Which Recon Tanto is better - Aus8 or San Mai III?

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Rickyj

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Aug 4, 2009
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I collect tactical and combat fixed blades and I really like tanto's. I want to buy a recon tanto, but am unsure as to which one is better for self defense - Aus8 version, or San Mai III? The reason I ask is because I can't afford both right now and have to choose one.

Can anyone help?::confused:
 
For self defense? Either. The Aus8 will definitely be better when the cops confiscate it, engrave a case number on it, and toss it into the evidence locker/safe.
 
Srben said:
For self defense? Either. The Aus8 will definitely be better when the cops confiscate it, engrave a case number on it, and toss it into the evidence locker/safe.
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lol:thumbup:
 
Go with San Mai...
 
Rickyj said:
I collect tactical and combat fixed blades and I really like tanto's. I want to buy a recon tanto, but am unsure as to which one is better for self defense - Aus8 version, or San Mai III? The reason I ask is because I can't afford both right now and have to choose one.

Can anyone help?::confused:
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For an SD blade you won't beable to tell the difference. ;)

If you were going to be using it I would lean towards the SM III becuase of the better edge holding of the VG-1 SM III steel.

AUS8 is very good steel, very tough and will hold an edge well.
 
Yes, the San Mai is a little better but despite the reputation of AUS-8, Cold Steel really knows how to do their Aus-8.
 
Thanks for the input, gentlemen, so far it would seem that the general consensus is San Mai III - point taken (guess I'll have to save up). Just one note to Srben, I don't live in the US - here in South Africa even machetes are considered "traditional weapons", so no-one will bother me regarding my knives. In any case, I serve on the governing body of the local police force - we call it the Community Policing Forum. But your anecdote was quite funny, so thanks.
 
Rickyj said:
Thanks for the input, gentlemen, so far it would seem that the general consensus is San Mai III - point taken (guess I'll have to save up). Just one note to Srben, I don't live in the US - here in South Africa even machetes are considered "traditional weapons", so no-one will bother me regarding my knives. In any case, I serve on the governing body of the local police force - we call it the Community Policing Forum. But your anecdote was quite funny, so thanks.
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I wasn't joking. I live in Texas, and I conceal carry a handgun and knife pretty much all day. I have spoken with numerous people that have been involved in self defense shootings, and when they got their guns back, they were engraved with the case number, and one had cracked grips. The police officer that arrived on-scene at one of the shootings took the guy's gun and literally tossed it through the window of the patrol car onto the seat. It also took over a year to get that gun back. I would suggest that anyone that CCW's not carry a $ 3,000 Les Baer.
 
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San Mai is really a rip off steel. It's got a good, mid-grade steel on the inside and is flanked by two unnecessary slabs of inexpensive 420 steels to protect the inside steel.

Now if the inside steel was hard and brittle, yes, the two slabs would help protect it from breaking. But Cold Steel makes entire knife blades from VG-1 steel, and these blades are often shown in their videos being clamped into vices and bent to various degrees without breaking. Since this steel is being used in knives up to six inches in length and performs well, one can't help but wonder why it would need 420 slabs protecting it!

I don't know, maybe CS makes their VG-1 cores hard and brittle, but I would be surprised if they were any different than the steel used in their Voyagers.

One of the best steels the company produced was the Carbon V, which was made by another company. When that company went under, the Carbon V stopped being available. AUS8 is very good as a stainless blade, especially when done by CS. I've found that whatever steel is offered by the company is about as good as it's capable of being. I have knives made from 440A (which I ordinarily don't care for), and most of them won't sharpen worth beans and if they do get sharp, they don't stay that way. But Cold Steel's knives made with that steel are exceptional. Not only do they get blisteringly sharp -- they actually hold their edges. People who own the old Pro-Lites and Night Forces seem to be very happy with them. I routinely carry a Recon 1 with a 440A blade and I love it. It's one of the few knives I have to warn people about when I hand it to them because it's so sharp.

Bottom Line: San Mai is beautiful when polished. Maybe CS does make the inner core brittle and sharp, who knows? For self defense, though, the steel doesn't really matter as long as the knife is sharp when you need it. I personally carry their 5-inch AUS-8 blade (in addition to the Recon 1), and it's done everything I need it to do.

Konjo1_2.jpg


The Konjo is a knife I bought just for its beauty (and the fact that it was
on sale). The mirror finish, razor sharp blade and quality sheath made it
a bargain.
 
Srben said:
I have spoken with numerous people that have been involved in self defense shootings, and when they got their guns back, they were engraved with the case number, and one had cracked grips. The police officer that arrived on-scene at one of the shootings took the guy's gun and literally tossed it through the window of the patrol car onto the seat. It also took over a year to get that gun back.
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In Maryland, I doubt you'd ever get the gun back.

When I worked for the National Rifle Association years back, there was a judge who refused to return any gun for any reason if it had been involved in a fatal shooting. Her point of view was that no gun that had taken a human life should ever be returned to circulation. She believed it should be destroyed. We had to go after her to get peoples' guns back. She reviled the NRA for even trying to get them back!

These people really think it's the gun or the knife that's to blame. They'll happily turn them into manhole covers and then let the murderers go, all the while trying to second guess the motives of people who defend themselves. As James Brady said, if people need protection from criminals, that's why they have 911. (He didn't mention all the dead bodies they found near their phones with a 911 operator on the other end.)
 
If I wanted something for self defense or anything that might be used to stab a person I would look for something with better penetration those tantos are too thick at the point sure they are strong but just not pointy enough.
 
Confederate said:
In Maryland, I doubt you'd ever get the gun back.

When I worked for the National Rifle Association years back, there was a judge who refused to return any gun for any reason if it had been involved in a fatal shooting. Her point of view was that no gun that had taken a human life should ever be returned to circulation. She believed it should be destroyed. We had to go after her to get peoples' guns back. She reviled the NRA for even trying to get them back!

These people really think it's the gun or the knife that's to blame. They'll happily turn them into manhole covers and then let the murderers go, all the while trying to second guess the motives of people who defend themselves. As James Brady said, if people need protection from criminals, that's why they have 911. (He didn't mention all the dead bodies they found near their phones with a 911 operator on the other end.)
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I hear you. If people freak out about a shooting, you can probably guess how you'll get treated if you have to stab someone. Only criminals carry knives. :rolleyes: I used to work in a high rise office building and wear a suit. Once, while talking to someone near the elevators, I absentmindedly pulled out my Swiss Army Knife and took out the tweezers and started to pull out a splinter in my finger that was bothering me. The guy's eyes got real big, and he said "You have a knife? Why do you carry a knife?". The way he said it, the tone and inflection, made it almost sound like I had a hockey mask in my other pocket, and that a slash-fest was imminent - and this was in Texas! Imagine what will happen in a more liberal/restrictive locale.
 
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thebrain said:
If I wanted something for self defense or anything that might be used to stab a person I would look for something with better penetration those tantos are too thick at the point sure they are strong but just not pointy enough.
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Not to be gruesome but it's all just juice between the bones. They don't have to be dagger points for this purpose. An 8oz knife almost penetrates a side of elk to the handle when dropped point down from 3-4 feet. That's just the weight of the knife alone with no force but gravity. :)
 
Rickyj said:
I want to buy a recon tanto, but am unsure as to which one is better for self defense - Aus8 version, or San Mai III?
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In the case of the Recon Tanto, I think I would go for the San Mai blade, as the price difference is not that great with this knife. :thumbup:

With some of the other CS knives, the San Mai option can more to the cost of the knife, than I find the minor benefits of San Mai to be worth . :rolleyes:
 
Cold Steel really knows what they are doing with AUS-8 so either knife would be great.
 
pholder said:
use keys for self defense, knife as a cutting tool
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Don't take that as gold. Use whatever you have if it is justifiable self defense.

"Sir, he came and started punching me! I had the knife I use for work and I thought I was gonna be a gonner so I pulled my knife before I was about to lose consciousness and I managed to stop the attack thank God."
 
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