Tantos, all hype?

How about these, are these the Dark Ops kind?

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Please consider the more courteous opinion, that while you personally may not care for the Americanized tanto, this does not invalidate it as a choice for those of us who find it useful or simply interesting.
 
Rich357 said:
Do you consider the blade on the Banchmade 722, a "dark ops" kind?
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yes and no. It is the same shape but without all the other uber tactical bs which is what makes a tanto a tanto (at least for me.) I still dont think the shape is practical though.
patriot dan, that was a typo.:)

edit: same thing for you Esav Benyamin although I never knew they made sebenzas with tanto blades. (or buck/striders either for that matter.) I dont consider the sebenza on the bottom a tanto at all. :)
 
the design we see called a tanto on a lot of modern knives is not a traditional japanese design. Real tantos (japanese short swords) have a thicker grind at the tip, but still a normal curved outline. They were designed to penetrate armor without breaking.

The squared of americanized tanto is just another blade profile, and a lot of people think they're just hype. I don't own any and don't really have any interest in owning any.
 
Rich--- The 722 is a great folder! At the moment, I'm EDCing a Leu Japanese style kozuka, with the curved point. Awesum! If folks would learn about these blades, Japanese, they would understand them better. Every design was carefully thought out and battle proven.
 
Like you said in the 1st post, sharpen out that transition point, and you do have a more useful knife, and a tip that wont snap off easily. It's a fine design, and long as you are not skinning something.
 
3wolves said:
yes and no. It is the same shape but without all the other uber tactical bs which is what makes a tanto a tanto (at least for me.) I still dont think the shape is practical though.
patriot dan, that was a typo.:)

edit: same thing for you Esav Benyamin although I never knew they made sebenzas with tanto blades. (or buck/striders either for that matter.) I dont consider the sebenza on the bottom a tanto at all. :)
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I figured. Forget Dark Ops and concentrate on quality.
 
3wolves said:
yes and no. It is the same shape but without all the other uber tactical bs which is what makes a tanto a tanto (at least for me.) I still dont think the shape is practical though.
patriot dan, that was a typo.:)
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What about the blade shape of the Benchmade 722 is not practical? Have you tried a folder with an "American style" tanto blade?
 
I dont mind the looks at all, they can look quite pretty on the right knife, but I have used one and wasn't half as user friendly as a simple drop point.
 
The Sebenza on the bottom is not a tanto. However, that blade shape is closer to the original Japanese tanto than the Americanized version we are talking about. The one in the middle was a limited edition that has recently been repeated, large and small Sebenzas, but they aren't common.

I think many people also react to "tanto" with a particular tanto configuration in mind, especially since Ernie Emerson makes a popular style with a chisel grind. Bob Lum's original Americanized tanto, the Cold Steel tantos, and the Strider and CRK versions are all v grinds. The CRK has a convex forward edge.
 
3wolves said:
I dont mind the looks at all, they can look quite pretty on the right knife, but I have used one and wasn't half as user friendly as a simple drop point.
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In what way was it not as user friendly? I'm not trying to be a pest, but I don't understand what you felt made the tanto less user friendly.
 
It was harder to sharpen, wasnt as good for carving, the pointy thing where the blade begins to rise created score lines, no good for food prep (useless for slicing, no belly) and just a pita to use. I guess I'm just not used to them, but I guess someone who used them from the start would be okay with them.
 
In a longer blade I can certainly see strength in a tanto(like a katana, where a slope of the blade would add weakness to the tip) However in a folding knife I feel if you need to punch through a car door it is an EMERGENCY and any quality blade will do it and if at the end the tip is broken it is worth it becuase the situation was so dire. That being said I have tanto folders and love them all they are just harder to sharpen, don't cut as smooth and find more time in my safe than in my pocket, IMHO
 
I'm not sure how a straight line could be harder to sharpen. To me, a Tanto is just a sheepsfoote with a tip point.
 
Thanks, 3wolves.

I've used my BM722 for food prep. I find it slices just fine.

With a Lansky type sharpener the straight edges of the Tanto are easy sharpen. I make both edges on the BM722 sharp.

It's great we have so many different blade types available so that we don't have to be stuck with one we don't like.
 
Let me rephrase, not harder to sharpen in general, but with a sharpmaker harder to sharpen and keep a define tanto line. I mean I could filet a rock fish with a tomahawk if I had to, it would just be easier with a filet knife. I agree it's not all hype and they have their place but a tanto, to me, is not a useful and user friendly.
 
I could see how using a sharpmaker would be more difficult to keep it pretty, that thing loves to eat tips in general. But theres nothing wrong IMHO with rounding off the transition point, it makes it more like a drop point. YMMV.
 
If it makes it more like a drop point it prove my point, or lack there of on a sharpmaker, I've had the same experience. BBT.
 
severtecher said:
As a helicopter mechanic I find a tanto more useful in maintaining the aircraft than other shapes. I keep my blade razor sharp and use it for trimming tape for paint, cutting rubberized sealant off fiberglass and aluminum, etc. I am often asked if it can be borrowed. Ya gotta say yes to your comrades.
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I am a fixed wing guy and I agree with you. For some tasks the tanto just works well. My son uses his tactical Blur every day and likes it. When I cut tape and stuff the Tanto blade works well. However us mechanics do not count only "Serious Operators" have valid opinions on knives. :D Even though we probably use ours more often.


I prefer a drop point or something out in the woods.
 
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