Cold Steel Recon Tanto, Equip 2 Endure Survival Knife Review

[TheJeffmcnair50]

I'll grant that it's not a great "survival" knife. But to say that it is "gimmicky" is to show how little you know about knife combat, especially bashing the tanto tip. For reverse hand-hold fighting, this knife excels like no other. Hence the reason for it's significant popularity with SWAT and various special forces units. Be careful, that's all.

[Greenhood]

Good thing I use my Recon Tanto for combat and not survival then.

[TheWoodlandsniper]

Yeah generally speaking tanto points aren't really the best for survival and wilderrness self reliance and if that is what you are basing your review off of I would say you are correct. I do own a Recon Tanto and I can definitely tell you for the price (around $70 when I got mine) It is a great fighting knife that is really durable and good at what it does.

[chewouch]

I agree with the other guy who said just because the blade is a tanto, doesn't automatically mean it's a fighting knife. I have one and have battoned wood with it EASILY. It's an incredibly strong knife.

[fabi1231]

thanks for the good review. i needed information and thats what i got.

[mkeulr]

I got one 18 yrs ago and own many CS knives. I like them. Back then it's claim to fame was that it was "well on it's way" to becoming the standard knife for SWAT and military. It still has the same comment regarding it 20 years later. ??" As for Special Projects knives being made in China and Tawain these days. Lynn T. once wrote in a catolog that they are inferior and not to buy one from there. He has copped out by manufacturing blades there. I do still like his products. Only from JP or USA.

[PEREZCHOOCH]

I have know idea what your talking about cause my friend just came back from Afghanistan and he had the Cold Steel Recon Tanto San Mai 3 Blade with the Secure Ex Sheath and it was made in Taiwan and he loved it!

[guardian22553]

see that at the end he hates the USA he said its great for a crap that we can make.

[Equip2Endure]

@guardian22553 , no my friend I don't hate the USA.

Adam

[AmishUnicorn]

@guardian22553 learn to grammar

[metalhead192]

no we just outsource everything and what we do make sucks asshole we out source everything get the fuck overyourself

[Scraleontis]

@guardian22553 you're right! lets start an angry mob and storm his house because of your interpretation of his words. That'll show him for giving his opinion!

[elliotoblio]

its a wicked survival knife, & just in case you need to it car pierce a cars roof or go straight through the door, just some food for thought, its a beast & with its weight could easily take off an arm or even a head ?

[Fellas007]

Is it the music form Rollando game? :D

[itlfa2009]

Fair review. It is primarily a weapon, and Cold Steel themselves acknowledge this. If you go to their website, the main selling point they focus on is that the knife is becoming more poplar with SWAT teams and special forces, though it should be noted they are very general as to what they mean by "special forces". Maybe it's a local band of Explorer Scouts for all anyone knows lol. No seriously I own one myself and it's definately geared more towards being primarily a weapon.

[Equip2Endure]

@itlfa2009 , Thanks

[TheLateBoyScout]

I chopped out a baton with this blade today, then used that baton, and the blade to chop up and split apart quite a bit of wood for a campfire. I pounded it through some pretty tough spots, and it took it happily. It probably falls short of the CS SRK for some survival tasks, but not most. With the extra inch of reach, and it's defensive strengths, I'd say it excels more than falls short. For the price I paid, I'm totally happy with it.

[Equip2Endure]

@TheLateBoyScout , I'm glad you like it, it is build very well and can handle a good amount of abuse, especially the Carbon V models.

-Adam

[gambePerv]

I totally disagree with you, that tanto knife makes an excellent tool in the woods. that knife can cut or split wood just as good as any other knife regardless of shape. wtf

[Equip2Endure]

@gambePerv , this model from coldsteel is a well built tool yes, but tanto style knives in general, I believe have limitation in reference to bushcraft related tasks. It all comes down to personal preference in regard to what you are going to be using the knife for. But, in my humble opinion tanto style knives have really been marketed to be the end all be all, this omni-type knives. People who are new to the topic also gravitate towards them because they look cool.

- Adam

[kanukster]

I think I'll strongly disagree with your analysis that it being 'not' a good survival knife.

The blade design makes it Ideal for rappelling and digging. The chisel point is far superior to most designs.

[hironakamura69]

Is that a TOPS Dawn Warrior behind you? If it is, I'd love to see a review!

Nice vids btw, keep up the good work

[SerratedEdges1]

I must say I'm kinda surprised it didn't do so well in the field. I really thought it would have had more practical/utilitarian value since it's such a tough piece of steel.

Keep up the good work. Thanks for taking the time to do it all!

[andrewmag1]

I believe CS knives were made by Camillus in the USA. But don't dismiss the knives made is Seki Japan they have made Swords for centuries, its a city with a knife and sword making making tradition and scale rivaled only by Solingen, Germany. Some of the best knives in the world are made in Seki, including the CS made there, particularly in San Mai II steel

[Equip2Endure]

@andrewmag1 Yeah, I have heard great stuff about the San Mai series. I have also heard that Cold Steel is market the San Mai items to be a little more economical for US sales. I did get my hands on a CS SRK Carbon V model that was made in the USA by Camillus, so I'm really interested to see how that performs. Thanks for the information.

- Adam

[nohcho10]

nice good review

[S4SORT]

Tanto blades are for ninja warriors, not for survival knives, good review!

[hinckleypoland]

Nice blade - big cold steel fan however they are no longer USA made. Everything is overseas. Its a real shame

[Equip2Endure]

Yeah, you can tell the USA made Recon Tanto was better made than the China made Recon Scout. But the Scout still did really well, just don't know about the long term, time will only tell.

[knifeguyeddy]

5/5 m8

[Equip2Endure]

Thanks!