[ruger357]

What purpose do they serve in comparison with drop points etc.
Thanks

[KMKeller]

Mainly increased point strength.

[shooter.45]

Yes I have also heard the Blade is Stronger.

[Joe Demko]

For years, they have served to increase revenue for cutlers.

[Sharp Phil]

They're a little easier to sharpen than a knife with "belly," too.

[Skunkabilly]

They look neat :cool:

Well so do drop points :)

[Felonious Monk]

My Cold Steel XL Tanto would probably be what I'd want to have open and ready if I knew in advance I was headed into a close encounter of the knife kind. It's a utilitarian shank of razor-sharp steel like no other I own. Hardest blade, too. Tried to Dremel a wave in it and pretty much used up the cone-shaped grinder head.

My drop point Kelly Worden Tactical with the wood grips is by far the sweetest looker, though.

[Geezer]

I carry one of each, just because I have one of each, mostly. I have more faith that the tanto point will cut through the greenbone of a rib and get to where it will do some good a little better than the drop point.

If any of you have cut through a cervidae sternum, you know what I mean. Once you get it started, any old knife cuts right through the bone. It seems like the tanto point might get started with less of a thrust behind it than the drop point. The idea is that maybe you can get the job done with less of a muscular committment to the thrust, which is good in case you have to try again real quick.

In the old days, everybody practiced holding the blade flat so it had a better chance of missing ribs, but you know lots of things don't work out like they do in practice. We all held our knives just like cooks and butchers do, (That was before all of the different grips they teach nowadays.), the idea was control rather than maximum force.

Of course this argument for the tanto tip is based on just looking at it, I haven't had to test the theory.

As far as slashing goes, it seems that the tip would be pretty irrelevant. I can't say, I never had an occasion to slash.

God bless and y'all be careful out there.:cool:

[jar]

Actually, the classic Tanto is a contiuous curve, not the sharp straight edge seen on most US knives.

Here is a classic Tanto from David Brodziak.
http://www.omninet.net.au/~brodziak/collectors/collectorsimages/c18.jpg
and another
http://www.omninet.net.au/~brodziak/collectors/collectorsimages/c6-2a.jpg

compared one of the typical US modern ones.
http://www.fototime.com/5179BF888485CAB/standard.jpg

[Benjamin]

What purpose do they serve in comparison with drop points etc.

Inflate Lynn Thompson's ego.

[Quartus]

quote:
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What purpose do they serve in comparison with drop points etc.
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Inflate Lynn Thompson's ego.


That's not true!


It's not POSSIBLE to inflate his ego any further. But they DO inflate his pocketbook.


American Tanto = 100% Pure marketing hype.