What do you think about the Tanto style blade?

[Piedmont Plinker]

Jack Black

Yes. After this, he just switched to using corn-on-the-cob sticks to stab people in the eye, or his luchador skills
I'm sorry, I couldn't resist.
As for the tanto, I don't really care about its orgins. I find it is better for cutting in long, thin lines. If you look at a scalpel or Exacto knife, they are essentially a Tanto. It's also good for prying, and probably, though I've never done, stabbing, sticking.
I don't do a lot of any of these, and I think it is ugly, at least the very angular ones, like on my Benchmade Vex, so I normally don't carry it.

 

[The Tourist]

CZ.22, I'm a "slicer" myself. I seldom hunt anymore, I camp even less and most of my knife use is on envelopes, UPS boxes and errant chores like loose threads.

In fact, most of my clients report the same thing. They have a "gentleman's folder" as an EDC, and a campfire knife for those summer excursions.

The wild card comes into play by the quality of the tanto and its care.

If you let me sharpen an Emerson, your slicing ability is unparalleled.

However, if you grab a six-dollar tactical tanto from "Ninjas R Us," don't think you know everything about tantos and chisel grinds.

My belief is that this is one area where it is difficult to speak in generalities, you must name the knife and consider the use. The example I raise with my clients is that many folks think a Harley is unsophisticated and slow--however a vehicle with a Sporster engine held the land speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats.

And remember, I cannot keep an Emerson knife in stock, and many of them are the most expensive knives I carry.

 

[The Tourist]

Many of those companies offering something new called a "tanto" have modified the original Lum design heavily.

Hmmm. Okay. Parts of that I reluctantly support.

My problem is trying to espouse a debate (within a few paragraghs) on 13th century Japanese cutlery and a modern American folder.

(Oh, and you have to allow the idea of "refinements." No matter where you begin your debate on the cutler and natal year of the American Tanto, you'll slice yourself into a coma foolishly handling a Strider Nightmare blade.)

And that's the real problem for me. On one hand, there is no, absolutely zero, zilch, nada, lineage from Japanese feudal history to Ernie's workbench.

And on the other hand, without a bent little guy and a bucket of red mud we wouldn't have Bob Lum--or much of the early 1990's innovation. In fact, didn't Lum use a Japanese character as a logo for business at one time?

And if you argue that Lum, Terzuola and Emerson are, in fact, applying modern craftsmanship based on any facet of eastern culture--and I mean even the faintest sliver--then where do Strider and MercWorx fit in the span of history? Legitmate offshoots, or knock-offs?

And what about me? My whole approach to sharpening is based on polishing derived from Japanese sword making. However, I did not know that fact when I started my career.

I will say this. Many debates are never won and much enjoyed. For example, we have the 9mm vs. .45 ACP and the Ford vs. Chevy argument.

If I had to pick a side, I'd say that someone had a history book. They looked at successful designs over a long span of time. They considered an American market and modern manufacturing techniques. Hence, the American Tanto.

HSO, I must add a disclaimer. I do not know a lot about Bob Lum, I have never carried his products. Other than through museum glass, I have never seen a truly authentic samurai katana. I have never touched or seen a MercWorx knife--I do not carry that brand. I have considered buying a CS tanto with the traditional Japanese rounded tip simply for research, but I'm not sure 300 bucks is worth it. I feel that if I'm going to shoot my mouth off I should be equally honest about my limited areas, as well.

 

[walking arsenal]

I've had my smith and wesson SWAT Spec ops since 1999. It's been a great knife and has held up to everything I've ever put it through.

It's my daily carry knife, defense knife and rescue knife. I like it so much that two years ago I bought a spare since I thought that this one might be done soon. That spare has never been used because this one is still ticking.

The instant you try to cut something with a little finesse beyond scratching/popping tape or a piece of string, you'll regret it. A regular drop-point blade with a traditional double bevel is infinitely more practical and controlable.

I disagree. My knife is has cut everything I've ever wanted it to. I've cut climbing rope and seatbelts with this knife. I've opened cans with the tip by driving it through the lid and twisting it. (I bet some of you just cringed)

I've broke auto glass windows with it using it as a field expedient glass punch and it still opens envelopes, peels apples and cleans my finger nails just fine.

Opening packages is no problem and I've never slipped and cut myself with it.

I bet a lot of folks cant make the same claims about their drop points.

 

[The Tourist]

I bet a lot of folks cant make the same claims about their drop points.

I keep returning to the design, myself.

I wonder if the discussion of the American Tanto is simply recognition of American tastes and useage. We don't sell as many puukos because we field dress fewer reindeer.

There is something called unrelated parallel design.

 

[CWL]

without a bent little guy and a bucket of red mud we wouldn't have Bob Lum--or much of the early 1990's innovation. In fact, didn't Lum use a Japanese character as a logo for business at one time?

Correction, Bob Lum used his own Chinese name as his mark. If you are not aware, Japanese written language was originally borrowed from China.

TT, you seem to think that custom knives didn't exist until the 1990's. Bob Lum had been making knives since the 1970's. His well thought-out blade designs and clean lines have heavily influenced the custom knifemakers in business today. You have to understand the real history of US knifemakers and their origins, not just from the time where you may have entered the business.

 

[bigdaddydan]

the tanto blade is one bada** looking blade have several of them and absolutely love each and everyone of them but there is absolutely no way in hatees that I would buy some cheap a** pos always buy a quality blade it will outlive you and your family if you take care of it

 

[The Tourist]

TT, you seem to think that custom knives didn't exist until the 1990's.

Never meant to imply that. One of my favorite knife makers is Bob Loveless.

The scope of the American Tantos comes from many definitions--and even the definitions are murky.

(As you may remember, I told you I had insider info.)

One of the things that cannot be ignored is Emerson's short collaboration with Benchmade. I have many clients who came to know Ernie's work when they bought their first 970SBT.

As stated, I think there's quite a bit of history in the tanto. But as I related to HSO, how much is true and accurate, how much doesn't matter, and who knows what Lum, Terzuola and Emerson were thinking as they designed knives.

I also don't want to rush to judgement just because an American knife has the same upswept tip that a feudal sword does.

But here's the insider info. To many, your typical tanto or chisel grind knife is part and parcel of the tactical age. To many others, it is the design of a Japanese woman's vegetable knife.

I think we learn from history. I'd like to believe that many of the great ideas in cutlery came from a rich Japanese history. That is part of my opinion. In that regard, I do not wish to denigrate the artisans who studied that history and made a classic American knife.

I'll bet every serious knife collector can recognize a CQC-7 from across the room.

It's a debate. I have an opinion. I also have respect for artisans. I'm not insisting that my point of view is right--and I read about all of the same urban legends you do.

Who influenced the Graham Brothers? Was it the little bent peasant with the bucket of red mud, was it Ernie, or was it a Sear Craftsman wood chisel?

There are parts of all of them in their classic Razel. Perhaps HSO sent Josh a biography on Bob Lum.

 

[JShirley]

walking arsenal,

I will say that is an extreme angle- almost a spear point- on that "tanto". I do like the "pointy end" on that much better than the typical American tanto/chisel grind.

John

 

[leadcounsel]

I'm also curious. I just picked up a wicked great deal on a Cold Steel Tanto Carbon V in brand new condition, with kydex sheath, for $20, and am curious about the merits of the tanto.

I understand the design is to penetrate metal style armor - punching and cutting. Considering metal armor is a thing of history, is this the best suited knife for combat fighting, or would a more european classical design, or a K-Bar classical style be better?

Either way this seems like one heck of a knife, especially for $20 when they retail 6 times that!

 

[Zanad]

i like em alot. I love to look at my old cold steel shinobu. (sorry, no pics)

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Tanto Point

You know, I'll bet hso has [thread=525854]a link somewhere[/thread] to an article reviewing the effectiveness of the American Tanto as compared to other blade shapes.

However, if you want to chase that, I'd say let's do it in a new thread.

This one has some fairly well-developed cobwebs.