Ka-Bar has been making knives since 1898. And their each knife undergoes a unique manufacturing processes and testing.

The tanto series from Ka-Bar is a great fighting knife, which you can also use for various utility purposes.

So In this article we’re going to review one of the Ka-Bar’s Tanto knife. And we’ll cover every good and bad aspect of this knife. So that you can decide if it’s really worth a purchase for you or not.

Key features

  • Made in USA or imported
  • Combat knife with Asian-influenced Tanto blade shape
  • Thick pointed blade is ideal for penetration
  • Easy-to-sharpen 1095 Cro-Van steel blade.
  • Man-made Kraton G handle fits comfortably in the hand

Detail Review

The Ka-Bar tanto is a fixed blade knife and has an overall length of 12.8″ and a 8″ long blade. And weighs around 0.70 pound or 11.2 ounces.

Blade

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The blade of the knife is made of a full tang 0.165 inches thick 1095 cro van steel. It comes razor sharp out of the box.

You can even shave your arm with it right away. On top of that you can easily sharpen it in the field and it holds its edge for a long time.

Also the blade is partially serrated and you can easily cut through heavy duty materials like ropes and cords. Ka Bar also have a 5-¾” mode with plain edge.

The blade has a non reflective black coating which prevents it from corrosion and reflection.

As 1095 is not stainless steel and it will rust when exposed to moisture so you will have to take proper care of this knife. Occasionally cleaning it with pure mineral oil will do the job well.

There’s a nicely grounded swedge on the spine which you can sharpen to make the blade more vicious and deadly.

The hollow grind and tanto style blade shape is very reminiscent of Japanese Katana blades.

This makes it very aggressive and very strong. It’s a great design for stabbing, slashing and bush craft tasks like drilling holes or poking.

Handle

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Handle on tanto are made up of Kraton G and rubber material with ribs to enhance the grip on the knife. Grip on this knife is fairly good. It won’t slip even if your hands are wet, muddy or sweaty.

On the top there is a guard to protect your fingers against the cutting edge. And at the bottom, there’s an aluminium butt cap with pin going through.

Finishing work on the handle is significant, oval-shaped ergonomic is great. The is a well balanced knife which is very comfortable to use and hold.

Sheath

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The sheath of this knife is made of glass-filled nylon. It provides great support to the knife. And you easily carry your knife anywhere in this sheath.

It has an excellent retention force, knife snaps firmly into its place and the handle is secured with a nylon strap.

With this arrangement, I was not the least bit concerned about the blade ever falling out from the sheath. At the bottom we have a hole to allow water to drain through the sheath in wet weather.

The rivet holes and slots leave you with plenty of options for mole locks , paracord and webbing.Overall this is a good sheath and it compliments the knife perfectly.

Pros
  • Very sharp knife and also easy to sharpen.
  • Highly durable and multipurpose.
  • Unique and well built design.
  • Very comfortable and easy to use.
  • Rust Proof coating.
Cons
  • Sheath needs improvement.

Field Test Video

Conclusion

This knife is very good when it comes to actual combat situations. The aggressive and strong design of the blade is very suitable when it comes to stabbing and slashing through the flesh.

If you are someone who needs a very aggressive knife for self defense. With occasional use for camping, hiking and outdoor adventure. Then this can be a great option for you.

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