Tantos, who's making, what's good...

Lapedog said:
Is anyone still making the small kwaiken sized Tantos with the aluminum sheath like Phil Hartsfield did?

Like this one?
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Plenty of makers. Tendick, Patton, Gregory, April, and many more.

I have a Tendick done in lined aluminum and warthog, and it is amazing!
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So I'm starting with a couple blades on both ends of the spectrum. Got a large Bell on the way for traditional and picked up a Williams/Winkler for a carry tanto. The Williams is one of the best knives I have ever owned. Still going to do a fusion custom when I decide on specs but these should help.
 
Just wanted to put in some use review for Phillip Patton's kwaikens. I got one from him and have been using it for my field knife. I have used it for some wood processing, widdling, stabbing into some turbo shaft cans, cutting fruit, cutting random crap to show everyone my knife is cooler, and of course destroying MRE boxes, camo nets, rope, twine, etc. It's been steadily used for almost 3 months of this deployment. Besides patina, the blade is flawless. No chips, or rolling. I can easily strop it back to razor sharp. The grinds are stupid clean and I mean immaculate.

It is worth adding that I bought this blade off a member that was not using it and I contact Mr. Patton and he let me send it to him to get a kydex dangler sheath made for it (also Teklok compatible). Top notch guy.

Anyhow, figured I'd give a little use review since I know a lot of these beautiful blades aren't rough used. I assure you that you could stab a Patton kwaiken through a car door if you'd want.
 
Daniel your knives have a great, clean modern look to them. Great size for carrying.

Forgive a non maker for maybe a silly question, isn’t a Tanto about the shape of the tip of the knife? And if not, what is the point seen on a Tanto like those by Daniel called?

I’ve always been a big fan of Tantos but prefer more modern handle options. (Mostly because I’m worried about keeping a traditional handle clean)

Red
 
Dago Red said:
Forgive a non maker for maybe a silly question, isn’t a Tanto about the shape of the tip of the knife?
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No and yes.

"American Tantos have that tip", we call anything with that tip a "tanto" but for the traditionalist a "Tanto" is at least 6" blade and can have different styles of tips.
 
Dago Red said:
Forgive a non maker for maybe a silly question, isn’t a Tanto about the shape of the tip of the knife? And if not, what is the point seen on a Tanto like those by Daniel called?
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These are the actual types of Tantos. Notice that none of them have what is popularly called a "Tanto Tip." It would probably be more accurately called a "Katana Tip."
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Really like that use of the antique menuki. Maybe I will track down some parts I like and see what a maker can do with them.
 
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