the ridiculous tanto on some 'blades'

J

jacktrades_nbk

Joined
Feb 7, 2007
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i understand that the tanto tip originated from the japanese swords and daggers , and is made like that have superior durability in stabbing.
the same goes for the americanized tanto.
the thing i dont understand, why do some companies put the tanto point on very very small knives ... ive seen tanto point knives with the blade as long as the whole tanto shape, so it was more like only the tip knife type.
money clip knife with tanto point ? give me a break...
knives with 2 inch blade have tanto point...maybe for visual appeal, i personaly think thet look stupid like that , and have no use in terms of what the tanto was made for
 
What the tanto was originally designed to do has no bearing on what people today might use it for. Many of us find the Americanized shape works well as an art knife, like a sturdier exacto. We also find it works better than a curved edge for scraping. In fact, a small tanto blade is really a kiridashi.

That it may not fit your needs does not make it ridiculous.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
What the tanto was originally designed to do has no bearing on what people today might use it for. Many of us find the Americanized shape works well as an art knife, like a sturdier exacto. We also find it works better than a curved edge for scraping. In fact, a small tanto blade is really a kiridashi.

That it may not fit your needs does not make it ridiculous.
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so you are saying that from a battle ready japanese blade, it has come to be a perfect box cutter
its not a matter of fitting my needs, its a matter of view
 
Origins are history, usefulness is reality. Knowing where a design came from has nothing to do with why it's used now, or for what. It's a matter of merely intellectual curiosity, irrelevent to current interests.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Origins are history, usefulness is reality. Knowing where a design came from has nothing to do with why it's used now, or for what. It's a matter of merely intellectual curiosity, irrelevent to current interests.
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oke, thanks for the reply
i still think as a personal opinion that is a very funny knife that 2 inch small tanto blade
 
There is nothing wrong with personal opinions, of course.
Just because I have found some tantos useful doesn't mean someone else should.
Are you familiar with the Graham brothers' Razel? That's taking the tanto to the max! :)
 
Tanto tip doesn't originate from Japanese blades. I've never seen any japanese blades that have this kind of tip before. I believe it's 'Americanized' tanto.
 
You do realise that if nobody ever modified a knife design we would still be using flint shards to do our cutting.
 
I know a police officer that always carries tanto blades on any knife. He told me if he ever has to recover a spent bullet it's the only blade for the job, as it's acute point allows him to score all around the slug without contacting it and he claims it's point is strong enough to do the job of popping it out- from way beneath it's depth. And come away still intact with no damage, even when cutting it out of hardwood.
So, that it seems to me is a good example of the tanto doing heavy duty work, coming away ready for more. Just what some people find useful in a working blade.
 
haha check out this story on the razel:
Subject: Graham Razel Saved my Life

I just wanted to sing the praises of my new Ringed Graham Razel that I bought at the 2006 Blade Show in Atlanta.
This week while mowing my yard I was attacked by a 400+ pound black bear. I tried to out run the bear, but with a bum knee I could only just keep ahead of it but that's when I remembered I had my trusty Graham Ringed Razel in my pocket. In the wink of an eye, I whipped out my Ringed Razel and turned to face the 500+ Brown bear that was intent on killing me and everyone on the block. I charged the bear without the slightest hint of fear, knowing that with my Ringed Razel, I could easily make short work of the 600+ small grizzly bear that was almost upon me, but I underestimated the bear's speed and quickness! Who knew a 1000+ pound Grizzly bear could move that fast? As the 1200+ pound, part Grizzly, part Polar bear jumped at me, I swung left and ducked in behind him and with one fast and furious blow I was able to fell it in just one stroke. The 1500+ pounds of this enormous, genetically altered, part polar bear - part elephant, fell only inches from my feet, barely breathing its last breaths. As I stood there, I knew I could not let it suffer and bent down with my Graham Ringed Razel, using the knife as only you that have owned one know it can be used. I ended the 4000+ beast's life.
Jon and Josh, thanks for a tool that did what no other could have done. The Ringed Razel is the greatest tool designed and known to mankind, thank you. Thank you very much for such a great gift to us mere mortals.
Tom W
(New Graham Knives)
Virginia and other parts of the world's most deadly places.
Click to expand...
 
I saw this on youtube.com, and the 'bear' looks suspiciously like a kitten just wanting to play. Poor thing.
 
yeah saw that too, but that was something with guns

killing a bear with a razel is more heroic n stuff
 
Just from pure ignorance....

What exactly is the difference between an Americanized tanto design and the original design(s)?

Thanks.
 
The usual Japanese tanto is shaped more like a puukko: straight back, straight edge that curves up toward the point. You can see in this series of Japanese designs that the tanto is the short end of the tanto, wakizashi, katana range of combat cutlery. :)
 
I wouldn't even put Japanese tantos into the same category as the tachi, katana & wakisashi for combat weaponry.

Tantos were more utility blades used for cutting, not stabbing. They may have been used to collect heads after a battle. Tantos were not meant to be effective stabbers against fully armored adversaries.
 
I wouldn't put handguns in the same category as machine gunrs or cannon, but they all are equipment used by military personnel.
 
CWL---You need to read the book, Tanto, by Russell Maynard. You'll get some interesting facts about Japanese blades. Or, contact Phill Hartsfield. He'd be glad to talk to you about this subject. Thanks.
 
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