The best tanto? KA BAR, CS, etc.

V

VanDro

Joined
Mar 20, 2008
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Ounce for ounce, who carries the best tanto that can take a whack and come back for more with a few touch ups on a bench stone?

Think tactical for practical.
 
First of all tanto is common myth created by American marketing about brital Japanese Smurai knives - tough, cool, bla-bla-bla... However this design has nothing to do with Japanese short swords (TanTo tan - short to - sword), Japanese fighting knives ar Japanese hunting or Utility knives. What is here in US known as a tanto in Japan is special kitchen knife used only for eel preparation - Unagisaki. It has exactely same ugly tip and only for reason to cut through eel from head to tail with one move which save a lot of time to trained cook.

Do not believe in all what marketing telling you - they are just after your money.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
I should clarify then, what would you recommend as the best Americanized tanto style blade, which includes the false tip along the outer edge and the thick inline spine to maximize a larger puncture wound and tip durability to otherwise punch holes into steel drums. Looking for a beast here.
 
Cold Steel has some pretty good tanto knives.

Btw, the traditional Japanese tanto (below) was used by the Samurai as a sidearm. Knifemakers in America took this design and made it more angular, resulting in what is commonly referred to as the "Americanized tanto".

237_big.jpg


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tantō
 
imho the very best tanto folder is a emerson SOCFK.

the best fixed i have used is probably a cold steel.
 
Strider makes a number of different tanto blades. Some of the more recent Striders look more like the Japanese style tanto.
 
why would you want to punch holes in a metal drum with your knife?? HD-7.
 
i have a tanto folder from cs. my first day edc'ing it, i opened it up to open some mail while at work. when i went to close it, it somehow escaped my grip. new knife, being too careful, whatever. it fell on the floor, obviously i didn't try and grab it. lol

well, a small tip broke off. it is barely noticeable when looking at it, but i have not carried that knife ever since. obviously this can happen to any knife, but i thought i would share.
 
Just in case I have to, and it is more a test to see if it would punch through other thin, metal-walled surfaces (i.e. car doors).
 
Vandro---Any sturdy blade can punch through thin metal. Have you watched the CS VDO?? Keep that in mind. Post which knife you purchase!
 
I want to pick up the Recon Tanto, but I don't know about that AUS-8 for heavy application. Experiences?
 
AUS-8 is an excellent steel! I have a SOG with AUS-8 and it's a winner. Wait for more knuts to chime in though.
 
Another vote for Cold Steel !!! :thumbup:

The magnum series 7/9/13 inch are the best IMHO but for a tactical application, you should buy a custom kydex sheath.
 
I just nabbed a CS Recon Tanto in Carbon V for $48. Excellent!

The magnum series is on my Xmas list because I have no where near the fun money to buy one. I prefer a workhorse anyways.
 
Great work, let us know how it goes

Rich357 said:
Some of the more recent Striders look more like the Japanese style tanto.
Click to expand...

The CRKT Hissatsu is very similar in appearance to a Japanese sytle tanto too. It was designed by the owner (or some senior person) of Bugei which makes Katana swords and the above tanto pictured in my post.

2323373428_54f1e5b6d9.jpg
 
I like this - "Japanese style tanto"!
This is just super! Bravo!

Thanks, Vassili.
 
I sort of like Chris Reeve's version of the "tanto." It's not that great a chopper, but it cuts well and is very tough. It's only drawback, in my opinion, is that the blade is a little too long.

The Cold Steel variation that I've owned for about 4 years now is the sharpest knife I own. Most of my knives are reasonable sharp, but the CS cuts through coarse, heavy weight paper and fibers as smoothly as any blade I've ever used.

As far as folders... The only ones I've tried were produced by Mick Strider. They seemed reasonably well put together and sharp and tough.
 
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