Spear point vs Tanto for OTF

[adamsredlines]

For a split second I thought about the double edge because in theory that is twice as much blade as you can use before it needs to be sharpened but then I had flashbacks to me as a kid damn near cutting my pointer finger off because I forgot it was double-edged and looped a piece of rope around it against my finger and gave it a yank...

 

[mtngunr]

For a split second I thought about the double edge because in theory that is twice as much blade as you can use before it needs to be sharpened but then I had flashbacks to me as a kid damn near cutting my pointer finger off because I forgot it was double-edged and looped a piece of rope around it against my finger and gave it a yank...

That used to be a common argument for best military field knife, having a sharp edge in reserve.
But, it wrecks a lot of utility holds, cuts both ways in worst sense of the phrase, is more fragile, and strictly of utility as a fighter (if the blade design and steel even up to that)....very little call for hewing and cleaving today, or folk truly knife fighting (where you are gonna get cut no matter how good you are), but, still, dirks, daggers and swords are pretty cool.

 

[adamsredlines]

For a split second I thought about the double edge because in theory that is twice as much blade as you can use before it needs to be sharpened but then I had flashbacks to me as a kid damn near cutting my pointer finger off because I forgot it was double-edged and looped a piece of rope around it against my finger and gave it a yank...

I think my neighbor gave it to me as a kid. It's neat, that was the first and last time I ever used that knife LOL. No idea why he had it either....seems like a decent quality knife.

 

[adamsredlines]

And I'm not too concerned with ease of sharpening. I rotate around 5 or 6 Kershaws for EDC and will just send a them in every few years to make use of their free sharpening/tuneups.

 

[mtngunr]

I think my neighbor gave it to me as a kid. It's neat, that was the first and last time I ever used that knife LOL. No idea why he had it either....seems like a decent quality knife.

View attachment 524026

That knife was a hot item back in the 1970s, immensely popular as a boot knife, sold under several brands, even though a diver. It was made by Hattori at the time. Hattori still makes high grade knives, such as Fallkniven, and did the Cold Steel San Mai fixed blades, before everybody went to Taiwan and China, where I suspect the modern Tekna now from. You can still periodically get the Hattori, but are going to pay $300 for that knife.
PS- they say the blade from Italy now....of course, the Italian (or German or etc) blade blank may come from anywhere, in today's modern style commerce.
PPS- the blade execution was excellent, but, intentionally lower carbon stainless to better resist rust in salt water.

 

[SoonerP226]

And I'm not too concerned with ease of sharpening. I rotate around 5 or 6 Kershaws for EDC and will just send a them in every few years to make use of their free sharpening/tuneups.

If you’re specifically considering the Livewire, I’ll give it an unhesitating recommendation. I’ve had mine in my pocket nearly every day since I bought it; about the only time I didn’t have it in my pocket was when I was going somewhere that I thought might’ve had metal detectors.

The only issue I’ve had with it was when I used it to cut up an apple for my niece and I didn’t quite get it cleaned up enough. After a little while it didn’t want to open cleanly, but it’s easy enough to disassemble and reassemble. Just a little bit of cleaning and it was back to firing normally.

 

[adamsredlines]

Never really considered an OTF, but played with one and thought it was neat. Saw Kershaw makes one now (and I'm a big Kershaw fanboy), and how good the reviews were, so that's pretty much all I'm interested in at the moment...hence the two blade selections.
REALLY trying to talk myself out of the Damascus tanto, as it's less than ideal for a daily carry...but they're oh so sexy

 

[adamsredlines]

That knife was a hot item back in the 1970s, immensely popular as a boot knife, sold under several brands, even though a diver. It was made by Hattori at the time. Hattori still makes high grade knives, such as Fallkniven, and did the Cold Steel San Mai fixed blades, before everybody went to Taiwan and China, where I suspect the modern Tekna now from. You can still periodically get the Hattori, but are going to pay $300 for that knife.
PS- they say the blade from Italy now....of course, the Italian (or German or etc) blade blank may come from anywhere, in today's modern style commerce.
PPS- the blade execution was excellent, but, intentionally lower carbon stainless to better resist rust in salt water.

I'll have to dig it out and see what the markings say. I got it as a kid in the 90s, and who knows how long the neighbor had it. He was an old man at the time.

 

[mouthpiece]

If you do something to break the tip on the Livewire’s Magnacut blade, you’ve pretty severely abused the knife.

In all the years I’ve been carrying knives, I don’t recall ever breaking a tip. The closest I came to that was when I managed to take a chip out of the edge of a Spyderco just behind the point, but I don’t recall what brand of stupidity I was trying when I did that. It definitely qualified as abusing the knife, though.

Well, when you use it for a prybar and a screwdriver it's called abuse, it's a tool. Use what you have when you're out in the wild.

 

[feral]

Looking at an OTF.
I like the looks of Tanto, but have no practical justification for it otherwise. I think Tanto is better for piercing tough materials, but I'm not sure how strong actions on OTFs are for that type of application (or that I'd even do that anyways).

Is one arguably better than the other for daily use?View attachment 523659View attachment 523660

I blame Chazroh

Go with the "double tanto".
Microtech's Spartan is the best of both worlds.