I've recently started looking for a folding pocket knife to replace the piece of crap I've been carrying. I really prefer the tanto style for sharpening and aesthetic reasons, and I'd like some advice on which to choose. Ideally, I'd like one with a blade length of 4-5 inches (not more than that), and I need it to hold an edge. It doesn't have to stand up to prying or torquing use that much, so it can be harder rather than tougher. I'm thinking S30V or BG-42 steel for the blade, but I'm open to suggestions. Any ideas?

Benchmade maybe.

Lee

Try this....

http://www.coldsteel.com/folding-knives-gunsite-series.html

I will say from experience, these knives will cut to the bone, but I have found tanto blades to be worthless for any other practical purpose. They are good for defense.

I recently picked up a CRKT M16-12ZER and am quite happy with it. For some reason I'm not a fan of the edge most CRKTs come with from the factory, but once I ground that off and put on my own, I can get it face shaving sharp. In an urban environment, I like the tanto for slicing paper and opening packages. Also I like the extra blade thicknesses of the tantos, for some reason I'm really paranoid about snapping the tip off my knife. I've never done it, but form some reason, I'm still bothered by the idea.



Rio

I have the CRKT mentioned above and also a Cold Steel Voyager Tanto. I must say I like the Cold Steel better as it held an edge much better. I was very happy with it.

I can only advise on what I carry every day.

COLDSTEEL.

I carry a Coldsteel brand 4" serrated Tanto pointed Voyager. It is extremely sharp and has a very strong locking mechanism. The clip is steel and holds the knife tight on whatever its clipped too. It has ambi thumb studs for ease of getting the blade out.

IF I am not carrying the above, I carry the 4" clip point, plain blade Voyager.

A very important point to keeping a knife sharp is a sharpening system. A few years ago I purchased the Spyderco brand traingular ceramic sharpening system for 40 bucks. It will sharpen both regular and serrated blades.

It sells now for 75 and to me is worth its weight in gold. I strongly suggest that when you do use this sharpener, that you use the guards and maybe wear a leather glove (I do) on the support hand holding the sharpener. It will make your blade extremely sharp is just a few minutes use.

Coldsteel will send you a free video of their products called "Proof".

You might get a good deal on the above products at www.botac.com


http://www.coldsteel.com/folding-knives-voyager-series.html

http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=77

Benchmade Stryker or one of the Emerson tanto bladed models. Benchmade also recently came out with Griptilian Tantos and Mini-Grip Tantos. You really can't go wrong with any of them. IMO much better than Cold Steel or CRKT.

Drop point/shallow clip point is usually better for a utility knife but if you have your own reasons to prefer a tanto configuration it's all good. Don't worry about the steel too much - it's really just a fad these days. 440C, 12C27 or any other "wonder steel" out there will do the job as long as the heat treatment is right. Don't fall for the hype and don't shell out too much extra $ for a fad steel when you could get basically the same performance blade in a much cheaper knife. IMHO any folder over 100$ is a waste of money but then again, the final decision is up to you.

Spyderco makes pretty good folders at competitive prices. Most designs are a bit space age and some are too specialized. But a workhorse like the Endura would serve you well.

Also, you're looking for a folder with a 4-5" blade. That's pretty big for a pocket knife. Some of the larger folders on the market are pretty beefy and might be too bulky for comfortable EDC.

I have not owned one, but reviews of "Strider" brand knives have without outstanding. I have done a great deal of research on the Strider brand knives and I haven't read of one person being uhhappy with the product. I however could not get past teh $300+ price tag for a piece of small steel, plastic or paracord. If you have the scratch I would consider one a Strider, blue line gear has the best prices and most pictures available. Strider does make the style of knife you're looking for.

On the subject of good folding knives why not try the good ole' South African Okapi knife.

http://www.worldknives.com/manufacturers/okapi-5.html?PHPSESSID=6245954f92e27e70aea82b3d491654c5

THey look nice, plus they are quite effective. i.e.cutting wood.

Used them regularly before I lost it. looking for it now actually.

Have a look at Emerson's knives

a CQC-7 or a Super-7,or any other model, but one with the wave feature (knife opens as it exits your pocket)

I edc an Emerson (cqc-7). I love it, best folder i've ever had. You can't go wrong when buying an Emerson.

Another vote for Benchmade. They make quite a selection of tanto blades. I'm not a fan of the style myself (I, too, prefer dropped point or mild clip point for general use), but I am a big fan of their Griptillians and Mini Griptillians. 154CM is a pretty good steel, and the Axis lock is extremely good. Hard to go wrong with a Benchmade.

Kevin B.

KA-Bar Mule Tanto

I edc the regular mule. You might consider this one. I am not a fan of Tanto style, but I admit they are popular.

I carried, for nearly ten years, a BM-Emerson 975. That's a folding tanto designed by Emerson with about a 4.25" blade. The steel was ATS-34 which Benchmade has replaced with 154CM.

I'm with what the others said: no more tantos for me. THe blade design is all but wasted for most chores. Each to his own....if you really like them, I'll give another vote for Benchmade or Emerson knives. BM has the Axis lock and Emerson has The Wave.

Like someone else said, don;t worry too much about the steels. I wouldn;t go so far as to say the new steels are a fad, but there really is very little practicle difference for us normal users. Still though, I really like 154CM and S30V semi-stainless.... they're easy to sharpen and tough.

A tanto blade is NOT easy to sharpen (or at least not easier than a standard drop or clip point)...unless you know some trick I'm unaware of. There are two different "knives" to sharpen in a tanto, and the edge angles are rarely the same.

Good luck

Okay, so I'm liking the Benchmade Stryker and the ColdSteel Voyager. If you chose one or the other (just personal preference), which would you choose?

P.S. - Thanks for all the input, I really appreciate it.

I've never owned a Cold Steel, but I own several Benchmades. So I'd pick the Benchmade. Not a knock on Cold Steel. I've just been very satisfied with my Benchmades.

Kevin B.

+1 for Benchmade.

The CQC-7 was the first decent folding knife I owned. And now I don't like it

I have the tanto version, and for the life of me, I can't sharpen it. I'm aware that my sharpening skills are quite limited, but I've had a much easier time sharpening other knives. I have a Commander too...you guessed it...can't sharpen that one either. Guess they just aren't my thing.

Two Emersons for sale...any takers? lol

Cold Steel makes a version of this knife...around $5-$7 iirc. Not the beauty of the wood handle, but even more affordable. Haven't gotten around to ordering one yet, but I'm reminded to do so now.

I love all my DR RSK Benchmades...although no tanto...excellent, excellent knives.

I've had my eye on the Cold Steel AK-47 for a while. Something to look into.

I went to this site and am now more flabbergasted than ever over the numbers and variety of knives produced all over the world. Might be a bad thing to start a collection, might end up needing a 12-step program. This site had 8 different knives just for cutting mushrooms! (I live in the Mushroom Capital of the World, at least according to the local Chamber of Commerce.)

I have 2 Strykers (small and large, both first production runs from several years ago) and a Voyager clip point. If price is no object, the Benchmade is simply a far better-built knife. In my opinion, it's not even a contest.

And now for the dissenting opinion! After carrying a medium or large folder every day for the last 15 years, I keep coming back to the tanto as the most useful everyday knife. It's not because it "looks neat", but because I find a surprising number of tasks that a drop point or clip point can't do. Anything that requires scraping, for instance, is simply better accomplished with the front bevel of a tanto.

I've got quite a few knives, including a few customs from well-known makers, and most of them are drop points. The knives that end up in my pocket about 80% of the time, though, are the Benchmade Strykers.

As to sharpening, I have no problems - I use a Lansky sharpener and it's relatively easy to put a shaving edge on both bevels.

-=[ Grant ]=-