Mini Tac series sthrenght

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Smiling

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Nov 21, 2019
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Those knives are compact, well designed and well priced. Handle design and size are just excellent. Mini Tac Tanto is at my sight but I have a few concerns about it.

1. Secure-ex sheath:
I had problems with it when it came to my Recon Tanto, so I can't see how could it be any different now, and getting another sheath for knife of such design won't be such an easy task.

2. Blade thickness:
This blade is 2.5mm thick (or thin). It is a full tang blade, but the tang gets very thin on the place where first, deepest finger choil is. So when it comes to such a thin blade, it's definitley a concern.

3. Steel choice:
This is AUS8A. We know that it's not the worst, but it's also very far from the best. And AUS8A isn't really known for it's toughness, and with such a thin blade which also has such a deep finger choil - it's definitley a concern. Had they used plain carbon like SK-5, something semi stainless like D2 or stainless like 14C28N it would made me much less concerned.

4. Lack of sthrenght and durability tests:
Even Cold Steel themself didn't test those in a way they test other knives in their videos. Most challenging was ammo box stab and that 1 pull up a guy did. That pull-up would have been enough had the weight been placed on the knife laterally. And there's 0 sthrenght tests about them on YouTube.

My question is, if anyone of you has a Mini Tac knife - what's the most challenging thing you did with it? Did you ever experience any issues either?
 
Quick response.

Aus8 is fine steel, particularly for a working knife. It's actually my favorite steel for knives I intend to beat the hell out of, as it's strong and takes an edge very quickly. Are there better steels? Obviously! But in the real world it doesn't matter all that much. In my opinion.

As for this blade's design, I am not seeing any problem. I just measured mine and it is 1/2" wide at the narrowest point of the finger choil. While I am sure you could probably devise a way to break it there if you wanted to, something involving a table vise and a pipe would probably do it if you wanted to, I am not sure what you are envisioning doing that would cause you any concern. That's okay though, for me, I have no concern, none, ZERO, about the strength or safety of this design. I like the shape.

Blade thickness is of course thin. For a reason. It's a very light knife. I can't comment about the chain as I have never used it that way (it does, however, work). I mounted one of those C-clip things so that I could carry this sideways on my belt, and it works great so far. I am not a huge fan of these types of sheaths, but at this price point it's what I would expect.

Anyway, it's like twenty or thirty bucks, and it's a LOT of knife for that price. Buy one, use the hell out of it, abuse it, try to wear it out, and if you manage it congratulations! You have an excuse to buy something else.
 
I wouldn't try to break it on purpose, but if I swing it and hit in something like hard piece of wood or bone, and other kinds of (ab)use or somehow I need to place force on it laterally... I'm not too confident in steel and thickness.
 
What goal(s) are you trying to attain with this knife. Neck knives are usually give up ultimate strength for lightness and size for concealibility, but the main constraint is the cost. I don't own one or plan to buy, but CS has never let me down as long as I take into consideration its intended use and cost. I prefer the Spike's for my neck knives, not the ridiculous plastic handle but the cord wrapped ones. I rarely carry them because there so many better knives in my collection to carry, but for ultimate concealment there is nothing like it. Here is my Strider Titanium Neck Knife, super strong and lightweight but the cost....... IMG_4481 - Copy.jpg
 
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nephron said:
What goal(s) are you trying to attain with this knife. Neck knives are usually give up ultimate strength for lightness and size for concealibility, but the main constraint is the cost. I don't own one or plan to buy, but CS has never let me down as long as I take into consideration its intended use and cost. I prefer the Spike's for my neck knives, not the ridiculous plastic handle but the cord wrapped ones. I rarely carry them because there so many better knives in my collection to carry, but for ultimate concealment there is nothing like it. Here is my Strider Titanium Neck Knife, super strong and lightweight but the cost....... View attachment 1361978
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This is a beautiful piece.

Well my purpose for it is EDC, and I sometimes use my EDC knives hard. So that says it.
 
nephron said:
What goal(s) are you trying to attain with this knife. Neck knives are usually give up ultimate strength for lightness and size for concealibility, but the main constraint is the cost. I don't own one or plan to buy, but CS has never let me down as long as I take into consideration its intended use and cost. I prefer the Spike's for my neck knives, not the ridiculous plastic handle but the cord wrapped ones. I rarely carry them because there so many better knives in my collection to carry, but for ultimate concealment there is nothing like it. Here is my Strider Titanium Neck Knife, super strong and lightweight but the cost....... View attachment 1361978
Click to expand...
This ^^^ :cool::thumbsup::thumbsup:

The Mini Tac are made to be compact , concealable and relatively inexpensive .

They are primarily for SD with maybe some light to medium utility use . They are great for this type use . :):thumbsup:

If you need a really hard use , survival type knife , this is NOT it . Even the handle is not very good for any extended hard work , IMO .

 
DocJD said:
This ^^^ :cool::thumbsup::thumbsup:

The Mini Tac are made to be compact , concealable and relatively inexpensive .

They are primarily for SD with maybe some light to medium utility use . They are great for this type use . :):thumbsup:

If you need a really hard use , survival type knife , this is NOT it . Even the handle is not very good for any extended hard work , IMO .

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Then I'm coming back to Mini Pendleton Hunter in 3V (that I ordered long time ago and got a refund because it never came). Or Esee like my friend advices (he has one).
 
DocJD said:
This ^^^ :cool::thumbsup::thumbsup:

The Mini Tac are made to be compact , concealable and relatively inexpensive .

They are primarily for SD with maybe some light to medium utility use . They are great for this type use . :):thumbsup:

If you need a really hard use , survival type knife , this is NOT it . Even the handle is not very good for any extended hard work , IMO .

Click to expand...
Agreed. The Mini-Tac and Bird and Trout series don’t strike me as hard use knives. They’re light utility knives for when your friend gets a shoelace stuck in an escalator or you got a package that needs opening.
 
DangerZone98 said:
Agreed. The Mini-Tac and Bird and Trout series don’t strike me as hard use knives. They’re light utility knives for when your friend gets a shoelace stuck in an escalator or you got a package that needs opening.
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Light and tactical use it is then, now comes the question, do you want to be in tactical situation with a knife that can't take a lot of abuse?

I know that knife doesn't need to be that strong to wound or stab a person, but in such situation anything can happen, we won't just assume that our enemy is weak or slow, he is strong and fast and he'll put up a fight and who knows what can happen. So you also want a strong tool by your side.

Tactical stuff on the side, I can already see myself prying or digging with it, and I honestly think I'd pick up a bend doing that.
 
Smiling said:
Light and tactical use it is then, now comes the question, do you want to be in tactical situation with a knife that can't take a lot of abuse?

I know that knife doesn't need to be that strong to wound or stab a person, but in such situation anything can happen, we won't just assume that our enemy is weak or slow, he is strong and fast and he'll put up a fight and who knows what can happen. So you also want a strong tool by your side.

Tactical stuff on the side, I can already see myself prying or digging with it, and I honestly think I'd pick up a bend doing that.
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If you’re after prying/digging/fighting capabilities, I think the ESEE knives would probably be more suited for that. Say the Izula, ESEE 3, or 4 perhaps. Those knives have a rep for being tough. Awesome warranty too. My Izula hasn’t bent or chipped on me yet.

As for Cold Steel, their 52100 drop forged series looks promising as tank knives. I plan on picking up a Drop Forged Hunter to see for myself.
 
I have the Kiridashi, Bowie, and Tanto. I bought a handful of Bowies when they were on sale, and gave/sold them to my co-workers. This is an incredible self defense tool, and will do that job, just fine. It is great for a purse, or Maxpedition bag. No need for testing, IMO. I can be EDCd, but I prefer folders.
 
mwhich50 said:
I have the Kiridashi, Bowie, and Tanto. I bought a handful of Bowies when they were on sale, and gave/sold them to my co-workers. This is an incredible self defense tool, and will do that job, just fine. It is great for a purse, or Maxpedition bag. No need for testing, IMO. I can be EDCd, but I prefer folders.
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I might get one and see, if I trash it - I trash it. I'll see it's strenght myself :D
 
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