Like the Mountain men of old, I am a firm believer that no matter where you go you should have a quality knife or two with you at all times. Even in my career in Law Enforcement, I like to carry a knife as a back-up weapon. With that being said I am always on the lookout for a quality knife that will serve me well both on the street and in the woods and the G.I. Tanto fit’s the bill perfectly.
First , before I go any further, I want to discuss what I look for in a knife when I buy one. Obviously, I look at quality first and foremost. If a knife is not a quality blade it is of no use to me, because it will fail me, when I need it the most.
Second, I look at price, most obviously because I am not rich. However, I will not sacrifice quality for a cheap price. A knife that breaks easily due to poor metal and craftsmanship or dulls easily is of no use to me.
Third, I look at usability, I like a knife to have more than one use, for example a knife that I carry on duty, I also want to be able to use in the woods if necessary. I like a knife that I can use on duty, make a shelter with or use to make other weapons if necessary.
The Cold Steel G.I. Tanto meets all 3 qualifications:
When you pickup the G.I. Tanto it is apparent that it is made from quality metal. I have owned my G.I. Tanto for 2 months and it has served me well both on duty and in the woods. It does not dull fast and when it does start to get dull it is easy to sharpen.
Another attractive feature of the G.I. Tanto is the fact that it can be purchased for about $30.00 from Cold Steel. The G.I. Tanto is a no frills knife and it is not pretty, but it is very functional.
The Cold Steel G.I. Tanto is a very functional knife, I can use it for survival purposes or I can use it when I am on duty. Some people may consider the G.I. Tanto a little big for Law Enforcement purposes, but I like a big knife with some weight behind it. The only thing that I would not want to do is skin an animal with it. It isn’t that it could not be done; it is just that a Tanto blade is not really designed for skinning purposes.
Over all the Cold Steel G.I. Tanto is a great knife. Another great feature is the fact that the handle scales can be removed in order to make a spear for survival. It is my opinion that if you purchased this knife you would not be disappointed.
G.I. Tanto Specifications:
Overall: 12″
Thick: 4mm
Weight: 10.6 oz.
Steel: 1055 Carbon
Blade: 7″
Sheath: Cordura
