spyderco tatanka vs cold steel espada large?

L

lonestar1979

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Mar 2, 2014
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THese two knives are of similar size,I like both of them,but which one is stronger,cuts better and is generally better design?
 
Tatanka.

[video=youtube;GKLUfGN_Fvg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKLUfGN_Fvg[/video]

[video=youtube;Y5CptaLWDwE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5CptaLWDwE[/video]
 
It cuts great, no need to convex... I just power stropped on a leather belt on my grinder. As for the Farid... converting to tip up would be a pain... you'd have to mill a relief into the frame.
 
It's hard to answer, the Tatanka has only been out a little over a week if that. I don't think many people have post publicly any results of "hard use" statistical analysis yet. The steel on the Tatanka is better than that of the Espada, can't speak to the lock though again not until we see someone smashing the hell out of one against a rock or trowing it at a brick wall that is. The term "better" in this case requires a lot of longer term use in different scenarios to provide accurate accounts of what the knife does and doesn't do.
 
I was interested about lock strength, and how the blade cuts.Like Spydercos vg10 and how sharp it gets.I am sure both knives are very good;)
 
lonestar1979 said:
I was interested about lock strength, and how the blade cuts.Like Spydercos vg10 and how sharp it gets.I am sure both knives are very good;)
Click to expand...
I believe Sal has stated that the Power Lock is the strongest lock they have produced to date by a significant margin. That is saying a lot indeed.
Best...
 
I've had a couple LARGE Cold Steel folders, I always like them . I have a Rajah i that locks up like a tank, I've used it for years . Awesome knife IMO. That being said I just watched a great video review of the Tatanka and I definitely want one!
The PowerLock looks like some cutting edge engineering. I always wanted a para military because of the lock.
I've trusted Spydercos simple lock back Enduras for 20+ years and have never been failed. I can only imagine the power lock.
Sick looking Blade shape to on that big knife. I vote Tatanka.
 
I turn to cold steel when no other offers what I'm looking for (large fully serrated).
 
bleedingfinger said:
I've had a couple LARGE Cold Steel folders, I always like them . I have a Rajah i that locks up like a tank, I've used it for years . Awesome knife IMO. That being said I just watched a great video review of the Tatanka and I definitely want one!
The PowerLock looks like some cutting edge engineering. I always wanted a para military because of the lock.
I've trusted Spydercos simple lock back Enduras for 20+ years and have never been failed. I can only imagine the power lock.
Sick looking Blade shape to on that big knife. I vote Tatanka.
Click to expand...

I plan on getting the Tatanka when it gets to my local store, it looks pretty cool and it's by far Spyderco's biggest folder. Having said that , I have and dig all of Cold Steel's xl folders except for the clip points which I don't find attractive. I have to smile when the blade shape of the Tatanka is described as sick looking when compared to the Espada; now that's a sick looking blade.
 
I can't imagine that the Tatanka's lock will be as strong as the Tri-Ad on the Espada. I've also had problems with Spyderco backlocks not engaging because of pocket lint. I've carried Spyderco backlocks for years now and the lint issue has come up at some point with just about every backlock model I've had from Spyderco. I'm a huge Spyderco fan, but of the two knives in the OP, the Espada wins this for me.
 
I just saw a photo of the Tatanka's lock. I apparently was mistaken. I thought it had a common backlock. I need to look into this lock:

spyderco_amsterdammeet2014_productionsample_tatanka_open_1.jpg
 
I concede on the espada having the "sicker" blade. I meant just in its own right.For me the Tatanka shape looks more usable and versatile.
I also have experienced the lint thing a couple times. First time really confused me. However I found it immediately recognizable something was wrong.
The Tri-ad is a proven design. I guess we will see if the power lock is as hard use, when someone puts it through its paces.
 
Kaizen1 said:
I just saw a photo of the Tatanka's lock. I apparently was mistaken. I thought it had a common backlock. I need to look into this lock:

spyderco_amsterdammeet2014_productionsample_tatanka_open_1.jpg
Click to expand...
The power lock has some cool mechanical movements going on when you disengage it. Looks and sounds pretty nice.
 
How's the disengage between the two. The triads I have are the hardest to close. Don't own a tatanka yet.
 
I have carried an Endura lockback since 92. I have never seen lint disable the lock. It has a pocket in the design to catch debris and keep the lock functioning. It would require a lot more lint than I've seen especially since lint compacts down so well. Perhaps someone is thinking of another knife design or exaggerating or really goes out of their way and buys a lint farm and grows pocket lint by the bale. :) That might do it. Me? I wash the lockback knife in the washing machine in my pants pocket. That gets any grease or oil out. The dryer then drys out the lint and if you can't blow it out a toothpick will take out the now dried lint wad/animal hair ( used to have 3 cats and 2 dogs when I was married). That's only needed when it gets bad and even then it never disabled the lock on my knives. That pocket design it what makes the knife blade flex when pressed hard. Many people think it's a defect or from hard use

Yes, I would take the Tatanka. I like the design better, as well as the steel though the Cold Steel knives shouldn't be taken lightly. They were plenty tough even before the Demko design was incorporated. I have tried a few that really were finger bruisers to unlock. It takes them a very long time to break in and loosen up even slightly.

As I understand it the engineer that designed the original design for the Spyderco Back lock also designed the original Cold steel Back lock. Don't know about updates or generational changes.

Joe
 
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The lock on the Spyderco looks over engineered. I say CS due to the proven record for reliability.
 
The Mastiff said:
I have carried an Endura lockback since 92. I have never seen lint disable the lock. It has a pocket in the design to catch debris and keep the lock functioning. It would require a lot more lint than I've seen especially since lint compacts down so well. Perhaps someone is thinking of another knife design or exaggerating or really goes out of their way and buys a lint farm and grows pocket lint by the bale. :) That might do it.
Joe
Click to expand...

I have exactly one Spyderco knife; a Delica. I've had lint keep the lock from engaging properly. First time it happened, I could hear something was different when I opened the knife. Didn't have that solid click I was used to hearing. Closed it, tried again. Finally looked inside the knife and there was a wad of lint in the notch on the blade. Lint gets inside my Mini Grip, but affect the lock at all. Same with my Rat II. Only time will tell if it happens with the Tri-Ad lock because I've only had my Hold Out III a couple of weeks now, though the notch on that blade is larger and seems to be deeper.
 
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