There are some brands that when you hear the name you automatically think, “its gotta be good!”, and Cold Steel has always been on that list for me. When I was about 16 years old my grandfather passed down a fixed blade Cold steel Master Tanto that he had taken in a gun trade years ago. The funny thing is, it was my dad's partners knife on the police force years earlier. Boy... were there stories about this knife that I now hold in my hand. Stories of prying open car doors, among MANY other tasks that I would never dream of putting a blade through! But all that aside, this knife still looks like it has been carefully cared for it’s entire life.

It features a Kray-Ex™ space age rubber like material for the handle and a six inch VG-1 San Mai III® blade. the blade is super hard steel on the outer edge but seems to have a softer steel in the middle, which makes sharpening to a razors edge pretty easy to do...even for an amateur knife sharpener as myself. The fixed blade goes all the way through the handle and has a shiny brass hilt.

There really isn't much more to say about this awesome blade than….. IT WORKS! It’s super sharp, holds an edge like a champ, it’s there for fine cuts such as trimming meat, or hacking a leg bone off a wild turkey when cleaning it with one swift whack. This knife has been around for well over 20 years and I suspect the one I hold in my hand will be around for quite a few more years. The Master Tanto comes with a fairly hefty price tag in a market flooded with cheap knives but there's one thing for sure, its quality will outlast a dozen of the cheapies. I have ONE complaint… the leather sheath it comes with has a poor design belt loop and Velcro strap...but they do sell a hard concealex sheath and I would advise getting one!

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame: Super sharp and very durable.

Target Market: Knife collectors, police, military and hunters.

FNB's: (features and benefits of this product)

6”, VG-1 San Mai III® blade
5.5 “ Kray-ex rubber like handle “ will not crack or rot”
Broad tanto style blade
Blade Length: 6"
Overall Length:11 1/2"
Weight:9.5 oz
Blade Thickness: 3/16"
Handle:5 1/2" Long Kray-Ex™
Master Tanto

What other options or finishes are available?: Black handle with satin brushed blade.

What others are saying?: The Master Tanto (and its larger siblings) are remarkably well made... I have a fixation for Tanto's and the more hardcore ones at that, and apart from one other maker, I have yet to find a Tanto that compared for durability, comfort of use (even extended use) and sheer power in doing what the design was born to do... and that is tear stuff apart... violently. Read more

Price Point: