Customer Reviews

Cold Steel FGX Cat Tanto, Kraton Handle, Plain

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The other reviewers of this product are highly misinformed. They seem to be under the impression that this is intended to function similarly to a fixed-blade, metal knife, and then complain on Amazon when they realize it won't cut. Do your homework before buying! This is a highly specialized knife designed for a single purpose: using the tip for penetrating in a self-defense situation. It's not meant to cut; plastic doesn't hold an edge. Any fool knows that. Rather, the reinforced grivory point is meant to be able to stand up to thrusting attacks, i.e. stabs.

This is not a multi-purpose tool. This is not really even a knife in the conventional sense. It is a highly specialized self defense tool. Given its price and its effectiveness in fulfilling its particular purpose (can be stored outside, does not rust, does not crack, penetrates disturbingly well), this product is excellent. If you want a traditional knife, though, look elsewhere!

As if the photos aren't a dead giveaway, this is CLEARLY not a steel blade knife. Now join me, read the words in the description from left to right, top to bottom...got it? o.k.. This has one specific purpose: to function as a cheap "there when you need it" self-defense weapon. The blade isn't intended to function as a cutting tool, so don't go chopping vegetables with it. Run your fingers along the tip and you'll realize it's main purpose, and in that aspect it will do it's job. The world isn't the big scary place we're led to believe it is, and there is a 99.9% chance you'll never have to use a weapon like this on anyone. But having one of these stashed nearby will certainly help even the odds in an event like that. As far as home defense it's no shotgun, baseball bat or machete, but it's lightweight, compact and stealthy. So buying more than one for different rooms of your home is a wise idea.

This is not a toy, the tip is SHARP and durable and will easily penetrate multiple layers of clothing. So penetrating bare skin is a no-brainer. So don't go playing the drunk stabby between the fingers trick. You will end up at the hospital.

Once you realize it's purpose, you'll realize it's worth.

This is a synthetic (think fiberglass) weapon. It is not steel, as the description already tells you. It is intended to puncture in combat, to be easily concealed, for covert circumstances. At this price, one should not expect a metal Cold Steel blade. It also serves as a practice blade for advanced level students.

Despite ignorant reviewers, it actually can and does slice through skin, if one has the ability/technique to do so. Don't put it against someone's throat and pull it across the skin. May not cut deep enough to be lethal if used in that fashion, but it WILL draw blood. Think of it as a safer version, but still think of it as a deadly blade weapon.

If you read the details and that fits your needs, order it. You won't be disappointed.

The CAT Tanto is an odd item. The price is low, it looks cool, it feels great - but it just doesn't seem correct for any of its possible functions. It's large - far too long and thick to really be "concealable." The rubber handle is excellent for gripping, but just adds to the bulk of the item. The blade isn't very sharp, due to the material it's made from, so a slash isn't practical. The tip is very sharp, so I could see the weapon penetrating with a straight strike - but if I'm in a self-defense situation, I certainly wouldn't want to be so limited in the use of my weapon. I suppose the butt of the grip could also be used to strike - it's pretty hard and somewhat pointed. Or the appearance of the blade could be intimidating - but what do these things really do for serious purposes? A more slender, smaller striking implement would function just as well and be a lot more concealable - whether a "tactical" pen or other fiberglass/plastic items that are marketed. This could be used as a training knife, but then the tip should be blunted or an injury could result. I'm torn because the CAT is so nicely done for the money; I just can't think of a situation where it really fits. (The strangest thing was a very strong metal ring fixed through a hole in the butt. Why put a metal ring on something made to avoid metal detection, or put something to make clinking noises on an object made to conceal?)

I recieved FGX Cat Tanto and was immediately impressed with it. I am confident that it will serve as a more than adequate, stealthy, personal defense weapon. It is slightly long to be easily concealed but it is very light, sharp and feels comfortable in either hand being held point up or down. It is not intended to be a viable slicing weapon or tool but the edge is sharp, very stiff and could lacerate bare skin. It's primary purpose, piercing or stabbing your asailant, is what it is obviously best suited for and it can fullfill that role. It's non-metallic, light weight design makes it a reasonable, go anywhere alternative to a bare knuckles defense strategy and may give a would be attacker reason to forego his intended asault, provided you take the time to train to use it effectively. It doesn't come with a sheath but that will test your creativity and ingenuity as I have already begun to engineer some unique was to carry mine.

I just received this knife free of charge because I have placed several orders from Cold Steel directly, so they just put one in the box and i was naturally surprised to see it as the first item in the box. Taking it out of the plastic, I realized how truly light it was, weighing at just 3.38 ounces proved by my two scales (the Cold Steel website states 3.1 oz). It is surprisingly thick (5/16th of an inch) and a good overall length at just a half an inch under a foot.
The knife is made out of Grivory, which is another term I guess for a lightweight plastic impervious to the elements (UV, rain, mold). The handle is very comfortable, it is some kind of Kraton.

So Why the 2 Stars?
Well first off...this knife performs very poorly. Taking it out of the box, I cut all the corner flaps, with no ease by the way. The plastic edge dulled instantly. Naturally, the edge retention is going to be worse than every knife that uses metal in its blade. Because it cannot cut through a cardboard box with any prevail or edge retention, I can't expect a plastic knife such as this to cut plastic, nylon, other fibers, thicker cardboard, or really anything metal. I can't really expect to sharpen it with exacting methods, but sandpaper does work.
There really isn't much to say about it other than it would make an ok letter opener, but certainly not for the at least $10 price tag and the cost of shipping. The Cold Steel Kodu is less than ten dollars and since that features a metal blade, this Cat Tanto knife for most purposes is really obselete. I'm sure the only way to look at this knife is for a shiv type weapon only (stabbing) and for the people who want to conceal a weapon beyond a metal detector checkpoint.

This is a pretty good product, but know what you're buying when you buy it.
When I purchased this knife, I was expecting one of those fancy ceramic numbers put out by Kyocera with a razor sharp edge on it designed for filleting your neighborhood tomatoes. This is definitely not what I got. The blade is plastic (though super tough plastic) and the "edge" is really more of a formality than anything that has purpose.

The point is quite pointy and would work well for pushing into anything squishy on an attacker, if it's a self defense knife you're looking for.

Where this knife has found it's most use in my toolsack is as a practice knife for my classes. With the edge taken off it's safe enough for class and makes for a realistic and responsive tool. So know what you're buying

so it was NOT what i expected. i guess i really should have read up on the details of this thing. what i thought i was ordering was an actual tanto, but this seriously is on some terrorist sh**. im totally not one to try and sneak weapons on a plane, and i think that this was made for that stuff. i was trying to think of ways to use it, and the best combat like situation i can think of is keeping it by the front door to shank-and-gank some door-knocking robber in the face. this thing isnt even good for practice, you could poke an eye out! im sure tho that bangin this thing on the black top outside will totally dull it tho. who makes knives out of plastic these days?

It cannot be sharpened. It cannot cut paper or anything else. It is not a knife

What hunting knife, the knife is a toy, it is a plastic fake. I was a complete disapointment.