Spyderco LUM Tanto design versus common tanto

J

JD Spydo

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Nov 20, 2004
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I have one EDC USER that I am getting very fond of here lately. It is my Spyderco C-46 Bob Lum Tanto folder. I didn't much like Tanto blades until I got one of these Spyderco Lum models. But now I have learned this one and I just absolutely love it. My C-46 Lums that I have in my collection truly are permanent fixtures. I consider them Never For trade or SALE.

What do you all think about the Bob Lum tanto design compared to the more conventional tantos that Cold Steel and a few other companies sell. I personally think that the Bob Lum tanto is way ahead of it's time and is much more functional that the more common versions. What do you all think?
 
I don't own one, but it looks nicer than most tantos. It has some belly and doesn't have that very sharp transition from belly to tip. At least that's what I can tell from the pictures. Definitely an attractive knife, personally (I find most tantos to be hideous). Looks closer to the actual Japanese style I'd say, though obviously not the same.

I do prefer knives with more belly though. I would certainly keep a knife such as the Lum Tanto and it looks a lot more conventional than most other tantos, but I would probably use my Paramilitary more often. The Para has, in my opinion, one of the best designed light/medium utility blades in a knife.
 
JD Spydo said:
What do you all think about the Bob Lum tanto design compared to the more conventional tantos that Cold Steel and a few other companies sell. I personally think that the Bob Lum tanto is way ahead of it's time and is much more functional that the more common versions. What do you all think?
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You need to understand that Bob Lum is the original creator of the "American Tanto", and that ALL the other designs that you are referring to are copies, and sub-par ones at that.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
I just got one and I like it. Ergos are good. Blade has a nice shape and feel and the Spydie thumb ramp adds control to using the knife.
 
Kohai999 said:
You need to understand that Bob Lum is the original creator of the "American Tanto", and that ALL the other designs that you are referring to are copies, and sub-par ones at that.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
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Steven I had heard that before. But weren't there always tanto blade designs similar to like the ones Cold Steel uses over in Japan for many years with their Samurai Swords and so forth?

What blows me away about the Tanto design that Mr. Lum did for Spyderco and not to mention his own brilliant custom knives is that his Tanto designs are truly very functional. Whereas most of the standard Tantos I have had like the Cold Steel Kobun I used to have didn't seem nearly as functional. AS a matter of fact I couldn't cut stuff as versatile as I can with these Spyderco LUM blades.

Bob LUM is truly a genius in his own rite. A great guy too. I had the pleasure of meeting him personally at the 2005 BLADE show in Atlanta.

Thanks guys I appreciate your input :)
 
i have had a couple of spydie lum ti tantos (and at one time had a custom lum which was very similar but i swapped it for something or another, regretabbly) and must admit they are pretty darned good edc knives, i like the grind (appleseed IIRC?) and the knife is very thin and easy to carry, and it has a right at 4" blade, longer than emerson CQC7's and the same as an EKI I&I tanto ot super CQC7 or super SOCFK, that said i like the emerson knives better, nothing against the spydie lums i'm just an emerson nut, in fact i swapped one of my spydie lums for an EKI I&I tanto, which was a good swap for me, will admit that for edc utility use the lum is probably a better knife than an emerson CQC7 just because of the grind, but i still like the EKIs better myself.
 
JD Spydo said:
Steven I had heard that before. But weren't there always tanto blade designs similar to like the ones Cold Steel uses over in Japan for many years with their Samurai Swords and so forth?
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Similar, but not the same.

Bob got his inspiration from an armor piercing Aikuchi many years back, but the differences between the Japanese antiques and what Bob did design wise are quite striking, if you have some references.

An analogy would be starting with a Ford Mustang from 1970, and what is currently offered from Ford. Obviously, you can see the influences, quite well in fact, but they are NOT the same car.

In addition, a quite important point, is that Bob was the first to do this shape in STAINLESS STEEL.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Barry Dawson has a similiar looking tanto on his website for $99. Doesn't list the blade or overall length.... never got his reply on that.
 
I guess it is all about personal preference and I am a huge tanto fan. IMHO the C46 kind of visually resembles a duck in appearance more so than a pure "tanto" blade. My EDC is a Benchmade 942 Osborne which is a "tanto" blade that I really like. The BM 553 Griptilian or the 557 Mini-Griptilian also have beautiful tanto blades. I'm not trying to sell BM over Spyderco or putting down any Spyderco as I own several and consider them great quality knives. I just don't like the look of the Lum C46. Maybe without the hole which makes it look like an eyeball in just this particular blade to me... Just doesn't work for me in this one. Hope this doesn't hurt your feelings. Just throwing another opinion out there. I know folks hate hearing that their baby is ugly:)
 
Kohai999 said:
In addition, a quite important point, is that Bob was the first to do this shape in STAINLESS STEEL.
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Even more important: he did it via stock removal.

For me, it's the ergonomics. The sum of the parts just adds up to a knife that works: the bulb at the end of the handle; the Spydie Hole/thumb ramp; the clean lines of the overall shape.
 
tonyccw said:
Even more important: he did it via stock removal.

For me, it's the ergonomics. The sum of the parts just adds up to a knife that works: the bulb at the end of the handle; the Spydie Hole/thumb ramp; the clean lines of the overall shape.
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Tony,

As there are so few people that have ever successfully forged stainless, I figured that this was a given.;)

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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