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Over 1,000 years ago, Japanese warriors first popularized the short sword, also known as the Tanto. At some point, the design of these swords morphed into the triangular, chisel-style blade points popular in knives today. Some American knife makers took some liberties with original Japanese designs, but the ideas stuck.
Subsequently, this style is extremely popular because of its cool look, especially for tactical or self-defense purposes. Finding a knife with better tip strength or piercing abilities is hard. With that in mind, these are the best Tanto knives made today.
Key Considerations
Unfortunately, modern Tanto knives are often associated with cheap, junk knives. Knowing that, we set out mainly to look for quality knives from trusted brands. With that said, there were some specific features that we looked for in making our picks:
- Price point: Finding a budget Tanto that isn’t junk is much more challenging than other knife types. Subsequently, we had to carefully evaluate the cheaper options on our list to ensure that they had good strength, edge retention, and ergonomics.
- Handles: Tanto knives require good handles for the best control. Subsequently, I looked for handles that provide excellent ergonomics. For this article, I didn’t want handles with smooth scaling.
- Blade style: Although the Tanto blade encompasses many styles, we focused mostly on American-style Tantos, which meant blades with a chisel edge.
- Blade strength: Tanto blades are known for their strength factor. Subsequently, I looked for blades of adequate thickness for extra leverage on tough tasks.
Top Picks
- Best Overall: Cold Steel Recon Tanto
- Best Budget: CRKT M16-10KSF Tanto
- Best EDC: Benchmade Bailout
- Best Tactical: Civivi Brazen Button Lock
- Most Versatile: Boker AK1 American Tanto
- Best Ergonomics: TOPS Sky Marshall
Best Overall: Cold Steel Recon Tanto
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Cold Steel pioneered the American-style Tanto blade, which strikes a fine balance between affordability and functionality. The polymer handle has a nice texture, providing excellent ergonomics for the seven-inch blade. This is one of the larger Tanto blades available today. Some might even consider it a literal short sword. The cool factor is off the charts with this knife. It is made from simple, high-carbon steel, which helps keep the price point at an affordable $45. This knife will be best for campers, backpackers and bushcraft enthusiasts who want something unique. It’s robust enough for some bushcrafting activities.
The size and weight do limit this knife’s practicality to a degree. It’s a little heavy and long to be carried around for most EDC. However, this knife is just fun to own and use. It’s certain to be a conversation starter whenever used. The super-affordable price point also means that we aren’t afraid to be rough with it or damage it. This is an easy knife to replace.
Best Budget: CRKT M16-10KSF Tanto
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I’ve been a big fan of CRKT’s M16 line for a while. These are some of the nicest assisted opening blades on the market today. The thumb stud and opening mechanism are extremely crisp. These knives deploy their blades quickly with just one hand, making them ideal for EDC scenarios. The quality of these knives is great for the price point. It makes me wonder how CRKT can afford to sell them so cheaply. This Tanto comes with a partially serrated edge, for a little more versatility.
The main downside I’ve encountered with the M16 line is that the button is a little mushy. These knives need a little time to break in properly. The scaling of the handle is also borderline slick. However, I think the holes in the handle counteract that enough for a comfortable grip. For $40, these knives offer incredible value for anyone wanting an affordable EDC knife.
Best EDC: Benchmade Bailout
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The Bailout is one of the most impressive AXIS lock folders I’ve ever used, regardless of blade style. I’ve owned this knife for more than a year, and the tolerances were perfect out of the box. The blade locks into place with zero wiggle. However, it also swings freely on gravity alone after pulling back the lock. Nothing about this knife feels cheap or out of place. The Cerakote finish adds a little corrosion resistance. Meanwhile, despite heavy use, the CPM-M4 steel has yet to dull on me. It had excellent piercing ability when I tested it on cardboard. I also used this knife extensively for precision cuts on several projects. It’s a great EDC option.
The only real downside to this knife is that this type of quality doesn’t come cheap. Expect to pay around $270 for it. However, this knife is worth the price of admission. I especially love the texture of the aluminum handle. It’s incredibly ergonomic and helps keep the weight under three ounces. This knife melts into my pocket every time I carry it. I always forget about it until I need it most.
Best Tactical: Civivi Brazen Button Lock
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The Brazen has a crisp, fast-opening action, making it an ideal tactical knife. The use of a ceramic ball bearing makes the operation extremely smooth. Its dual thumb studs and flipper mechanism offer versatility. Civivi chose Sandvik 14C28N steel for this knife, which holds an edge beautifully. This knife won’t need to be sharpened often. At the same time, the G-10 handles have a good texture for better control. Another underrated feature of this knife is the fact that it is ambidextrous. Take out a few screws to switch the pocket clip to the other side. This knife weighs just 3.82 ounces, which makes it an easy all-day carry.
One puzzling aspect is that Civivi doesn’t offer a variant with a partial serration. However, it’s not a deal-breaker since this is such a nice knife. Additionally, at about $65, this knife offers excellent value. It’s hard to find blades of this quality at this price point.
Most Versatile: Boker AK1 American Tanto
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The AK1 is an excellent choice for anyone who wants options with their new Tanto. This knife has a thin Kydex sheath that is perfect for various carry styles. Slip it in a pocket or add a lanyard for neck carry. The 6.82-inch overall length is easily concealable, and the 2.30-ounce weight is hardly noticeable. This knife is an ideal size for many EDC tasks. The texture of the G-10 handle offers some excellent control. However, replacement scales can easily be added, allowing this knife to be customized to each user’s needs.
This knife feels a bit expensive in terms of size and materials. We also wish that Boker had used slightly better steel for improved edge retention. However, this is still a highly versatile knife that’s practical for many carry scenarios.
Best Ergonomics: TOPS Sky Marshall
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TOPS makes some extremely robust knives, and the Sky Marshall is no exception. It has a beefy full tang and G-10 handles. The finger grooves and jimping are perfect for a secure grip every time, which is important with a large knife. We also like the subtle serrations here. They are much less aggressive than other tactical-style knives, which makes this one easier to maintain. TOPS used 1095 steel for this one, which gives it good edge retention qualities. This is a knife that’s going to last through years of use and abuse.
The main downside of this knife is its nearly 12-ounce weight. It’s a hefty tool to carry from a belt loop all day, which might make it less suited for EDC. However, we love the look and ergonomics of this knife. It’s the ideal option for anyone who wants great control of their Tanto.
How To Choose The Best Tanto Knife
Unfortunately, Tanto blades have gotten a bad reputation in the United States. This is mostly due to a proliferation of cheaply made junk knives saturating the market. I’ve heard them referred to as “flea market” or “county fair” knives because they are often sold there. Subsequently, many knife enthusiasts have been burned in the past and now ignore them completely. Although there are a lot of junk Tantos out there, there are also some good knives for those willing to hunt for them.
American vs. Japanese Style
Cold Steel is the company usually associated with the “Americanized” Tanto. In the 1980s, they first popularized knives with a chisel point with two edges. This design contrasts sharply with a Japanese-style Tanto, or Kwaiken. These knives usually have a more subdued, traditional tip with more belly. The Japanese blades are also usually longer and thinner than the American versions.
Grinds
Most Tanto knives have a flat or hollow grind. Americanized chisel point blades often have both. The hollow grind on the belly of the blade is better since it adds more slicing power. Tantos don’t have much belly; therefore, the knife needs a sharper edge for the best cutting ability. We like a flat grind on the smaller chisel edge because it adds great strength.
Defensive Blades
We don’t usually recommend a knife for self-defense, at least not without extensive training. However, for users who are seriously considering one, it’s best to avoid a traditional folding knife. Something fast, like an assisted or automatic opening OTF (out the front blade), is easier to deploy with one hand in a pinch. Thicker blades are also better for additional strength and puncturing power.
Ergonomics
A good handle is necessary because Tanto blades have less belly. This makes the blade much easier to control for puncturing and slicing tasks. I prefer my Tanto blades to have a texture or tact for even more control. Smooth handles are not usually ideal with a Tanto blade.
Why Trust Us
I’ve covered outdoor products and knives professionally for the last decade. During that time, I tested hundreds of knives, including various steel and blade types. I’ve also put knives through edge retention tests on cardboard, plastic, and wood. Subsequently, I’ve learned the differences between a good knife and a junk one. None of the subpar knives I’ve used are contenders for the Best Tanto Knife.
Final Thoughts
There are tons of options for Tanto knives out there. However, considering that Cold Steel popularized the American version of the Tanto, their Recon knife was an easy choice for best overall. It offers the perfect balance of functionality and affordability. My second favorite is the Benchmade Bailout. I love the crisp operation and light weight. It’s an ideal EDC carry.
FAQs
Q: Are tantos good for EDC?
A: Tantos can manage some EDC tasks, although they wouldn’t be our first pick. The tip is great for scraping or leveraging tasks. This blade style is great for slicing tightly cinched zip ties or knots. However, in most cases, I would choose a different blade style for most EDC tasks.
Q: What are tanto knives good for?
A: Tanto knives were primarily designed for piercing, especially through armor. Most people use them for defense purposes. There is no denying that this blade style has a certain intimidation factor, which may help avoid a conflict completely. Tantos also excel at any scraping task because of the chisel-like point popular in the American version.
Q: What are the disadvantages of a tanto blade?
A: Tantos don’t have a deep belly on them. Subsequently, they stink for tasks like slicing or skinning an animal. The edge can also wear off faster than a drop point or clip point. Many tantos are more time-consuming to sharpen. This is because the chisel-point American blades need the two edges sharpened separately.
