One of my colleagues from our fire department visited my home a few days ago and he was a bit shocked to see my collection of knives. He wasn’t aware that I had been hunting on the weekend since I was 9. He was fascinated with them and picked out two interesting knives; a spear point and a tanto. He mentioned that he isn’t much into knives and asked me why they look so different. I then explained their differences and was in awe about the knife knowledge.
I have been comparing different knives for the past few weeks and just got to know that I’ve missed comparing tanto vs spear point blades. This gives me an idea to proceed and publish an article right away to help those who don’t know the differences between these two blades. If you are one of them, just stay with them for a moment and I’ll clear your doubts.
What is a Tanto blade?
It is characterized by two edges, a straight spine with almost no belly. The edges tapers a sharp point which makes the knife suitable for thrusting, stabbing, piercing and prying.
This blade profile is quite different from other shapes and can be easily identified with a single look. It was invented in Japan more than 1000 years ago and used as a short sword during combat fights. This was the original tanto which had a slight belly, sloping curve on the spine and inward edge up to 45-degree.
In the late 1980s, Cold Steel reinvented this shape with a straight spine and inward edge up to 45-degree and then introduced in the U.S market. They are the major reason behind the popularity of this knife in the country and people loved it. The American version is also known as “Reverse Tanto”.
Owning this knife is legal in most parts in the U.S however, there are some restrictions on carrying it. I suggest you get in touch with the local authorities to get clarity on the laws. I reside in Alaska and I’ve no restrictions on carrying this knife.
One of my favorite models is, COLD STEEL Recon. It features a 4-inch stainless steel blade which weighs about 0.32 lbs.
I brought this knife in 2019 and I have used it for various purposes such as:
- EDC: The blade shape is excellent for daily tasks such as opening a delivery package, removing splinters, cutting unwanted grass, food prep, cutting and slicing fruits/ vegetables, cutting seatbelt or ropes etc. The knife is pretty lightweight which makes it easy to carry on the go.
- Surviving outdoors: I go camping every now and then and I have carried this blade a couple of times to protect myself from predators and it has saved me from dangerous situations a few times. It is perfect for puncturing and slashing for self-defense.
- Wordwork: The dual-edge of the blade is excellent for doing tasks such as light carving, whittling, removing bark from the logs.
As the knife has two edges, sharpening the blade may be tricky If you haven’t used it before. I struggled a bit while doing that but one of my friends suggested that I treat each edge separately and then sharpen it. I followed the same and I was able to sharpen it easily.
What is a spear point knife?
This blade has symmetrical ends on both spine and the edge to form an extremely sharp tip. It is suitable for light piercing and detailed work. The blade profile looks exactly the same from any angle.
It has a curved-belly and is an excellent choice for slicing and is one of the major differences between this blade and a tanto. The spinal part is mostly unsharpened however, it is sharpened, it’ll be called a “double-edged blade”.
Just like Tanto, it is legal to own this blade however, you need to double-check on carrying it with your local authorities.
I’m using Zero Tolerance 0235 for the past 3 years and I’ve used it for:
- Light Piercing: Whenever I need to do piercing, it is one of my top choices as the symmetrical blade provides me with a comfortable grip.
- Self-defense: The overall blade profile and the strong tip has helped me protect myself from predators in various situations.
- Outdoor activities: I’ve used this knife while camping and hunting to perform activities like skinning, field dressing, butchering, cutting ropes, food preparation, cutting wood for fire, clear tails, building a shelter, using it as a hammer and cleaning fish.
- Detailed work: For detailed cutting work, this blade provides great balance which makes the job much easier.
If you want to invest in premium spear point blades, I suggest you go with COLD STEEL Tai Pan or Smith & Wesson HRT.
Which one should you buy?
A tanto specializes in two tasks; piercing and thrusting. The dual edge provides extra strength to carve into any object without too much pressure and doing this may not harm the blade. However, the lack of a belly makes the knife unfit for daily use. If you are looking for a blade for these two tasks, you can go with a tanto without any second things.
For everyday tasks like slicing a fruit/ vegetable, detailed cutting, light piercing, opening packages, cutting ropes, hunting, camping or even surviving outdoors, you must always go with a spear point.
FAQs
1. What are the disadvantages of a tanto blade?
There are two major disadvantages;
- Unlike a spear point or a drop point, it doesn’t have a belly for slicing.
- The dual-edge blade makes the sharpening a bit difficult for new users.
2. What is a spear point knife good for?
It is a good choice for controlled slicing, detailed cutting, light piercing, self-defense and everyday use.
3. Is a tanto or drop point better?
Tanto excels in piercing and thrusting whereas a drop point is a good all-rounder knife that can be used for EDC, hunting, camping and survival.
4. Are tanto knives good for self-defense?
Yes. Due to its piercing and thrusting ability, tantos are pretty good for self-defense.
5. Is tanto hard to sharpen?
It may be slightly difficult for first time users because of its two edges however, If you treat them as separate edges, sharpening becomes easy.
Conclusion
I’ve multiple tantos and spear point blades and I use them only for their appropriate tasks. I don’t use it for tasks it isn’t designed for because it may damage the blade. If you have confused which one of them is suitable for you, just follow this guide and I’m sure you’ll get an idea. If you have any other questions, please let me know in the comments and I’ll get back to you soon. Cheers!
