Are you into Tantos??????
- Thread starter BIG-TARGET
- Start date
You wouldn't happen to have Bark River shares would you?? :rolmao: It is very noticeable that you do post a lot of "here is the latest from..." Just wondering 
Some years ago I read an article in Traditional Bowhunter which extolled the virtues of an Americanised tanto for wilderness use (using the Cold Steel design). At the time it sounded interesting, but not quite enough for me to try it. Glad I didn't, since then I have handled such knives and think that, at a pinch they would be better than nothing, but not a good primary choice!
As far as that particular design goes, its elegant, but I can think of half a dozen reasons why I would be hesitant to buy it for any purpose, other than to look at. Not an outdoors knife.
Some years ago I read an article in Traditional Bowhunter which extolled the virtues of an Americanised tanto for wilderness use (using the Cold Steel design). At the time it sounded interesting, but not quite enough for me to try it. Glad I didn't, since then I have handled such knives and think that, at a pinch they would be better than nothing, but not a good primary choice!
As far as that particular design goes, its elegant, but I can think of half a dozen reasons why I would be hesitant to buy it for any purpose, other than to look at. Not an outdoors knife.
bambodoggy
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
A nice looking knife....what size is it? looks a little large for bushcraft....not to mention British law!!!!
Nothing wrong with the size as far as British Law is concerned. If you are somewhere you are able to carry a sheath knife, the law does not distiguish between short ones and long ones.
Nor is it "too large" for bushcraft. There are many people with a great deal of experience who swear by 6 and 7 inch knives, backed up with little 2-3 inch folders.
My reasoning is based upon the design as a whole, not just the size, or the blade grind, or the blade shape.
Nor is it "too large" for bushcraft. There are many people with a great deal of experience who swear by 6 and 7 inch knives, backed up with little 2-3 inch folders.
My reasoning is based upon the design as a whole, not just the size, or the blade grind, or the blade shape.
bambodoggy
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Ok, fair comment....looks a little big for ME to use for bushcraft....or ME to carry in the eyes of British law 
):
):
Isnt a tanto designed for combat? seems like a funny thing for BRK&T to add to their rage of "bushcrafters" and hunting type knives.. maybe Yangtze River Knife and Tool??
NO! i don't own shares of BRK&T!!!
I've used tantos for outdoor use. The last tanto I used was a 9 inch blade Anaconda, made by TOPS , and designed by Ron Hood(Hood's Woods). Good luck trying to destroy that knife!!!! :biggthump
The one I have at present, is the TOPS Steel Eagle 111
I've used tantos for outdoor use. The last tanto I used was a 9 inch blade Anaconda, made by TOPS , and designed by Ron Hood(Hood's Woods). Good luck trying to destroy that knife!!!! :biggthump
The one I have at present, is the TOPS Steel Eagle 111
That reinforced tanto point is great for prying and digging. :yikes: Try doing that with any other point.
In fact, if you have volume 10 of the woodsmaster series"Survival camping" Hoodlums Bill Hays and Bill Qualls were digging out a snared ground squirrel and there was a burried rock above the hole . :yikes:
And the Anaconda came through with flying colors. :biggthump
Here is a pic of Bill Qualls with said squirrel
Here's Bill's SITE
In fact, if you have volume 10 of the woodsmaster series"Survival camping" Hoodlums Bill Hays and Bill Qualls were digging out a snared ground squirrel and there was a burried rock above the hole . :yikes:
And the Anaconda came through with flying colors. :biggthump
Here is a pic of Bill Qualls with said squirrel
Here's Bill's SITE
I like the Tanto point knives. :biggthump I think the're kind of sexy. 
I have a 6 inch bladed Taylor Seto tanto with a rubberized handle and brass screw on pommel that I traded a friend for and it has to be my favorite sheath knife to carry. I have several tanto points knives that I use at work and in the field. I can punch a hole into a can of beans and take the top off with out worrying about breaking it. In fact if needed I could cut a hole in the roof of a car to extract someone. I have pried doors and crates open with it. I can skin with it. If I don't have a small axe its perfect for splitting wood with a baton. The point can be used as a skew chisel to carve with. If I only had one knife to carry this would be it. Just because it is a good all around blade and strong. There are other blade shapes that are better suited to a particular task like skinning or carving but they are specialized for that use.
I would agree that if you were stopped by a police officer
that it would probably be easier to explain that a green river pattern knife is for hunting than a tanto point. I am just glad I don't have go through what you guys do to carry a knife that I call a tool not a weapon.
Silly as it sounds back in the day it used to be illegal to carry a pair of wire cutting pliers on your person. This was from the days of range wars and fence cutting to steal cattle and grazing area. That law was repealed long ago. Now it's not unusual to see people in the local grocery store carry a pair of slip joint or needle nose pliers in a leather sheath attached to their belt.
I have a 6 inch bladed Taylor Seto tanto with a rubberized handle and brass screw on pommel that I traded a friend for and it has to be my favorite sheath knife to carry. I have several tanto points knives that I use at work and in the field. I can punch a hole into a can of beans and take the top off with out worrying about breaking it. In fact if needed I could cut a hole in the roof of a car to extract someone. I have pried doors and crates open with it. I can skin with it. If I don't have a small axe its perfect for splitting wood with a baton. The point can be used as a skew chisel to carve with. If I only had one knife to carry this would be it. Just because it is a good all around blade and strong. There are other blade shapes that are better suited to a particular task like skinning or carving but they are specialized for that use. I would agree that if you were stopped by a police officer
that it would probably be easier to explain that a green river pattern knife is for hunting than a tanto point. I am just glad I don't have go through what you guys do to carry a knife that I call a tool not a weapon.Silly as it sounds back in the day it used to be illegal to carry a pair of wire cutting pliers on your person. This was from the days of range wars and fence cutting to steal cattle and grazing area. That law was repealed long ago. Now it's not unusual to see people in the local grocery store carry a pair of slip joint or needle nose pliers in a leather sheath attached to their belt.
:rolmao: I think that nothing could be hoped to point up the differences between American outdoor philosophy and European thinking than that! ):
I read a review in Tactical Knives about the Screaming Eagle. I think it is about as ugly a knife as you could get, and could think of few things I would want to use if for.
BUT
That is only because the things I choose to do, and the places I do them in this country, do not need such a tool. A lot of people sneer at sharpened pry bars, but there are times when a sharpened pry is useful, its just that most people don't run into such situations all that often!
The Americanised tanto is very strong. It trades penetrative ability, and cutting efficiency for strength. You could change the edge geometry though and make one cut as well as a Scandi. Horses for courses. I reckon that other TOPS knives would have worked as well for digging and prying with different shaped points, if they retained the same spine strength and short bevels.
That particular Bark River knife has not been designed FOR a particular job, too long for easy carving, not beefy enough for prying, a poor handle for chopping/retention, the bolsters will make it heavier without adding a guard, so not so practical for fighting. The wood handle, bolster, and handle shape wouldn't make for a good combat knife (different needs from fighting).
It looks nice though and will probably be a hit with collectors. Mike was probably asked by loads of people to make a tanto...hence this offering.
): I read a review in Tactical Knives about the Screaming Eagle. I think it is about as ugly a knife as you could get, and could think of few things I would want to use if for.
BUT
That is only because the things I choose to do, and the places I do them in this country, do not need such a tool. A lot of people sneer at sharpened pry bars, but there are times when a sharpened pry is useful, its just that most people don't run into such situations all that often!
The Americanised tanto is very strong. It trades penetrative ability, and cutting efficiency for strength. You could change the edge geometry though and make one cut as well as a Scandi. Horses for courses. I reckon that other TOPS knives would have worked as well for digging and prying with different shaped points, if they retained the same spine strength and short bevels.
That particular Bark River knife has not been designed FOR a particular job, too long for easy carving, not beefy enough for prying, a poor handle for chopping/retention, the bolsters will make it heavier without adding a guard, so not so practical for fighting. The wood handle, bolster, and handle shape wouldn't make for a good combat knife (different needs from fighting).
It looks nice though and will probably be a hit with collectors. Mike was probably asked by loads of people to make a tanto...hence this offering.
tomtom said:
BRKT haven't added this model to there standard line - it's just a limited run of 100 from pre-made blanks.
It's not their usual convex grind, nor is it A2.
One of the employees at BRKT was working on one of these in his own time for a friend and when Mike posted a picture of it there was a lot of interest.
This is what sparked the interest.
CUTTING THE TOPS OFF CANS?? PRYING?? DIGGING????
WITH YOUR KNIFE!!!!!!! :shock: WHY??? :?:
why would you dig with your knife??? unless you really enjoy ruining the edge
when in bushcraft do you really need to cut the tops of cans and dig with your knife?? why would you sacrifice wood carving ability to do such meaningless tasks??
if you want to open a can, use a can opener
if you want to dig a hole use a spade (or fashion yourself some form of digging impliment)
I dont care what kind of knife you use, I am far more intrested in your ability to use it.
but cans, car roofs and digging this is not the way you use a bushcraft knife
WITH YOUR KNIFE!!!!!!! :shock: WHY??? :?:
why would you dig with your knife??? unless you really enjoy ruining the edge
when in bushcraft do you really need to cut the tops of cans and dig with your knife?? why would you sacrifice wood carving ability to do such meaningless tasks??
if you want to open a can, use a can opener
if you want to dig a hole use a spade (or fashion yourself some form of digging impliment)
I dont care what kind of knife you use, I am far more intrested in your ability to use it.
but cans, car roofs and digging this is not the way you use a bushcraft knife
Now then now then Stuart
There are many ways to practice bushcraft, not all revolve around 3 inch scandis.
I admit that if I want into a can I use the can opener on my SAK...can't really see the point in abusing a good knife for that. However, many very experienced outdoorsmen like big, tough knives, and use them for prying and digging, with success.
As the saying goes, if it is dumb, but works, it isn't dumb.
Anyway, this is all going a whee bit off topic :roll: The debate on big knives vs small knives is long running, it might be interesting to start another thread to discuss, but I think that we have rather hijacked Big-Target's thread about the BRK&T Tanto
Its still pretty, but if it isn't A2, convex, and made of an existing blank...is it a true Bark River?
There are many ways to practice bushcraft, not all revolve around 3 inch scandis.
I admit that if I want into a can I use the can opener on my SAK...can't really see the point in abusing a good knife for that. However, many very experienced outdoorsmen like big, tough knives, and use them for prying and digging, with success.
As the saying goes, if it is dumb, but works, it isn't dumb.
Anyway, this is all going a whee bit off topic :roll: The debate on big knives vs small knives is long running, it might be interesting to start another thread to discuss, but I think that we have rather hijacked Big-Target's thread about the BRK&T Tanto
Its still pretty, but if it isn't A2, convex, and made of an existing blank...is it a true Bark River?
nobody had the problem with the mini axe which they modify.
That looks like a handy bat for com as they say on BB. Americans do seem to like their big blades. It was interesting to see the reaction I got when I suggested bowie might have had a six in knife rather then 14inch blade. (I did a lot of rersearch before suggesting that)
Odd that BRKT normaly do an axe which most people think will be too small, a knife that some love but others think could do with a bigger handle and now something that is much larger.
That looks like a handy bat for com as they say on BB. Americans do seem to like their big blades. It was interesting to see the reaction I got when I suggested bowie might have had a six in knife rather then 14inch blade. (I did a lot of rersearch before suggesting that)
Odd that BRKT normaly do an axe which most people think will be too small, a knife that some love but others think could do with a bigger handle and now something that is much larger.
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