Tanto...Good,bad, or just ugly?

i dont like how many people bash the tanto because it has no belly, but then so many praise the practicality and usefulness of a wharncliffe blade. i'm not a fan of either, i like me some belly.
 
Not a fan. Good for really dirty, abusive work where you might need to scrape or pierce through harder object repeatedly. If I got back into the construction game I might get a cheap, beater tanto. Other than that, meh. (this is the American style tanto, which I'm guessing the OP is referring too)

And they're not "better at piercing" like you hear people say all the time. They have a very strong tip, yes. This generally makes them actually perform WORSE at piercing, but it gives you more faith in the blade holding up, so people won't fear repeatedly stabbing drywall/paint cans/hard plastic/ etc. So it really depends what, and how you are piercing. I'll put a nice Wharncliffe blade up against a tanto for most piercing tasks any day, I find Wharnies to be the best actually, because it brings the tip down in line with your hand more, less tweaking of the wrist to pierce it.

Like most knife things, this is all mostly preference and not very quantifiable anecdotes. A well made, and upkept Americanized tanto could do everything I need an EDC for pretty well. I just don't really like that teeny % of change in HOW it does it, as much as other blade styles.

My ranking would go something like:

-Drop point/leaf shape/clip point all tied for first.
-Wharncliffe
-Scandi ground in drop point, or typical Mora shape
-All the various other "traditional" shapes you might see on a linerlock: sheepsfoot, spey, spear, etc...
-Hawkbill
-Americanized tanto

I don't have experience with oldschool Japanese style tanto, or crazy reverse whatever tanto, etc... so can't say.
 
Here's my weak "spanto" attempt, a compromise on my modded Recon 1 :)

1077819973_9zcS7-L.jpg


1077820369_zZfKe-L.jpg
 
I love tantos. I was drawn to the BM Emerson folders at 16. I really love the "ugly stealth bomber" look of chisel ground Americanized tantos.

CS Spartan tanto modded by TheCarbideRat...
l_22633187742a44e29ff709c8715c4d10.jpg


Reese Weiland Ti tanto...
l_02f59c5d85de486c8e5bd3748df9e1fe.jpg
 
Since yer asking.... For me, the Tanto design's greatest strength is stabbing through hard media. Otherwise, straight-line blades with no "belly" (in normal terms - edge curvature) means very limited cutting/slicing application.

They look nifty and for stabbing they're great. Otherwise and all other things being equal, a blade with "belly" (in normal terms - edge curvature) cuts/slices easier/better.

The strict angle to the point from the "main" edge is of no value on a knife in my opinion. Chisels - sure, knives - nope.
 
I like the non-chisel ground traditional tanto...but the americanized tanto doesn't appeal to me at all and didnt like sharpening them, I stick with a standard grind.
 
myowngod said:
+1 totally different if it is a japanese or lum style tanto... I like those... the Americanized tanto you see so often now isn't for me though.

To the OP, maybe we could be of more assistance if you specified the models you were choosing between?
Click to expand...


I totally agree. :thumbup:


I like the traditional Tonto just fine,

...its a blade style that works for me.



It's the Americanized Tonto that leaves me cold,

...give me a Sheepsfoot or Wharncliffe instead.



Reading the replies here, it looks like most folks only think about the Americanized Tonto. :eek:





Big Mike
 
The tanto style point has more toughness in thrusting and digging sure, but the secondary point is truly specialized for a technique called snap cutting, which is combative in nature and very effective.

In general use I have never found the tanto to be a help, only possible hinderance. Delicate work is better suited to a pointed tip, and skinning is easier with belly.
 
Being 18, the mall ninja in me told me that a combo edge tanto was the perfect knife. This was my first knife:
P1010088.jpg

:barf::barf::barf:

Then I realized it sucked, so I moved onto more traditional blade shapes.
P1010089.jpg

:):):)

However, this is definitely a sexy knife.
P1010090.jpg

:cool::cool::cool:
 
cziv said:
It sure is grasshopper. :thumbup: You're getting there and getting broke too from the look of things. What an awesome tip grind - wow! :D
Click to expand...

The tip grind is exactly why I got the 47 and got into flipping. :thumbup: I need more, with maybe a 43 and 42 as well mixed in there as well. :D

My wallet is going to hate me. :(
 
I have two oldstyle recon ones, one tanto and one clip point. Have to say i prefer the tanto over the clip point. course i usually end up destroying most any knife i pick up, so the strong tip is a +
 
Can anyone post pictures of tantos verses real tontos.

Doe's the corner of a tanto being knocked off make it a tonto?

Either way .... a fairly straight edge with a steep transition to the tip doesn't really give you a sweet belly.

Gives you a radius ....... not really a good belly.
 
Now I'm making my first knife. It's 3mm thick and 5 inch blade.

DSCF0024.JPG" height="489" width="733"


I don't like fever of Americanized "Tactical" Tanto style such as Strider.
And saber convex grind is generally for large fighting blades that is longer than Waki.
Tanto is written in Japanese "短刀", that means about "short knife/blade".
I like FFG or Hira-Zukuri(平造) blades within short length of them.
Also squared chisel point is not useful for me.
 
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