Although they can obviously take many forms, when one thinks of a tactical folding knife it’s the tanto that predominantly comes to mind. Tanto literally means “short sword” and dates to the Heian period of Japan from 794 to 1185 A.D. Although a few came home with G.I.s who served in Japan during WWII, they retained an air of mystery until the mid ’70s when the late Bob Lum began making custom knives based on the design.
In the ’80s, the late Phill Hartsfield became known for his tough and sharp tanto designs, and Cold Steel propelled them into the mainstream by introducing high-quality production pieces. This would be followed by Ernest Emerson introducing designs that somewhat resembled tanto blades and were called that by the gun and knife press for lack of a better term. As the design gained in popularity and other makers and manufacturers offered their own versions of the tanto, an evolution occurred with many of these knives rightfully inheriting the title, “American Tanto,” to distinguish them from the ancient Japanese design.
Some marketing types will tout the fact
