Tanto blades seem so impractical

B Hess

B Hess

Joined
Feb 20, 2006
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Do tanto blades have any real practicality? They seem so inferior to drop point blades for just about every use.
 
Piercing is the only benifit that it was designed for. The American Tanto is different than the traditional Tanto.

A big complaint is the ability to sharpen on the American version where the geometry changes.
 
Kind of depends what you're doing. The design of the tanto makes it better for penetrating hard material, such as the wooden armor of an opposing Samurai. It's a design compromise between point stability, which requires a thicker tip, and ease of penetration, which requires a thinner, but more easily broken, tip.
 
Shorttime said:
Kind of depends what you're doing. The design of the tanto makes it better for penetrating hard material, such as the wooden armor of an opposing Samurai.
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I haven't had to fight a Samurai in years. But how are they for slaughtering grizzley bears?
 
Tantos are good for stabbing car hoods. And showing your homies. But for EDC, I don't think they are so good. Every slicing motion is focused right on that corner between the two cutting surfaces (imagine how you slice open a box with a tanto), so that gets all of the wear while the rest of the blade gets not so much. They are perfectly usable, and I own a few, but they are not my favorite.

Mud Shrimp Moe said:
But how are they for slaughtering grizzley bears?
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With a grizzly bear attack, you drop the knife and run. The bear stops to smell the fear on your tanto blade, giving you time to jump into your Kia Sportage.


IMG_2243.jpg
 
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I've used a kobun to widen strike mortices in door frames and the latch side on doors. So, it works for a chisel. Also it makes for much more effective snap cuts, but that's not the only benefit.
 
IMO it is designed as a designated fighting knife. Perfectly suited for penetrating tough material with minimal wear and damage to the tip, and the snap cut with that secondary point.
 
Yeah. I've been a townie all my life, and if I would ever go far enough out that I would meet a bear, I'd make darn sure I had more than a knife!

That's one of the things guns are for.

What Picksmith is doing is very similar to the original purpose of the tanto, actually. It's just that his doorframes don't fight back!

I have a couple tanto blades that I EDC sometimes. The point where the two bevels meet is handy for starting cuts, because I don't have to bend my wrist so far over to engage the point. The more stable tip also means that I don't have to worry as much about snapping the blade if I do something wrong.
 
I like to use inexpensive American tantos for beaters and a more refined slicer for regular cutting. For scraping, light prying, or even digging they're great. I realize most of that falls into knife abuse, but I find the Cold Steel models handle it just fine. They also work well for push cutting with the secondary edge. It's not something I do terribly often, but if I have to cut something that's hard to reach it comes in handy.
 
I find them handy opening and breaking down lots of cardboard boxes, the opening is more ergonomic with the secondary tip and saves my arm a little bit for the lots of cutting later
 
The tanto style knife can be a great work knife. The sturdy point makes a good light prying tool, and with proper sharpening can be a handy trimming tool on site. And as pointed out, they can be handy scrapers. For job clean up they can get that last bit of paint splatter, a spilled adhesive, and all sorts of crap off surfaces when sharp.

If you do need to stab a car hood or door, or knife fight, I don't know how well it would work. I might find another tool for those jobs.

Robert
 
I thought the same thing as the OP at first. Then i got one from my family for a birthday present. I have been carrying it on & off for about 5 years. I have found nothing that a regular clip point blade can do much better than the tanto. Different strokes for different folks. Some like ultimate strength over traditional style. Thats why choices/options are gooood.
 
What about thick, chisel ground tantos with a zero edge? Those do seem genuinely tough and simple to maintain. They won't be prepping any fruit salad, but it seems like a solid hard-use combat blade. But in general, I agree. Most American tantos look cool but are a bit gimmicky. Blades like the below picture are one implementation of the American tanto that I really feel has merit, though.

383cq.png
 
midnight flyer said:
The tanto style knife can be a great work knife. The sturdy point makes a good light prying tool, and with proper sharpening can be a handy trimming tool on site. And as pointed out, they can be handy scrapers. For job clean up they can get that last bit of paint splatter, a spilled adhesive, and all sorts of crap off surfaces when sharp.

If you do need to stab a car hood or door, or knife fight, I don't know how well it would work. I might find another tool for those jobs.

Robert
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Also, cutting carpet.
 
B Hess said:
Do tanto blades have any real practicality? They seem so inferior to drop point blades for just about every use.
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Lets not forget, that they can still cut stuff. As an edc knife cutting mundane everyday stuff, theyre just as good as any other style of blade.
 
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