Spearpoint vs. Tanto: Which do you prefer and why?

A

Ad

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Mar 9, 2000
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Well, I just ordered my first Strider, a GS. When I looked at them at the Blade Show, I just liked the lines and weight distribution of it. I talked at length about it with Duane, who was very helpful and talked to me for a long time about it. For my purposes (camping, backpacking, general use), I felt that I would get more slicing area out of the edge. Also, the tip was sharp as hell and very strong. I just barely touched it to my finger and it almost drew blood. I wanted the knife to be a real good sticker, and this seems to be it.

However, I've noticed that most of the guys on this forum seem to prefer tantos. Even my dad has a Benchmade tanto. Eventually I plan to get one. But what are the advantages of it over the spearpoint for purposes of sticking into an unarmored assailant, especially in light of today's modern steels and heat treatments? I understand that you get a second cutting edge, but isn't this wasted a lot of times? If you had to stick someone hard in self defense, do you think you'd get any advantage out of the tanto?

I don't plan on slamming the tip of my knife into anything unusual like steel or concrete. In fact, I plan to baby the hell out of this knife.

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

-Adam Thiel
 
Hi Adam... From what I've read here in the forum, whether you baby your knife or use the hell out of it, it probably won't look any different. I understand the concept of having spent quite a chunk on this piece of gear, but remember what it was designed to be able to do. I'd go ahead an use it with no worries. If you were a collector, I would say otherwise, but in this instance I would say do your worst.
 
AD, others here with more experience will be able to better educate you. But here's my thoughts and experience.

You can never know what your knife will bang into! A Tanto point is stronger, and if one were knife fighting, a close encounter with a buckle, watch or brick wall could spell the end of a different knife geometry, all things being equal.

The Tanto edge, according to Cold Steel's literature, cuts its way in at the front, so you can sever arteries and such where arteries will just be deflected by a dropped point or spear point. Kinda makes sense. The wound channel from a Tanto point is an odd wound channel that doesn't tend to close in on itself as much as a spear point too.

If you are just using your blade for camping/back packing, you may prefer the spear point as a curved point for general chores is found by many to be more useful. I carried a tanto tipped folder for a while and I found it to be useful, but not quite as utility oriented as my clipped or spear point folders. But it still did the job.

With the thickness of the steel that Strider uses and the good heat treat, for your chores I bet either profile would suiot you. Pick the oen you like best. If you were going into combat and needed somethign as rugged as possible, a tanto tipped blade probably would better suit your needs, though a Strider made spear point would probably still do what you needed.
 
Mr. Adam,
Thanks for joining in and thanks also for the business. Great seeing you and your partner at the show.
Best wishes on your recovery with your delt/pec.
Duane
 
First off, I don't own a strider (yet). However, for a general use knife I do not like tanto's at all. This is for two reasons. I don't think that tanto's are as versitile for cutting and most notably it takes me more time to sharpen a tanto, perticularly in the feild. I can see the merits of a tanto in a purely fighting knife, but IMO if you do not inted to use your blade strictly as a fighter then your better off staying away.

[D]
 
Thank you, Duane. It was great to talk to you again after, what, three or four years? You guys had a great display, and it was great to meet Mick Strider and Ryan. My partner and I wish Ryan all the very, very best overseas. Thanks to guys like him (and you and Mr. Strider), we Americans can enjoy a great way of life.

My partner was really impressed with your knives and also hopes to pick one up down the line. You guys have such an awesome product, it's really hard to choose which one. I guess thats why so many on this forum have purchased several different models.

Again, thank you for your time and help the other day. Hopefully, I can get down south to see your factory soon.

Take care,
Adam Thiel

P.S. Please don't call me "Mr." Just plain old Adam will do.
 
I should probably say thank you to those who joined in on my thread to offer advice. I am finding Bladeforums to be very friendly, with a bunch of good guys.
 
Adam,

With respect to sharpening a tanto versus a spea rpoint, I don't think one i sany earier than the other, really. Just diferent. That tanto tipped folder I had had a straight edge and the angled tip. Sharpening it was a sinch. yo just sharpen the main edge and the tip seperately. Straight edges on tantos are more frequent as well (no curve to the edge) and so they are very quick to sharpen. But sharpening a spear point is quick and easy too, really.

When deciding which to get (spear point or tanto), don't let sharpening be a deciding factor is my suggestion. You can learn to care for any tool properly.
 
In my experience, a tanto holds up better for really hard point type abuse. If you're planning to try to pry into a car door, or ammo crate or if you want a secondary edge for more destuctive means, such as scraping or trying to cut sheat metal or such than the GB would be best. It provides you with two edges really, the main edge is razor sharp, and can be used for regular cutting needs, while the secondary or leading edge out front to the tip is duller with a more wedge type grind, not as sharp, more like a chisel for extreme abuse.
where the AR is a great all around type knife, and the point is maybe better for cutting and skinning type chores.
In the end they are both STRIDERS so they wont break or cry when beaten. If you really dont have a clear purpose in mind for the knife, get whichever appeals to you. Or get both, I did.
chris
 
I think for the conventional knife use, a spear or clip point is far more desirable than the tanto. Probably part of it because those are appealing to me a lot more than the tanto :) We're all biased one way or the other. Ad, as you said you don't plan on stabbing concrete and steel drums right? Then the spear or clip point would be preferable.

MH could hold my weight (approx 150 lb) 2 inches form the tip if I remember correctly or so, so either way I don't think you'll have to worry about the tip strength :)
 
Thank you again for the replies. I have ordered a GS; however, down the line I'll probably get one of the tantos (I'm leaning toward the WB). Trying to settle on just one has thrown me into a spin. I like the PAB, too. And I'm hoping that someday Strider may decide to make a punch/push dagger. I've always liked those.
 
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