What is the point (of a tanto point)

The tanto design is primarily used for added strength for penetration. Thats why the are more tactical, it is a thrusting weapon. Surely they are used for more, but thats the idea behind it...
 
GIRLYmann said:
but having a fully serrated edge is...
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I have thought about that, but I am not fully convinced that a serrated edge is so superior in going through, say, a denim cloth. I have read that a serrated edge can get stuck on fabric easier.
 
It is a matter of getting used to the shape of the blade to make the most of it, i find that the secondary edge near the tip is great when opening boxes etc. or whenever you need more control over the tip of the blade...and others have already mentioned the piercing and strong tip...my CS Tanto Lite mostly stays in the kitchen...
If you don't already have a tanto / american style, try one out!! CS Tanto Lite (Krupps 4116) can often be found for around $30, or the Kobun (Aus8a) (comes with a very usable sheath) for under $50...

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416isToronto said:
It is a matter of getting used to the shape of the blade to make the most of it, i find that the secondary edge near the tip is great when opening boxes etc. or whenever you need more control over the tip of the blade...and others have already mentioned the piercing and strong tip...my CS Tanto Lite mostly stays in the kitchen...
If you don't already have a tanto / american style, try one out!! CS Tanto Lite (Krupps 4116) can often be found for around $30, or the Kobun (Aus8a) (comes with a very usable sheath) for under $50...
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I get the impression you like tanto blades. Very nice.

All right. It is either the new Code 4 tanto or the Voyager large tanto. Leaning towards the Code 4 because of slimness and overall looks. Any points for Voyager that I should take into consideration before I pull the trigger? Voyager is larger and therefore less pocketable, but slightly cheaper.
 
I like the design as well. The strong point is also an advantage IMO. Mine is from David Steier as shown here.tanto 1.jpg
 
HFinn said:
I get the impression you like tanto blades. Very nice.

All right. It is either the new Code 4 tanto or the Voyager large tanto. Leaning towards the Code 4 because of slimness and overall looks. Any points for Voyager that I should take into consideration before I pull the trigger? Voyager is larger and therefore less pocketable, but slightly cheaper.
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The Voyager is a little more comfortable in hand and offers a more slip resistant surface. I think the Code 4, while being way slimmer, is also the stronger knife. I own both, carry both, use both and love both. If the finish matters to you, the Voyager has a beautiful stone wash finish, while the Code 4's blade features a glossy satin finish. Both are great.

The Voyager will eat your pockets at first if you don't take the time to sand it down under the pivot a tiny bit. On both knives you can expect great build quality, factory edges and F&F. Cold Steel really knows what they're doing with that.
 
Ben Davidson of Fallen Oak Forge has a nice tanto design that's a good blend between Americanized and traditional. I ordered one for firewood/hoodie season as I think it will be great for splitting with the wedge type tip, but still have the fighter style tip. He may have not been the first to offer a tanto like this, but it was the first time I had seen one like it and I fell in love.



 
Tantos just look cool :cool:

I only have a couple and this year is the first time I've carried one regularly, my Benchmade Presidio every day for the last 4 months or so. I just use it the same way I'd use any blade: for utility. Mostly mine cuts plastic netting, fiberglass fabric, etc. but it works fine for food or whatever.

This summer, a rattlesnake was creeping around by my ankles at work and after beheading it with a shovel, the tanto Benchmade in my pocket worked just fine to open it up and skin it (and shovel out the live babies in its stomach).

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Pretty much, a tanto works for whatever if it's what you've got. :thumbup:

Edit to add: this Benchmade has probably pried open more beers than any proper opener I have. Awww yeeah :D
 
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Kwon Kwang said:
It's primarily for martial use - the secondary point makes for a highly effective snap cut, pierces while cutting during a slashing stroke, and the primary tip is very strong due to spinal reinforcement. It's also very good at piercing.
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From my reading this is a rather comprehensive explanation. Arguably, the "American tanto" is much like the tip of a ninjato, a 1960's "movie blade", based on an ancient hamaguri tip and historical records referencing a short strait armor piercing sword used by the ninjatsu for tight quarters. I do not believe a historical "ninjato" has survived time.

Bob Lum later popularized by combining a "hamaguri" tip grind with a "traditional tanto". A traditional tanto is more akin to a "yoroidōshi" (think Hissatsu and it's kin from Williams and CRKT); again, a dedicated piercing knife with a thick slashing belly. These designs works well to penetrate samurai armor.

Rhinoknives1 said:
Some will tell you that the tip is stronger, Not really, It depends on the thickness of the spine at the tip and a few other factors of blade geometry.

The Tanto is a amercan invention, it showed up on the knife market about 25-30 years ago. That tip was on Japanese swords and pole arms prior to that, but not on the Tanto which translates to women's knife I am told.
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The tip, when traditionally ground, is rock solid for penetration...a long taper and sharp. Modern designs, like the hamaguri grind on spear tips you mentioned, were designed to be tough (while stabbing armored horses to dismount samurai). In the "Lum" grind I mentioned above, you are correct, it's not the BEST stabbing design, but it certainly works. Traditional tantos, however, are ancient; while carried often by women for self-defense, they were defined as a dagger, or shortest sword.

All blather aside, I own a single Cold Steel tanto, the Nagun? I believe. I purchased it when I was frequently around lots of questionable folks in motorcycle leathers. For utility use, I don't find them the least bit useful. I do like "reverse tanto" wharncliff blades! :)
 
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I think I will get the code 4. I had the clip-point voyager and did not like the handle. It gives a good grip, but the clip-handle combo was a failure. I could not get the knife out of pocket without ripping my pants. Of course some sandpaper could have solved the problem. Anyvay, I like the looks of code 4 more and at this point it is just as good an argument as any other :D

Thanks for your input, everyone. I will tell how I like the knife when it arrives.

My usual EDC knife is, by the way, has this far been some of the traditionals I own. That has changed a bit lately after I bought the Enzo Birk. My apologies to trad forum. :(
 
FYI the new Voyager tantos have a sweep to the edge that older voyagers didn't
 
HFinn said:
To say the truth, the reason I took this up is that I am searching a knife for "martial applications". Things going south where I live and so on.
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In terms of practicality and legality -- I would dissuade you from seeking a knife as your first(?) option for self-defense.
 
Jesse B. said:
In terms of practicality and legality -- I would dissuade you from seeking a knife as your first(?) option for self-defense.
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I know and I am not going to have it as my first or second option. First option is awareness, second is escape, third is unarmed self-defence. Believe, I am not doing anything crazy. Just being prepared and practising what I know. Thing is, there are some threats and I am not going to be a walk-over. This line of discussion ends here, no offence. :)
 
tanto is the least useful blade/tip profile of them all. I have many knives and not a single tanto
 
Japanese tantos are jinto, war blades. These are not used for utility.
The Yoroi Toshi is the blade with the strong point as this blade was designed to punch through armor, leather armor, back then.
 
ridnovir said:
tanto is the least useful blade/tip profile of them all. I have many knives and not a single tanto
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I'd say that's quite a stretch. I can think of quite a few knives with absolutely useless tips, and tantos can still be very effective.
 
Not a big fan of the American tantos; apparently they're good for making thrusting, stabbing motions, but it's not a significant improvement.

However, I find the Grimsmo Norseman has a much more useable blade shape; it's tanto-ish, but the curved bit makes it much more useful.
 
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