New vs old Recon Tanto

[Ruari]

Picked up a 2nd hand (MIB) Recon Tanto SK-5 flavour and thought I'd do a quick compare with an old (Camillus?) Carbon V Recon Tanto.

Initial thoughts are that it is still a quintessential American tanto, easily recognisable by its silhouette and lines.

There are some subtle and some obvious differences though.
The SK-5 Tanto has a hollow grind, not ridiculously dished out, but it's there. No bad thing in reality.
It has a shorter ricasso than the Carbon V blade.
It has a more pronounced secondary point than the Carbon V blade, more chisel like than the subtly shallower angle of the original.
The Kray-Ex (Krayton) handle has little dots rather than chequered, but actually feels 'grippier' than the chequered.

Still a great knife, 'no ragrets' in buying another.

 

[Man with no name]

 

[Ruari]

Nice, is that the San Mai III version?

 

[Man with no name]

Nice, is that the San Mai III version?

Yes. San Mai Taiwan.There were earlier versions years ago that were produced in Japan.

 

[KenHash]

After Camillus went under, Cold Steel contracted with the Kinryu Corp in Seki Japan to make several CSknives.
Kinryu made the Aus8, solid VG1 (CS38CKJ1 and 13RTKJ1) and VG1 San Mai III SRKs and Recon Tantos. They also made the San Mai Laredo and
Natchez.