What's the best full tang, tanto bladed knife under $100 street price?

[Folderguy]

What's the best bang-for-the-buck fixed blade, full tang, tanto bladed knife under $100 street price?

I'm looking for a thicker bladed knife... Is there something available that has a 1/4" spine on it?

And also, have you actually seen one, and will you vouch for it?

 

[Al-Sheikh]

Have a look at the cold steel recon tanto If I remember correctly it is 3/16" - but it feels like a tank :thumbup: I am not even sure if a 1/4" tanto is so desireable because the blade usually tends to be less high than many other balde designs.

It is full tang (hidden) and the craton handle provides exellent grip. Mine was made of AUS8 steel and never let me down. It was also freaking sharp out of the box. I kept and used it for two years or so before I gave it to a buddy after a joint offroad adventure. IMHO this knife is as good as you can get for a tanto style blade around the 100 USD mark.

A-S

 

[Dag-nabit]

For thick blades you could look to Kanetsune, but, I'm not certain you will find anything for under $100 (not real familiar with their pricing) http://www.kanetsune.com/

Fallkniven is about to release the PRK (police rescue knife) with tanto tip and .18" blade thickness, but pricing is not yet available. http://www.fallkniven.com/en/shop/details/537/7/new-products/prk

Kevin

 

[Devilito]

you can buy the Cold Steel Recon Tanto in San Mai III for $100 on the bay. Open and shut case

 

[GrinderMcgee]

There we go.

 

[Devilito]

^got one to sell for that price?

read my post again where i say "on the bay"

 

[stabman]

read my post again where i say "on the bay"

Except that you have a picture of a Master Tanto, which will not go for $100.

 

[Devilito]

Except that you have a picture of a Master Tanto, which will not go for $100.

fixed, my mistake. I still said Recon Tanto so i didn't misrepresent anything if anyone read my post before looking at the picture.

 

[stabman]

fixed, my mistake. I still said Recon Tanto so i didn't misrepresent anything if anyone read my post before looking at the picture.

Too bad the Master Tanto doesn't go for $100.
I'd get another one for sure!

The Recon Tanto does look like it's decent for $100 though.

 

[Blades]

What about a used Nimravus? I have seen a few in the for "sale forums", but I don't remember what blade shape they had.

 

[tabeeb762]

CS Steel Recon Tanto, CS GI Tanto
Ka-Bar 1264, Ka-Bar 1245
Ontario SP-13, Ontario Tanto Bayonet
Buck Nighthawk
Entrek Jag
Boker Armed Forces Tanto
Gerber Prodigy Tanto
SOG Tsunami

 

[Folderguy]

Thanks for all the suggestions; they are most appreciated.

A question: in your opinion, is the extra $120 or so street price for the Cold Steel Master Tanto ($180-$200 street price new)versus the Cold Steel Recon Tanto (roughly $65 street price) worth it?

 

[Devilito]

Thanks for all the suggestions; they are most appreciated.

A question: in your opinion, is the extra $120 or so street price for the Cold Steel Master Tanto ($180-$200 street price new)versus the Cold Steel Recon Tanto (roughly $65 street price) worth it?

pay the extra and get the Recon Tanto for $100 in San Mai. Not the $65 one

 

[Folderguy]

pay the extra and get the Recon Tanto for $100 in San Mai. Not the $65 one

Thanks for the advice. Most appreciated.

 

[tabeeb762]

Nothing wrong with the AUS8 Recon, especially if you're looking for something to use hard.

 

[Folderguy]

Nothing wrong with the AUS8 Recon, especially if you're looking for something to use hard.

Is it tougher than the Sai Mai?

 

[tabeeb762]

Is it tougher than the Sai Mai?

In my opinion - yes. SMIII is far from weak, but AUS8 is less likely to chip on hard materials.

 

[Folderguy]

In my opinion - yes. SMIII is far from weak, but AUS8 is less likely to chip on hard materials.

Very interesting. There must be a reason for San Mai costing more. Would that be due to it costing more to produce, marketing factors, or maybe the perception it is a "better" steel?

 

[tabeeb762]

Very interesting. There must be a reason for San Mai costing more. Would that be due to it costing more to produce, marketing factors, or maybe the perception it is a "better" steel?

Manufacturing costs is one reason. The laminated steel itself, and also the convex grind and blade finish.
In some cases it is a better steel because it holds an edge longer, and is more rust resistant.

 

[Folderguy]

Manufacturing costs is one reason. The laminated steel itself, and also the convex grind and blade finish.
In some cases it is a better steel because it holds an edge longer, and is more rust resistant.

There are a number of youtube videos on both knives, the recon and the master tanto. The recon is available in both aus8 and San Mai, while the master tanto is available only in San Mai. It's not so easy to distinguish between the recon versions, from what I could tell, to determine which of the two is better. Putting a full convex edge on a blade is easy enough to do with a Work Sharp knife sharpener, so having or not having a convex edge on a blade really isn't an issue for me. All things considered, price-steel-design-etc., which of the three knives would YOU go for?