I had a political science professor who was demonstrating "reason vs perception" to illustrate how so many stupid laws are generated by fear and perception. He told the class, "I am going to cut this apple with one of two knives that are in my pocket. After my demonstration by a show of hands I'm going to ask you which one is the more dangerous one. He takes the first one out of his pocket, slowly removed it and places two hands on the knife and opens the knife with two hands slowly until it locks. He then slices a piece of the apple. Cleans the knife with a napkin closes the knife with two hands and puts it back in his pocket. He then says "knife number 2" and he whips the knife out of his pocket flicks it open immediately, slices the apple, wipes the blade on his pant closes the knife and it drops shut. Overwhelmingly the class says the second knife was the most dangerous and many students said they are pretty sure it's illegal. Both knives were Spyderco Tenacious's. One was a standard satin finish the other the black coating. He then demonstrated that they are exactly the same knives with exactly the same features but the first one was not perceived as threatening at all because the process appeared to be slow and safe and the other was faster and "deadlier" 😂😂😂.

All I was looking for was camp knives when I found this channel , I am now 5 sweet knives deep in less than 30 days 🥴

I live in El Salvador, home of the condor knives and imacasa machetes... I asked a lawyer the same question, so here the law is: as long as the blade is "covered" and not perceived as a threat, you are good, so you can see farmers, gardeners, etc... sometimes walking around with a 20 inch machete wrapped in a newspaper so they abide the law 😅

Another advantage of the tanto is the ability to use it as a chisel, scraper, and to pry things. To me it's the most handy-man ish blade shape.

The purpose of the tanto and indeed the shape of the tips of Katanas is tip cutting at maximum range. That is what they were meant for. It's that simple. Tip cuts can do serious cutting because the tip of the blade is always the fastest moving part. The shape of the tip aids in the slicing action. It also keeps you the furthest away from a threat and is more likely to penetrate common heavy clothing. You don't need a tanto style blade to do this but it certainly aides the technique.

I thought tanto is what you did after you break the tip of your knife off. 😀

The secondary point, transition between angles, is viciously effective for whip-like, slap cuts. Used in this fashion it is almost like a more beak shaped knife, piercing as well as slicing.

FAQ #118 and still going strong!! Love these vids. I've been into knives 30+ years and still enjoy and learn stuff from the guru DCA. I also really enjoy the comments these vids create - great sources of information and discussion. Sharp blades all.

Tantos are perfect for EDC. 99% of the time you just cut boxes and envelopes. Straight edges make that easier and more precise. The corner is perfect for cutting tape on boxes without plunging too deep. If you want to get more crafty, it can be used as a chisel. The straight front edge if well sharpened is great for skiving leather. The list just goes on.

Makes me happy each time you mention the Rambler. Victorinox likes to keep that model a secret and I worry it may get discontinued. That Philips is the size I use the most. Plus you can make a compass out of it if your plane crashes in the wilderness of Alaska, which the characters in the movie The Edge could've used.

Tanto is great for construction (front edge needs to be straight, not Japanese style). Works as an angled chisel or angled razor, great for paint prep, removing plaster, paint drips, cleaning corners, delicate wood work.

Spyderco, is the second to none, MASTER, of the art of, the “little big” knife!

The "perception" criteria for legal knives is actually very important. There are areas whose laws make a distinction between "unmodified tool knives", "pocket knives", or "weapon knives", sometimes with a size restriction. These definitions are intentionally vague, so that a cop who's searching you can determine if you're trying to carry a weapon or just cardboard cutter. That's good for stopping obvious criminals from getting away with technicalities, however it's terrible if you're innocent and just happened to get on his bad side while he's making the decision. So having a knife that LOOKS like it is designed to NOT be a weapon can be a big help. Sometimes they have explicit carveouts to ignore a knife blade that is part of a larger toolset or gadget, which is a classic example for permitting a SAK or Leatherman.

Thanks, as always, Mr. Andersen and Thomas. On the Tanto for Survival, thing - I've long agreed with the notion that a 12-14" machete is a fantastic survivial knife. And although I've never been an American Tanto fan, I recently got ahold of a Cold Steel Tanto Machete and have been blown away by its utility and versatility in the outdoors.

I always carry a Rambler with a small Olight attached to it and have for many years. Anytime I need to cut something when people are around, it's my primary choice. The flashlight gives it a full grip.

I find that blade shape is extremely useful for opening boxes without accidentally stabbing the contents. Hold the knife parallel to the top of the box, just tilting your wrist down enough to puncture the tape with the obtuse point, then draw the knife toward you. Much more stable and pretty much impossible to cut any deeper than you intend.

17:25 - It's probably possible to add an Emerson Wave-style pocket-opener to the Cormorant. It may involve some modification to fit the add-on part to the blade, but it seems possible to install one of the aftermarket Wave openers that're made to attach to the Round Opening Hole™ of Spyderco blades. Of course, a zip-tie, cinched down hard around the spine-side edge of the hole, often works as a serviceable pocket-deploy option, too. As long as the hook is far enough from the blade pivot to only start opening the knife after you've pulled the tip of the blade past the fabric of your pocket, an add-on Wave opener should work.

Not sure if anyone mentioned this but I will say it anyway, he called the corkscrew a screwdriver. Surprised that wasn't noted in the editing but I'm just being a nitpick. Great video DCA, Tom and crew.

Thanks for the comprehensive answer, David. Having my quesion featured was a highlight for my week.

First circle of “survival food prep”: The hors d’oeuvre - how presentation is everything

Another great video, DCA! Best breakdown of a tanto that I've seen.

Western tanto is really nice for a controlled pierce that can turn into a slice I've noticed. Speared points usually just end up going deeper quicker in a uncontrollable fashion and prone to chipping

The different styles of Tanto (the traditional rounded Japanese tanto and the American tanto which is closer to a chisel) are very different and should be treated as such. The American tanto would perform better at piercing/stabbing while the Japanese tanto would perform better at slicing/slashing.

I fell in love with tanto blades when opening boxes. The secondary point on the blade itself makes it so you don't go too deep and risk puncturing the package. It's better than a boxcutter in my opinion. At one of my old jobs as a forklift driver, I found it also worked exceptionally well to cut plastic wrap off of boxes. Just pull the plastic wrap a bit off the pallet with one hand, and cut straight down with the secondary tip on the blade of the tanto.

My edc pocket knife is an old Kershaw Tanto Style Blur that was one of those "special" higher-end models they come out with occasionally that are made with an upgraded steel variant. This one was made with BDZ1 tool steel. (I really wish more knives were made with this stuff. It is now one of my all-time favorite steels for knives. It's tough as nails and takes and keeps an amazing edge.) At first, I wasn't particularly fond of the blade shape since I generally like more nimble spear-point blades, but it has since really grown on me over the years. I sometimes miss having a long thin nimble point to work with, but I have found I more often run into jobs that my old go-to speartip would never have been able to do rather than the other way around. That front portion of the tanto blade works well as a chisel and even better as a scraper. I do a lot of gardening so it's also nice having a knife that can punch through heavy plastic gardening containers without having to be worried about damaging the tip. The one use I'm surprised wasn't mentioned in this video that I find unique to tantos is using that point where the two cutting edges meet the sort of way you can use an exacto knife. For instance, I can't even count how many times I've ended up having to cut a coupon out of the page it came on while in a drive-through or store parking lot. It's a real pain to do that with a speartip, whereas with a good sharp tanto blade you just lay the paper down on any sort of flat cutting surface like a piece of cardboard or plastic packaging, the side of a tissue box, a cd cover, etc. and you lightly trace along the dotted line with that secondary point at a shallow angle and it just glides through the paper very cleanly with almost no effort. It makes beautifully straight and clean cuts when used as improvised scissors this way.

I have your SAK Black alox Bantam. Knife center exclusive. I use it daily. I also enjoy the Victorinox SAK Tinker with art design type handle scales, different color toothpick & tweezer. I added a SAK lanyard & a small leather sheath. Very handy.

DCA, thanks for your expertise and teasing us with sharp temptations. I have become a Big fan of the parang particularly the Duku Chandong style. I'm fortunate to have a couple of acres of woodland where I can play and camp. I always carry a My Parang Duku Chandong with a little Mora 511 or Eldris attached. This is my goto survival combo. The parangs convex edge chops and splits and still stays razor sharp. The little Mora can take care of the small stuff. Like to see you and Seth do your fav. survival combos.

Clever last Q&A Bravo!

Tantos are excellent for baton wood-splitting. The strength and steep bevel on the edges really separate it from other types of blades.

The woodworking SKEW Chisel is used for cutting dovetail drawer joints, square end grain joints, and can also be done with a tanto knife. But the 2 mechanical design details for a good SKEW Chisel are an angled flat straight edge end blade and a flat but end for repeated mallot hammering on the handle.

The Gerber Obsidian is cool, it has a bottle opener and a screwdriver head. Also the Benchmade Bost 591 is made as a prybar knife for mechanics. So I carry both because one is a tool to open bottles and the other is a prybar for those tasks.

Been carrying a Rambler on my key ring for years. Good to see you recommend it versus the Compact.

I use a buck intrepid tanto for my camp knife. It's thick blade and size is perfect for camp needs. I baton with it, carve bushcraft items as needed. It has served well for smaller chores where my jungless isn't needed.

I have a lot more dexterity using the secondary tip than most other knife styles. I have a cold steel oyabun I've used for Bush craft and everyday handyman tasks. It's almost always on my hip. Even skinning and dressing animals. I prefer it over about anything else I've used.

Great video, great channel, fantastic knife retailer! Keep it up and thank you!!

Love my rambler from victorinox 👍👍 never has anyone freak out when cutting a box or trimming a tag etc.. handy for its size, small light and great mix of tools! Just used the toothpick while watching this video 😂

Interestingly the Cold Steel Tanto tip shape actually existed in Japanese swords during the period when they moved away from chinese swords but before the curved Katana was invented. This inbetween sword looked like a straight Katana but with the angled tip identical to what people believe Cold Steel invented and use today.

As soon as you finish reading the question about legality, I had the shield popping in my mind immediately

Tanto and bowie knives are my favorite edc belt knives. Where I live it’s legal to open carry any size fixed blade, so i choose depending on what I may be doing for the day. My self defense knife is a Smith and Weason Tanto. Not a bad knife. All of my knives are high carbon steel too.

I had a cheap tanto point DeWalt pocket knife that was awesome for the price. I think it was $17. And I got it because I paint a lot and you're right, that little flat spot is great for scraping stuff. But it would be perfect for defense too because the point was just right in my opinion. I'm seriously thinking about ordering another one because I carried it everywhere including my construction job for over a year, no problem. But I forgot it in Central America on vacation so I need a new one. I got another regular blade shape to replace it and I want my tanto point back.

That's one of the things I love about AL. I can conceal carry a. 50 if I want with a machete or long sword on my belt all legal with no need for even a gun permit.

I took tanto-no-jistu as part of my training for 7 years, which was fun, but lemme say that as a survival knife it really outperformed my traditional survival knife in outdoor uses. The technique is slightly different, but the flatter blade is much, much better for skinning and tanning and the second point for gutting fish, or dealing with wood in any form. I have a more modern style from cold steel, that replaced all my various survival knifes. Also, the shape of the blade stands up to far, far more abuse and is a dream to sharpen. So if you're outdoorsy, I'd highly recommend them. Just buy quality.

As far as I know every type of knife you can imagine is legal here in the free state of Indiana. That being said I still always carry some kind of slipjoint (usually a Victorinox) for situations where my primary might make folks uncomfortable, seems to have served me well thus far!

“Like a chisel” yep that’s exactly it-love my tanto folder!

Serious note - love your channel, love DCA. Please invest more into post-recording compression for the recorded mic tracks. Would make the speeches/voice more present and consistent without any fluctuation of volume, right now it's all over the place. Take care.

Here's an idea for a segment: old-time knife users' reactions to more modern folders. I've got an example. My grandfather, who was born in Louisiana in the 1930s, usually carried a traditional clip-point plus pen-knife folder. Several years ago, I was proud of a recently acquired Boker Plus Penguin (VG-10, compact, framelock, titanium scales). He took a look, handed it back, and said: "It's amazing what you can get for a dollar."

Had a good chuckle on that last question

For the "most deployments" knife, also take a look to the vosteed thunderbird! Same designer as the cormorant, has all same opening methods and adds fullers on both sides. Adding also an aftermarket thumb stud would sadly make it illegal since it would be possible to open it faster than sound speed, kicking off your opponent even before getting near him with the blade

Hey, DCA! Not a question, but an idea for a topic of discussion. I was thinking about knives the other day (surprise, surprise), and I realized that there is a hierarchy of classifications for outdoor knives. I’ve never seen anyone discuss it this way, but I know that you’d give an excellent treatment of the subject. Outdoor knives could be ranked/categorized by how robust they need to be in order to accomplish their typical tasks: Hiking Knives- Lightweight folders or fixed blades, designed specifically to not weigh you down. They are strong enough to handle light wood carving, or to cut up grassy materials or vines that block your path, plus basic utility like cutting strips of first aid bandaging. Since hiking often begins and ends with a car ride to and from the wilderness, it doesn’t necessarily have to be life-or-death kind of heavy duty. Camp Knives- Since camping is also fairly controlled, camp knives are robust enough for chopping and carving wood, whittling, food prep, plus other typical campsite chores. Bushcraft Knives- Since bushcrafting is all about creating (crafting) your own shelter, fireplaces, traps for food, etc. from the local vegetation around you (bush), these kinds of knives need to be VERY robust. Knife failure under these conditions could potentially be life-threatening, since bushcrafting takes place in a less controlled environment. Folders are strongly recommended against here. Survival Knives- These knives hold the highest standards of robustness. “Survival” could be thought of as “unplanned bushcrafting.” As in, this is the most life-or-death situation. Your bushcrafting skills are the only thing keeping you alive, because you are lost in the wilderness for one reason or another, and separated from society entirely. This could include military operations, in which case your knife needs to serve both as a bushcrafting tool and as a weapon. Hunting Knives- These could be classified as a cousin of Camp Knives. They are designed specifically to cleanly slice through the soft material of animal tissue, so you wouldn’t expect it to be able to carve or split wood. What are your thoughts?

I'd personally like to see more Japanese style tanto folders. I know they're out there but don't see them often

Used to use my cold steel kobun as my utility knife. Was a good combination of utility and expendability. Could also use it to poke a pilot hole in aluminum ductwork for the holesaw or shears. Cons did have it confinscated once and had to point out to a judge that its blade length was under 6 inches and thus didn't constitute a concealed weapon especially since was buried in the bottom of my bag with fishing tackle and various tools of frequent use (+ a couple extra 10mm sockets 👍) was obnoxious to say the least.

Hey DCA, I enjoy the vids, I wanted to ask what knife would you recommend for working in the H20 Utility field. I regularly encounter mud and water while cutting plastic covering for water main pipes and some tough rubber hoses, your recommendation would greatly be appreciated

Yes, I was very sad when Leatherman had that short run ((which I think was just NOS)) of the Juice for so cheap and missed it. On a plus note however, I've nearly got my Custom Victorinox Cadet X Electrician with original 84mm scissors finished. Just working on some brass liners and then I'll adjust the length of the pivot barrels to secure it properly.

Dca! You seem like exactly the type of fella to ask this question to! So here goes. - I am into bushcraft and survival, personally my current set up I’m experimenting with is a bow saw and a large belt knife for processing wood, im using the cold steel srk and like the length and ability to batton wood over 5 inches, but im looking for something a bit more premium in either a kephart or a drop point as the only part I dont like about my srk is the clip point.

I have carried my Cold Steel Voyager Tanto for many years. I first got mines at Ft. Lewis PX in 2002, I have used it for many things from cleaning weapons, cutting open MREs, ropes, strings, and cutting steaks. During combat in Iraq from 2006-08 I have used it to cut through mattress, canvas, pry doors, and cut clothing to search enemy combatants a.k.a. Insurgents. I still carry mines today as an EDC Every Day Carry item as a civilian. To me it's the perfect knife.

I put a CRKT Minimalist Bowie on a carabiner with a swivel and it's nice to have it clipped on my shorts, on the inside for incognito but mostly outside pants for quick draw. It's like a 2½ blade, black sheath. Neck knife but you can customize it with a double loop swivel and a carabiner. Clippy clippy.

Now show me an Italian knife with a good consistent heat treat. 😂 DCA for your front flipper issue, one of my favorite knife-tubers, Beez Blades, has a great take. Don't 'flip' the front flipper. Roll it. Roll it with the top of the handles shape. You can roll it fast or slow depending on the knife and situation. Just roll it. Btw that MSQotD, chef's kiss!

Your right,that perceived word is tricky.where i live in Pennsylvania if a single edge knife isn't longer than your palm is wide the policeman will generally consider it a leagal carry unless its concealed.

I see (and use) the tanto as a combination of sheepsfoot and straightback blade. You can handle more cutting tasks without the need to adjust your grip and the angle of the knife. Of course, having no belly is a downside, but oh well, we can't have it all 😄

He forgot to mention what I'd consider one of the most useful aspects of a tanto when it comes to an EDC blade and that's the false tip, they're perfect for someone who opens boxes and packages frequently as you can use the false tip at a very shallow angle.

Hey, you did a video of my favorite edc blade! I use my shootout as my daily carry bc of its second edge on the front. It’s super slicey, and I use the edge at the tip for scraping as well as precision cuts. And the second point below is used for a bunch of things. Thanks for the video.

I've come to feel naked without my Kizer Yorkie riding in my right hand pants pocket. Regardless of anything else I might be carrying, my Yorkie is always there. Super handy, sub 3", sharp M390, love it!

I was going to mention the difference between actual Tanto style blades and the American interpretation of Tanto styled blades, but this channel has already got it covered, nice.

Love the vids as always DCA

You can get the Victorinox Classic SD for $15-20 depending. I found a used one in great shape at the pawn shop for $5! You can bet I grabbed that up.

Good call on the Swiss Army knife! I forgot all about those.

Hey DCA, I want to get a new slip joint for carrying to the office but I wanted to see if you had a recommendation for one with a good half stop. Single or two blades preferably and no more than $250. Got any ideas ?

Cold steel proved to me the merits of tantos.i bought my first recon tanto and i was sold on tantos.if the leading edge is sharp you can defend yourself with it.ive never heard about a western style tantos point breaking.having them professionally sharpened helps quite a bit.

I love Tantos as gift knives. They are easy to sharpen and look cool. Also pretty strong. Can’t go wrong with a $50 CRKT or Cold Steel Tanto.

Can you put a SOG Powerlock bit adapter on the Swiss Tool Spirit MX Clip and use it for bits with the Swiss Tool Spirit MX Clip?

Wow, well explained. 👍

I love using that extra tanto tip to get into packages

Tanto advantage for bushcrafting: you can build shelters that require creating a square hole to hold a pole with a squared point. Less cord lashing required. You don't want to go drilling too many holes in wood with a pointed knife: you risk the point. A tanto tip I can use like a chisel.

DCA and crew, do you have a preference in the switch position on an OTF? I’ve seen them on the side as well as the edge. Is there an advantage or comfort issue to either position? Thanks.

My Beretta 101B Tanto blade (serrated) has never failed me after nearly 23 years. Always my EDC before it was a "thing," always be prepared.

I was not at all partial to tanto blades, but all the edc knives I have w/ a glass-breaker (my desired feature) happen to be tantos; so I have come to appreciate the functionality for daily tasks. With regard to blade restrictions, MA Lowe's / Home depots sell Gerber, Dewalt, Milwaukee pocket knives every day, that are about (just over?) 3". If your behavior is otherwise 'appropriate' I can't see getting into real legal trouble w something so ubiquitous. That said, The Knife Center's knives are obviously so much cooler!

Tantos also have the ability to perform snap cuts, basically using the secondary point to penetrate with a flick of the wrist

Hi David et al, I love this series. As I get deeper into the knife hobby, I’m becoming more interested in knife history, especially with regards to folders. In your learned opinion, which knives changed the course of the knife industry, by either introducing a new innovation or popularizing a new set of features or aesthetics? Also, is there a knife that you predict will chart a new course over the coming months or years? Thanks very much for your insights!

I have purposely, Filed, ground, and or smoothed down the spines of the majority of my knives. I think crown spines are attractive, classy, and easy on the fingers that make contact with the back of the blade

🔥🎸🔥 I have a tanto blade on my Benchmade Barricade auto. This is my only dedicated self defense knife and I use it for quick dog walks and short trips to the store. I hope I never have to use it but if I do, I know it's a beast of a knife with a real bite. Thanks for the review!

Hey dca I have a cold steel tuff lite that I love for edc at my job the warncliffe blade and size is perfect only problem is I have to sharpen the aus 8 steel alot what r some alternatives? Similar size and shape just a better steel.

On Topix we didn't know we had to ask thank you again😊😊😊

I love tanto tip knives. Second favorite is bowie knives.Drop point is a third favorite. As a marine veteran, I still love my ka-bar. Thanks

I really like the take on legality. Even cops won't know if its legal or illegal half the time. No point in having your knife be technically legal if you get into trouble anyway.

The sebenza blade shape comes in handy for a lot of my work duties I forget what it is called maybe a spearpoint. My secondary most useful shapes is the wharncliff and the Tanto I use a camillus Tanto I bought from walmart and it is a good knife.

I had a pocket knife that wasn't a "Tanto" but was a very similar chisel tip. Thing was very easy to sharpen and was strong enough to abuse. Was a great knife, should buy another.

What blade steel works best with a tanto ?

The Native Slipit is a pretty nice option

I picked up that Gerber Dime in January and it's been the one in my bag since I got it. Goes everywhere except TSA.

Hey DCA! Can you expound on plunge lines/grinds? Like what makes them good or bad and how they affect sharpening and performance etc? Thanks!

I switched to the "tanto" tip working as a bartender. I got tired of busting the tips of my EDCs popping open the various large cans of juices, olives and whatnot on slammed nights when you can't find the damn opener. After I switched, never broke another tip.

Hello all, is there a list of OEM's and what brands are made by them? I understand this may be protected information, but I have heard occasionally what OEM is onnected to a certain brand on your videos. I am unable to find a comprehensive list anywhere. Thank you.

I have a tanto- balde on my garden- working knife. I LOVE the tanto part for cases where I can not hack from the side (a bush for example), but can also "stab the bush" from the front hehehehe .......

I'm from Boston and laws do vary town to town but if you have a LTC a firearm you are free to carry an automatic length does not matter but dually note town by town laws . Have a Great day Everyone .

Is there an OTF knife where the blade locks open and can be used for piercing? I like my Schrade but it can't poke through packing tape.

Love mine while weeding in the garden. Perfect blade shape.

Hey DCA!, Recently I've been hooked (again now that I can afford it) into this whole world of knives and EDC, I was wondering what could you recommend (about $50ish) I'm looking for a 1 hand/locking folder 3" blade (serrated tip if available) nothing too aggressive but cool looking. I'd be using it mostly for paper, cardboard, string, food, and the occasional twig thanks in advance! Loving the KniFAQ series.really learning a lot!

I live in Boston and i carry a Spyderco dragonfly with a wharncliffe blade. Technically it flirts with blade size limit but it’s such an inoffensive blade shape I’ve never had an issue.

Fun fact, any restriction on knife deployment, blade style/length is TECHNICALLY A 2A ENCROACHMENT.

The advantage of the tanto is this: When the tanto is stabbed deep enough to reach the first intersection of the two blade edges, how far would you have to stab the drop point to reach that same wound size? Further. The tanto does more damage sooner than the drop point does for the same blade length.