looking for a knife recomendation

[KnghtAzrael]

Well we've covered some knife in class now and i've been taught elsewhere to use a knife as well. So I'm conisdering buying a decent knife but also have limited funds. I would prefer a tanto style tip and this is the one so far I found I'm leaning toward this mostly because it's the only company i really know makes good blades:

http://www.galatiinternational.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=GIO&Product_Code=KB1462&Category_Code=Kabarmn

If anyone has any recomendations or suggestions it would be greatly apreciated.

[TonyU]

First two question that pop to mind before any of us can help you, even Barry (our resident knife expert) is for what purpose and how do you intend to use it?

[D. Jordan]

Raymond, I noticed on your profile that you are studying aikijujutsu. I have relocated to VT and study drajj. If you don't mind my asking, where and with whom are you training? I have been unable to locate any aikijujutsu teachers in the area. You can pm me if you like.

I second Tony's questions about your knife purchase. I can't point you in any direction until I know what you are using the knife for. (training, personal protection, utility, straight blade, folder, etc.)

[DragonMind]

Raymond,

Tony asks some good questions so I won't repeat them. With answers to them we can make some recommendations. There are some very fine blades out that don't cost an arm and a leg.

The one you mentioned is a nice looking piece of work. However, judging by the looks I'd say it was intended as a combat blade and that's where I have several problems with it. A tanto point is best used for straight line stabbing as it was designed for piercing armor. I assume you're not going to be wearing armored gloves all the time so you need to think about the fact that it has no hilt to keep your hand from sliding right up the blade if you stab something with some resistance (e.g. a leather jacket). That grooving on the blade where your thumb would rest is also going to tear some flesh off if you hit something with resistance.

Second, that long, very straight blade has little cutting belly if you were to use it in a slash cut. What is the point of having nearly 5 inches of blade when the arc of a cut is going to use only 1/4 inch of it? For that matter, what is the point of having such a long blade unless you plan to fight bears? You can't really wear it to work or around town without attracting all the wrong kinds of attention. It takes less than 3 inches of blade to reach every vital target on a human so why buy more than you need?

I'd have to handle it, but my guess is the handle is not going to be very comfortable. The groove on the front is angled backwards. When you close your hand around it, your wrist is going to have to cant downwards to align your fingers. Just like you shouldn't punch with your wrist cocked, you shouldn't stab that way either. Try it out with a kitchen knife (boning or chef's). Align your hand along the lines of the groove on that image and see how comfortably you can cut up a chicken. My other gripe with that grooving is that I will switch from forward to reverse grip based on ranging. That handle is really going to be awkward in reverse grip.

Personal preference, but on a fixed blade I prefer double edge or a sharpened swedge so I can also cut on the backhand stroke. The only exception is my HAK, but that is a unique blade with its own geometry.

[KnghtAzrael]

Thank you guys for responding and yeah I probably should have said what I intended it for. Mainly it's for practice I'm going to try and build a target for practice on slashing and stabing. Every now and then we cover something like the use of Tanto in our dojo as we did the other day. Now I'd like to keep up on the stuff I was shown and try it out. Sensei demonstrated on an old punching bag the proper ways to slash and stab and I'd like to try and work on my technique. My problem right now is the two knives I have that are combat oriented knives are a WW2 navy K-bar and a newer (2000-2001) Marine K-bar both were gifts and I don't want to abuse them with use. Plus I really would like to stick with a Tanto tip style as thats what we practice with in the dojo. The reason I was looking at that particular one is just because I trust K-bars products and have limited to no experience with other companies, I also don't have a bundle of cash to throw at a knife. Thanks again and hopefully you guys can help.

[TicTac]

My girlfriend got me a Cold Steel Tanto for Valentine's Day. SWEET. It is sharp as heck and the grip is almost tacky, but seems sturdy. I have no idea what I am going to do with it, but it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside just holding it. It appears a little longer than the one you are looking at. I have almost no knife training and to be truthful, I'm a little intimidated by it's sharpness. Still cool though and sometimes cool is enough.

[aplonis]

If you are intending to carry this for self-defense, then consider the legal ramifications. That is to say, picture it labeled People's Exhibit A and being passed hand-to-hand by a supposed jury of your peers.

If it looks nothing like anything they themselves would ever carry for any purpose whatsoever, then they are not going to feel very peer-like on your behalf.

Get yourself a folding knife with no more than a 4-inch blade. That looks utilitarian enough but will still penetrate to the heart. More than that you do not need.

Get one with an elk-horn handle or something classically decorative. You don't want to be arrested carrying anything that looks warrior-like. And as for the jury's peer-like sentiments, one look at a blade such as what Rambo, a Navy SEAL, Samurai or Klingon might carry is going to earn you points toward a guilty verdict.

Remember that in such an event as having to defend yourself, the very worst part of it could just be having to pay the bill for your own lawyer.

Long time ago, when I used to carry a knife, it was a Shrade Old Grandad. Looked like a Buck, but had an elk horn handle. And I taught myself how to open it one-handed without the aid of any silly gizmo such as a Flick-It. Plain and oridnary, but effective. That is the ticket if you mean to carry this item and ever expect to use it for real.

[KnghtAzrael]

Aplonis: It's pretty good advice. I'm not looking to carry it for self defence really however, as I said I want it for practice. Funny thing though is that in my sate about the only thing your not allowed to carry for self defence would be an RPG (we don't even need concealed carry permits). Generally I don't worry about carrying anything for defence, however if I feel I want something on me for defence I generally carry either an expandable baton or my Smith & Wesson Combat Magnum (on hikes and such). However when I do carry a knife on me it's generally a Shrade X Timer 4in folding knife and tho it could easily be used for such I dont carry it for defence purposes.

TicTac: Is it a Cold Steel Recon Tanto? After looking around online I beleive that my Sensei was unsing that blade to demonstarte with and it looks pretty nice. Also love your avatar of the Boondock Saints.

Anyway as I said just looking for a practice blade so any recomendations would be helpful. Also if anyone has a recomendation on what to use for a cutting/stabing practice target that would be good to.

[TicTac]

It is the Recon and my local knife shop sells its training mate (rubber) for about $20.

[David Craik]

The Hissatsu (http://www.budoseek.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=18906) might interest you, though it is larger than the one you were looking at.