Rethinking the "Tanto."

Lycosa

Lycosa

Joined
Aug 24, 2007
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Hi Gang! For a long time, I was a big 'tanto" fan, and still am but, we're talking Japanese tantos. Most of their tantos, and other war blades, had the nice curved point, not the abrupt, so-called American point. I do believe the curved point is actually stronger that the abrupt point because there is more metal in that curve.
For basic use, I do not see a real advantage with the American tanto point. A nice Spyderco or drop-point blade shape is what I now prefer.
Thanks.
rolf
 
Think the pointy tanto is for utility to cut something easier with that edge point. And for looks
Check out the video. Looks like he found use for this kind of tanto. It's in Russian though. [video]https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=_z7BYfj_DbA[/video]
 
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Lycosa said:
Hi Gang! For a long time, I was a big 'tanto" fan, and still am but, we're talking Japanese tantos. Most of their tantos, and other war blades, had the nice curved point, not the abrupt, so-called American point. I do believe the curved point is actually stronger that the abrupt point because there is more metal in that curve.
For basic use, I do not see a real advantage with the American tanto point. A nice Spyderco or drop-point blade shape is what I now prefer.
Thanks.
rolf
Click to expand...
Straight line has least metal, curve has more and corner/secondary point has most.
Still like the traditional one the most.
 
I've owned 2 tanto IIRC. I know one was the CRKT Komodo Gold (still have it!). Both were bought early in my knife purchasing career when they first came out. I bought them due to the "gosh they look different" feature. I haven't bought a tanto since and I don't plan on buying a tanto blade. I don't like the look and I think other blade styles make more sense for general cutting tasks. Give me a spear, drop, or wharn blade design.
 
I've never bought any "more metal" arguments. A good maker can put as much metal as you need for a given purpose, vertically or laterally, on any basic blade shape and grind as you like.
 
Thanks for the replies.
A good post, Dangerously. Absolutely. A "armor" piercing blade has a specialized point for just that purpose and it has it's own name.
rolf
 
I agree the original Japanese tanto looks more useful to me. The American (?) tanto (invented by Cold Steel?) is less useful, maybe other than removing stickers on windshields; it is visually interesting though.
 
The Japanese had straight point, "American," blade, also. I think CS just made it popular.
I agree, that straight point sure is interesting.
rolf
 
Correct, nothing "American" about the American Tanto. Kiriha-Zukuri.

http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/styles.html

They also used chisel and asymmetrical grinds.

Also check Kamasu-Kissaki

http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/kissaki.html

sharp_edge said:
I agree the original Japanese tanto looks more useful to me. The American (?) tanto (invented by Cold Steel?) is less useful, maybe other than removing stickers on windshields; it is visually interesting though.
Click to expand...


They invented nothing.
 
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The American tanto's best use, IMO, is as a skew chisel. The earlier example of scraping a sticker off glass is a useful application.
 
I am down to one Tanto (CRKT M16-02) and it rarely gets any pocket time. I admit, I bought it for the way the blade looks and still like the looks of a Tanto blade.

I would love to get something better but, I know that it will get used very little.
 
I used to think "American" tantos were useless but lately I've been warming up to them, I've got lots of knives so I figured I'd add a bit of variety to my collection. They aren't super versatile but they do OK for casual urban EDC. My most carried tanto is the CS Kobun, I view it primarily as a self defence tool.
 
Somebody mentioned wharn is better than American Tanto for everyday tasks? How so? The edge is similarly straight and one has the primary point at the spine and the other at the edge. Having it at the spine would allow better rocking/cutting in my opinion. The lower tip of a wharn blade would be more ergonomic for stabbing only. What did I get wrong?
 
Thanks, gentlemen!
I do like the JSB Stedemon Shy4 blade... a lot!
Thanks for the links, falar!
rolf
 
Jens Schuetz said:
Somebody mentioned wharn is better than American Tanto for everyday tasks? How so? The edge is similarly straight and one has the primary point at the spine and the other at the edge. Having it at the spine would allow better rocking/cutting in my opinion. The lower tip of a wharn blade would be more ergonomic for stabbing only. What did I get wrong?
Click to expand...

The wharncliffe keeps putting down power all the way to the tip in a slashing cut. Other shapes with a more rounded tip tend to pull or roll away and reduce the energy you can deliver.
 
Danke42 said:
The wharncliffe keeps putting down power all the way to the tip in a slashing cut. Other shapes with a more rounded tip tend to pull or roll away and reduce the energy you can deliver.
Click to expand...
True, but. Wouldn't slashing apply more to self defense than normal edc tasks?
 
Depends on your normal tasks I suppose. In a small short precise cut it would be less pronounced but you can still deliver more power to the tip.

You can do the same with a tanto style tip pressing straight down but that's a bit more awkward with less leverage.
 
Yeah really close. The P'Kal goes for the curve like a claw instead of the pure flat wharnie edge.
 
I never thought of the Wharnie for SD but I do now.
I keep learning on Bladeforums.
rolf
 
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