BORELLI CONSULTING: Recreational Equipment Reviews

Cold Steel Recon Tanto
12 December 2005

Cold Steel is well known for making excellent knives. The Recon Tanto, while primarily designed for, well... RECON work, is a strong knife with comfortable handling characteristics. It's relatively simple and straight forward. It's got a decent length sharp edge with a half-hilt and secure grip. The sheath is kydex with dual retention. There is a lanyard hole in the grip and a nice black powder coat finish. Mine has been through quite a bit of abuse and is still serviceable. Let's take a look at how this knife, originally designed with combat field usage in mind, serves as a general use field knife for camping, backpacking, etc.

First thing we have to recognize is that when knives are designed for combat use, they most often have excellent characteristics for serious field abuse. Now I don't know about all you readers, but I like knives I can be disrespectful to - and that will still perform afterward. I have to keep my guns clean, but unless I'm using the knife to cut my food (right before putting it into my mouth) it can take some neglect.

The Recon Tanto with its 7" blade and 4.75" handle makes for a significant cutting package in the field. The blade is manufactured from Carbon V steel which has proven itself time and again in stress and cut testing performed not only by Cold Steel but by many a Doubting Thomas. The blade is 3/16" thick which makes it the next best thing to a pry bar (and how many times have you used your knife as a pry bar when you've been out in the field?). It weighs a whopping nine ounces.

The blade is finished with a black epoxy powder coat finish which I found difficult to mar or scratch, and that same finish keeps the steel from rusting or corroding. The grips are (essentially) textured rubber and the knife comes with a kydex sheath. The sheath is versatile due to many mounting options provided by slots cut into the kydex. The knife is secured into the sheath two ways: 1) the kydex wraps over and grips the minimal hilt, and 2) there is a safety strap that holds the handle. The final design feature I should mention is the lanyard hole.

Now as all you faithful readers know, I have a shed full of stuff I like to cut up when testing a knife. This was no exception. Nylon rope, cotton rope, twine, paracord (550 cord) and, here lately, some deerskin. The Recon Tanto had no issues cutting any and all materials I found. Moving on, I put it through the "punch" test, swinging it overhand into a 1/4" thick sheet of plywood. The Tanto design of the blade did what it was supposed to do, thrusting neatly through the wood and getting me about three inches of clean penetration. Wiggling and pulling I managed to get the blade back out and moved on to a 1/2" thick sheet of plywood. I managed to get the first inch of the blade in, but had to hammer after that. The knife took all I had to offer and showed no signs of wear.

I have to admit that this design and particular knife are one of my favorites. Simple but efficient and the edge is pretty easy to maintain - no serrations to mess with. If you're looking for a straight-forward no frills field knife, I highly recommend this blade. Visit Cold Steel online for more information.

Be safe!

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Also, don't forget to read the Service / Tactical Equipment Evaluations:

SureFire X200 + Accessory Rail-----12 December 2005
Plus others!!!

Check out this week's Highlighted Training Article about how society and public safety officials need to adjust their approach to use of force issues in light of the terrorist reality today.

For a listing of reviews in chronological order, GO HERE.

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