Recon 1 Tanto or Voyager Tanto?

G

GreatSyxsuke

Joined
Jul 30, 2013
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I bought an American Lawman last week and absolutely love it. While I was at the shop, the guy behind the counter recommended getting a tanto at some point in the future. I use my knives a lot but never in a way that could be described as hard use. I love the weight and solidness caused by the G-10 of my AL but it's so aggressive that I have had to sand under the clip to avoid shredded pockets. Would the Grivory of the Voyager be a better choice even though it isn't as heavy?
 
What size voyager are you looking at? The XL would be a big beast in your pocket lol but the grivory would not shred your pockets like g 10. Me personally id get the recon 1 tanto!
 
I own both. They're both great. The Voyager is smoother and I think a little lighter, but the Recon1 is a stronger knife in my opinion. Both use the same steel with the same awesome HT. Both have excellent ergonomics. The Voyager has a slightly thicker tip than the Recon 1.

You won't regret either purchase.
 
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GreatSyxsuke said:
I bought an American Lawman last week and absolutely love it. While I was at the shop, the guy behind the counter recommended getting a tanto at some point in the future. I use my knives a lot but never in a way that could be described as hard use. I love the weight and solidness caused by the G-10 of my AL but it's so aggressive that I have had to sand under the clip to avoid shredded pockets. Would the Grivory of the Voyager be a better choice even though it isn't as heavy?
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The Voyager line is notorious for being a pants shredder, sanding down under the clip is something I see suggested for the Voyager lineup more than just about anything.
 
DShiflet said:
The Voyager line is notorious for being a pants shredder, sanding down under the clip is something I see suggested for the Voyager lineup more than just about anything.
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Had my voyager a couple weeks now and this has also been my experience. Bending the clip outward slightly helped some but I think eventually I will be sanding or filling in and smoothing the area under clip.
 
Well, I went into the local cutlery shoppe looking for the Recon 1. They were out. I asked about the Voyager Tanto. They only had medium and XL, which are too small-feeling for my hand and too big to realistically EDC. So I was getting ready to leave and the other guy behind the counter says something about "Didn't we get in a new CS Tanto the other day?" He goes out back and returns with a Code-4 Tanto. As soon as I held it, I knew I had to buy it. I still want a Recon 1, as it reminds me of my Lawman but at least I have a Tanto with a Tri-Ad now. Thanks for all your suggestions and comments.
 
GreatSyxsuke said:
Well, I went into the local cutlery shoppe looking for the Recon 1. They were out. I asked about the Voyager Tanto. They only had medium and XL, which are too small-feeling for my hand and too big to realistically EDC. So I was getting ready to leave and the other guy behind the counter says something about "Didn't we get in a new CS Tanto the other day?" He goes out back and returns with a Code-4 Tanto. As soon as I held it, I knew I had to buy it. I still want a Recon 1, as it reminds me of my Lawman but at least I have a Tanto with a Tri-Ad now. Thanks for all your suggestions and comments.
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Congratulations! The Code 4 is one of my favorites. You got yourself a wicked EDC/tactical blade. :thumbup: I love, love my Code 4, although mine is in spear point.
 
Kwon Kwang said:
Congratulations! The Code 4 is one of my favorites. You got yourself a wicked EDC/tactical blade. :thumbup: I love, love my Code 4, although mine is in spear point.
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If I had not been on a time crunch, I very well might have asked if they had the spear point one as well. I only own one knife you could call a spear point, which was my EDC for a long time until I started buying more expensive/better knives. Someday I will go back and get the Code-4 Spear Point too. I can't say enough about how amazing the one I got is: from the smooth scales and amazingly slick opening to the rugged tight Tri-Ad, I have become a CS knut. :)
 
GreatSyxsuke said:
If I had not been on a time crunch, I very well might have asked if they had the spear point one as well. I only own one knife you could call a spear point, which was my EDC for a long time until I started buying more expensive/better knives. Someday I will go back and get the Code-4 Spear Point too. I can't say enough about how amazing the one I got is: from the smooth scales and amazingly slick opening to the rugged tight Tri-Ad, I have become a CS knut. :)
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Yup, the Code 4 is definitely awesome. The Voyager is just as slick, though it's beefy in pocket. People complain about lockbacks being hard to flick and gritty and all that, I just don't see it on my Cold Steel Tri-Ad folders, especially the Code 4 and Voyager.
 
I owned a Recon 1 clip point and traded it off, then picked up the new Voyager clip point. I wasn't keen on the flatter handle slabs on the Recon 1, the Voyager is much more comfortable. Both will make mince meat of your pocket if not remedied with some sandpaper. I do believe I'd give the edge to the Voyagers in terms of being the heavier duty knife. The full aluminum liners coupled with the FFG blades (I know the tanto is still hollow ground, comparing the clip points here) gives more assurance to ME, you may feel otherwise. Oh, and all my CS backlocks, Triad or old school, have been super smooth operators. Never got the "dang thing is hard to close!" sentiment that seems to be experienced by some people.
 
I have both and like them equally—both are great designs for the price!

The only thing I can point out is that the Voyagers have more handle "drop" to them than the Recon 1s have.

This gives more downward angle to the blade that helps with cutting through materials.

Edited to add:

It is the 4-inch and 5.5-inch Voyagers that have the handle drop. I just got a 3-inch clip-point Voyager and the blade sticks straight out just like the 4-inch Recon 1s do.
 
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I wouldn't recommend a tanto. Ask yourself what you would realistically use it for. It's primarily a piercing weapon and not much good for other ordinary everyday task. I would stick with clip point or spear point as on the recon1. Just my two cents.
 
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