So I have a tanto now... now what?

[traumkommode]

Now what? Now you stab tough stuff. Because that's the point of a tanto blade, right? To pierce armor?

 

[falar]

Not everything that's made in China bad
...

Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Maybe not but 240 for the aluminum and 477 for the titanium is a bit too steep for me to take a risk like that. Would hate to spend that much then get stiffed on an issue.

 

[hexenjager]

Went to a wedding in northern MI where the groom wore a mossy oak camo tux. More surprisingly, it was rented and not a custom one-off.

A mutual friend showed me some pics of an ex-gf's wedding a couple of years ago. Their wedding colors were mossy oak and blaze orange. Forget the camo tuxedos, ever seen a blaze orange bridesmaid dress? It's even worse than you could imagine.

 

[evilgreg]

Wow, you just sold me a Stedemon Shy. I had never heard of those before, sweet blade! I think I will even have it zero ground.

BTW, there is nothing "American" about the American Tanto. While most nihonto we would classify as a tanto had a hira-zukuri blade shape there was a pattern also known as kiriha-zukuri that most would recognize as being similar to the American Tanto.

Also, a shinogi-zukuri blade with kamasu-kissaki would look very familiar as well.

I understood none of that.

Sorry if "American tanto" and "Japanese tanto" were incorrect, though (that is what you were saying, yes?) I meant the two-angles meet kind versus the curved version.

EDIT: I see they are made in China....damn that's too bad.

Maybe not but 240 for the aluminum and 477 for the titanium is a bit too steep for me to take a risk like that. Would hate to spend that much then get stiffed on an issue.

I've been really happy with the aluminum version. I have no need for it, but I keep getting urges to buy the CF handled version these days, just because I like the way it looks.

A mutual friend showed me some pics of an ex-gf's wedding a couple of years ago. Their wedding colors were mossy oak and blaze orange. Forget the camo tuxedos, ever seen a blaze orange bridesmaid dress? It's even worse than you could imagine.

That's hurting my eyes just from imagining it!

 

[hexenjager]

I understood none of that.

Sorry if "American tanto" and "Japanese tanto" were incorrect, though (that is what you were saying, yes?) I meant the two-angles meet kind versus the curved version.




I've been really happy with the aluminum version. I have no need for it, but I keep getting urges to buy the CF handled version these days, just because I like the way it looks.



That's hurting my eyes just from imagining it!

No lady ever looked good as a neon pumpkin covered with bows. Not much worry about a bridesmaid outshining the bride, I guess. The mutual friend happened to be female and was thankful she'd had a bit of a falling out with the bride so she didn't have to wear (and buy) one of those dresses.

 

[sabre cat]

Just use it for while.

Used to have a Kershaw Zing tanto as my gents knife. I found that it worked just fine to open mail, packages and other light duty stuff a gents knife is used for but there was a learning curve. The secondary point was sometimes a nice thing to have, once you got used to it. Overall the knife worked quite well but took a back seat to the drop point version which is much more practical. I finally passed it to another member here on a pay it forward thread. After a short period of time it was up on the block being offered again to any one that needed a gents tanto knife.

Food prep is the one area that I found the knife lacking. I just could never get the Tanto to work the way I wanted as a small pairing knife. The cutting edge between the tip and the secondary point was not my friend when it came to food because it effectively shortened my blade by a 1/2 inch and it became a sharp edge that just got in the way.

FWIW, I still have two Zings with no plans to part with them. Both are the standard drop point version.

 

[McFeeli]

I'm kind of confused with the OP.. I know tantos aren't the best design for most knives, but it's become real popular with the beginner knife community. That's why we have so many of them nowadays. I see a tanto blade as I do any other knife. It cuts, it stabs, it does whatever you decide you want to do with it.

Try not to concern yourself with how different it is and just use it the way you've used all your other knives. Like I said I agree it's not the best shape for most knife users EDC needs, but I'm sure it'll get the job done. I have a CRKT M16-10KS and I really like that little blade. I've stabbed a ton of stuff I wouldn't even consider doing with my PM2.

 

[falar]

I understood none of that.

Sorry if "American tanto" and "Japanese tanto" were incorrect, though (that is what you were saying, yes?) I meant the two-angles meet kind versus the curved version.




I've been really happy with the aluminum version. I have no need for it, but I keep getting urges to buy the CF handled version these days, just because I like the way it looks.



That's hurting my eyes just from imagining it!

Just reading reviews on knifecenter it seems the liner lock G10/CF handled ones lack a detent and can open rather easily.

Those come in 3.875" vs 3.75" and also have a straighter (forward of the yokote) and more "pointy" profile available as well.

 

[Knicked Digits]

I'm kind of confused with the OP.. I know tantos aren't the best design for most knives, but it's become real popular with the beginner knife community. That's why we have so many of them nowadays. I see a tanto blade as I do any other knife. It cuts, it stabs, it does whatever you decide you want to do with it.

Try not to concern yourself with how different it is and just use it the way you've used all your other knives. Like I said I agree it's not the best shape for most knife users EDC needs, but I'm sure it'll get the job done. I have a CRKT M16-10KS and I really like that little blade. I've stabbed a ton of stuff I wouldn't even consider doing with my PM2.

It's the secondary edge. After only having used a regular drop point most my life, the straight edge and secondary tip are what's messing with me. It just feels clunky in the first place but I know that'll pass after I've gotten used to it. Pretty much it's just figuring out how to find that sweet spot when cutting. A learning experience if you will

 

[McFeeli]

It's the secondary edge. After only having used a regular drop point most my life, the straight edge and secondary tip are what's messing with me. It just feels clunky in the first place but I know that'll pass after I've gotten used to it. Pretty much it's just figuring out how to find that sweet spot when cutting. A learning experience if you will

Now I gotcha. The way I use my tantos is with the mindset that the tip is for piercing/stabbing while the straight edge is the cutting edge. Any long cuts I make I use the mid to bottom part of the blade. An example being cardboard, I won't try cutting the box using the edge near the tip, I'll stab half the blade through and cut with the middle, though I do that with all my knives basically.

The tip is really there just for piercing, you don't really use that edge for normal cutting stuff unless you're trying to be precise. In that way, that straight edge works really well actually. It's very good at making small, exact cuts. I recently had to cut out a splinter of my palm and it did very well at that.

You should feel comfortable using it soon enough. That'll give you a solid idea of the pro's and con's of a tanto blade shape.

 

[Ladams19]

A tanto blade style is made for piercing and I carried a smaller one years ago, name eludes me. I just ended up putting it in a drawer. Now don't get me wrong, when I was military I kept one handy all the time. They will just about eat through most anything from car doors to kevlar vests. People tend to frown on that in the civilian world now. So I have Been carrying an ESEE Zancudo Frame Lock now for years since they first came out. Not too expensive if I break it, I can it. I beat the daylights out of it and it keeps going, I leave the nicer blades for those Blaze Orange and Mossy Oak Weddings lol.

 

[stabman]

A tanto blade style is made for piercing and I carried a smaller one years ago, name eludes me.

People always mention tantos for stabbing...they rather suck at it compared to double edged daggers.
Car doors, sure, but that's just because it acts as a punch, and then the rest of the blade can follow behind.
For stabbing most other things, tantos suck donkey balls.

I've found tantos to work great for regular utility tasks, and also for more "woodsy" tasks while out in the woods (and now I'll need a huge tanto to defend myself from a crowd of enraged bushcrafters ).

Edit: well, actually, my ZT 0620CF stabs pretty well, but it has a far pointier point than most tantos. You'd likely bust off a bit of the tip stabbing cars doors, but it does well on other materials.

 

[Planterz]

Stay away from bananas.

Strawberry lemonade Powerade just shot through my nose. Jerk.

I don't like the Americanized tanto blade shape. The original Bob Lum style isn't bad. But the bastardized version of completely straight and angled edges is not for me. I can see why some people might like it, but it's not for me. The "secondary" point is good for stuff like box cutting, but I'd rather have a sheepsfoot or wharnclife. Cutting with the forward edge is just awkward because the angle is to high.

That's just my preference. Knicked Digits, if you can't get used to the tanto, don't feel wrong. You won't be the only one.

 

[Knicked Digits]

Now I gotcha. The way I use my tantos is with the mindset that the tip is for piercing/stabbing while the straight edge is the cutting edge. Any long cuts I make I use the mid to bottom part of the blade. An example being cardboard, I won't try cutting the box using the edge near the tip, I'll stab half the blade through and cut with the middle, though I do that with all my knives basically.

The tip is really there just for piercing, you don't really use that edge for normal cutting stuff unless you're trying to be precise. In that way, that straight edge works really well actually. It's very good at making small, exact cuts. I recently had to cut out a splinter of my palm and it did very well at that.

You should feel comfortable using it soon enough. That'll give you a solid idea of the pro's and con's of a tanto blade shape.

That connected a lot of dots for me. The blade shape is tanto but it has a spanto grind at the primary bevels which, thinking about it as you put it, makes sense for the applications that I put the knife to. I will try your method and see how it goes

 

[GREENJACKET]

Urban scrapyard sharpened crowbar.
Carried a Cold steel Master Tanto for two years and eventually gave up. That was The American Tanto to me. Just rubbish at the cutting thing, which is the main reason to carry a knife. Folders are even worse.
Their failure is they don't get enough edge to the material, and the apex does far too much for its size.
Love the purposeful look, like the idea and romance of it all. But for practical application its limited, just more useful more traditional designs out there.

A Leuku is as old as the hills and so similar to what might be done in Japan for a useful blade. There are takes on all the classics.
https://www.varusteleka.com/en/product/woodsknife-leuku-145/27471

 

[Insipid Moniker]

People always mention tantos for stabbing...they rather suck at it compared to double edged daggers.
Car doors, sure, but that's just because it acts as a punch, and then the rest of the blade can follow behind.
For stabbing most other things, tantos suck donkey balls.

I've found tantos to work great for regular utility tasks, and also for more "woodsy" tasks while out in the woods (and now I'll need a huge tanto to defend myself from a crowd of enraged bushcrafters ).

Edit: well, actually, my ZT 0620CF stabs pretty well, but it has a far pointier point than most tantos. You'd likely bust off a bit of the tip stabbing cars doors, but it does well on other materials.

Agree and disagree. Many tanto knives suck at stabbing, some are good at it. The acuity of the tip determines how well a knife stabs, not the blade shape. But I agree about utility/woodsy tasks. The secondary edge makes scraping and push cutting chores nice and easy and the yokote is great for making cuts into material when cutting too deep could be a problem or when you want to score something rather than cut through. I wouldn't want to skin animals or peel fruit with one, but I can't think of too many other things that tantos are intrinsically bad at.

 

[Planterz]

This whole "stabbing" argument is bullshit.

Penetrating power? Are we all wearing level 3 vests? Lacquered samurai armor? Full plate over chain mail? Holy armor that does 2D12 retribution damage in lighting and double against undead?

It takes very little to stab somebody. Ask anybody who's shived somebody in prison with a toothbrush ground down to a point.

 

[stabman]

This whole "stabbing" argument is bullshit.

Penetrating power? Are we all wearing level 3 vests? Lacquered samurai armor? Full plate over chain mail? Holy armor that does 2D12 retribution damage in lighting and double against undead?

It takes very little to stab somebody. Ask anybody who's shived somebody in prison with a toothbrush ground down to a point.

"Stabbing" is done far more often on things other than people, just so ya know.
Whether it's stabbing through a thick cloth sack (to start a cut), thick cardboard, or stupid plastic packaging, things sometimes need to get pierced.
If not, no knives would have points at all, if only the edge was necessary.

 

[Inazone]

After owning and carrying the Shuffle II, which is a tanto, for about a month I can't get used to the blade shape. Every time I think I got it.... nope. I love this little guy, don't get me wrong, I bought it because I've always had a pull towards this nifty knife (and the predecessor until I held one of those), I just feel like a blind guy in a new house, stumbling like crazy.

Anyone have any pointers or tips that's have actually used this style blade for edc? My research isn't going so hot. I've already foreseen this becoming my out and about gentleman/tacticool folder but advice on use is still helpful while I break this baby in.

I am EDCing a Shuffle II today, actually. I have a first-gen Shuffle, and never really took to it, but the new style is proving pretty useful. I sometimes carry a Kershaw Cryo (similar blade) or CRKT Greg Lightfoot M-1 (more rounded) but prefer the Shuffle II on the basis of ergonomics. I'm to the point now where I'd consider the Shuffle II as a secondary EDC/hiking knife, because this particular tanto shape has a fair amount of utility potential beyond what I already use it for in an office setting.

 

[Monofletch]

Stay away from bananas.

This is sound advice from a wise man.

Anyone that hates tantos... PM me... I will take them off your hands!!!