Knives Best Tanto Knives For EDC [Buyer’s Guide 2025] Mike Searson September 4, 2025 8 Comments, Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Read our affiliate policy. Find out more about how we test products. Every culture has their own distinct blade — be it the Filipino balisong, Scottish Sgian Dubh, or Old English seax. But perhaps none is as enigmatic as the Japanese tanto. Most of the time, however, our preconceived notions of the tanto are completely wrong. In Japanese, the word tanto means “short blade.” As the style arose midway during the Heian period about 1,000 years ago, it was more in comparison to the length of a sword. In the millennium since then, they became smaller, were made more ornate, and represented by over a dozen different blade styles. In later years, the tanto often signified the wearer’s badge of rank. Ironically, after the Meiji Restoration, they became more utilitarian in look and feel. The tanto blade has a few advantages inherent to its construction. Most notably, tantos were often prized for their ability to penetrate armor using a thrust or a stabbing motion. While that may have been prized in ancient times when fighting warriors clad in armor, most modern steels will accomplish this same task with relative ease. However, when steel making was still rather primitive, and Japan lacking steady reserves of iron centuries ago, the short, stout blades were ground at hard angles to overcome by geometry what was lacking in the base material. Slicing was a good attribute of the tanto regarding the delivery of slashes to an opponent. This was one area where tantos were often divided regarding their relatively straight edge as opposed to one with a slight curvature. Some were purposefully made in these configurations; others were often made from cut-down sword blades that were broken on the battlefield. As katanas and wakizashis were slightly curved, the curvature presented itself in what was normally a fixed blade. The American or “tactical” tanto is typically a straight-bladed affair, but even their recent history was born of confusion. Tantos were gaining popularity in the West due to knifemakers such as Bob Lum, Bob Terzuola, Phill Hartsfield, and companies like Cold Steel. When a knifemaker named Ernest Emerson from Southern California began offering a similar-looking knife (CQC6 and CQC7), knife magazine writers incorrectly referred to it as a tanto, when in reality it was a chisel-ground straight-edge with a tip stylized on a guillotine blade and not a new take on a traditional Japanese design. Whether you choose an American tanto, a more traditional design, or even one of these blades that looks nothing like either of them, choose one that works for you or appeals to you from a visual standpoint. An interesting couple of notes here are that none of these modern renditions that we tested used a cord wrap, ray skin, or were even made in Japan — go figure. Keep ’em sharp. BEST TANTO KNIVES FOR EDC CRKT KISS Ed Halligan developed the unique two-piece design of the original KISS (Keep It Super Simple) back in the early 1990s and was one of the first custom knifemakers to collaborate with CRKT. Its blade shape is more of the American or tactical-type tanto referenced earlier. It is chisel ground (ground on one side of the blade only) and folds precisely onto its handle, sealing the cutting edge to the frame. This little frame lock can easily clip to a pocket but is more often used as a money clip. CRKT recently upgraded this design with a brushed titanium nitride-coating to improve corrosion resistance and aesthetics. These knives have been around for a few years in various configurations, but this one represents a true evolution at least in finish and materials as a good initial design is timeless. OAL: 5.75 inches Blade Length: 2.28 inches Blade Material: VG10 Weight: 2.1 ounces MSRP: $45 URL: crkt.com BladeHQ$35 PROS: This one is a keen slicer out of the box, this knife cuts like a scalpel due to the chisel grind. VG10 is a classic knife-making steel. Despite its low cost, it excels at staying sharp, resisting corrosion and toughness. There is a great deal of value packed into this little knife. Fit and finish is tight, and the opening is extremely smooth. CONS: It can be easy to forget you’re carrying one and unexpectedly try to go through a metal detector in a secure area. The scaleless handle takes a little getting used to. COLD STEEL KYOTO I While Cold Steel is probably best known for their large and hefty fixed blade knives, they make several smaller models for EDC, too. The Kyoto series are scaled-down versions of the company’s flagship tanto designs. With a stainless steel guard and a Krav X handle patterned like traditional ray skin and silk wrap, the Kyoto I is reminiscent of a miniature samurai’s tanto housed in a plastic injection-molded sheath — one which can take a Cold Steel C-clip or the included beaded neck chain. Its low price almost seemed like a put-off, but the knife did remarkably well in testing considering its smaller size than most of the others we reviewed. OAL: 6.5 inches Blade Length: 3.2 inches Blade Material: 8Cr13MoV stainless steel Weight: 3.2 ounces MSRP: $30 URL: coldsteel.com BladeHQ$25 PROS: The blade is made of 8Cr13MoV — that means it is tough, laser sharp, and rust resistant. The Krav X handle is nice and grippy. High-quality construction throughout, this may be the ultimate micro compact of fixed blade knives. CONS: The C-clip should have been included for a few extra dollars. If you opt for neck carry, be mindful that the knife could drop out of it. GREG MOFFATT SHADO Greg Moffatt began his craft as a custom furniture maker, who then started making chisels and other woodworking tools. This journey of tool making led to creating custom knives, specifically for fighting. The Shado is based on a Japanese tanto that looks more like a hawksbill or Wharncliffe style than a typical tanto. Meaning shard in Japanese, this design can be held comfortably in the forward and reverse grips. Typically made with a traditional Japanese cord wrap, this version has brass scales engraved with skulls for a completely different feel than your typical EDC blade of this size. Its top swedge is sharpened and the primary edge is ground so fine you just might cut yourself by looking at it. This is about as good as you can get for a pure defensive blade.building of this one. OAL: 7.25 inches Blade Length: 2.78 inches Blade Material: Nitro V Weight: 8 ounces MSRP: $240 URL: gregmoffattknives.com GregMoffattKnives$250 PROS: Nitro V is a great blade steel that is known for its toughness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance properties. It fits in the hand well, and the engraving makes for an extremely grippy surface that should develop a nice patina over time. The sheath carries well in the pocket and with just the cord wrapped through a belt loop is fast to deploy. CONS: It’s on the heavier side, which may turn some people off. If this is you, opt for the traditional cord wrap instead. There’s no lanyard hole on this one. As it’s a custom knife, availability can be an issue at times. EIKONIC TSURU The Eikonic Knife Company was founded by Jonathan Golveo and Carlton Schumacher, a pair of outdoor enthusiasts with roots in the firearm and knife industries. For a relatively new company, they seem to be doing everything right. The Tsuru is a folding tanto launched in partnership with SIG Sauer, its name is the Japanese word for the red-crowned crane — a symbol of durability and elegance — and that’s a good way to describe this working folder. It’s a liner lock with a classic tanto-type blade that has a two-tone metallic effect between the flats and the grinds with a discrete carry clip and nice G10 handles. Its flipper is solid and fires like a rocket. OAL: 8 inches Blade Length: 4.2 inches Blade Material: 154 CM Weight: 3.5 ounces MSRP: $249 URL: eikonicknifeco.com BladeHQ$250 PROS: 154CM is the godfather of tactical knife steel with just enough chromium to make it stainless, hard enough, and sharp enough to hack through anything. The knife has a very sleek and finished look to it, with the SIG logo disguising the ball bearing pivot. It’s sharp out of the box, and the edge makes for a good slicer. CONS: It’s drilled and tapped for right-hand use carry, only. There’s no lanyard hole on this one. Despite the amazing flipper action, a thumb disc or stud would be a nice backup opener. TOOR KNIVES SERPENT T Toor Knives is a production facility founded and mostly staffed by U.S. Marine Corps veterans. Their staff are highly skilled and experienced and know what to look for in a field or fighting knife based on actual hard use. The Serpent T is a no-nonsense fighting knife with a 1.125-inch Karambit ring at the base with black G10 handles bolted to the body. While its dimensions seem large for an EDC piece, it isn’t as it conceals very well. Typically, I prefer a bit more width of blade in a tanto design between the edge and the spine, but the thinner profile allows the Serpent T to mount in locations where real estate might be at a premium such as a tactical vest or plate carrier. OAL: 8.52 inches Blade Length: 3.75 inches Blade Material: CPM-3V Weight: 6.7 ounces MSRP: $300 to $400 depending on options URL: toorknives.com BladeHQ$295 PROS: Before you even see the knife, you see the box — and Toor Knives makes some of the finest boxes in the industry for a production company. It’s not only nice for storage but protects against buying possible counterfeit knives. CPM-3V steel is a battle-tested material that is strong, tough, and stays sharp. While it has a low chromium count, it’s not too bad at corrosion resistance. The Karambit ring makes for an excellent retention ring in the reverse grip. CONS: While the Karambit ring is welcome by some, this one is a bit uncomfortable to use in a standard grip with the pinky inserted in the ring. A slight cant to the base of the handle could fix that. A slightly broader blade would have made this a great knife. CIVIVI TAMASHII Bob Terzuola may be the Godfather of the Tactical Knife, and while he still grinds exquisite custom tactical folding knives, he licenses his designs out to production houses as well. So, if you don’t have the money for one of his custom blades, chances are you can get one of his designs put out by a manufacturer. Terzuola designed the Tamashii (“spirit” or “soul” in Japanese) as an everyday tactical fixed blade that can be used in most daily tasks, as well as forays into the woods. The Tamashii blade has a straight edge with an almost trailing point, not seen on most modern tantos, but definitely there if you know your history. Sharpened and ground perfectly, its G10 handle is extremely comfortable. Its Kydex sheath is equipped with Terzuola’s T-Clip for quick and secure attachment in any position. This is a blade you might want to take a closer look at if you are intrigued by the design. It was the winner of “Best Tactical Knife” and “Best in Show” at BLADE Show West in 2021 and retails for less than $100. OAL: 8.8 inches Blade Length: 4 inches Blade Material: D2 Weight: 4.4 ounces MSRP: $78 URL: civivi.com BladeHQ$68 PROS: The blade is made from D2: that means it is tough, laser sharp, and has an easily maintainable edge. The sheath is very well made and easily attaches to a belt or load-bearing equipment. The G-10 scales are rock solid and very comfortable to hold. CONS: While modern D2 is somewhat corrosion resistant, it can rust. Extra care in the form of regular cleaning and lubrication is required. The included lanyard was more of a disposable piece of flair. DAUNTLESS MANUFACTURING MUSASHI Miyamoto Musashi may be one of the most famous samurai of all time. He developed a unique method of sword-fighting and is the author of The Book of Five Rings, a master treatise on martial arts, strategy, fencing, and life. This Kwaiken-style tanto from Dauntless Manufacturing is named for him. The Kwaiken blade shape has a bit more curve to it than we see in a typical tanto. An interesting thing about Dauntless blades is that you can specify what type of steel, sheath, and even color of the G10 handle material when buying your knife. This one was a workhorse of a blade when it came to slicing and stabbing. It would not be a first choice for batoning firewood, but it is excellent at most other types of fieldcraft. OAL: 9 inches Blade Length: 4.75 inches Blade Material: CPM-3V Weight: 3.89 ounces MSRP: $300 URL: dauntlessmanufacturing.com DauntlessManufacturing$295 PROS: It is very comfortable in the hand and follows a classic Japanese hidden tang design. The G10 has the same feel as ray skin or shark skin but is much more durable. The blade steel is strong, tough, and stays sharp. While it has a low chromium count, it’s not too bad at corrosion resistance Dauntless sheaths may be the best that come from any manufacturer. CONS: At 9 inches in overall length, it may run a bit on the longer side for a fixed blade for daily carry. These are made to order from Dauntless, so availability and possible wait times for certain steels and the like can be an issue. Why you can trust RECOIL Since our founding in 2012, RECOIL remains the premier firearms lifestyle publication for the modern shooting enthusiast. We deliver cutting-edge coverage of guns, gear, accessories and technology. We go beyond basic reviews, providing no B.S. buyer’s guides, hands-on testing and expert analysis on everything from firearms and survival equipment to watches and vehicles. Our reviewers are the backbone of our operation and come from diverse shooting backgrounds: Former law enforcement, military veterans, competitive shooters, seasoned hunters and plain old firearms enthusiasts. 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Definitions in the knife world occupy a huge grey area, and there’s more than one definition for what a tanto is or must be. These are in fact all loosely tanto knives, whether you accept them or not.
Picked the worst cold steel knife in the line up recon 1 folder tanto amazing 7.5 inch recon fixed blade tanto my edc!! Love it. Also if you want to go premium they make a san mai steel version for 150!!
I have several ring knives that I use for quick drawing. Ring knives are fantastic for plate carriers and tactical vests because they’re often MOLLE compatible and they don’t take up too much space/weight. My favorite ring knife is the one they have featured in this article, the Toor Serpent. It’s lightning fast, yet still durable enough to withstand a heavy amount of abuse. Sure it’s expensive for a knife, but the quality is top tier, and you won’t be thinking about the cost when you start enjoying it as an EDC/emergency self-defense tool. 👍
