Why tanto?

J

jasonbroni

Joined
Dec 10, 2009
Messages
325
I'm not bashing them - I just don't get it? Is there a specific purpose for them, or do (some people) just think they are cool?
Just curious.. thanks in advance!
 
Not for everyone, granted, but the chisel tip tanto is a useful design. I've seen them used to pry open paint cans, scrape head gaskets, cut plastic hose and straps, with little ill effect. Some people consider them 'tactical', whatever that means... I suppose they look intimidating to some folks. I've used my original brass hilt CS tanto for butchering large game; its curved edge slices very well and the chisel tip works great for cutting through joints, plus the Kraton grip doesn't easily get slippery. I keep an Emerson-Kershaw tanto in the SUV for emergency use; it would work well cutting through seatbelts, even auto glass, or prying open a stuck door.
 
They work well as a box cutter.
They aren't any stronger than other types of tips necessarily and they don't puncture better ether. Some love'em and say its for slashing.

I don't care for them but have made them by request? Each to his own?
 
The americanized tanto is one of my favorite blade shapes for utility work. You have two tips, the secondary tip being great for draw-cuts and the primary tip is generally very well reinforced for puncturing without significant tip damage. Additionally, that gives you two straight edges. I like to keep the longer edge at a thinner grind for fine controlled cuts, and the smaller secondary edge at a thicker grind so it can be used for scraping and also not become deformed when the tanto point is used for puncturing.

I also find that two straight edges are a lot easier to strop / hone / sharpen than one upswept edge, but that's just personal preference.
 
The yoroi toshi, not the tanto, was designed to defeat leather armor.
rolf
 


Possibly the most beautiful blade shape ever.
 
Way back in the day, I had a Cold Steel SRK and also had a Recon Tanto.

I didn't notice a great difference in the tip strength between the two, in spite of the different blade profiles. But I did like the tanto tip for some reason.

I also had an old Benchmade 970 (CQC7 copy) with a tanto blade. I liked it for working around the docks, and I used to sound piling and decking with the tanto tip. In retrospect, I probably could have used any of my knives for this task, but the ol' tanto seemed best suited for it.

I have a Kershaw Brawler in tanto configuration... might be the last tanto I buy.

Unless Charlie Mike wants to sell me that creation of his.
 
What many refer to as a Tanto is not a Tanto

They are more Kwaiken size and shape

This is a modern interpretation of a Tanto .....note the size and guard



[video=youtube_share;yBTkMjD5u60]http://youtu.be/yBTkMjD5u60[/video]

This is a modern interputation of a Kwaiken which many would mistakenly call a Tanto



[video=youtube_share;pXQ7HH5M-Zc]http://youtu.be/pXQ7HH5M-Zc[/video]

I love modern interputations of Classical Japanese designs

They worked than and work now
 
The word "tanto" is used to describe a variety of knives. Not all of those descriptions may be accurate though.

There's a world of difference between say, the tip of a traditional samurai blade, and the tip of a Cold Steel GI Tanto.

I've always looked upon the "Americanized" tanto, with it's straight, chisel edges as more of a novelty, or just another variety. Something different to give people buying options. I don't see any added benefit to it. But perhaps others do. Perhaps some find it easier to sharpen completely straight edges.

I think the popularity of "tantos" here in the US began in the eighties with Lynn Thompson demonstrating his tanto by stabbing through car doors and oil drums, etc. Such knife demonstrations were pretty much unheard of before Lynn, and I think they gave a lot of impressionable people the idea that the tanto point possessed super strength and super penetrating capabilities. And those impressions live on to this day.

For a long time I had no interest in tantos, and would never think of owning a tanto blade. But then one day, seemingly out of nowhere I found myself wanting one. The Benchmade Stryker tanto is a contender. Although I wish the blade were a little longer.
 
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I never used to like them,but have taken a recent liking to them.I just like pointy knives most of the time.Granted a spear point or drop point would do just as well,but these seem to just have a little "badass factor" going for them. :cool:

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jasonbroni said:
I'm not bashing them - I just don't get it? Is there a specific purpose for them, or do (some people) just think they are cool?
Just curious.. thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

Change of pace, like driving my trick lifted pickup to work on Friday. Love the blacked out roadhouse I often carry.
 
Joe Paranee is the Man. :thumbup:

An RJ kwaiken I recently acquired.
Kangaroo lined and covered kydex sheath.
Razor blade. :)

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Doug
 
jasonbroni said:
I'm not bashing them - I just don't get it? Is there a specific purpose for them, or do (some people) just think they are cool?
Just curious.. thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

One of the things I have enjoyed most in collecting knives has been buying different blade and handle shapes & designs (most of which I didn't totally understand when I bought them), and using them so that I gain a first-hand understanding of what each design does well and does not do well. Nearly every shape variation serves the purpose of adding to a knife's ability to do something specific. Some designs are more well suited to a wide range of uses than others, but nearly all designs are really good at something specific. I have been surprised more than once to find out I like or love a knife blade that I was not so sure of before I actually used it. Same is somewhat true of handle designs but to a lesser degree (since I only use one type of hand for all types of cutting). The shape that most manufacturers and knife makers call "tanto" is a very versatile design with a wide range of utility, outdoor, and defense uses. Since you're thinking about the design enough to ask about it, I suggest you get one and try it for yourself...you never know..it might just become your favorite blade..?
 
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