Tanto Knife

The Tanto or Tanto knife is a type of knife originating from Japan. From the 15th century until the middle of the 19th century, Japanese Tanto knives were part of the standard armament of the Samurai. Nowadays, these sturdy combat and utility knives are mainly used by rescue teams, security services, and soldiers.

Are you planning to buy a Tanto in the near future? Then you should definitely take a look at the online shop of Meister Messer. Whether you are looking for an affordable Tanto knife or are interested in a highly functional Practical Tanto Knife: Meister Messer offers you a wide selection of models. All the essential information about Tanto is provided in the following guide.

The history of the Tanto knife

The first Tanto appeared towards the end of the 8. century. Warriors primarily used the knife as a backup and close combat weapon, while women and travelers often carried a Tanto knife with them to be able to defend themselves in case of emergency.

The knife type only gained greater popularity through the samurais, who not only carried a katana and a wakizashi, but usually also a Tanto. After Japan fundamentally modernized its army around the mid-18th century and was no longer dependent on the services of the samurais, the demand for Tanto knives decreased significantly.

The Tanto - The most famous Japanese combat knife

Although the term itself represents the Japanese designation for "short sword," the Tanto is actually a combat knife. Corresponding models typically feature a single-edged blade, which can be straight or slightly curved depending on the design, but always measuring at most 30 centimeters in length. This means that the maximum blade length corresponds to one Shaku (an ancient Japanese unit of length).

While the blades of Japanese samurai swords typically consist of at least two types of steel, Tanto knives are usually forged from a single steel. However, similar forging techniques are used in the production process. This means that the blade of a Tanto is also intricately folded and consequently very robust.

In a traditionally made Tanto, the blade surface usually does not have a ridge - referred to as Shinogi in Japanese. The tip of the blade is typically located at the height of the blade's back. Since the edge is led down at an almost right angle, the knife tip still stands out for its great stability. In addition, Japanese Tanto knives have almost no or very little belly.

The American Tanto - A reinterpretation of classic Tanto knives

In addition to Tanto knives from Japan, so-called American Tanto can now also be found in the market. These are predominantly available at Meister Messer in the categories Utility Knives and Combat Knives. Like the Japanese original, the tip of the blade in this version also lies at the same level as the back of the blade. However, although the American blade version is undoubtedly based on traditional Tanto, it still has some differences compared to traditional designs:

• The main distinguishing feature is the two edges, whose intersection forms a secondary point. The short edge is usually flat ground and connects the primary to the secondary point. The longer edge, on the other hand, often has a hollow grind.
• The back of the blade of an American Tanto is always straight.
• The American Tanto version often has no belly at all.

Order Tanto easily and securely online at Master Knives

If you want to buy a Tanto knife, you've come to the right place at Meister Messer. Whether you're looking for an affordable model or an elaborately decorated Tanto with a hand-forged blade, you'll definitely find your personal favorite in the Meister Messer online shop. For example, we carry Tanto knives from Hanwei, Haller, Cold Steel, and United Cutlery.

The knives listed in the "Tanto" category not only score with first-class material and workmanship quality, but also with an excellent price-performance ratio - So take a look at the range of Master Knives now and buy a Tanto.