Uses of a Tanto.

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whitefox

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Mar 3, 2011
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How well does a Tanto fair up in outdoor survival or urban survival, as well as a self defense weapon?

What do you like about em? What do you feel they excel in, as well as lack?

May it be fixed blade or a folder of some form.
 
I assume you're talking about the "americanized" tanto, like the Cold Steel Recon.

For wilderness/outdoor, tantos are generally disliked. Blades with a proper belly are preferred because they're more useful and versatile.

Some like tantos for self defense because they feel the tip is stronger and better for penetration, and the second tip is good for slashing. So they say.

For utility, some like tantos because the sharp angle acts as a second tip, which can be useful for draw cutting and whatnot.

It all comes down to taste. Personally I don't care for tantos. But my preferences are my own. I don't like big bellies either. Tantos are pretty polarizing. They're either loved or hated. Like any sharpened piece of metal they have their uses.
 
whitefox said:
How well does a Tanto fair up in outdoor survival or urban survival, as well as a self defense weapon?

What do you like about em? What do you feel they excel in, as well as lack?

May it be fixed blade or a folder of some form.
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American style tantos are easy to sharpen on a stone or a guided sharpening system. Both American and Japanese styles also tend to have strong tips, which can be nice.

On the down side, they tend to be slightly heavier than similar size clip or drop point blades. Also, they don't have a smooth sweeping belly, which means that parts of the edge can wear relatively fast under regular use.

In the end, it comes down to your preference in style and the trade-offs of the blade styles. I used to love American style tantos, now I prefer drop points and modest clip points.
 
just about any decent sized blade with good steel can be used for survival. tanto primary use is that of a self defensive blade. if you know and understand how blades cut flesh then you'll know why it's more deadly than most other styles.

I feel more comfortable walking the street knowing a tanto is in my pocket compared to a drop point.

I wouldn't go skinning a deer with it though.
 
40Degrees said:
tanto primary use is that of a self defensive blade. if you know and understand how blades cut flesh then you'll know why it's more deadly than most other styles.

I feel more comfortable walking the street knowing a tanto is in my pocket compared to a drop point.
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Your going to find that your in a real minority group with this idea.I actually agree with you.
 
The American tanto point is not very good a penetrating, in a combat role, id go whit the Japanese style for this purpose. I have never really liked the American tanto point for a self defense knife, it has been from my experience that they are more utilitarian than defensive.

SoldierTech_Hissatsu4.jpg

Japanese
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American
 
Edwood7 said:
I have never really liked the American tanto point for a self defense knife, it has been from my experience that they are more utilitarian than defensive.
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does that mean that you actually had to cut someone with one?
 
I don't care fo them, but they're not completely useless, they're just okay, nothing spectacular about them.

I hear they're good to use against zombies though. :p
 
Read some of Edwood's posts. It is highly likely that he has. I would imagine that his preference is the Japanese style's ability to better penetrate body armor. It is essentially the same reason Medieval axes and polearms had a pick on one side. The piercing ability is the key.
 
Edwood7 said:
The American tanto point is not very good a penetrating, in a combat role, id go whit the Japanese style for this purpose. I have never really liked the American tanto point for a self defense knife, it has been from my experience that they are more utilitarian than defensive.
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I'm pretty sure Cold Steel did a penetration test using the american tanto, traditional tanto, and drop point blade styles. It looked pretty reliable and found that the american tanto faired better.
 
If you're stabbing someone without armor, the american tanto will have a wider wound channel, thus making it easier to bleed someone out. But unless you're in the business of killing people regularly in CQC, I'd stick with a drop point blade for utility use:thumbup:. I have yet to encounter a task I couldn't handle with that blade shape.
 
I think given a choice you should cut someone first and if that doesn't send them running you'll have to just do what you have to do.

I'm only saying this because speaking from personal experience and 5 years probation and $10,000 in restitution(slashing motion wound not stabbing) from medical bills, I'm glad I'm not in jail for life for murder. Luckily I was not using a tanto blade then. Because the doctors may not have been able to sew the guy up in time...hit an artery. That was 20 years ago. It was self defense but because I went to his house it didn't really look that way, so I took a deal...true story.

Josh
 
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jonj480 said:
Absolutely.

The .40 in the waistband is the "go" defense. The folder in my pocket is the "show" defense
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If you draw a knife in a show of defense that means you're not justified for deadly force. That means that you've now escalated the situation and it is within their right to respond with deadly force. Isn't that a correct assessment? There is no such thing as "show defense". You are either justified, or you're not.

Sorry, your "show defense" is going to get you in trouble.
 
My favorite fixed blade and folder are both american style tantos, I find them to be very useful. My fixed blade has a chisel grind on the main bevel and a convex ax style grind on the tip, it seems to come in handy for everything.
 
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