Tantos: do you love/hate ‘em?

[DangerZone98]

 

[Brian_in_indiana]

I've been carrying a SOG zoom mini tanto for about 3 years now, I thoroughly enjoy it!
Does most of the work my Mora Basic can do but I can carry it most everywhere.

 

[Dcdavis]

Since this thread I’ve carried this tanto several days consecutively at work and off work. I’ve made it just fine for most tasks in my everyday life, work and play

 

[DangerZone98]

View attachment 1399833 Since this thread I’ve carried this tanto several days consecutively at work and off work. I’ve made it just fine for most tasks in my everyday life, work and play

Beautiful high-end tanto right there. That’s a wonderful background as well.

 

[Win Heger]

I voted that I love them, I own several examples but must admit that I've never carried/used a Tanto for an extended period. My love for the Tanto "look" goes back to the early '90s and my meeting Phill Hartsfield and then coming across Jimmy Fikes in "Fighting Knives" magazine. In 1994 I got my first chisel grind, Tanto bladed folder from Ernie Emerson at the NY Knife Show in 1994, half moon logo! I actually carried it a bit but then it was sold. I owned many other Emerson customs but never really carried one again.

A classic Fikes Tanto from the '90s':

A Jimmy Fikes that was written up in "Fighting Knives" magazine, 1993, I acquired it several years ago, remembered the article:

Link to an album I did with this knife and a scan of the article:
http://winpics.fototime.com/Jimmy Fikes and his knives/The Fikes Tanto

Phill Hartsfield "Kozuka", my first order from Phill, I've sold it twice and bought it back:

A couple of the customs from Ernie Emerson that I owned through the years:

 

[strongboy]

Some real beauties'. I wish I could post a picture of my new Hartsfield tanto sword.

 

[Win Heger]

Some real beauties'. I wish I could post a picture of my new Hartsfield tanto sword.

I can tell by your name you're a Hartsfiled fan. I had a matching "Strongboy" to the Kozuka. Hope to get to see picture of your sword!!

 

[Dcdavis]

Beautiful high-end tanto right there. That’s a wonderful background as well.

Thanks man. The more you carry one consistently it gets easier. Kinda just get used to it. Just like anything else you use over and over. If I’d never used a drop point or insingo I wouldn’t know any different.

 

[JokersFaceLifter]

the samurai class of japan had their katana and wakizashi, for fighting, but for actual every day cutting, they had a "kwaiken" style blade, so, i believe tanto knives are purpose built for fighting and puncturing, and offer limited use in the utility world of edged tool use, so i gave mine away, there are other blade shapes uniquely able to satisfy both worlds
as always, my opinion

 

[Dcdavis]

and offer limited use in the utility world of edged tool use

I have found for straight utility purposes they work pretty well. I work as an electrician and haven’t found a whole lot of shortcomings with them in my uses at work. Dicing up jalapeños or other food prep that requires rocking and belly, the tanto doesn’t perform well there.

As far as utility or at work they work good for me. Draw cuts, stripping insulation jackets off wire or cable, stripping wire itself, opening packages, and scoring Sheetrock, silicone, or caulk they work well in all those uses. I like that front edge for scraping as well. Also for light prying. I know knives aren’t supposed to be used for scraping and prying but it happens. They slice well also. Cutting rope, jet line, blister packs, tape, etc. All these uses for me work good with a tanto.

Still wouldn’t say a tanto is the best all around shape but I don’t mind them. There’s some tasks they do better than a drop point but I still say the best of both worlds is the Crk insingo. All just my experiences and opinions as well

 

[JokersFaceLifter]

I have found for straight utility purposes they work pretty well. I work as an electrician and haven’t found a whole lot of shortcomings with them in my uses at work. Dicing up jalapeños or other food prep that requires rocking and belly, the tanto doesn’t perform well there.

As far as utility or at work they work good for me. Draw cuts, stripping insulation jackets off wire or cable, stripping wire itself, opening packages, and scoring Sheetrock, silicone, or caulk they work well in all those uses. I like that front edge for scraping as well. Also for light prying. I know knives aren’t supposed to be used for scraping and prying but it happens. They slice well also. Cutting rope, jet line, blister packs, tape, etc. All these uses for me work good with a tanto.

Still wouldn’t say a tanto is the best all around shape but I don’t mind them. There’s some tasks they do better than a drop point but I still say the best of both worlds is the Crk insingo. All just my experiences and opinions as well

good examples of workplace use, perhaps one can go with a curved modified tanto point to serve both worlds? seen some from Hogue, but i personally wouldn't sport it.

 

[DangerZone98]

the samurai class of japan had their katana and wakizashi, for fighting, but for actual every day cutting, they had a "kwaiken" style blade, so, i believe tanto knives are purpose built for fighting and puncturing, and offer limited use in the utility world of edged tool use, so i gave mine away, there are other blade shapes uniquely able to satisfy both worlds
as always, my opinion

This is the closest I’ve got to a kwaiken, hahaha.

It’s a tad too large for pocket carry (5.5” blade), but it’s definitely useful for utility work. Cuts boxes and rope just fine. If I could modify this knife, I’d opt for a 4” blade instead and a slightly thicker handle.

 

[Brian_in_indiana]

Here's my EDC tanto. Big enough to tackle most everything, but doesn't turn heads when I cut a box at work.

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q737/bkforster/Mobile Uploads/IMG_20200815_162215199_zpsfk8u59kp.jpg

 

[Drop bear]

I like them on fixed blades. But I have a kind of weird outlook.

Almost anything I use a knife for I generally use a folder. Propper respectful cutting practices won't damage a folding knife.

So when I carry a fixed blade I want it to do what the folder doesn't, which is crude bashing chopping and prying. So the tanto gives me that option a little better.

 

[JokersFaceLifter]

as "Warehousey" as this sounds, i use a box cutter for box cutting, i just nitpick about tape and tape residue too much, i can't afford to spend time picking at my Endura 4 to scrape all the tape stuff off the tip with my nail

 

[Brian_in_indiana]

how elitist of you!!

That gummy residue is a pain in the butt.

 

[scdub]

Love them!!

One of the best parts of my job is clearing trails while on foot patrol. The Swamp Rat Taliwhacker is by far the best knife I’ve found for this function. Light enough to carry, thin and long enough to zip through blackberry vines, etc., blade-heavy enough to chop through fallen branches and small trees.

Also, the tanto style allows for a long portion of straight edge which has a great approach angle to the material being cut, while largely preserving a very sharp tip section. I’ve sharpened this knife more times than anything else in my collection and it’s a champ.

 

[Forester_01]

Hate ‘em.

 

[Dcdavis]

After almost two weeks of use and carry I haven’t had any problem with a tanto. Give or take on the days I’m not real sure. Most of my use can be seen over in this thread
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/show-what-you-did-with-your-edc-today.1681679/page-11

All in all I don’t have a problem with a tanto. I had never carried one this long so I wanted to get a good gauge of use if I had to use only a tanto

 

[Random Dan]

Never liked the look of the Americanized tanto, but I do quite like a good compound grind.