Crafted in Alabama, Bear & Son Cutlery’s Piranha pairs a 440 stainless spear blade and lockback security with classic bone handle options.
Bear & Son Cutlery has introduced a new traditional folder to its lineup with the Piranha series. Manufactured in Jacksonville, Alabama, the two-blade pocketknife combines classic American styling with a lockback mechanism engineered for secure lockup during daily tasks.
Traditional Build, Modern Mechanics
The Piranha centers on a two-blade setup crafted from 440 stainless steel, offering a balance of corrosion resistance, edge retention, and easy field maintenance. The primary cutter is a 2.75-inch spear blade paired with a secondary 1.5-inch pen blade. Measuring 4 inches closed and 6.625 inches overall, the knife delivers a comfortable, familiar in-hand feel designed for general cutting chores.
Unlike many traditional slipjoints, the Piranha incorporates a lockback design to give users extra security when the primary blade is engaged. Hand-finished detailing and polished bolsters complete the traditional pattern.
Piranha Handle Options
Bear & Son offers the Piranha in two distinct handle materials: White Smooth Bone (Model WSB59L) and Genuine India Stag Bone™ (Model 559L). Each piece undergoes individual sanding and polishing, giving every handle its own unique texture and visual character while maintaining standard ergonomic grip properties.
Weighing in at 4.6 ounces, the U.S.-made folder is backed by a limited lifetime warranty and carries an MSRP of $125. Tech Specs
Piranha Specs Manufacturer: Bear & Son Cutlery Overall Length: 6.625″ Closed Length: 4″ Primary Blade Length: 2.75″ (Spear Point) Secondary Blade Length: 1.5″ (Pen Blade) Blade Steel: 440 Stainless Steel Handle Material: White Smooth Bone or Genuine India Stag Bone Locking Mechanism: Lockback Weight: 4.60 oz. Country of Origin: USA MSRP: $125
CRKT Has Reimagined The Squid II With Their New Carbon Fiber Version Of The Beloved EDC Folder.
The Squid line of folding knives is one of the most beloved in the cutlery world. CRKT has given the classic a new look with the Squid II Carbon Fiber.
The Italian-made knife features a 2.68-inch blade made from Bohler M390 steel, designed for edge retention and to resist wear, and treated to a 59-61 HRC. The satin finish gives the knife a clean, elegant look. The steel is connected to the carbon fiber handle and stays securely in place via a liner lock, which is the first liner lock on a knife in the Squid line.
Even with the carbon fiber handle, the knife has a nice bit of heft at 4.9 ounces. As you would expect from the Squid line, nothing was forgotten. The new Carbon Fiber is an excellent addition to the Squid line.
The New Tellus ATK From SOG Is Easy To Use And As Rugged As Can Be, And It Won’t Hit You Hard In The Wallet
Looking for an assisted-opening knife that won’t melt your wallet? SOG Knives might have you covered with its 2023 release–the Tellus ATK. The folder is marketed as an outdoor knife, making it a versatile EDC option.
Interestingly, the Tellus is now the most affordable assisted-open knife SOG now offers. Previously, the Flare held this distinction–a button lock clip point that, at the time of writing, was pulled from the SOG assisted-open page.
Tellus ATK Blade
The blade on the Tellus ATK is made from Cryogenically treated 440C stainless steel. The cryogenic process brings the steel to its optimal hardness to resist wear to the corrosion-resistant steel. Overall, what has become a popular economy knife steel should prove hard enough to stand up to the abuses of outdoor and fairly impervious moisture.
The clip-point blade comes in a stonewashed finish (a black oxide finish on the Squid Ink varietal), which–besides looking clean–hides scratches and nicks. The spine is thick at the handle and tapers to a fine tip. The small swedge adds to the taper. Furthermore, the blade features jimping on the spine to provide added grip, aiding in certain cutting tasks.
Add in a wide belly and a 3.5-inch length, and you get a multi-dimensional blade, strong enough to attack most jobs demanded of an EDC knife.
Additional Features
SOG Tellus ATK Squid Ink & Yellow
The knife comes in three colorways. The black & blaze orange is seen atop this article, and you can also purchase versions in olive drab & blaze orange as well as squid ink & yellow. All versions of the Tellus ATK feature a glass-reinforced nylon handle that is impact resistant and stable at high temperatures.
The one-handed nature of the knife is made even easier thanks to the assisted-opening mechanism that fires the blade open in a flash and keeps it securely in place. The Tellus ATK has two deployment options: a kick opener and a thumb stud. Both make it easy to open the knife in myriad situations and get to using it quickly. A frame lock keeps everything securely in place.
At 4.5 ounces in weight, the piece isn’t too heavy, and it’s easy to carry in either pocket thanks to the reversible low-carry pocket clip. However, the real star of the show is the price with the knife boasting an MSRP of $40.
One of today’s most popular blade-locking mechanisms for folding knives is the crossbar lock. It’s the most advanced blade lock there is—for now.
The crossbar lock consists of a spring-loaded, hardened-steel bar in the handle that makes constant contact with the tang and springs forward into place once the blade is opened. It wedges itself between the tang and the liner, preventing the blade from rotating shut until it is released manually. The lockbar is ambidextrous. The lock is all smooth action, tight lockup and ease of release. It is safe because it does not require your fingers to be in the path of the closing blade the way a linerlock or framelock does, thereby almost eliminating accidental cuts.
Crossbar Lock Origins
The crossbar lock first appeared in 1999 with Benchmade’s 710 Axis Lock folder, which has since been discontinued. The knife and lock mechanism were designed by knifemakers Bill McHenry and Jason Williams. “Bill McHenry was the primary driver of the mechanism,” says Vance Colver, Benchmade director of product line management.
Custom knifemakers Bill McHenry (left) and Jason Williams, designers of the Axis Lock. (Lisa McHenry image)
McHenry was a man of many interests. At one time he was a goldsmith, a watch enthusiast who rebuilt and repaired watches, and he loved restoring vintage Indian motorcycles. “The love for the mechanical gave him a unique perspective to knife lock solutions and led to the Axis Lock,” Colver added.
On June 10, 2003, the patent for the Axis Lock was issued to McHenry and Williams, patent no. US 6,574,689. In addition to the aforementioned features, Colver said the Axis Lock has smooth blade rotation; is reliable with minimal moving parts—just the lockbar moves, and it does so only slightly; and strength, with the Axis Lock outperforming the linerlock in closed failure force.
After the Axis Lock debuted, new Benchmade models with the lock appeared, including the Griptilian designed by BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® member Mel Pardue, the Warren Osborne 940 Axis Lock and the Presidio Axis Lock automatic. The Axis Lock patent expired in 2016, allowing other knife companies to introduce their version and thus broadly open the “new” crossbar lock category. Today you will see variants across several prominent brands, including the Axis Lock itself.
The lock that started it all, the Axis Lock, the original Benchmade McHenry/Williams 710 Axis Lock and Benchmade’s Model 535 Bugout and Mini Adamas. The latter two knives are in production while the 710 has been discontinued.
Benchmade’s Bugout is classic EDC because of its slender form factor, extremely lightweight, and use of premium blade steel. The full-size Model 535 Bugout has a drop point blade of flat ground CPM S30V stainless steel. The 3.2-inch blade is long enough for most cutting tasks but short enough to be compact and carry well. Handle material for the base model is molded Grivory for light weight and strength. Carbon fiber/CPM S90V stainless and machined aluminum/M390 stainless are respective handle/blade material combos available in the high-end models. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for the Bugout starts at $180 and increases depending on handle and blade material options.
The Benchmade Mini Adamas 273-03 Axis Lock is a scaled-down version of the full-size Adamas tactical folder. Designed by knifemaker Shane Sibert, the Mini Adamas has a 3.25-inch drop point blade and closed length of about 4.35 inches. The blade features a milled-in fuller and CPM MagnaCut stainless steel. The regular production versions have CPM CRUWEAR tool steel blades.
The handle is angular and boxy in very good ways. A slight swelling in the middle helps fill your palm. The special edition has marble carbon fiber scales. The standard Mini Adamas offers a choice of black or OD (olive drab) green G-10 handles. The knife’s Axis Lock works beautifully, with a rock-solid lockup and ultra-smooth blade rotation. MSRP: $375. Country of origin for the featured Benchmades: USA.
Microtech Ram Lok
Microtech’s RAM LOK takes the crossbar lock to the next level with a rectangular-shaped lockbar that places more mass on the blade tang as opposed to the standard round profile lockbar of other crossbar locks. The RAM LOK is available on several select Microtech models, including the MSI (top) and Amphibian (bottom) folders.
Microtech christened its crossbar lock Ram Lok, and it’s a variation on the theme. Most if not all other crossbar locks employ a round-profile locking bar. The Ram Lok has a rectangular shape, providing more surface space and bulk to the lock, thereby providing more inherent strength. The center post that passes through the rectangular lock has a coil spring that provides the lock’s resistance and is the key to the lockup’s integrity. The Ram Lok follows the contours of the tang and, once the blade rotates fully open, springs forward into place, wedging into the tang, thus preventing the blade from rotating closed. The release buttons are multi-faceted, stepped “X” designs on either side of the handle.
The MSI (Microtech Standard Issue) and Amphibian Ram Lok are but two Microtech manual folders with the Ram Lok. Winner of Best American Made Knife at BLADE Show West 2023 (January BLADE®, page 16), the MSI features a 3.8-inch sheepsfoot blade of Bohler M390MK high-performance stainless. M390MK is manufactured exclusively for Microtech and is similar to M390 though enhanced a bit for added edge holding.
The straight-line cutting edge permits easy sharpening as well as high utility, excelling at pull cuts especially. MSRP: $365. A black-polymer-molded-handle version lowers the price considerably to $177. It’s the most affordable U.S.-made Microtech folder available.
The Amphibian is the resurrection of an older Microtech tactical design. It sports a recurve clip-point blade in 4 inches of M390MK and a highly ergonomic handle. The signature stepped teardrop-shaped thumb stud is ambidextrous and allows for easy one-hand opening. The handle is available in G-10 or aluminum, with G-10 colors of black, FDE (flat dark earth) or OD green. The aluminum handle is available in black only, though that may change by the time you read this. MSRP: $300. Country of origin for the featured Microtechs; USA.
Hogue ABLE Lock
The Hogue Knives Deka has the company’s ABLE Lock. ABLE is an acronym for Advanced Bar Lock Enhanced. The Deka is an EDC friendly folder that comes in clip-point (top) and wharncliffe (bottom) blade shapes and is designed by custom knifemaker Allen Elishewitz.
Hogue Knives calls its crossbar lock the ABLE (Ambidextrous Bar Lock Enhanced) Lock. The Deka is one of the company’s folders that sports the ABLE. Designed by knifemaker Allen Elishewitz, the Deka is stylish, well-configured and slender, great for EDC and makes an awesome work knife. The 3.9-inch blade comes in standard clip point or modified wharncliffe patterns. At press time, Hogue was switching the blade steel to CPM MagnaCut from CPM 20CV.
The handle is offered in standard black and multicolored Gmascus in red, camo, green and blue. The Gmascus replicates a damascus look but in a lightweight phenolic-based resin. As each color alternates with black, the resulting visual is eye catching. The ambidextrous pocket clip carries the knife tip up. MSRP: $194.95. A version with a lightweight, lower-cost polymer handle in a choice of black, blue and FDE and a MagnaCut blade has an MSRP of $159.95. Country of origin: USA.
Gerber Pivot Lock
Gerber’s Sedulo (top) and Assert (bottom) offer the company’s version of the crossbar lock called the Pivot Lock. The Pivot Lock secures solidly and the blade action is ultra-smooth. Dual steel liners reinforce the lock’s strength.
In recent years Gerber has shifted production to the USA, a good lead-in to its new folders with crossbar locks. Among them are the Sedulo and Assert, each of which uses Gerber’s Pivot Lock. The Sedulo’s 3.4-inch drop point blade is fully flat ground CPM S30V stainless. Dual thumb studs provide ambidextrous opening. A stonewashed finish helps seal micro pores in the steel as well as hides most scratches easily.
The handle is gray FRN (fiberglass-reinforced nylon)—black is also available—with chamfering throughout for a secure, comfortable grip. The Pivot Lock locks up very tight and the blade action is ultra-smooth. Dual steel liners reinforce lock strength. Closed length: 4.7 inches. MSRP: $124.99.
Though not as brawny as the Sedulo, the Assert carries easier and more comfortably. The modified clip point blade is 2.9 inches of CPM S30V. Closed length: 4 inches. The oblong blade slot provides attachment points for the adjustable thumb stud, which you can move/position anywhere along the slot. The stud can be removed altogether and the slot used to open the blade instead.
I love how the two standoffs at the handle butt, the lock release buttons and the thumb studs are orange, contrasting nicely with the gray and adding an exciting pop of color. An ambidextrous fold-over clip carries the knife deep in the pocket. The Pivot Lock ensures smooth blade action and rock-solid lockup.
The flat-ground blade slices evenly and cleanly. Out of the box the edge was very sharp and ready to work. It carries well, cuts well and is great looking. MSRP: $174.99. It’s available in three colors: all black with black blade and hardware, gray handle with orange hardware, and green handle with blue hardware. Country of origin for the featured Gerbers: USA.
Kershaw Duralock
The Iridium (top) and Heist (bottom) are two of Kershaw’s newest folders featuring the company’s version of the crossbar lock—the Duralock. It provides a strong, solid lock-up.
Kershaw’s crossbar lock is the Duralock and is offered on a few new models in the company lineup. One is the Iridium, a slender folder designed to carry easily. Packing a 3.4-inch spear point blade of D2 tool steel, the Iridium is made for hard use. The handle is gray-anodized aluminum for light weight and high tensile strength. Mounted on the handle’s reverse side, the clip carries the Iridium deep and tip up. A copper-colored handle spacer adds just the right amount of contrast. The Duralock engages crispy with zero blade play. The Iridium is also available in an all-black-coated handle and blade. MSRP for the standard Iridium is $99.99 and the Iridium Black is $104.99.
The Heist is another new Kershaw design with the Duralock. Featuring a 3.2-inch clip point blade of D2 tool steel, the Heist has an ergonomic handle with a slim profile for effortless carry. The 3-D grip texturing helps keep your hand in place during extended use. Molded FRN scales conserve on weight. The clip is a fold-over deep-carry style affixed to the handle butt. The Heist is a straightforward working knife for military and law enforcement. The pivot works on a bronze washer. The Duralock locks up strong and solid. The MSRP of $84.99 is very reasonable for a working folder with above average blade steel. Country of origin for both knives: China.
Tactile Knife Co. Tight Lock
The Maverick by Tactile Knife Co. pairs the company’s crossbar lock with a knife design by custom maker Richard Rogers. Richard designed the Maverick’s crossbar lock, too. The folder won Best EDC at BLADE Show Texas 2023.
Tactile Knife Co. is a relatively new U.S. knife manufacturer and the Maverick, a collaboration with custom knifemaker Richard Rogers and winner of Best EDC at BLADE Show Texas 2023, features the company’s version of the crossbar lock. The Maverick is a slender folder on the larger side, with a 3.5-inch blade and 4.7-inch closed length. It may be on the longer side but it has a slim profile that carries very well in jeans or a suit. The MagnaCut blade has a flat front with a bit of a swedge. Dual thumb studs promote easy opening with either hand.
The titanium handle’s 3D texture has many ridges to enhance traction. The crossbar lock provides a smooth opening and is very secure. The handle shape is simple but works very well, with an integral single guard to keep your hand in place.
The clip is an interesting design. Two standoffs attach to the butt end to carry the knife tip up, with the clip affixed atop the standoffs. It’s more involved than a standard or even a milled titanium clip. It looks upscale and different in a very good way. It shows the attention to detail throughout the Maverick, which includes an anodized, triangular-shaped titanium pivot bolt. The folder is also available in black Richlite Micarta®, providing a slightly lower price point ($249 MSRP) and lighter weight. MSRP for the titanium version: $349.
Check out a few of the new blades that caught our eye in Las Vegas.
It was a busy week at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas for the outdoor and shooting extravaganza known as the SHOT Show. Of course, there were plenty of factory makers in attendance with plenty of new releases for the coming year.
Sadly, we were unable to make every cutler in the house for the big dance but we did stop by a good number and caught a glimpse of some of the new blades for 2025.
Kronos Knives Gung Ho! Line By Ken Onion
Kronos is a new kid on the block, one-year-old as of SHOT Show 2025. The upstart knifemaker had a heck of an anniversary surprise at the home of its launch. The South Carolina-based company unveiled four Ken Onion-designed Gung Ho! line of fixed blades. The four knives that make up the line are all outdoor/tactically angled with 1095 steel blades and G10 handles. The models include the Stiffneck (MSRP $220), Maxhunter ($228), Elitesurvival ($256), and Truedefender ($228, pictured above). Kronos will have them for sale at the end of February.
Case Sculped Ridgeback
Case gives a modern and rugged look to its Ridgeback Hunter line with the introduction of the Sculpted Ridgeback. The fixed blade still has the sexy sweeping stainless steel blade true to the line but is dressed out in a durable and attractive new handle. In this case, canvass Micarta with G10 liners. The texturing is aggressive, making a workhorse that’s not afraid of bad weather but just as attractive as its rosewood predecessor which it is pictured with above. Case has a $128 MSRP on the knife.
Vero Engineering/Pro-Tech Custom Synapse
The Custom Synapse Auto is a pretty sweet meeting between two of the knife industry’s heavy hitters. Given the fanbase of both companies, expect these to fly off the shelves with the $525-$700 price points. Jeez, who doesn’t want an auto Synapse? Especially one done up with Pro-Tech’s typical flare—pearl inlay button, an action that snaps like a wet gym towel, etc. Mouths will have to water for a while, the auto Synapse doesn’t go public for another six months or so.
CRKT Provoke X Axe
An axe in your pocket? You bet—thanks to the mad geniuses at CRKT. Unveiled at the show, the Provoke X Axe is the latest in the forward-thinking Provoke line. Designed by Joe Caswell, the axe’s head and spike fold flush against the handle, deploying with a flick of the wrist. Built from D2 steel, it’s too light for felling trees but perfect for its tactical role—and it looks like it means business. With an MSRP of $350, the Provoke X Axe is set to drop to the public later this year.
These factory slip joint folders prove the design is alive and well.
Those of us who were around long before just about every folding knife had a lock of some sort have fond memories of slip joints. These non-locking folders are still around, but you need to make Google your friend and look—not just in the U.S., but overseas—to root them out. Surprisingly, there are good ones to be had; you just have to do a little digging to find the gems. We’ve done the homework on a nice selection of fresh slip joints for BLADE® readers and present them to you now in these glossy pages.
RoseCraft Savage Creek
The gunstock folder pattern has been around for well over a century and seems to be a rite of passage for most slip joint manufacturers. Up-and-coming RoseCraft Blades has done a nice job of producing many traditional folders, and its Savage Creek Gunstock slip joint is a solid addition to its catalog. This company’s version has a 3.625-inch black Micarta handle with polished steel bolsters and a nickel silver spade escutcheon. The blade is a 2.8-inch swedge-ground D2 steel clip point with a nail nick. The gunstock handle is nicely done with a tastefully curved rise on the inside curve of the handle. MSRP on the RoseCraft Gunstock is $60.
Rosecraft Blades makes an impressive knife for the price. Its gunstock is just a tad over the 3.5-inch standard of the industry and can easily fit in the pocket to handle everyday chores. I tested its blade by cutting some paracord and found its D2 very much to my liking. I also tested it by slicing some thin-skinned leather and was also impressed. This steel has been around for many years; though it’s not true stainless, it has enough chromium content that it rarely rusts. D2 steel is a reliable steel that still finds its way on a lot of custom knives.’
Savage Creek Specs Design: Gunstock Folder Overall Length: 6.4” Blade Style: Clip Point Blade Steel: D2 Blade Length: 2.8” Handle Material: Black Micarta Handle Length: 3.625” Special Features: Spade Shield Weight: 2.7 oz. Country of Manufacture: China Retail Price: $60
GiantMouse Ace Farley V2
The GiantMouse Ace Farley V2 Slip Joint is everything you’d expect in a finely made pocketknife and more. I tested the colorful green canvas Micarta version with a brass bolster, which added a little color to my carry. This version is 6.375 inches fully opened and closes to 3.625 inches—very much in the standard pocketknife realm. The main body of the dark green Micarta is topped by an elliptical-base, flat-finished guard and a simple, reversible pocket clip resides at the base. The 2.75-inch Elmax stainless steel blade is a fully ground drop point with a common curved nail nick. The total weight of the knife is a svelte 2.6 ounces. MSRP is on the knife is $156.
This is a less expensive version of the Ace Farley V2 I tested in an earlier issue of BLADE, but I like the brass and green Micarta combination versus the somewhat staid titanium/carbon-fiber version. And this one is less expensive. This folder is similar in length to the previous RoseCraft, but the handle has much more girth, which offers a plusher grip and a wider blade. I tested this version on a much thicker, quarter-inch synthetic cord and it cut through nicely. It’s amazing the difference a fuller, more comfortable handle makes when slicing through tough material.
Ace Farley V2 Green Micarta Specs Design: EDC Pocketknife Overall Length: 6.375” Blade Style: Drop Point Blade Steel: Elmax Blade Length: 2.75” Handle Material: Green Micarta, Brass bolster Handle Length: 3.625” Special Features: Slip joint action w/half stops Weight: 2.6 oz. Country of Manufacture: China Retail Price: $156
Giantmouse ACE Farley V2 Pocket Knife Drop Point ELMAX Stonewashed Blad
White River Knife & Tool entered the market in 2011 and has been a popular choice among fixed-blade users ever since. Finally, the company released its first folding knife—the Trailhead Trapper—and it was worth the wait. My first impression of the knife was that its ample 3.1-inch S35VN stainless steel blade is all business. The knife, designed for White River by Smith & Sons Knife Company, looks like it wants to cut! The brown 4.2-inch natural burlap Micarta handle features an excellent grip, with the burlap variety offering a slightly more substantial grip than the standard smooth Micarta. The weight is 2.5 ounces, and the $258 price tag is worth every penny.
An extra inch or more of handle and blade make huge difference on a folder. There’s more blade to cut with and more handle to grip and manipulate the knife. The White River Trailhead Trapper allowed me to extend the knife’s grip much better, and the longer blade was able to separate and remove whatever I cut more easily—in this case, sausage. With more room added to the equation, every task you tackle with a longer knife is easier.
Trailhead Trapper Specs Design: Classic Trapper Overall Length: 7.5” Blade Style: Clip Point Blade Length: 3.1” Blade Steel: S35VN Handle Material: Natural Burlap Micarta Handle Length: 4.2” Special Features: Half Stop Weight: 2.5 oz. Country of Manufacture: U.S.A. Retail Price: $259
White River Knives Trailhead Trapper Pocket Knife Clip Point CPM S35VN Blade Ri
We don’t get a lot of folding knives designed primarily for self-defense, so it’s good to see one enter the fray. The Böker Coffin Ultem is as purposeful as it is good-looking. The Coffin’s handle is a manageable 4.15 inches long, and you can clip it to the pocket or carry it loose in a pants pocket. The blade is 3.15 inches of premium MagnaCut stainless steel, so between that and the Ultem handle, there is no scrimping on Böker’s part. The Coffin opens the old-fashioned way, via a nail nick and a nice diagonal square texture. The length of the handle enhances the grip. This is a simple, well-made slip joint, especially for its MSRP of $285.
The designers at Böker wisely opted for a long, straight clip point blade for the Coffin to give the user more versatility outside of a pure defensive role. This adds to its usefulness in utility when cord or rope needs cutting and other roles such as meal prep in the field or on the go.
Coffin Ultem Specs Design: Self Defense Overall Length: 7.3” Blade Style: Spear Point Blade Length: 3.15” Blade Steel: MagnaCut Handle Material: Ultem Thermoplastic Handle Length: 4.15” Special Features: See-through Ultem Handle w/ Pocketclip Weight: 1.94 oz. Country of Manufacture: Solingen, Germany Retail Price: $230
Still Alive And Slippin’
Judging from our crop of slip joints, these simpler folders seem to be doing quite well in today’s cutlery market. Just the sheer variety of types and styles is impressive. Want traditional and hard-nosed? The White River Knife & Tool Trailhead Trapper and RoseCraft Blades Savage Creek Gunstock should whet your whistle. For outside the box and downright fancy, the Böker Coffin Ultem and GiantMouse V2 Green Micarta will whet it some more.
These are fat times for slip joint aficionados in the aftermarket as well. If your folder doesn’t come equipped with a pocket clip, there are plenty to be found in all sizes and types from aftermarket suppliers. Similarly, you can find leather and nylon belt sheaths for carrying your folder at the ready outside the pocket as well.
If for no other reason than simpler is better, with less to break and gum up your plans, I’ll leave you with this. A noted old-time knifemaker once left me with a piece of advice as to why he chooses to use a slip joint over any of the multitude of locks available for folding knives today. He simply said, “I know which side of the blade cuts.”
Nothing cuts as wicked a profile as a tanto knife.
The tanto is one of the most iconic and recognizable knife designs to ever forged, and today you can find it being made all over the world. From pocket folders to heavy fixed blades, there are a lot of Tantos to choose from.
Today, we’re going to go over everything you need to know about the tanto, from its history and modern usage to the best modern examples you can add to your collection.
Let’s dive right in.
Tanto Knives: Rich, Battlefield-Proven History
Japan has gifted the world with some excellent things: sushi, Godzilla, anime, the Honda Civic… list goes on. Perhaps some of the most iconic pieces of Japanese culture to spread around the world though are its blade designs.
The katana is probably the most famous in terms of combat-focused designs, but a close second is the beloved tanto. A very core idea of many sword-based Japanese martial arts is the idea of daishō, which translates to “big-little”.
Daishō essentially just means having one long sword, and one short sword or long knife to accompany it. Traditionally, the larger sword would often be left outside when entering a palace or other government building, or a temple, and the shorter weapon would be carried inside, tucked through a sash.
The Sidearm of Choice Before Pistols
Originally conceived as a sidearm to be paired with a long sword, the tanto was first carried primarily by Samurai alongside a tachi, the precursor to the katana most of us are familiar with from modern popular culture.
Over time, the tanto become more widespread, and a smaller version known as a kaikenbecame popular as a self-defense tool for women. Over several hundred years, the tanto became shorter and thicker, and closer to the blade we know today.
Photo: Wikipedia
Though eventually replaced in serious warfare by the wakizashi (functionally just a shorter katana, though with some design differences) the tanto remained popular for ceremonial usage and became a matter of pride and expression to wear or own in later years.
The tanto then saw a resurgence in the years leading up to WWII, as they were viewed as more traditional by the Imperial Court. Following Japan’s defeat, limits on sword forging caused a decline in all traditional Japanese sword-making.
In the 1960s, American and European obsession with Japanese martial arts (spurred on by excellent films such as 7 Samurai, Yojimbo, and others) lead to a resurgence of the tanto, particularly as a combat-focused knife shape.
Today, the iconic tanto tip is found on traditional full-length fixed blades, as well as more modern folding pocket knives designed for tactical/defensive use. Plenty of manufacturers make tanto-tipped knives, as well as smiths making excellent traditional tantos. (We’re going to cover both in our reviews, don’t worry).
What makes a Tanto, a Tanto?
Today, the definition of a tanto has shifted far beyond the traditional knife of 10th-century Japan, but we’re going to start there and then we’ll talk about the more modern incarnation where we see tanto tips added to a variety of EDC and tactical knives.
Traditional Tanto Blades
Originally, the tanto was more what we would call a short sword, or perhaps a long dagger, and was worn by samurai. It was very much a weapon to begin with, but become a more ornate and ceremonial piece over the years as weapon designs evolved.
The traditional tanto was a single or double-edged dagger with a length of around 6-12 inches and was designed primarily for stabbing. It was forged with very flat sides, and some were left short with an extra thick cross-section to aid in piercing armor.
Modern Tanto Blades
The more modern interpretation of the tanto is heavily influenced by American tactical knife designs and proves more common outside of Japan. Traditional blades are still made (and beautiful) but less practical for the modern world.
A variety of American and European knife makers now produce tanto-inspired knives with a very angular tip with the iconic sharply-upswept blade tip, essentially leaving you with two cutting planes—one parallel to the spine of the knife, and one at a 45-degree(ish) angle to the spine angling up towards the tip.
Most of these modern “American tanto” designs are folding knives, and while many are for “tactical” or defensive use, the tanto blade shape has become increasingly popular for EDC knives as well.
Pros of the Tanto Design
Piercing: Piercing, piercing, piercing. The shape of the tanto is optimized for stabbing and piercing, and it excels in those contexts.
Whether you’re a pre-Edo period Samurai trying to slip a blade between (or through) segments of your opponent’s armor, or a frustrated office worker attempting to poke your way into some plastic clamshell packaging, the tanto is ideal for putting a hole in something.
We see similar knives used for leather work around the world, and with good reason. The tanto is great for putting a hole in tough material.
Draw Cuts: Modern American tantos are also great for draw cuts and slices, particularly when you’re working with something on a flat surface like a cutting board. The dual edge geometry makes short work of many slicing tasks.
You can also (carefully) use that second point where the two edges meet like a chisel for shaving wood, scraping a sticker, etc. This makes for a very handy EDC.
Defense: Lastly, as a defensive tool, tantos excel because of their narrow, piercing point. This point easily defeats heavy clothing and makes for an effective means of defense in skilled hands.
Many knife-based martial arts focus on stabbing strikes as the most effective fight-enders, and the tanto fits that training paradigm very well, while still being perfectly capable of slashing.
Cons of the Tanto Design
Cutting Edge: The tanto’s main drawback, besides additional time and care needed when sharpening, is the fact that you lose some usable blade edge by having essentially two edges, one parallel to the spine and one swept forward and upwards.
In practical use, this means you have less effective blade length for certain tasks, around 20% less than you’d have with an equivalent-length drop or clip-point blade. To compensate, tanto blades intended for EDC are usually a bit longer than a similar knife with a different point.
All of this can be adjusted for, and as long as you aren’t doing something like spoon carving, you probably won’t notice a difference in real-world use.
At the end of the day, “real-world use” for most of us is opening boxes and packaging, and slicing apart those god-awful packing straps used to hold children’s toys in display boxes. And the tanto excels at all those tasks.
How The Hell Do You Sharpen a Tanto?
Sharpening a tanto may look a bit scary, but once you break the process down, it’s quite simple. All you’re doing is sharpening two edges that meet at a point. The only real pitfall is that it’s easy to round over the point where the forward edge and the edge parallel to the spine meet.
To avoid this, be mindful of that meeting point, and stop your sharpening stroke on or before it. Then, when sharpening the forward edge, rotate the blade and sharpen it in much the same way you would a chisel.
Just be careful not to pull through the point where the two edges meet so you don’t round over that point and you’ll be good to go. Beyond that, it’s just like sharpening any other knife.
10 Ten Knives with Tanto Blades: EDC, Fixed Blades, and Folders
CIVIVI Elementum Tanto
The CIVIVI Elementum has become something of a modern classic in the EDC knife world. Since its release a few years ago has gone on to become one of the most popular pocket knives around.
There is a nearly limitless amount of blade and handle combinations out there now, but we’re going to focus on this excellent tanto blade with a copper handle.
At its core, this is still the same Elementum knife aficionados are already familiar with (a simple, dependable liner-lock flipper folder) but outfitted with a tanto blade that makes piercing tasks a cinch, without compromising on slicing performance.
Basically, it’s everything you need in an EDC knife for regular daily tasks, and it comes with a gussied-up stonewashed tanto blade and a lovely hand-polished copper handle that adds a touch of class and elegance to this very affordable knife.
The Elementum tanto is also available in a button lock version and features a 2.96-inch blade made of D2 steel.
MSRP: $80
Kershaw Emerson CQC-7K
Ernest Emerson has brought much success to Kershaw with his designs. Back in 2014 he hit it out of the park again with the Emerson CQC-7k, which won that year’s Best Buy award at BLADE Show for sheer value. In the almost ten years since it’s held its own as one of the best EDC options out there.
It features the iconic Emerson Wave that facilitates blade deployment by simply pulling it from the pocket and hooking the “Wave-Shaped Feature” on the pocket on the way out (sort of an inverted kicker).
It also features an ambidextrous thumb disk that doubles as a comfortable place to press your thumb when doing fiddly work. The scales are nicely-textured G10, and the handle features a stainless frame lock that is one of the more secure we’ve tested (read: beat the hell out of).
The one thing to look out for is the blade steel. I would suggest spending an extra few bucks on the D2 stainless version and avoiding the 8cr14Mov version. There’s no reason to spend more than $40 on a knife with bottom-tier blade steel like that in this day and age.
You can get five gas station knives for that price and be better off.
The Emerson CQC-7K has a D2 blade that is 3.25-inches long.
MSRP: Starting at $74
Benchmade Bailout
You’ve heard of the Bugout, surely. Now meet its newer, slightly-tacticooler cousin, the Bailout (one of my favorite knives of the past several years).
As you can surely imagine, the Bailout is a bit of a riff on the Bugout most of us knife fans know and love, but with some notable changes. Our favorite version is the CPM-M4 model which features woodland green anodized aluminum handles.
CPM-M4 is a great steel, which you would expect from Benchmade, and the knife itself is the perfect length to straddle the line between EDC knife and tactical folder. It also features a lanyard loop if you’re one of those people who like lanyard loops, and more interestingly a micro glass breaker.
How often do you need to break a car window in an emergency? Probably not very often, but it is nice to have it if you’re leaning toward a more tactical-style knife. You can also get a version that doesn’t have the glass breaker or the aluminum handles if you want to save a bit.
The Bailout features a 3.4-inches, CPM-M4 blade.
MSRP: $129
Ontario Ti-22 Equinox
Ontario Knife Co. is one of the most criminally underrated makers out there. Everything in its catalog is smartly designed and intended to excel in real-world conditions. That includes the Ti-22 Equinox.
It features, as the name suggests, a full titanium handle and an S35VN blade coated black to inhibit rust and corrosion in difficult environments. S35VN is a premium steel that holds an edge incredibly well, and the lightweight titanium handle is as robust as you could ever want.
The action is flippy and fidget-friendly, and the handle feels comfortable during extended use. The blade slices paper right out of the box, and comes to a sharp angle where the forward edge meets the primary cutting edge, giving you plenty of piercing power.
Draw cuts, slicing, and even some camp kitchen prep were easy and straightforward, and the knife handled being carried on a sailboat for a week without showing any signs of rust. All in all, a great EDC that again toes the line towards the more tactical/defensive side of things.
The Ti-22 has an S35VN blade that is 3.03-inches long.
MSRP: $138
Case Kinzua
Case Knives made a flipper! Several actually, with the Kinzua being part of the first line of Modern Everyday Carry Knives to come from this iconic brand.
This isn’t your grandad’s Case knife, though we love some of those old three-blade traditional babies as much as anyone. These are incredibly modern designs for a modern audience that expects things like one-handed opening, a frame lock, and a deep-carry pocket clip.
In addition to all that, the Kinzua (named for a scenic forestry area in Allegheny County, PA) features an S35VN blade and faceted anodized aluminum handles that are a joy to hold. The flipper tab is nicely contoured, and the knife opens and closes smoothly.
The tip is a now-familiar American tanto and is great for piercing pesky packages, or anything else you might need to poke a hole into during your daily life.
MSRP: $179
Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Tanto
The Spyderco Paramilitary 2 (or PM2) is beloved in the EDC community, and it’s not hard to figure out why.
It features a polished washer pivot system that is very smooth to open and close, features Spyderco’s iconic compression lock, and now, for the first time, comes with a tanto blade.
That blade is made of CPM-S30V steel, one of the best you can get in a pocket knife at this price range. Sharpening isn’t too difficult, and the edge will last you a very long time, even with aggressive daily use battering away as you slice open Amazon boxes (or whatever).
The PM2 has fine-textured G-10 handle scales out of the box, but you and your trusty screwdriver can pop those off and replace them with any one of roughly ten bazillion aftermarket options. Companies like Flytanium keep PM2 owners well-supplied with choices.
MSRP: $246
The Spyderco PM2 Tanto features a 3.44-inch blade made of CPM-S30V steel.
Cold Steel Recon Tanto
Of course, we can’t have a list of modern tanto knives without bringing out something from Cold Steel, the progenitors of the modern “American tanto” that is the most accurate description of most of the knives on this list.
Their Recon Tanto is our first fixed blade on this list and is positioned as a tactical/rescue blade. The incredibly robust SK5 steel used in the blade is a common for hard-use tools like machetes and survival knives, particularly military ones.
The grip is made with Kray-Ex, which is designed to maintain good friction in the hand at all times, even if your hands are wet or you’re wearing gloves. It also doesn’t shred your paws like some rougher materials.
If you’re looking for a more tactical tanto that can handle everything from camp tasks to self-defense, this is a great option that is a bit heavy, but bomb-proof and reliable.
The Recon Tanto has a 7-inch SK5 high-carbon steel blade.
MSRP: Starting at $70
Chaves Redención Street Tanto
Ramon Chaves is a custom knife maker that has made a name for himself as one of the premier designers of tough, hard-wearing, but still stylish blades. His Redención tanto is…very expensive, and worth every penny, exactly the way a custom knife should be.
If you’ve got the cash and you like the look of it, especially if you enjoy the artisan nature of a custom knife, go buy that.
For those of us with slightly less to spend, Reate has put out a production version of the Redención that comes with a slightly more obtainable street price and is considerably easier to find in stock.
Ramon works hard, but it’s always going to take longer to produce a custom knife than a production knife coming from a factory with purpose-built tooling. The Redención Street is a great way to get your hands on the design, without waiting months for the custom version.
The Street Tanto is an incredibly well-built framelock folder with an aggressive piercing tip. Despite a 3.63-inch blade length, the whole thing weighs in at just over 6oz thanks to the titanium handle design (which you can get in about two dozen different colors).
The blade is made from the fabulous Bohler M390 steel, one of the best you’ll find in a pocket knife.
MSRP: $300
Siam Blades Traditional Black Copper Hira Tanto
Lastly, I’m throwing in a little treat for the two or three of you reading this who came here looking for traditional, no-fooling, tantos made the old way. Siam Blades is a traditional blacksmith shop located in Thailand, but they have Japanese-trained smiths that create blades using traditional methods.
For most people, this is going to be a good balance of value and authenticity. A traditional tanto made in Japan will probably run you about three times what this one does. The Black Copper Hira tanto is made to a similar standard, in the same traditional way, and is as beautiful as it is functional.
Best of all, they have stock ready to ship, so you don’t have to wait 18 months for your tanto to be finished and shipped. I’ve chosen the Black Copper version here, but there is a large variety available depending on what aesthetic you’re going after.
The blade itself is made of extremely durable high-carbon SK5 steel (very common in machetes, and battle-ready sword reproductions) and is 9.5-inches long.
MSRP: $820
Final Thoughts on Tanto Knives
The tanto is an iconic design, whether we’re talking about the traditional Japanese original or the modern American remix. This knife shape has stuck around for a thousand years for a reason.
Today, most production tantos are more in the American style at least as far as the tip goes, but this battle-tested design has its roots going back much farther. I hope you’ve enjoyed this brief look into that long history, and you’ve got a better idea of what your options are for picking up a tanto of your very own.
