Cold Steel20TZ Tanto Lite black

very nice knife. I bought this one over the Kobun b/c it is a bigger blade (6 inch vs. 5.5), has a pommel strike and a bigger handle, as is $9.-10. less expensive.The Kobun is made with the better steel (aus8) and comes with a better sheath. If they made a Kobun with a bigger better handle with a pommel strike I'd be all over it, but they don't. Even the "recon tanto" blade has no pommel strike. And that is supposed to be a "Premium tactical blade".Check out the vid of this knife on youtube where a guy compares this $20. Tanto lite with the "Master Tanto" from Cold Steel which is hundreds of dollars. It is the same knife albeit made with less expensive steel.This tanto lite has a "rainbow finish" to the blade unlike any other cold steel knife I own (which most of them are aus8). It really is a show blade, as well as a usable tool. People complaining about this knife or its sheath are insane. It really is a bargain. I have not seen "stress test" videos for this knife but would not expect too much from it if used hard, the steel will probably not be up to the task. This is more of a cutting tool, not a pry bar or for batoning wood. In a hard-use situation I do feel it would hold up long enough to save your life, after which you could just buy another for $20. if damaged beyond repair.Knife is selling for $23.49 now, when a lot of people used to get them for $19.99, which bothers me a bit, esp. b/c I buy multiples of the blades I like, so that $3.50 extra really adds up on me. But it is worth every cent of the price. The sheath is not as bad as everyone says. I like it and thinks it's OK, but it is definitely not "fast". Knife takes a second or 2 to wiggle out of the pouch that is gripping the rubberized handle. I am confused however by this sheath (as well as most sheaths on the market) having the belt loop positioned to carry the blade pointed down (parallel to your leg). It is a knife, not a gun. In my opinion it should be on your belt parallel to your belt, on your back or on your hip, so you can draw it faster and without cutting yourself (like the samurai draw their swords).The belt loop is not removable and is fixed imo 90 degrees the wrong way. But 99% of all knife sheaths are made this way so it's not this specific one's fault. Heavy survival knifes need to be carried point down but not light fighting knives. They should be carried parallel to your belt and drawn fast tip up so your don't cut yourself. on your hip or from your lower back. Light knives like this can even be carried upside down so you can draw them while your hands may be full with 1 hand, cause it may save your life that way. Though this particular knife may be too large to carry as a neck knife, it certainly would not be impossible to do so, esp. if you are a taller guy. Their are many, many carry options and for $23. it is wrong to expect a perfect tactical sheath with multiple carry options be included with the purchase.If you check on other sites they sell sheaths for this knife for more than the cost of the knife here on Amazon (which includes the free nylon sheath). Tanto lite plus nylon sheath for $23.49 or a "custom sheath" for $50.+ I'd rather buy 3x of these and just modify the sheath myself. Or carry it loose and when it rusts buy another for $23. You can even make a sheath out of a couple pieces of cardboard and some packing tape. It wont look pretty but it will be custom cut and fast draw and hug the knife better than any "custom" shealth on the market. Some of those plastic sheaths will even dull your blade. Stay safe friends! :_)

This knife is a beautiful work of art regardless of how much it cost. I only own 2 other fixed blades for the outdoors; an Ontario SP10 and a CS Roach Belly. The CS Tanto Lite one will be my 'tweener'. From using the Roach Belly with the same Krupp Steel, I've come to trust it and like the stainless qualities. The Roach Belly is the best value fixed blade knife IMHO or food prep, skinning and light wood camp chores like feather sticks, etc.and the Ontario is great for all the big chores like batoning and chopping. The CS Tanto Lite knife's handle is very 'grippy', the blade, fit and finish and are wonderful. Congratulations to Lynn Thompson for producing such great, practical, strong and useful products while making them just as beautiful and cool. American entrepreneurs produce some wonderful products. I love both of my CS knives and may buy another Tanto Lite or 2 while they are still available. Everyone knocks the sheath but it has a great friction fit, is lightweight and durable. I love it!!!I paid 21 bucks with free shipping. It can't be beat.Question. Why does Cold Steel recommend sending knives back to them by UPS when they send them to me USPS?

Considering the cost of this knife I was quite surprised at how well I liked it. I bought it to see about customizing the handle / changing the handle to wood as it was inexpensive (the least costly to try modifying in case I screw it up). It feels great in the hand (and the plastic tip seems plenty strong to actually use if need be) and the blade surprised me that I liked it too (as it was as delivered). So far I'm not touching it. Now - that sheath - ? the knife goes in way too far for my likes - sure will not be taking it out with any haste. I was gonna make another sheath and modify the handle too - but I'm waiting for now as I do like it as it is. Nice - especially for the price and value.

Let me start off by saying the Cold Steel brand of knifes are all superb in quality and reasonably priced. The Cold Steel Tanto Lite arrived within the 2 day shipping my prime membership offers (actually arrived within 1.5 days which is a big plus). The Cordura sheath is decent seeing how the knife is much cheaper than other similarly sized knifes from other brands. The knife came out of the box razor sharp (shaved a few hairs off my arm with sharp). The balance point of the knife is around the polypropylene finger guard and the Kraton handle.With that said, I am in no means a knife expert but I measured the specifications of the knife and found the blade and handle lengths to be slightly off. I don't know if it is just this specific knife, but the "actual" length of the blade is 5.7/8 inches, the handle including the pommel is 5.7/16 inches. My first impressions of this knifes 4116 Krupp Stainless steel is it can hold a decent edge. I still have yet to put it through tough utility work but the few paper, rope, and 1'- 2' inch thick brush tests I have used it for in my backyard is great. The overall length is just about right as well as the weight of ~5.6-5.7 oz. However, I can overlook the minor imperfections and say that this knife is an easy buy for its price and quality.