My first Chris Reeve?

XtianAus

XtianAus

Gold Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2016
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After years of wanting one and considering other high end knives but always coming back to watching video after video of CR, i've decided i'll pull the trigger on an umnumzaan. I am mostly a fixed blade guy but want a one and done, life long folder and the umnumzaan and CR quality just screams at me like no other.

My only question is, should I go with the drop point or tanto?
I love the aethetics of the harpoon DP and prefer DPs overall, but the tip looks somewhat dainty. Though it could be the illusion of the swedge? I am unsure so I am also considering the tanto.

Does/has anyone own both? Which do you prefer? And does anyone have a side-by-side of the spine/tip of both?

Thanks!
 
XtianAus said:
After years of wanting one and considering other high end knives but always coming back to watching video after video of CR, i've decided i'll pull the trigger on an umnumzaan. I am mostly a fixed blade guy but want a one and done, life long folder and the umnumzaan and CR quality just screams at me like no other.

My only question is, should I go with the drop point or tanto?
I love the aethetics of the harpoon DP and prefer DPs overall, but the tip looks somewhat dainty. Though it could be the illusion of the swedge? I am unsure so I am also considering the tanto.

Does/has anyone own both? Which do you prefer? And does anyone have a side-by-side of the spine/tip of both?

Thanks!
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They're not Umnumzaans but I have drop point and tanto Sebenzas and the tantos are my favorite. I find them very utilitarian; two straight edges for working from different angles and more cutting force along the entire edge than in a drop point with more usable blade length, a pointy primary point and a broader but still sharp secondary point that lets you perform draw cuts.
 
Ajack60 said:
I don’t have a pic of them side by side, but this thread should give you an idea of how the two compare.
Thread 'Umnumzaan pics'
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/umnumzaan-pics.1522075/

The swedge on the drop point is deceiving, the tip of the drop point is anything but dainty. I use the drop point more than the tanto because it serves my needs better.
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Thank you, I am going to scroll through all those pages now 😃
& glad to hear the drop point has held up with for you! Real world use/experience like that pushes me back towards the initial draw of the DP umnumzaan!
 
Ive owned and used both and I prefer the Tanto as a workin knife for its versatility and use with the two straight edges and 2 ” points”. I will say that even though I have never owned both at the same time to compare, I actually think the very tip was thicker on the DP. Im a sucker for the harpoon but based on use and not looks its the Tanto everytime.

Enjoy the zaan it is a wonderful knife and the one that always tosses me off the wagon!
 
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Thank you friend. Needed a quality folder to match my quality Carothers, which I have seen you also spilled over towards 😃
 
Umnumzaan tanto is my favorite tanto blzde so I would highly recommandai go for the tanto blade shape
 
Personally, you couldn’t pay me to use a pocket knife with a tanto blade. Just don’t see the purpose. Only makes sense if it’s in a longer fixed blade (like a tanto). And only then if it’s a real tanto shape, not the the tacticool stab holes into your car hood shape.
 
Kallil said:
Personally, you couldn’t pay me to use a pocket knife with a tanto blade. Just don’t see the purpose. Only makes sense if it’s in a longer fixed blade (like a tanto). And only then if it’s a real tanto shape, not the the tacticool stab holes into your car hood shape.
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Thank you for such a wonderful, heart-felt, helpful and informative contribution to the thread…ignored.
 
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Kallil said:
Personally, you couldn’t pay me to use a pocket knife with a tanto blade. Just don’t see the purpose. Only makes sense if it’s in a longer fixed blade (like a tanto). And only then if it’s a real tanto shape, not the the tacticool stab holes into your car hood shape.
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Have you tried using a tanto in a utilitarian manor on working tasks? Very effective.
 
sailfish said:
Have you tried using a tanto in a utilitarian manor on working tasks? Very effective.
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Any task I ever use a pocket knife for I consider easier with a belly in the blade shape. This is all personal opinion of course. Though previous responses may imply that our individual preference for both luxury items and tools have to be universal law, this isn’t quite true.
If it floats your boat, it’s justified
 
If my heart were set on a Zaan, I wouldn't let the blade shape make the final determination. I'd take the first available knife and be happy with either one. Happy hunting!
 
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