Cold Steel G.I tanto???

Monofletch

Monofletch

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Jan 14, 2010
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Someone at work asked me about the Cold Steel G.I. tanto. The guy wants a big , tough, knife-but likes the price of this one. He has drooled over my Becker and my customs and wants his first "real" knife. He watched the Youtube videos from CS and is set on this knife. I have already directed him to the Condor Rodan and BK2.

Tell the good and bad about the G.I Tanto ;)
 
It's a fairly tough, good starter knife in my opinion. The scales and the sheath arent the best but at that price, you can't expect much.
 
Great knife for the price, tough, easy to sharpen, big enough to do most outdoor chores. I removed the secondary tip and gave it belly (took me all of 5 minutes), and it really is a no-brainer for all those sane people who do not want to spend the type of money on a fixed blade that we all do. :D
 
My example was one of the first releases. Cord wrapped handles.

I have been throwing it for years now.

I would describe it as "unbreakable". Or about as unbreakable as it gets in that thickness of steel.

For a beater, it cannot be beat!

It is not a super great slicer. Mine came shaving sharp, but with such a low saber grind, it is not optimal for fine cutting tasks.

If them made another version with belly, I would recommend that for a general knife.

The Tanto shape is fun, but not as practical for some things.

I ground the top guard off, and the handle is just a lot of tape now (throwing knives tend to get the handles cut when thrown with other knives and hawks at the same time).
 
After watching the destruction tests of one I was sold on its toughness and finally bought one. The sheath and handle scales are pretty basic but functional. The blade is stamped out of a flat sheet of steel and an edge ground on it, it doesn't have any other machine work to pretty it up. I don't think any of this affects its utility, just makes the price less. If you want something that looks fancy then you will have to spend more. My Cold Steel SRK is my knife that is closest in size to the GI Tanto and in comparison it has a lot more machining to make it look like a pretty nice knife.

Here is the SRK compared to the GIT (previous owner removed the blade coating from the GIT).

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The cutting edge sure is a long way from the hilt on that thing. Not sure about that as a feature. Going to cut down on functionality for sure.
 
You can choke up in the choil, but it sure is not a bushcrafter!

Pinning the can to the throwing stump.

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As I said, I basically only use it for fun, and throwing, and it has held up wonderfully.

 
Monofletch said:
How does it compare to the Condor Rodan?
Click to expand...

I don't own the Condor Rodan.

Completely different design.

I am going to have to say, the Rodan looks more "useful" from the standpoint of an outdoor knife.

It is not a "tactical" blade. If I was buying one to carry and use, it would go for the Condor. As a knock around, thrower, abuser, the GI tanto is pretty tough to beat. I would probably replace the scales with Micarta, which would be pretty easy.

I have bought two Condor's in their 1075(???) carbon steel, and have been nothing but pleased with the knives for the price! I recommend Condor for the budget end. Their usefulness greatly outweighs the cost. Most of them come with a polished convex edge, which saves me from having to do it my self. Great stuff!
 
Monofletch, i own both the bk2 and the GI-tanto. After i bought the GI , i put some Beech grips on it and it is a great beat-up knife for the price. I'm thinking of getting a rodan (i like condor ALOT) They are different types of knives and i have a hard time
comparing them. But for the money your friend can get both for not that much money.
Clay
 
You might consider the true flight thrower. It's got more of an utility blade. Also 5mm thick, 1mm more than the GI tanto. It's got a cord wrapped handle, though it would not be hard to make some scales and slap them on.
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HoosierQ said:
The cutting edge sure is a long way from the hilt on that thing. Not sure about that as a feature. Going to cut down on functionality for sure.
Click to expand...

Take scales off, use that area and other side of hilt to lash a limb or sapling for a spear.

- OS
 
I don't own either, but judging from the destruction tests on Youtube, the GI Tanto is one hell of a tough knife. The Rodan looks a lot more 'useful' though.
 
You get what you pay for. For $33 you can get an Estwing hatchet that will blow it away for wood work.

I'd spend a little more and get a Becker. Maybe a used one.
 
I do love my BK2, but I rarely use it. I am wanting to get something more practical (for myself) like a tweener 15, 16, or 17. I don't need to split logs or chop through a Buick.
 
The rodan will outperform the tanto in just about everything, however they are very different, the condor varan is a bit bigger than the rodan but still in the same price range, it is probably more comprable to the tanto than the rodan is.

There is really nothing wrong with the Gi tanto thouugh, at that price at least
 
The gi tanto is a great beater. If your friend is serious about getting out there and using it, it will teach him what he wants out of a knife and he can choose a knife for himself.
 
For the price, there's basically nothing you can complain about in the GIT. It's a great beater, just like all of Cold Steel's cheap fixed blades.
 
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