Tanto... pointless or to the point?

NRaiano

NRaiano

Joined
Feb 16, 2010
Messages
791
I really don't get it! What's the big attraction? Is there something I'm missing?
Please will someone fill me in and let me know why they would ever want one.
Is there any purpose at all because I think they look hideous and I can't stand using them. I would never buy one unless my life depended on it!
 
Last edited:
There is function to it, but it has been lost in more modern years. It was originally developed to pierce armour. I think nowadays it is much more for aesthetic purposes. I do kind of like the looks of it, I dont own any though.
 
besides making it a good stabber, the second point provides added benefits when cutting, and should be kept sharp.

But I'm not a big fan of the design, as it seems to be combat oriented, and in my mind camping is more important for me now days. In camping chores I prefer the spear point. And for combat I used to like double edged daggers more.
 
The knife that got me interested in folders was an S&W something that was in tanto point. It looked really cool to me when my friend first gave it to me. After I got interested and started looking online, my tastes changed and tanto points on folders started to look really ugly to me. Plus the fact that my sharpening skill leaves something to be desired really turned me away from purchasing anything with a tanto point. Can't hardly slice green mangoes( I love eating them with a little soy sauce) worth a darn, too.
 
I figured that they would increase stab damage volk but I'd have to agree with you. I'm an avid camper and have no use for a tactical knife, not that a good spear point knife wouldn't be suitable in a defensive situation anyway. And as far as the aesthetics go... I don't like them!!! Cool little fact about the armour, I would have never guessed that but I did wonder why samurai's were tanto ground. As for the green mangoes :D I have never tried them with soy sauce(which I happen to practically drink with my meals :)) and would be interested to give it a go next time I pick one up.
 
NRaiano said:
As for the green mangoes :D I have never tried them with soy sauce(which I happen to practically drink with my meals :)) and would be interested to give it a go next time I pick one up.
Click to expand...

Peel 'em then slice 'em thin. dunk in soy sauce. enjoy! :D
 
Tanto blades are more geared towards tactical but you can also use the flat for scraping. I have one because I like variety and it really cuts well. For over all uses I go with a drop or spear point.
ry%3D400
 
Legendary_Jarl said:
http://vimeo.com/13046279 I found this video today about the subject. It is a response Cold Steel made for an article published by some Michael Janich ho said their American Tanto design was an useless prybar.

http://www.coldsteel.com/michael-janich.html

What do you guys think?
Click to expand...

I dont think the American Tanto is useless, but with the advent of the modern steels we have, I dont think it really makes it any better/worse. For some designs it just looks sleek.
 
For urban purpose I prefer the american tanto because the secondary point is quite convenient to score carboard boxes and the like. The flat portion is useful to scrape things like a chisel. Think of of it as a wharncliffe (a very useful utility pattern) with added cutting section and an extra tip.

For camping obviously the traditional belly design is better because it's used for skinning game, food prep, and stuff.
 
Definitely good for piercing. My Cold Steel tanto is probably the most dangerous knife I own if it ever came to a short-range stabbing contest, god forbid.
 
Thank you all for enlightening me. It seems that age old design is still one of the best for creating a deep gaping wound and if you happen to stab someone who is carrying an AK mag on the off chance then it will create more of a wound than a dagger will as it passes through! Not that I plan on doing any of these things but if you can find everyday uses to apply this style of blade to go right ahead.
Regards,
Gabriel.
 
(I was being a little sarcastic.) But it's all clear now:
You are an angel sent to rid the world of tanto and its evil blade shape.
 
Ha, It's true I really can't stand the shape unless it's on a full size samurai. But yeah...
Tanto = donkey poo :D
 
I'm also not a fan of the tanto shape. But I figured I needed to have one in my collection to call it complete. So I picked up this custom at the last Southern California Blade Expo.

JimEnglishTanto01.jpg


That ought to get the job done. :)

.
 
The Sept'10 Tactical Knives has a test of a traditional Japanese blade against the "tanto" style blade. An IZOD type test is used to test stabbing ability. The tanto style blade came up embarassingly short. :o
 
As I understand it, the primary argument in favor to the tanto shape is improved tip strength. But I seem to remember reading some comments by Mike Stewart in which he said that the tanto has absolutely no advantage over more traditional blade shapes when it comes to tip strength. Lots of folks seem to like tanto blades anyway . . . more, I suspect, for the esoterics of the design than for anything else.

.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top