make you something like that.

And finally, while L6 is a good steel for sure, it's actually fairly middle of the road for a carbon steel. If you broaden your search to include other carbon steels you should be able to find something fairly easily (I know ka-bar makes a version of their fighter with a tanto tip.

Good luck finding something that works for you :).
 
The closest L6 Svord gets to a tanto. 6 inch General Purpose Deluxe, for (amongst other things) both killing & basic butchering dog-caught wild pigs, instead of carrying both a sticker & a skinner.
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http://www.svord.com/index.php
 
AFAIK only Svörd makes production knives out of L6 and I haven't seen a Tanto from them yet.
Your best bet is contacting one of the many great knife makers here on the forum and see what they can do.
 
L6 is one of the tougher carbon steels for sure, but it isn't alone. Infi, CPM-3V, and S7 are all tougher iirc. And A2 should be closer to as tough as L6 is.

L6 is great stuff, I like both of my svörds. Just don't think that is an ultimate steel. That said, I don't really think there are any "ultimate"steels. All have their places, and their uses.

Good luck :).
 
Josh Mason just sold some L6 tantos on the Exchange here. That reminds me, I have to reply to his PM about making me one too :)
 
I wouldn't be too focused on getting a particular steel, especially when it can be as rarely used (relatively) as L6. I don't know how much of a noob you are, but a lot of people who are looking for "tough" or "hard use" knives typically have some unrealistic idea of what a well made blade can do. This is often due to Hollywood where you see people cutting through chains, chopping down trees with one slash of a katana, or prying open steel doors. Even if you get some of the toughest blades around, you won't want to chop into hard materials like steel or concrete because no matter how good the steel is, it will mess up a perfectly good edge.

Steel/ blade technology is sufficiently advanced now that even if you don't have THE toughest blade around, you'll still be able to do all the stuff that is within reason for any blade. Because of this, other than making sure you're working with a reputable maker or company, you'll probably want to look at a design that appeals to you since if it's coming from a good maker or company, it'll do what it's supposed to do. If you're looking for a nice Japanese-style tanto fighting knife, you might be interested in CRKT's Hisshou or Shinbu:

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If you really have to have a knife that you can do unreasonable things with, a company with a great reputation for that is the Busse family knives (Busse, Swamp Rat, Scrap Yard Knive). But because you're focused on the steel itself, you'll be limited to their designs, which last I check don't have many Japanese styled blades.
 
What I'm looking for, really, is a tanto blade capable of stabbing through kevlar body armor, again and again.
 
L6Hunter said:
What I'm looking for, really, is a tanto blade capable of stabbing through kevlar body armor, again and again.
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Then you want a Cold Steel. Doesn't sound like you need anything for actual utility use, rather something to play around with. By the way, any well designed and made knife can stab through Kevlar, unless the Kevlar is specifically rated to defend against it.
 
RevDevil said:
Then you want a Cold Steel. Doesn't sound like you need anything for actual utility use, rather something to play around with. By the way, any well designed and made knife can stab through Kevlar, unless the Kevlar is specifically rated to defend against it.
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That, and I might be joining the Marines, and I'd rather have my own knife than be limited to the bayonet. Also, Cold Steel's tantos only use AUS-8 steel, which I've heard is decent, but not top quality.
 
L6Hunter said:
That, and I might be joining the Marines, and I'd rather have my own knife than be limited to the bayonet. Also, Cold Steel's tantos only use AUS-8 steel, which I've heard is decent, but not top quality.
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You won't be doing much knife fighting in the Marines I don't think. AUS8 is decent steel, it's affordable especially if the knife breaks or gets lost somehow. That is the benefit of lower cost steels, they are replaceable. You can find a Cold Steel Recon Tanto or Cold Steel SRK in Carbon V, both decent and respectable for cutting and general abuse type tasks. You would probably also like to research some knives in 154CM steel, specifically Emerson knives. No fixed blades but you will want a folder for utility tasks and just in case. :thumbup:
 
L6Hunter said:
That, and I might be joining the Marines, and I'd rather have my own knife than be limited to the bayonet. Also, Cold Steel's tantos only use AUS-8 steel, which I've heard is decent, but not top quality.
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You might not have a choice with the bayonet; last thing you want is a fancy custom that you check into the armory because your NCOIC says so. Then then the Armorers "lose" your knife.
 
Get a Falkinevn f1 or something from Survive knives and a small folder. Itll be more useful.
 
Thanks for the help, guys. I still kind of want this custom L6 tanto just because of the fact that it seems it's never been done before and I might as well have something original.
 
L6Hunter said:
Thanks for the help, guys. I still kind of want this custom L6 tanto just because of the fact that it seems it's never been done before and I might as well have something original.
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I'm sure it's been done before, but you will likely have to contact a custom maker to order one.
 
L6Hunter said:
Thanks for the help, guys. I still kind of want this custom L6 tanto just because of the fact that it seems it's never been done before and I might as well have something original.
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ummm.... post #9 above mentioned a custom maker who is producing them?

Sonnemann said:
Josh Mason just sold some L6 tantos on the Exchange here. That reminds me, I have to reply to his PM about making me one too :)
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