Why people hate on tantos?

[Grasshopperglock]

All these pictures and not a single one of someone free hand sharpening the tip.

 

[Blues]

A fluke. I knew very little about knives back then, but I had a friend who wouldn't shut up about Benchmade.

We had a guy that ran a facility that did some installations on our unmarked LE vehicles. He also happened to be a distributor or licensed dealer for Benchmade as a sideline. The rest is history.

 

[ferider]

All these pictures and not a single one of someone free hand sharpening the tip.

Don't really understand what the problem is - if at all two straight edges are easier to sharpen than a more pronounced belly.

In use:

(this one is in NitroV, BTW)

Sharpen for next time:

 

[BlindMouse2of3]

All these pictures and not a single one of someone free hand sharpening the tip.

I'll get pictures of my heavily abused CRKT tomorrow. Got food poisoning last night so I won't be leaving the safety of my house today.

But it has 6+ years of blending the edge...

 

[lex2006]

I have been carrying this one for 5 years , still have no reason to hate it yet.

 

[badmatt]

I still think the Japanese style tanto’s are the best shape…

 

[jux t]

All these pictures and not a single one of someone free hand sharpening the tip.

First you do one straight edge, then you do the other straight edge. It ain’t rocket surgery.

Edit: more pictures. I really don’t get why people say they’re difficult to sharpen freehand. You feel for the angle, then grind. No need to adjust for the curve like other blade profiles.

 

[The Hawk]

I would not criticize another person's knife. Maybe the next time they do that you should respond with a remark like "Your sister bought this one for me".

 

[oldrifleman]

Not fan of tantos really, but if someone wants one great. I like a smooth curve in the blade belly to slice things, if you expect to stab things, then go for it.

 

[Chronovore]

The “cheat code” for tantos would be something like the Spyderco Sharpmaker. Or the Lansky V-Sticks sharpener if you’re a cheapskate like me. Just stop right before the points to avoid rounding your points.

I have no idea how to make a whetstone work with a tanto.

I'm surprised that people have trouble sharpening a tanto. I've always just treated the two edges separately, whether with stones or a guided system. A little care is needed to preserve the point between them but it's not so different from preserving the point at the tip. Of course, that's if a person even cares. I see plenty of people who just fly right over it and it doesn't seem to bother them.

 

[Greggy]

Can't say I hate tantos. But, I would not consider purchasing another one, unless I am surprised by a new design. I have two already, and really do not experience any advantage with this design. I prefer wharncliffe type blades, and variations on the same.

 

[shinyedges]

I mainly like tanto blades on folders, all of my tantos have hollow grinds like this Code 4:
View attachment 2341286
I’m not a fan of tantos than are thick behind the edge. With knives like the Code 4, you get a sturdy tip while the rest of the blade is thin behind the edge and slices well. Sharpening these freehanded is a breeze.

Wish more knives had hollow grinds.

 

[mitchnola]

Wish more knives had hollow grinds.

Same here, not only for functionality but they look great.

 

[LimpCroissant]

I did UC work many, many moons ago targeting a 1% gang in the Northeast. Interesting group...but not without the same sorts of issues that most folks have. Plus a lot more baggage.

It turned out much better than I had expected that day in 1994...it could've turned on a dime.

Wow, that's cool man. With the Bureau I presume? I always wondered what it'd be like to work undercover, that's got to be a pretty exhilarating career. Kudos for having the balls to do that.

Man, yea I bet that was an anxiety riddled couple minutes thinking about your time spend undercover targeting a similar group.

 

[Blues]

Wow, that's cool man. With the Bureau I presume? I always wondered what it'd be like to work undercover, that's got to be a pretty exhilarating career. Kudos for having the balls to do that.

Man, yea I bet that was an anxiety riddled couple minutes thinking about your time spend undercover targeting a similar group.

Thanks.

No, not with the Bureau. Other federal agencies. (Not germane here.)

 

[shinyedges]

 

[ShaiHulud]

I'll just say this, I'd take a tanto blade into the Continental Divide for a month and never worry once that the shape will hinder me or get me killed. The "shape wars" is as silly as the "steel wars"

 

[norcalAF]

I thoroughly enjoy my tantos!
View attachment 2342319View attachment 2342320

 

[norcalAF]

View attachment 2342197

I love some Oklahoma Joe's BBQ! From the original truck stop location of course!

 

[w]

I Like my Benchmade tantos.View attachment 2342328