Ontario Ranger RD tanto VS Cold Steel Recon tanto

[Peteristico]

Well this is my first post on BladeForums so Hi Everyone!

I'm here for a recommendation... I like tanto blades and I already have a Gerber Warrant, love it but it's kinda small, only an overall lenght of 9,5 in. Now I'm looking for something a little bit longer/bigger and I found two that I like, the ones on the title. So.. which one do you recommend the most and why?
Here they are:

Ontario Ranger RD Tanto: http://ontarioknife.com/fixed-blades/ranger-rd-tanto-detail.html

Cold Steel Recon Tanto: http://www.coldsteel.com/Product/13RTK/RECON_TANTO.aspx

Thanks!

 

[N Gremory]

What are your intended uses?

Also, the Ranger RD has a hardness of 53-55. The Recon Tanto has a hardness of 57-58. (different places say all the way down to 56 and all the way up to 59)
The Recon Tanto has a longer, thinner blade, is made in Taiwan, has a Tuff-Ex finish, and has kraton handles. It's also really light.
The Ranger RD has a slightly shorter, thicker blade, is made in the USA, has a powder coated finish, and has micarta handles.

The CS tanto uses AUS-8A steel (Japanese equivalent of 440B). The OKC tanto uses 5160 steel.
The CS tanto is quite a bit cheaper than the OKC tanto.

The OKC tanto is double the weight of the CS tanto, too.

I don't know about OKC (lack of experience with them), but CS does a pretty excellent job with their heat treatment.

For my needs, the OKC Ranger RD would probably be a better choice, because of the shape. However, I personally would prefer a drop point instead of a tanto. Is it worth the extra money? Personally, since I'm not looking for a tanto, I would rather go for something like a Becker BK2 Campanion, which sports a 5.25" drop-point blade that has about the same hardness as the CS, but the same thickness as the OKC.
They are both good knives and good companies. Which is 'better' depends on your personal preferences and for what you will be using the knife.

 

[Peteristico]

Well I will use it for camping and hicking pretty much. And in case I got a drop-point I'd get the Ontario RD7. Anyways, thanks for the answer, I'm almost decided now.

 

[The Mastiff]

The RD Tanto will be almost indestructible. There is no comparison to the Cold Steel Aus 8 version. If you want toughness, the RD's 5160 is pretty much as tough as it's going to get. It's above spring hardness but nowhere near it's max. It's one even I wouldn't mind prying with.

If you want the less tough knife that has no real advantages buy the cold steel, It should be shipped a little to a lot sharper but that's about the only advantage the CS has. The RD is coated and will withstand corrosion well enough with very little but some work. Stainless knives do need work too, except H1 ( Spyderco's Salt line).

The Ontario may have a thicker bevel as shipped. You can select how thick or thin you want it. Once you set it the Ontario should sharpen easier, though thick burrs would be tough as heck to remove. Avoid them with good sharpening methods. Regular , small burrs are easy.

I have had better luck with Ontarios 5160 than their 1095, and that's not bad. I'm not one for Aus 8 in a moderately hard use fixed blade. Though fairly tough for stainless it's not even close to being in 5160's league.