Tanto vs. Drop Point/PE vs. Combo

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saintsfan

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May 27, 2009
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So, I'm looking at getting a new knife after quite a while. I'd had a Kershaw since I was about 14 or so. I'm 20 now. The tip is also broken off. Heh. It didn't get heavy use until I started working construction and various other labor intensive jobs.

You could say I'm pretty much clueless when it comes to knives(comparatively anyway). Thus, this topic has appeared.

I can sharpen a plain edge fairly well(for my purposes anyway). Never tried to sharpen a serrated blade though. Never had to.

Anyway, the knife I decided on was the Mini-Grip. Friend of mine owns a sporting goods store in Colorado and owns a couple. He loves it and it's been his EDC for quite a while.

Now I just need to decide if I want the tanto for the sturdier blade or the drop point I'm used to. Basically, what are the pros and cons of each. I'm also wondering on the pluses and minuses of the edge types.

So consider this a topic for you to debate, berate, and mentally masturbate in...for my sake. Heh.
 
IMO, stick with a drop point PE, it's your most effective utility blade shape.
Tanto has no belly.
CE has too little serrations to help, and too little plain edge to work well.
 
+1 for PE since it's what you know and know how to sharpen.
A tanto will be good if you do a lot of heavy tip work and will be stronger.
For general utility though, I also agree that the drop point will serve you better.
 
+1 for the plain edge.

Don't count out the tanto though. My main carry is a Buck Strider tanto folder and it works great on all of my utility chores. I like the massive tip. I have poked and prodded and pryed and scraped and done all kinds of things with that tip that your usual drop point could not suffer. For a lot of general tasks a drop point would be better but if you think tip strength is a concern, because you may pry and scrape and do the things I have done, then get the tanto. Just note that it is more like 2 knives in one. You get a thicker scraping/poking prying edge up front and a section of nice slicing blade for cutting. No belly for belly work though. Which I have found, for EDC, to be just fine. It is about learning how to use the tools you have.

Besides, you could start being a 2 carry guy now that you are no longer a knifenut tadpole. I almost always have a swiss army knife with me (soldier) or my multitool (Leatherman Charge xti). I find the combo of a tough as nails main folder along with a multitool to be unbeatable in my daily knife needs!


Hope that helps. Note though that the tip on the knife you are considering may be plenty thick for you while still offering a belly that would be useful. If it is thicker and more robust than your Kershaw, then go for it! If you want more durability upfront, get the tanto and a Swiss Army Knife or multitool as well. I like my Leatherman because I have a plain blade and a serrated blade in there. I also use the guthook to open plastic clamshell packaging, and I like having the wood saw in there just in case. I have used it for a utility task once and it performed great!
 
You can get a reverse tanto design like the Benchmade 940 or Benchmade 950. It gives you some belly for utility work yet keeps the thick point of the tanto.
 
get the drop-point, a tanto in my opinion is strictly a defensive, tactical knife, with no belly and too many sharp angle changes, a tanto blade will not serve well as a edc. while the drop point grip will be easier to sharpen and better at utility slicing/cutting chores
 
So I've decided to go all out and get the knife I really want since I think you're right and the drop point will be a better fit for my every day uses. Even if it is $40 more. Talked to a few people that own them and they love them to death and have tons to say about the edge they'll hold.

I'm getting the Mini-RSK. My fiancee(and me :o ) likes the way the blade is shaped. She also decided she'd chip in a bit as a gift of sorts.

One question though, there's a combo deal for like two dollars more that comes with this Lansky sharpener:

http://www.aeromedix.com/product-ex...nm/Lansky_Quick_Fix_Pocket_br_Knife_Sharpener

Anyone have any experience with it? Anyone know if it's the right angle for the RSK? And what is the angle at anyway? Can't find it on the site. Is it a decent sharpener? I mean, it's only two bucks so I'll probably get it...I'm just not going to run a good knife through a sharpener that might strip half the blade off.
 
saintsfan said:
So consider this a topic for you to debate, berate, and mentally masturbate in...for my sake. Heh.
Click to expand...

Been there, done that, got the mess of threads to show for it.

Most of it is preference. Benchmade won't sharpen you're serrations, and CE (combo edge) knives often have too little of either style to work effectively.

I prefer drop points for utility, but if you're doing a lot of abusive work (prying/stabbing), I'd go for the tanto point. Don't bother really sharpening it as it will get banged up quite a bit. Using a tanto give you a reasonable edge to pry/scrape with while still protecting the main edge.
 
I have never seen any evidence that would lead me to believe that tanto tips are actually noticeably stronger than a comparable drop point. They ARE more awkward to sharpen and cut with (for me).

I think that it is marketing hype, like most of what the "inventor" of "American tanto" has out there.

If you need a straight blade that will pry, why not carry a wonderbar and a superknife?

(Or a wharncliff.)





Really though, the Grip or the 940 would serve you perfectly well. Just dont pry.
 
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