the ridiculous tanto on some 'blades'

[Leu Custom]

The tip just all around to me looks more *tough* - Americanized Tanto point

 

[Morrow]

haha check out this story on the razel:

From your post:

"I tried to out run the bear, but with a bum knee I could only just keep ahead of it"

As if he could have outrun it with 2 good knees? Bears be fast and humans be slow. That story sounds more like a commercial.

 

[A. G. Russell]

The popular tanto came about by Bob Lum making a knife based on a Japanese eel skinner, that knife was aripped off by Len Thompson (Cold Steel) and everything else followed.

 

[nephildevil]

lynn thompson also know as the ridiculous fat guy from the cold steel vids:
http://www.sword-manufacturers-guide.com/images/Lynn-Thompson.jpg
http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=5_mCNoqqK0k&feature=related

hahaha

 

[nephildevil]

From your post:

"I tried to out run the bear, but with a bum knee I could only just keep ahead of it"

As if he could have outrun it with 2 good knees? Bears be fast and humans be slow. That story sounds more like a commercial.

check out the weight of the bear, it isnt ment to be serious at all.

 

[Lycosa]

Thanks, AG! Where's that new Sting-3???

 

[Horn Dog]

The popular tanto came about by Bob Lum making a knife based on a Japanese eel skinner, that knife was aripped off by Len Thompson (Cold Steel) and everything else followed.

No wonder I never liked tantos. I hate eel.

 

[zenheretic]

A small tanto knife makes perfect sense. If I need to stab the car door of a Mini Cooper, for example, a large tanto blade is just overkill.

 

[Lycosa]

Yea. I'd use a small dagger for cars.

 

[stropper]

In fact, a small tanto blade is really a kiridashi.

Not in Japan it's not.

You might be making some people even more confused with statements like that.
Do you consider a big machete a sword?

 

[Danito]

I still can't understand how Tanto's can be more useable than a normal spear point or bowie style blade that manufacturers actually make dedicated tanto styled models.

 

[Lycosa]

It comes down to what people like in a knife. Application, is sometimes an after-thought.

 

[Danito]

True.. but how many people actually use a tanto for what it is designed for?

That said, they do look cool!

 

[simms65]

I doubt many people use the smaller front portion of a Tanto for removing the head of an Eel, and then the longer portion for filleting said Eel.

 

[zenheretic]

It comes down to what people like in a knife. Application, is sometimes an after-thought.

IMO, you nailed it, otherwise people wouldn't be spending money on exotic handle materials, hand filing, engraving, inlays, etc.

 

[Lycosa]

Thanks, Zen! In John Yumoto's book, The Samurai Sword, page 53, the Japanese sword was also made with a straight point, or edge, called a fukura-kareru. The curved point, fukura-tsuku, was more popular. I don't think the straight point on that sword was meant for cutting eels.

 

[Danito]

So how was the americanised tanto designed?

 

[Lycosa]

Bob Lum and Lynn Thompson copied the Japanese design. But ,they were madein the hollow ground style. The points were flat ground, though. I love the Traditional Japanese blades. Have you seen Leu's blades??

 

[zenheretic]

Thanks, Zen! In John Yumoto's book, The Samurai Sword, page 53, the Japanese sword was also made with a straight point, or edge, called a fukura-kareru. The curved point, fukura-tsuku, was more popular. I don't think the straight point on that sword was meant for cutting eels.

Don't be so quick to discount A.G. Russell, he would know of such origins.

 

[AfterTFD]

I personally find the American tanto point well suited for preparing chicken for my crock pot.

For stabbing people the advantage of the American tanto point is that it produces a relatively wide wound channel almost the entire depth of the stab.