I am just about to purchase a SOG Flash II to replace the one I lost. I had the regular half-serrated blade and it was extremely useful at work. I used it all the times. I see that they are now available with a tanto blade. My knife will be put to work on a regular basis, it is not a defensive tool to me.

What's the point of a tanto blade? I don't see how it's helpful. Please educate me.

Knife to be discussed here:

Thanks, I edited my post.

From my very limited understanding it is for penetration.
The tanto tip is supposed to be stronger, so in theory it should be able to better penetrate.
Again this is coming from my very limited understanding.
I'm sure someone with a better answer will be along shortly.

My opinion is tantos are great for fixed blade knives but useless for folders. Tantos are for strength and penetration.

The Americanized tanto design is not for greater penetration it is for greater tip strength only. The tanto design actually penetrates less effectively than a standard knife design or even the true Japanese style tanto.

To look cool and otherwise limit your ability to use the knife for any cutting purpose.


I'm not a fan.

The tanto blade usually will have a stronger tip, IMO they are not better and probably worse than most other common designs. The are also more difficult to sharpen because of the second tip if you are not careful you can round it off. They may have a slight advantage for a fighting blade, but the fact that they are worse at everything else doesn't make it worth it to me. I own several tanto blades just so you know I am no a tanto hatter just prefer other designs for a working blade.

In Texas, Bowie knives & 5.5"+ blades are illegal for carry. Jim Bowie never saw a tanto point in his life. Thus, I bought all my Texas troops this before we came home:

http://www.kabar.com/knives/detail/70

The point, I believe is to take a useful visually appealing knife and make it ugly as hell.

easier to open paint cans,with.



clown

Hahahaha Jasun! You hit it on the 'point'!!! Your knife I will point out (no pun there intended) is a modified hissatsu blade which IS very dagger like, where the OP's intended knife is much blunter.

Very good demonstration and you did more than half of your stabs in the reverse Ice pick method which does work. (grinning)

The fuck it is, it is a traditional Japnese kwiken. Hissatsu is a trademarked name of a knife designed by James Williams. There are no traditional Japanese hissatsu style blades since it is something he created and designed. Hissatsu means final blow in Japanese, the knife itself is nothing more than a blended American and Japanese tanto design with a way elongated front section.

You are correct and I was tired...I typed the wrong word. "Ikken hissatsu" (in Sotokan Karate) exactly translated "One fist: certain death" or "kill with one strike". Hissatsu ( 必殺) then actually means ''certain kill". The concept is to put all into that punch to finish your opponent. If that does not work use another...and so on. But you do it with purpose and intent. A sort of 'Carpe diem" in Japanese. Actually I am not trying to engage into a pissing contest Jasun, so don't get bent , if that is where this is going. I am fallible and I do make mistakes but the hope is that the mistakes are not life threatening or cause harm to another. I also own up to my mistakes and try to correct them immediately as well as don't intentionally try to copy other work.

My many years in Japan and my education notwithstanding, Kwaiken means 'chest' or 'bosom' and many times was carried in the obi of a kimono. Obis were worn (especially on women) on the lower chest region of the body so the name might not just be a coincidence. They would be worn edge up thrust into the obi or a belt. I never said anywhere that you could NOT stab with them, I did suggest that it was not recommended as to the use for self defense against more than one attacker. I think it is part of the reason that Aikido, while very very effective on a battle field, does not lend itself to use so well in the MMA arena. Arena fighting is against only one person...a sort of duel. using the force of one opponent against another opponent cannot apply in a duel. Sticking an opponent when you have more than one may end up getting you 'poked' or worse. Blades stick sometimes in odd ways when being used and notches, gimping, file work, or sharp projections can effect removal and redeployment to another target.

A chisel shaped blade is less effective as a stabbing weapon but will work just fine. On my CQB hawk the spike is actually chisel shaped and does a good amount of penetration into steel drums and car doors. It cuts and then separates the metal, pushing it aside as it enters. As this weapon is intended to be used very close up, I did not want a spike that could seriously harm the user if it got between them and an attacker. I am told it works well.

As for any trademark for a hissatsu blade, I have never heard of it. I certainly know of the elongated point (kissaki) of the CRKT Hissatsu but I also have seen many ancient examples in my travels in Japan. That was just part of my studies over the years and I have seen even sword examples that are similar. I don't know how much that can be copy righted in this area as so much has been done in the last 1000 years in blade crafting in Japan particular to swords and knives. A "Shobu Zukuri" katana is a great example.