Help finding a Tanto

[Supermatch]

I've been on the hunt for a smaller side folder or spring assist Tanto, but am really struggling to find what I'm looking for. My absolute favorite grip texture, wet or dry, is the heavily stippled G10 grips that came on the little Gordon knives that Harbor Freight was selling:

In my hunt for a Tanto though, nobody seems to mirror this grip texture, or if they do, its in an aluminum handle. If anyone could help find a knife that fits the following criteria, it'd be greatly appreciated!

- $100ish or less (I lose things too easily to justify a Benchmade, etc.)
- Smaller Tanto blade (small enough for EDC clipped on a pocket, I don't like carrying knives the size of an iPhone)
- Side folder or spring assist (or at least something legal for carry in NC)
- Heavily textured G10 or similar grips

 

[Crankbait]

I bet you can get some Glock guys on here to help you with stippling. Plus it will make it much more valuable

 

[Supermatch]

I bet you can get some Glock guys on here to help you with stippling. Plus it will make it much more valuable

Fingers crossed for a Gordon brand P80 lower.

 

[P01135809]

There’s one in at the wake county convenience recycling and waste center 😂

https://carolinafirearmsforum.com/index.php?threads/doing-dumb-stuff….134168/

 

[Supermatch]

There’s one in at the wake county convenience recycling and waste center 😂

https://carolinafirearmsforum.com/index.php?threads/doing-dumb-stuff….134168/

My last work phone took a swim with me in the Caribbean, just imagine what I'm capable of doing with a knife.

 

[georgel]

 

[Supermatch]

Prefer G10 to leather-wrapped.

 

[Catfish]

This one's pretty close:
Amazon product ASIN B00I0RQ0AO
This one has the texture but the blade shape is not exactly what you wanted:
Amazon product ASIN B09RQ7T3Y7

 

[Supermatch]

This one's pretty close:
Amazon product ASIN B00I0RQ0AO
This one has the texture but the blade shape is not exactly what you wanted:
Amazon product ASIN B09RQ7T3Y7

I actually bought my daughter one of the Emerson Kershaw's with the wave opener. It's a great knife for the price - the only downsides were 1) it's not that grippy of a texture, and 2) I pretty much wear the same shorts 95% of the time, and the pockets are cut low in the back, which makes using the wave feature to open it pretty awkward, and its tough to open quickly with the thumb pad.

I wouldn't rule out the reverse blade shape - any experience with Off-Grid Knives? Not familiar with them.

 

[Dan0311]

Here's a few I found in a quick search of Blade HQ. It seems there's not too many with a 'heavy textured grip' and 'tanto blade'

 

[Catfish]

No experience with Off-Grid but I know Boker CS is fantastic. And the Yokai is probably real D2 instead of Chinesium D2 alloy.

 

[Supermatch]

Thanks! I think the Gerber Edict will be in the running.

 

[Herk]

I've carried one of these for over 13 years - my original is AUS-8 steel and a reverse Tanto. My wife now carries one of the D2 models - https://www.bladehq.com/item--Boker-Kalashnikov--619

 

[Supermatch]

I've carried one of these for over 13View attachment 590027 years - my original is AUS-8 steel and a reverse Tanto. My wife now carries one of the D2 models - https://www.bladehq.com/item--Boker-Kalashnikov--619

These get great reviews, but all the ones I've seen from them are autos.

 

[Herk]

These get great reviews, but all the ones I've seen from them are autos.

They are. Check out MidwayUSA (today - for free shipping) for some of the Cold Steel models.

 

[LazyBones]

I don't know how grippy the G10 is, but it might be worth a look.

https://www.knifecenter.com/item/CIVC2023C/civivi-knives-c2023c-brazen-flipper-knife-d2-black-stonewashed-tanto-blade-black-g10-handles

Here's a Cold Steel that might work as well.

https://www.knifecenter.com/item/CSFLC3T10A/cold-steel-verdict-folding-knife-aus-10a-black-dlc-tanto-blade-black-g10-handles

 

[JohnnyTyler]

Amazon product ASIN B005UE6GRC

 

[Supermatch]

Better late than never. I kept circling back to the Off Grid Enforcer based on size, blade shape, and grip texture and finally ordered one.

Everything else that seemed to have solid reliability in my price point was either a bit too big or lacked the grip. The Civivi tantos had a surprising number of bad reports with broken OOTB mechanisms and excessive blade play compared to their other models.

 

[Get Off My Lawn]

Cold Steel Voyager Large Tanto Lockback Knife (4" Stonewash) 29AT - Blade HQ

The Voyager is ounce for ounce, far stronger than 99.9% of other folders. Each knife features precision made parts with a stiff spring and Cold Steel's Tri-Ad lock mechanism which is arguably the strongest, most reliable, low maintenance lock in the world! The thick, extra wide blades are made...

www.bladehq.com

I’ve been carrying one of these shaving sharp for ~25 years. I like the 4” blade, the weight lets it to be used as a flipper. It’s got an aggressive grip surface.

 

[Supermatch]

Cold Steel Voyager Large Tanto Lockback Knife (4" Stonewash) 29AT - Blade HQ

The Voyager is ounce for ounce, far stronger than 99.9% of other folders. Each knife features precision made parts with a stiff spring and Cold Steel's Tri-Ad lock mechanism which is arguably the strongest, most reliable, low maintenance lock in the world! The thick, extra wide blades are made...

www.bladehq.com

I’ve been carrying one of these shaving sharp for ~25 years. I like the 4” blade, the weight lets it to be used as a flipper. It’s got an aggressive grip surface.

I had missed that one during my search!

 

[georgel]

Yeah, I figured Cold Steel might be a good bet, since they basically invented (or re-invented) the modern American Tanto.

 

[Get Off My Lawn]

I had missed that one during my search!

I’m not a big ColdSteel fan, but I do like this knife. Fits my hand well, easy to keep a razor edge with a leather strop.
I wish ZT would make one similar that’s 1/16”-1/8” thinner, 3.75” long, using their pivot bearings with G10/carbon fiber grips.

 

[Supermatch]

Off Grid Enforcer showed up today, and its perfect. It's the grippiest handle I've ever used, but doesn't feel "sharp" from the texture. Assist mechanism is excellent, blade sharp enough to shave with out of the box, and is exactly the right size. Thanks to everyone who headed me in the right direction!