Tanto Tips revisited: a ? for all...

Crayola

Crayola

Joined
Sep 23, 1999
Messages
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Hey all! I was doing a search of old Strider forum threads. I didn't realize that I posted as many questions as I did when the forum just started!

One question was on the utility of Tanto Tips, and Mick, you said this:

Tanto tips...tanto tips...tanto tips...
Im glad you remembered to ask this one. I always forget about it.

Here's the deal. Tantos, when properly executed, have tremendous strength and penetration properties. Most people can figure that one out. Use it as a chisel, people have that one down as well. Here's a few more:

Improved angle of cut. Say you are in a situation where you are forced to defend yourself. And lets just say for the record that your not a knife Guru of any kind. A tanto tip, the tangent angle of the two grinds to be specific, is an exceptional sweet spot. The slashing penetration is magnificent. Hold a tanto out in a "Im gonna slash you" attitude. Note the way the primary and secondary edges form a little triangle of death. Therefor we have improved "stressed" cutting dynamics.

Use that same "sweet spot" as a utility edge. Again, take the tangent of the two grinds, (the point of the triangle), and use it to cut something. Example: Take a piece of paper and lay it on a hard surface. Don't use your nice desk because it wont be nice when your finished. Take your tanto "sweet spot" and run it along the paper. Cuts nice huh.

Now take it out to your driveway and pound it into the tarmac with a sledge hammer. When you get it out, note that the tip is still useful. Maybe a bit rolled over, but unbroken. (This one isn't a requirement).

We'll talk more on this...

Carpe Diem

Mick

In light of your new contest, I am wondering what kind of tips do well on a fure fighter? It is clear that something like a WB makes a GREAT war tool, but for a pure fighter, do American Tantos do well? Do they need modifications? Thanks!
 
Wow, thanks for the info. Now I know why I have alot of respect for the tanto edge. The T.O.D (sounds like toad or the Triangle of Death) is my favorite part of the tanto. Even when its not sharp it still cuts like a mother.

Matt
 
You are welcome!

Some of the older threads are my favorites here. Re-read the ergonomics thread and you'll piss yourself laughing. Here's a quote from the "sharpened prybar" thread near the beginning of this forum...

We are in the business of making
tools for those who need them. Warriors who's life depends on their tools. Let me go
ahead and re-phrase that for you. If we build a knife that fails, someone may die. That is
the way we run our business. The fact that people other than warriors buy our knives is
awesome. We love making knives. We do our best to make every customer happy. Be
they a Force Recon Marine or a computer geek. But the geek, (no offence, just a
stereotype) will not generally die if his blade fails. Therefor we build knives for hard -ass
use.

For those of you who prefer to lift your nose to this approach, sorry, its your loss. Look a
little deeper sometime. Take a little time to expand your horizons. Try to understand that
which you cannot fathom. What is it that you dislike about "crowbars?" The thickness?
The loss of ergonomics? Did you know that every Strider Knife is available in any
thickness? In either hollow or full bevel grind. Did you know that we do actually offer
ergonomic handles? Why then , you ask, are they not all ergonomic? I'll tell you...

Ergonomics have only a very small place in my heart. Let me quantify that. Ergonomics on
tactical (Oops) WAR knives, have no place. Here's why: During high stress, fine motor
skill is destroyed. I see all these "knife fighters" looking for blades that feel so great in
your hand, you would think it was their cock. Now...lets insert stress... go run a mile at a
six minute pace, let me punch you in the face a few times, and finally, Ill kick you in the
balls. At this point, the last thing you want is your dick in your hand. You want a chunk
of blade that is locked in. Period. Weather its land warfare and your about to have your
ass handed to you because you need the ammo in that air drop, or CQB and (bummer)
you've made the transition to knife...or...your ass is in a jam on the subway...it doesn't
matter. Comfort is not a thought. Rock solid grip is everything. Who gives a **** about
a hot spot on your hand. My 1911 isn't ergonomic either. It's a big chunk of death. That's
why it work so well...


Mick Strider

I like how Mick refers to his 1911 as a "big chunk of death", and talks about knife fighters, "looking for blades that feel so great in
your hand, you would think it was their cock."

Mick's point here was that Strider Knives make hardcore tools for hardcore individuals. Knife fighters are guys who show up at a designated spot to duel it out! Sure, maybe then you look good with a pretty, nicely polished blade. But for the guy who runs with a loaded pack miles to get to the job site, a nicely polished ergo blade isn't the best. Something that isn't going to leave his hand and isn't going to break is what this guy needs.

I think that some cutomers have a hart time seeing what Strider Knives have to offer. They don't understand what a WAR tool should be like. When suggestions come in for thinner this, rounded that, etc., it isn't that those ideas aren't good for some knives, it is just that those aren't good for war knives. If someoen wants a Buck Strider that is real comfy, they have to take some sand paper and put in the work. If someone wants a 2.5" gents folder made of 1/8" stock, they should find another maker's knives.

Well, that is all for now! I sure have been posting on this forum a lot lately! I guess I have the bug.
 
Thats why Mick and Duane are my heros. They come stright from the heart. They dont try and fancy Sh!t up that dont need it and wasnt ment for it. I feel that if I hold a knife and its a true combat knife and it hurts to much to grip it hard, Im to much of a pussy, and I dont deserve the knife. Same with the Buck Strider. Alot of people were complaing that, oh it hurts my hand. The hurt is there to grip it & when it hurts it make you just that much more pissed to drive it deeper into their spine.

For me, my hands are so ruff from welding and other crap like that. That I like the way all the Striders feel.

My $.02s Thanks

Matt
 
I wonder how recent that thread is ...

For one thing, I find almost all the Strider knives to be quite comfortable to grip (at least by the handle :p). The knives with aggressive surface treatment are probably just that much better to hold with gloves or in a sweat, blood and guts type of situation. Which is not to say that you can't have a ergonomic knife that's easy to hold with plenty of grip. Mick and Duane have done plenty to radius edges that need it ...
 
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