Some might say the tanto is among the original tactical blade shapes because it takes inspiration from the swords of the classic Japanese samurai warriors. A straight-edge blade mated with a sharpened top at an angle, the American tanto—the focus of this story as opposed to the original Japanese tanto—was developed to pierce tough materials. Moreover, the angled tip simultaneously cuts as it pierces. The tanto also retains the full spine thickness up to the point, creating a reinforced tip highly resistant to bending or breaking.
Applied to knives, the tanto blade still allows for penetration through tough materials but in a more manageable size of a folder or small-to-medium-sized fixed blade. While rooted in tactical use, the tanto can be highly utilitarian, as the angled tip also can be employed as a scraper or as a push cutter. If you are rough with knives and have broken a few blade tips, then a tanto might be for you.
LIGHTWEIGHT & HARDY
Named for a scenic stretch
