9 Best Tanto Knife Of 2023 | Best Folding & Fixed Blade Tanto Knives

Best Tanto Knife

Tanto knives are a short and quick solution for multiple outdoor tasks. They have special and unique design blades which are sharp, comfortable, and easy to manage. If you’re trying to find a pocket-friendly and handy short knife for your outdoor activities then look no further as we’ve got selected a few best tanto knives with top-notch construction and comfortable designs.

These tanto knives are also compared with other knives so that you can get a clear idea of buying any of them. They are sturdy, affordable, sharp, easy to maintain, and long-lasting. Some exceptional features of the best tanto knife are their ultimate control and pocket-friendly design that makes them easy to manage.

These tanto blade folding knives are reviewed here by their type, material, blade length, structure, and knife handle design that will help get the right tool to your needs.

Name	Material	Size	Locking Mechanism	View At Amazon
Smith & Wesson Border Guard Knife	HC Stainless Steel, Aluminum	4.4"	Liner Lock	Check On Amazon
CRKT M16-14SFG Pocket Knife	Stainless Steel, Fiberglass	3.99"	Liner Lock	Check On Amazon
Kershaw Blur Tanto Knife	6061-T6 Aluminum, Stainless Steeel	3.6"	Liner Lock	Check On Amazon
Grand Way Tanto Knife	Carbon Fiber, 440C Stainless Steel	3.62"	Liner Lock	Check On Amazon
Smith & Wesson Black Ops Knife	HC Stainless Steel, Aluminum	3.4"	Liner Lock	Check On Amazon
Cold Steel Recon 1 Knife	CPM-S35VN Steel, Fiberglass	4.0"	Tri-Ad Lock	Check On Amazon
Benchmade EDC Folding Knife	6061-T6 Aluminum, Stainless Steel	3.4"	Axis Locking	Check On Amazon
Japanese Fixed Blade Knife	Stainless steel, Wood, Nylon	5.9"	None	Check On Amazon
Japanese Fixed Blade Knife	Stainless Steel, Polymer	7.0"	None	Check On Amazon

 

1. Smith & Wesson Knife – Tactical Tanto Knife

It is the toughest, most elegant, and most user-friendly knife for performing any outdoor activity. It is a high-quality knife at an affordable price. It comes with a very sharp blade, so you don’t need to sharpen it before use. This is designed for hunting or survival purpose.

The shape of the blade is tanto which is considered perfect for hunting, bushcraft, survival, rescue, and other such activities. Due to having a stronger grip handle and the sharpest blade design, no doubt it is the first choice for every survivalist and hunter.

It is featured 7Cr17MoV Black Oxide High Carbon Stainless Steel which offers strength, durability, hardness, and long-lasting sharpness. The blade has two shapes one is serrated and one plain shape for performing different activities at a time. The handle is made from aluminum which is lightweight and provides a non-slip grip to the users.

The handle has a complete hand-fitted design that is more efficient as compared to a straight handle design. There is also a hook point for adjusting through a paracord. The blade has 4.4” in length with a rope cutter that is very helpful for outdoor adventure or survival tasks.

Due to the absence of a blade opening spring feature, some users get disappointed but the Smith and Wesson tanto knife is more reliable and solid as compared to others. Spring opening blades have to stick or break the hazard. The blade has only one size variation but it has two shape blade designs which you can choose according to your purpose of job or adventure.

 

2. CRKT M16-14SFG Knife – Modern Tanto Knife

If you are looking for an ideal knife for your pocket then this is made for you. This has a tactical design with a compact structure that perfectly fits your pocket. This is easy to maintain and clean which will save your cost of maintenance. Mineral oil is enough for cleaning purposes by rubbing it for only 5 to 10 minutes.

Unlike others, the blade featured a razor-sharp feature that is extremely helpful for hunting, survival, or tactical purposes. The best folding tanto knife can easily open or close by applying only a little pressure with your thumb.

It is featured Stainless Steel material along with an external titanium nitride finish that provides an extra layer of protection for rust and corrosion resistance. The handle has fiberglass material for comfort and convenience. It is also featured both serrated and plain blades like others. The blade is 4” in length with a tanto shape design.

This Gerber Tanto knife also comes with a hook to adjust in the pocket easily. There are also two holes on both sides of the blade which are perfect for adjusting a paracord to be used as a neck knife. The best tanto knife has a flipper design blade that requires little force for opening or closing the blade.

The blade is also lockable which is perfect for adjusting the blade at a point for balance and safety. There is a designed pin that is used for creating a balance between the liner and frame for maximum security. It also featured a limited lifetime warranty for client satisfaction and payment protection.

 

3. Kershaw Blur Knife – Mini Tanto Knife

This is a bid, multipurpose, popular, and dual-design blade knife which is highly recommended for any outdoor purpose. This one-hand operating knife is perfect for cutting, slicing, piercing, striking, and penetrating purposes. The powerful and well-built design blade offers maximum balance and precision for performing any outdoor activity.

For right-handed persons, it is extremely helpful and friendly with a safe and secure structure. Like others, it is also featured Sandvik 14C28N stainless steel material with external Cerakote finishes. The blade offers maximum strength, corrosion and rust resistance, sharpness, and color fading resistance.

The handle is made from aluminum which is featured shades on the external side for a non-slip grip, especially in wet or moist conditions. Everything from the blade material to external finishes adds maximum value and offers long-lasting performance.

It has a unique and different opening or closing system that allows the smooth, secure, and safe operation of the best tanto knife. Unlike others, it has a tension bar that is used for opening the blade. The opening thumb stud required only a little effort for the opening which is comfortable and convenient.

You can lock the blade with a liner lock when two plates are in the inside position. The pocket clip helps adjust to prevent any loss or falling during an outdoor adventure. For locking the blade, move the blade to the side and fold it to the handle side. Due to its easy-to-use and clean design, you will remain comfortable throughout your adventure.

 

4. Grand Way Knife – EDC Tanto Knife

It is a specially designed knife for men that is perfect for Camping, Hiking, Fishing, Travel, Survival, Climbing, Biking, Deer Duck Hunting, EDC, Work, Self Defense, Rescue, Safety, and Military. Grand Way with an extremely sharp tanto blade has excellent stabbing and piercing properties and is the perfect companion for hunting, survival, and rescue purpose.

Tanto tactical knife can easily stab into any hard or soft material which other materials don’t. The blade has a single-size variation and a single-blade shape that is plain. The stronger, easy sharp, and maintain knife is made from 440C Stainless Steel material with Titanium nitride external coating for corrosion resistance.

Equally useful for both left and right-handed persons with an easy-to-move handle design. There is also a lanyard hole for adjusting the paracord. It comes with a set that consists of a pocket clip, 3 screws, and a screwdriver.

The best tanto knife has a spring opening design that is easy to use as compared to others. There is also care needed during opening the blade to avoid any injury. If the lock system doesn’t engage properly and the blade comes back then there is a chance of injury to your fingers.

The blade has 3.62” in length out of a total length of 8.66”. The blade has 3mm of thickness with a Rockwell hardness of 57 HRC. There is no pocket clip for adjusting the blade in your pocket which also reduces your efforts in carrying and maintaining during your trip.

 

5. Smith & Wesson Blackops Knife – Black Tanto Knife

This is a unique, standard-size, reliable, and tough tanto blade knife with strong edge retention. The blade has strong wear resistance and corrosion resistance even in severe weather conditions. You can easily use it in heavy-duty tasks in a day or night adventure.

One thing that separates it from others is its long-lasting lights that will allow you to enjoy your adventure safely at night. From our personal experience, we strongly recommend you use a tanto tip knife for survival, tactical, rescue, emergency, or hunting purposes.

This is featured 3.4” of Stainless-Steel blade out of 7.7” of total length. The aluminum handle with a specially designed external surface is perfect for stronger, non-slip, and firm control to reduce the effort as well as prevent swelling or fatigue in your hands. The dual-blade design allows you to perform multiple tasks at a time.

This is designed for performing different activities with comfort and without effort. Smith & Wesson is well known for producing high-quality tools with a reasonable budget. The sleek, compact, and durable lights will play a vital role in making your outdoor adventure awesome.

Like others, it is also featured a liner lock system to keep you safe from any injury. The thumb button is used for locking the blade and when you want to close the tanto blade pocket knife that simply releases the button to fold in a close position toward the handle. The blade is easily affordable without spending hundreds of dollars.

 

6. Cold Steel Recon 1 Knife – Combat Tanto Knife

Cold Steel is well known for its durability, strength, hardness, reliability, and precision. The blade offers maximum rust resistance and needs only little to no maintenance. This is very popular among the military due to its tactical design. With a well-built structure and tough blade design, you can perform any activity in outdoor adventure.

Due to having a razor-sharp and durable blade, you can cut anything by penetrating easily into any hard material. A comfortable and extra secure grip provides precise and efficient cutting without feeling fatigued. The material that is used in making the blade of the best tanto knife is CPM-S35VN Steel.

The handle is made from fiberglass which is more comfortable and provides a firm grip to the users. The blade length is 4” with both serrated and plain shape designs. Some users have complained about the heavyweight. Having a heavyweight knife is also good as it creates more impact while striking or penetrating anything.

This best tanto folding knife is featured cold steel tri-ad lock which is more powerful, comfortable, and easy to use as compared to others. The tri-Ad locking mechanism offers excellent wear resistance and is famous for self-adjustment.

This featured a complete product warranty against any defects in the construction while buying. The tanto blade needs frequent sharpening for better and continuous performance. There is no sheath or pocket clip for carrying or adjusting the tanto pocket knife, but a hook point at the handle side can be used for attaching a paracord.

 

7. Benchmade Knife – Reverse Tanto Knife

If you are looking for a modern and innovative tanto knife then this is made for you. It is designed with modern laser technology for maximum precision and performance. It is made with traditional stainless steel and aluminum material. The best use is for EDC due to its large and thinner blade design.

The reverse tanto blade tip offers excellent and acute penetrating power into any hard surface. The external satin blade finish offers amazing corrosion resistance and smoothness for effortless cutting and long-life performance. The length of the tool is larger as compared to any other traditional tanto knife.

The blade featured a unique and different locking mechanism which is an axis locking system. The blade is 3.40” long with a thickness of 2.92” and a weight of 0.1 Pound only. The Rockwell hardness of the blade is 58-60 HRC. It is present in two-blade shapes which are dual and single-blade designs.

Due to having an external black oxide coating, it provides excellent smoothness and a seamless cutting experience. The manual axis lock mechanism is extremely helpful for safety and fearless cutting.

It is the most effective locking system as there are no chances of the blade coming back to a closing position while cutting or slicing anything. The best tanto knife is highly expensive as compared to others but the exceptional quality, locking mechanism, handle design, and dual shape will compel you for buying the folding tanto knife.

 

8. Japanese Fixed Blade Knife – Traditional Japanese Tanto Knife

This fixed-blade knife with a paracord allows you to use it for any camping, hiking, bushcraft, trekking, fishing, or military activity. Due to having a fixed blade design, it offers more strength and power as compared to other Tanto folding knives.

Full tang construction of the blade provides excellent and firm control and reduces the efforts you have to do while cutting or slicing anything. The blade is made from 440C Stainless Steel material which is featured a Rockwell hardness of 57-59 HRC. The length of the blade is 5.9” out of the total length of 11.41”.

Due to having an external mirror-polished surface, it has excellent rust and corrosion resistance that last for years. The handle has a rectangular shape which offers non-slip and firm control for the safety and strength of the users. This was specially designed for tactical, fighting, bushcraft, camping, and army tasks due to its super penetrating power.

The attached paracord is very helpful during use in outdoor activities for adjusting and carrying. Additionally, the blade is also featured a well-built and durable sheath to protect you while carrying it with you. The sheath covered the whole blade and reduces the hazards of injury.

The Cordura Fabric sheath can be used for attaching to the belt. There is no need for frequent sharpening as the tanto Japanese knife retains its sharpening, edge retention, and strength for years due to strong high carbon material.

 

9. Cold Steel Recon Knife – Large Tanto Knife

This stealthy, compact, and tough blade knife is perfect for fighting, survival, rescue, and other such activities. The unique and curved shape tanto flipper knife is perfect for comfort and convenience-seeking users. The refined and combat design is very attractive and appealing to the users.

The ultra-hard, durable, full tang, and stylish blade featured a comfortable and easy-to-use rubber-like handle which is made from Polymer for a stronger and non-slip grip with a rectangular shape. The handle is featured a paracord hook point. The is also present in two shapes with different material construction.

Due to its super penetrating power and razor-sharp blade, it is used in especially military units and SWAT teams. The blade is made from Stainless Steel material with 7” in length and 0.5 Pounds in weight. The best tanto knife is a little heavier as compared to others, but it offers more strength and pressure at the same time.

There is also a plastic sheath available. The is thicker which also increases its resistance to bending or breaking during use. You can easily use it as your neck knife or boot knife during your adventure.

One of the disadvantages of the best Tanto fixed-blade knife is its short handle which also creates trouble for medium size hands. So, the Tanto knife blade is highly recommended use for people who have small hands. It is also difficult for the users to change their position during use.

 

Buying Guide – Best Tanto Knife

Tanto knives are preferred over many other knives due to their versatile use and ultra-sharp blade. They can be used as a survival or rescue tool and can be as your daily life adventures tool like camping, hiking, traveling, bushcraft, or any other trip. Tanto folding knives come in various shapes, sizes, and materials depending upon the purpose of use.

Due to the multitasking ability of the best tanto knife, it is considered a perfect companion. We have reviewed the Tanto knives based on their design, blade length, handle design, and user comfort. This guide will help you to choose a good tanto knife for your needs.

Blade Material

Tanto knife is designed with a razor-sharp and thinner blade structure which depends upon its material. Most tanto tip knives featured Stainless Steel, Carbon Steel, and Titanium as main body materials. 44C Steel is a good choice as it has high strength, hardness, and corrosion resistance.

It is preferred to buy a tanto blade which also has an external finish that will protect it from corrosion, rust, and color fading to keep the blade surface smooth and seamless.

Handle Design

Having a comfortable and strong grip handle is extremely important as most tanto knives are used for penetrating and striking purposes. A non-slip and stronger grip will reduce your efforts and also lessen the fatigue and swelling you have to face.

The rectangular shape handle is a good choice for that. It is preferred to choose Polymer or Fiberglass material which is more comfortable as compared to wooden handles.

Locking Mechanism

If you want to keep concentrating on your work with safety then a lockable blade is highly preferred. It will keep you safe from uncertain metal failure which can result in injury. These best tanto knives have a liner, flipper, or manual locking mechanism.

A manual locking system is mostly preferred because it has the lowest chances of malfunctioning and is more durable than any other. Flipper is the easiest and most quick system. Any locking system should be smooth, durable, and wear-resistant.

Our Top Picks

 

Please Check Our Latest Review Articles About The Following:

• Best Nakiri Knife
• Best Gyuto Knife
• Best Stiletto Knives
• Best Small Fixed Blade Knife
• Best Henckels Knife Set