Warcraft Tanto - First Impressions

Mike Sastre

Mike Sastre

Custom Crafted Concealex Sheaths
Joined
Mar 23, 1999
Messages
1,919
Just got several of the new Warcraft Tantos in here yesterday. 7.5" CPM-3V High Carbon steel DLC blade, with full tang, G-10 handle, and a Secure-Ex sheath that is compatible with both sizes of TekLoks. Have not done any cutting yet, but love the feel of the Warcraft Tanto. Balance is just about on the riccasso, making it feel very live in the hand, and weighted nicely for snap cuts, one of the things the Tanto design excels at. The sheath has a good fit (no movement or rattle on the one in the pictures), with a great balance of holding tension and release (can shake it upside down without losing the knife, yet draws with ease). Love this knife for its intended purpose - Warcraft!! I'll probably make a Southern Comfort for mine, as I carry most of my blades that are over 7" that way.
There's a couple things about belt attachments that you should know. I dropped the existing cordura belt loop down one eyelet to make snapping the safety strap easier (only fits around one portion of the handle). The slots are now wide enough to accommodate mounting posts, so you have many combinations using eyelets and/or slots. One thing though: BladeTech is now using smaller posts rather than the 3/8" lengths they used to use, so you will have to use the ones from the supplied Cordura belt loop, or acquire others. The ones supplied with the TekLoks are not long enough. Good news is that the sheaths are also perfect for using a Spyderco G-Clip, which is my belt attachment system of choice, and they come with hardware that works (contact me if you need any). See attached pictures.

Reposition_w.jpg Warcraft-Tanto_wG-Clip_w.jpg G-Clip_w.jpg
 
Thanks for sharing. A functional looking "pry bar with an edge" (and being 3V, it's not going to hurt much either). I understand it's going to be the first of a series?
 
This is one of the first CS's in 3V... Needless to say I am sure this thing is a BEAST...

I love my CS Recon Scout in SK5... But now they have put it out in 01... Sigh... Wish I would have waited for the 01... but still its just a difference in edge retention.
 
I have two Recon Tantos in different steels and I think this thing is a very similar knife, with a steel CS has never used before and very interesting-looking ergonomics.

I'm getting one for sure.
 
They went with a chisel-ground secondary edge on this one—from what the catalog description says, at least...

I don't really care for that, but I will still probably get one anyways. Looks like the sheath system is real good too.

Yes, according to the 2013 CS catalog, this is the first of a new series of knives and the first time they have used a powered-process steel.
 
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GCG199 said:
They went with a chisel-ground secondary edge on this one.

I don't really care for that, but I will still probably get one anyways. Looks like the sheath system is real good too.

Yes, according to the 2013 CS catalog, this is the first of a new series of knives and the first time they have used a powered-process steel.
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Chisel grind on the secondary edge (point) is a little misleading description in the catalog. Point and grind on the knife is not what is usually thought of as a chisel grind (only ground on one side). Edges, both primary and secondary, are symmetrically ground, just at different angles. Here's a couple pics.


WarcraftPoint_1.jpg WarcraftPoint_2.jpg
 
Mike, thank you for clarifying about the chisel grind/chisel edge.

After reading the catalog description for the Warcraft Tanto, I had figured that it had the actual edge bevel sharpened on one side only.

The way Emerson does their knives, is the best example of what I meant.
 
Thanks for the write up. Would you do me a favor? Put it in the sheath and take it out a few times, Then check the edge for damage/wear? Sorry, I know that may sound a bit funny but the Leatherneck tanto has left a bad taste in my mouth. The edge rolls in spots every time I put mine in the sheath.
 
blame it on god said:
Thanks for the write up. Would you do me a favor? Put it in the sheath and take it out a few times, Then check the edge for damage/wear? Sorry, I know that may sound a bit funny but the Leatherneck tanto has left a bad taste in my mouth. The edge rolls in spots every time I put mine in the sheath.
Click to expand...

Yours must have a bad fit or something. I haven't had any problems at all with mine, it's my favorite knife.
 
Kwon Kwang said:
Yours must have a bad fit or something. I haven't had any problems at all with mine, it's my favorite knife.
Click to expand...

I have to agree with Kwon, and I'll bet on the "or something". A lot of times when people claim the sheath is damaging the knife, it is actually the way they draw or re-sheath the knife that is the problem, or dirt in the sheath. A little bit off-axis (twisting or rocking) as you move it, will cause the blade to rub into parts of the sheath. Rolling the edge? Does not sound like anything the sheath is doing by itself. While I always make my own (to suit the way I use my knives), the factory sheaths from Cold Steel are some of the best you will get from a production maker. All that said, the knife had already been in and out of the sheath well over 25 times with no damage, before I made this post, and more since then.
 
I'll bet toward the or something as well.

Kwon, When Did you get yours? Was it when they called it 4116 Krupp or "German 4116"? Mine is Krupp (I call it crap). Either way whatever, it was cheap enough that I don't care. It's a nice looking mantle piece. I got it directly from Cold Steel BTW.

I'm hoping by my birthday in September the Warcraft will be in stock in enough places that I can get a deal on one. I won't let one bad knife ruin me on a company.
 
blame it on god said:
I'll bet toward the or something as well.

Kwon, When Did you get yours? Was it when they called it 4116 Krupp or "German 4116"? Mine is Krupp (I call it crap). Either way whatever, it was cheap enough that I don't care. It's a nice looking mantle piece. I got it directly from Cold Steel BTW.

I'm hoping by my birthday in September the Warcraft will be in stock in enough places that I can get a deal on one. I won't let one bad knife ruin me on a company.
Click to expand...

I think I had mine for a year. Whatever they call it, 1.4116 is a German-produced steel that's very fine grained and blessed with vanadium. It'smade by ThyssenKrupp, and it's cheap because there's a lot of it, not because it's low quality. This steel is not only highly rust resistant, its vanadium and fine grain structure allow it to take a spectacular edge. On top of that, it's tough. It's a great stainless steel if you expect to use it in a military or survival context where it will take a lot of abuse and hard knocks.

I got my Leathernecks SF direct from Cold Steel, and my Leatherneck Tanto from a non-paid dealer whom I cannot mention here.

When cutting bottles and jugs with my Leatherneck Tanto, the knife cut so well that I barely felt it when the knife went through. Super clean slices. The Leatherneck series offers a lot of cutting power.
 
Thanks for the review. Looks like I will be buying another CS Tanto to add to my collection.
 
I am glad someone has bought that knife and did a review because I am thinking of getting one myself. I love the fact it is different steel and g10 handles. I give Cold Steel a thumbs up on that one.
 
I am new here. This is my first reply.

I just got the Warcraft a few days ago also. There is no doubt this knife is a cutting machine. The "chisel" only strengthens the blade for intensive use. The G10 is a little bit on the smooth side and not perfectly flat on the tang (held with only two torx screw locations). The cordura portion of the sheath kind of sucks, so I will be looking into a clipping system as well. The edge bevel isn't perfect, at least not on mine, but this sucker is a beater, not just a pretty face.

Anyone know when those 2013 classic blades made in O1 steel come out? I have the Trail Master in SK5 and Carbon V. I'm thinking I need 3 trail masters now... lol.
 
Not a giant fan of tantos, but I like the looks of the handle and them using a higher quality steel is nice. If they put out a bowie, or dagger or something similarly made I'd likely put it on my to get list.
 
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