Recommendation for Tanto knife <$150 (including fees and taxes)
Recommendation for Tanto knife <$150 (including fees and taxes)
Been thinking of getting my first nice knife. I currently rock the Ontario Rat 1, really it because it's a nice beater and has a serrated side. I don't think nice tanto knives have serrated side but I'm willing to compromise since they look so nice.
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I can only offer you my impressions of those I own personally.
Folders
Benchmade Bailout: Flimsy, overpriced. Nicht fur der beaterduty. The blade is great, but if you are going to subject it to rigorous use like prying and impacts you will break the handle. Will Benchmade warranty it if you do? Probably. Do you care to find out? I wouldn't. The M4 version with its aluminum handles is better, but even more massively overpriced. If you want one of those, do yourself a favor and buy a knockoff instead. It'll show up made of D2 or 440C, but at least it'll only cost you $15 when you inevitably break it.
SOG Trident: Beefy. Built quite well for the price. The new "AT" variants with the Axis/crossbar/"XR"/whateveritis lock are even better, provided you are not a steel snob and are satisfied with D2. This is available in both drop pointed and tanto versions, so be sure to order the one you want. These list for $100 but no one actually pays that much for one. They're like $79 on Amazon right now.
Kershaw CQC-7K: The Kershaw CQC series as a whole is in my opinion one of the best options in the world for a daily carry knife. These are inexpensive, very well built, and incredibly easy to use. The Wave system is genuinely useful and is not just a gimmick, making these the fastest and easiest to deploy folding option especially if for legal reasons you cannot carry an automatic (which most people can't). Tl;dr: Get you one.
Zero Tolerance ZT0630: For the discerning gentleman who wants a 7K but has too much money burning a hole in his pocket. So naturally, I own two of them. (Well, one is an 0620 which is the other point profile.) If you need a knife built like a nuclear bunker but it absolutely must fold, this may be the one for you. It is discontinued, so you will have to buy used. As your attorney, I advise you that knockoffs are still readily available if you want to try it out and don't feel like taking out a second mortgage, especially if you will beat on it. The clones have a steel rear liner rather that titanium, to which I say: Big whoop. So do the Kershaw CQC's, and that never hurt anybody. Nobody on the holding end, anyway.
Fixed Blades
Hanwei Forge Tactical Tanto KH2092: Buy this if you want do that meme where second panel is, "No, I meant a real tanto." There are two variants of this and the older KH2092 is the one you want. The newer incarnation is a downscaled version of the tactical katana and wakizashi, which is fine in its own right. But it lacks the clip on sheath and the latching retention system with the silent-draw insert. So it's not nearly as suitable for Solid Snaking it in the bush.
Cold Steel Kobun: Slim in thickness, especially the handle, and thus quite possibly one of the easiest to carry fixed blade tantos in the world. New manufacture examples have an included clip which is considerably better than the originals. So guess which one I have... Purists will complain about the overmolded handle which can't be dismounted, and the AUS8 steel which is perhaps questionable for longer fixed blades. Maybe don't try to use this to cut down a tree.
Cold Steel Spike: Yes, it's available in a tanto point. It is deeply silly, and not well suited for general purpose use.
I'll have to rummage around in my stuff and see if have any more tanto pointed examples I can have a look at. I grew out of tanto points largely when I also grew out of the ninja phase that everyone has between the ages of 12 and 16. For all practical purposes I don't see that they confer much advantage, they're kind of annoying to sharpen, and modern drop point and spear point profiles are just as strong for stabbing so the alleged "penetration" advantage everyone claims they confer is actually kind of moot. Plus, how many people wearing body armor are you actually planning to have to stab in a day? None? Yeah, me too.
The kershaw one looks good but that steel looks a bit low quality. Feels like it won't hold its edge. The zero tolerance, can't find that anywhere. As for fixed blades, I'm looking for folders.
I find that 8Cr is perfectly acceptable for a working knife. High end supersteels like S35VN or M4 may be "better," sure, but they're also mostly going to be outside of your stated budget.
I have one of almost every Kershaw CQC variant, including both the 8Cr and D2 versions of the ones that come in both. I have had no problems whatsoever.
Is there one similar to that but with a partially serrated blade?
Well, the Emerson CQC-7BW leaps to mind but that one is also outside of your budget. I can't think of any other Wave openers off the top of my head with both a tanto point and half serrations.
The CRKT M16 is available in a tanto+serrated option, as is the Kershaw Blur for some more budget friendly, but known brand options. I'm really not a fan of half serrated blades so I have limited input, there.
Well I don't really need wave openers just for it to be tanto and preferably serrated.
Just found this wave adapter mod, seems pretty cool, thought you might like it if you didn't know of it already. Currently the recon 1 tanto half serrated knife is at the top of my list.