Ka-Bar 2-1245-1 Black Tanto Knife

by Ka-Bar

Product Features

• Combat knife with Asian-influenced Tanto blade shape
• Thick pointed blade is ideal for penetration
• Easy-to-sharpen 1095 Cro-Van steel blade
• Manmade Kraton G handle fits comfortably in the hand

Product Description

Amazon.com

Equipped with an Asian-influenced Tanto blade shape, this Ka-Bar combat knife is designed for the toughest of tasks. The Tanto blade is made of 1095 Cro-Van steel, with a thick pointed blade that's great for penetration. The manmade Kraton G handle, meanwhile, is comfortable in the hand. Add in a glass-filled nylon sheath and you have a terrific knife for combat applications.

Specifications

• Stamp: USA
• Shape: Tanto
• Edge angle: 20 degrees
• Blade: 1095 Cro-Van steel
• Pocket clip: N/A
• Lock style: N/A
• Grind: Hollow
• Handle material: Kraton G
• Blade length: 8 inches
• Overall length: 12-7/8 inches
• Weight: 0.75 pounds

Product Description

The Tanto blade shape, of Asian influence, has a thick pointed blade that's good for penetration. Coupled with a glass-filled nylon sheath this knife is designed for the toughest of tasks. Glass-filled nylon sheath included.

Product Details

• Item Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000BT1G6W
• Item model number: 2-1245-1
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (83 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,226 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)
  • #20 in Sports & Outdoors > Hunting & Fishing > Hunting > Hunting & Tactical Knives > Hunting Knives
  • #51 in Sports & Outdoors > Outdoor Recreation > Camping & Hiking > Knives & Tools

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

176 of 177 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Functional Piece of Steel, July 21, 2007

By 

Y. Tsuchida "ABearInTheWoods" (Sunnyvale, California USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

I've messed around with a variety of knife designs through the years, some bigger, some fancier, some cheaper, some more feature-loaded, but I always seem to come back to a similar set of key features in my choice for a fixed blade knife, practically designed for survival, utility, diving, and combat (the ultimate back-up).

Look, realistically, any knife can cut. Almost any knife can poke a hole into something. Even a $1 cheapo knife from the bargain bin.

But if the SHTF, and I had to depend on one knife to do it all. If I had to choose one knife rugged enough, versatile enough, and, yes, even deadly enough to cover all my needs, I'd go with something like the Kabar Tanto. I've messed around with a variety of knife designs through the years, some bigger, some fancier, some cheaper, some more feature-loaded, but I always seem to come back to a similar set of key features in my choice for a fixed blade knife, practically designed for survival, utility, diving, and combat (the ultimate back-up). My general "wishlist" for desireable knife features include:

1-high carbon steel for temper and hardness. This knife is 1095, which is AISI grade wt 0.95% carbon. A knife that will sharpen well (a knife's basic function).

2-durable point. Seems fundamental to all knives but the Tanto chisel point design is especially effective. It is considered "armour piercing". The ability to pierce (very effectively) as well as cut can come in very handy for survival and defense.

3-full tang. From the blade through the handle should be integral for durability and "abusive" functions (like prying and levering).

4-comfortable grip. The rubberized texture, the palm-swell, the grip/drainage grooves and the oval cross-section of the Kabar is perfect for me. It just feels good and secure in your hand (in both overhand and underhand positions, wet or dry). This is a matter of hand size and preference. Some knives just don't fit or feel right.

5-subdued colour. The epoxy coating on the blade doesn't flash reflected light. It's not for brandishing and "show", but for tactical or survival use where concealment, escape or evasion might be part of the mission.

6-corrosion resistance. The same coating also protects the knife from corrosion (i.e. seawater, salty fluids).

7-practical weight (about a pound or so). The heftiness of the blade is practical for certain functions (like piercing with mass behind it), yet is nicely balanced.

8-practical length (6" min). Good length for certain combat functions and extra length actually helps the balance. 8" blade.

9-practical thickness. Another great "Tanto" feature. Gives the knife great durability, like the potential use as an "axe" by hammering on the back of the blade with an object.

10-practical pommel. Forget the compasses, the compartments, the clip-on slingshots, the "spikes", or decorations on other knives... the Kabar has a very functional, simple and durable flat pommel (useful for hammering and striking) plus a lanyard hole.

11-serrations (a partial section of blade). Always handy for quick aggressive cutting of tough or fibrous materials. Some people prefer the plain blade. I've always thought a small section of serrations couldn't hurt, and actually helps a lot for many practical tasks.

12 -Then add on a durable, comfortable, adjustable sheath, unaffected by water. The Kydex sheath for the Kabar Tanto is nice and is perforated with ample holes, slots and belt loops so that you can configure it to multiple carry methods. It grips the knife amply, but it also has a back up rubber loop "lock" (so that it cannot fall out). My only comment: the sheath is rigid and, I think, just a bit "noisy" both in movement and in deploying the knife. It's like a hard piece of plastic. I improvised a way to "silence" it.


There are many other knives that meet these criteria and much is a matter of personal preference in selecting a knife, but I found that this Kabar Tanto satisfies my entire "wishlist" of design criteria and so far has served me well. Also, you should know that it is nothing but a "tool" to me. I don't particularly cherish and protect it (though I keep it sharp and clean). My knife is meant to be used and if necessary "used up" if the situation calls for it. Certain knives in my life have earned a name when by use the character of the blade is discovered.

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Read Y. Tsuchida review, February 11, 2010

By 

cartoon lover (nevada) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ka-Bar 2-1245-1 Black Tanto Knife (Sports)

Y. Tsuchida's review is comprehensive. A great quote, "this is the knife you want when the SHTF".

I'd like to add, from a metallurgist and field app standpoint. this is a hefty chunk of Ka-bars classic 1095-Cr-V tool steel. It will stain, and its not ultra hard like a 154cm or other boutique stainless. But: you can put a razor sharp edge on it very quickly and easily in the field, and it has much higher toughness so it won't shatter or chip even under extreme abuse. 1095-Cr-V won't work-harden like stainless will and is a lot tougher under torque stress, like wedging open a rusted steel door or something like that. These are very important practical advantages for a working tool in real outdoor environments--like a ranch... or a battlefield.

And that's why, when the SHTF, make sure you reach for this big and nasty KA-BAR.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First knife, great knife., December 30, 2009

By 

J. Farless (New York City, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ka-Bar 2-1245-1 Black Tanto Knife (Sports)

As I sit here and type this, I hold the knife itself in my lap, I occasionally pick it up and look over it's black matte finish and silver edge. I shake it a little in my hand, reaffirming it's weight, and I place it back in the sheath and down on the bed next to me. Not even a minute passes before I pick it up and examine it again.

I simply love this knife, and cannot put it down.

Now I'm not an expert, by any stretch of the imagination; this is in fact my first knife, but maybe my opinion can help someone out anyway. So if any of this is wrong, or just plain ignorant, I apologize, these are just my unedited thoughts as I look at it.

The knife's handle is very nice, the grip on it is a sort of rubber finish with ridges as shown in the picture, it's large enough to fit my hand rather comfortably, and the base of the grip, which some uses have speculated could be used for hammering, seems to perform that task fairly well. The blade is large, around 8 inches as stated, and the finish is very nice, though my knife did not come razor sharp, it came sharp enough to cut through paper pretty well, which is all I could ask for right now. The tanto point is, of course, very sharp, and I have nicked myself a couple of times with it already, but that's my own fault for being careless, so I can't blame the knife for that. The balance seems to be exactly where I rest my index finger while holding, between the first ridge of the grip and the blade, which is very nice. I don't know if this is a standard thing, but it's still nice either way. If you hold the knife around the handle at this point with just your thumb and forefinger you can feel the weight there, and this is pretty cool, or I find it cool at least.

The sheath, is simply awesome, though the locking mechanism is a little tricky at first if you've never used it before, I was afraid I was going to snap the thing into pieces, it works well. Though the buttons on mine that secure the knife weren't fitting at first, a little stretching put them in place nicely. Besides looking cool, it looks like it can handle some pretty intense punishment, I plan on testing that out before making any guarantees however.

I really don't know what else to say about it, though my blade had a nick in it, and a streak from what appears to be a chemical or liquid of some sort, it's otherwise very beautiful, the sheath as well. It's fun to hold, look at, and I'm sure if I need to use it for any sort of purpose, camping or general cutting, that it will perform quite well, it just feels like it should, though time will tell.