Cold Steel GI Tanto Destruction Test: Does It Fail The Tip Test?

Another blade I Found in my box of blades, I had this blade for a long time (maybe 6 years) and thought we'd put the tip to the test. I certainly have my doubts because the GI Tanto is the longest and the thinnest blade I've tested to date. Does it pass? Watch and see.
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[@CommonCentsOutdoorsman]

Still a tough knife and that slight tip finally snapping is understandable after that abuse... still a win for the GI Tanto. Nice job Tim!

[@leemcgann6470]

Ok the tip broke... but why or under what circumstances would you drive the blade into something like that.... give us a scenario where that would be necessary.

[@Roadking26]

I was asking myself the same question. If you torture anything long enough you can get it to fail. The test is unrealistic. It's like he is not going to stop until he gets it to break. Use it in a bushcraft way like batoning it, feather stick etc. Like I said unrealistic. Just get out a sledg hammer next time, and save us some time.

[@tylerspicer9258]

True but I wanted to see how far it'd go..so did you. Cus we both have it or want it

[@tylerspicer9258]

I mean day um that's still tough

[@leemcgann6470]

Tyler Spicer oh yeah they’re tough! Seen them punching through ammo cans... I have several! It’s a bug out staple for me.

[@tlbfarm4473]

The test is necessary to find out what it takes to bend/break the blade. Don't wanna bend and/or break the tip, don't jam into hard wood, then lean on it with all your strength. Great Test!!!! Now I know exactly what I need to not do. My blades should last forever!

[@elwha6025]

People will not do this to a knife they intend to keep and use. It far surpassed what I would have expected. Any knife has a break point.

[@GearReviewDepot]

Elwha Absolutely. And that's why I did these "tests"... I wanted to see where the breaking point was if any. Not very scientific but certainly entertaining.

[@elwha6025]

Agree.........entertaining. That tanto is a good deal as you mentioned.

[@jorgefernandez6407]

"SOLD"!!! That's one hell of a strong knife!!!

[@GearReviewDepot]

I was definitely surprised how well it held up. I’m impressed.

[@StevanOutdoor]

Before I even started using this knife I modified it. Shaped the blade, glued the handle scales on, did some adjusting to the sheath. And it's still one of my go to mid size knives for rough tasks. Good review of a strong budget blade.

[@GearReviewDepot]

Great idea with gluing the scales... they did seem to come loose often.

[@StevanOutdoor]

@@GearReviewDepot And even when they don't come loose that often they can form a gap between the scales and the handle big enough for water te penetrate and make the knife rust inside the handle where you don't see it. I hate that. So all my user knives are glued. No more worries even when wet or in the snow. All the rust that occurs you can see because it's on the blade and never inside the handle.

[@unlimitedpotential6573]

That's the family go to knife for heavy chores. I tossed the scales, wrapped it with 550, sanded off the coating and gave it a patina. We call it the shit kicker. We beat it up good, no issues. Also takes an edge really easily

[@GearReviewDepot]

It’s certainly tougher than I expected.

[@nullnull4198]

Disagree completely....its not a "bad knife" for the price it is a bloody great all round knife. I can't afford an esee knife but do you know what I'd rely on this in the wild when on a budget. The test you did was unrealistic and your conclusion was disproportionate to the price. I don't have £140 for an esee plus sheath. I bought a GI Tanto for camping and I chopped wood, my kids threw it against dead trees and I cooked with it. All for £30. Highly, highly recommended. Yes I'd like an Esee 5 but also would like an Aston Martin. Get real please.

[@GearReviewDepot]

I appreciate you taking the time to watch and leave a comment. Even if we disagree. Much respect to you and yours. Be well and stay safe.

[@Ve-suvius]

Most way more expensive knives would have broken much earlier. 1055 steel is pretty tough. They make machete's out of it. It needs a little more sharpening. But it won't break easily.

[@GearReviewDepot]

I was certainly impressed. Well worth the money.

[@Ve-suvius]

@@GearReviewDepot Yeah, I agree. Did you see the video of 'blackforestghost1' ? The German guy. He made it in 2012. He batoned it though a car door. Not bad for sure.

[@7storm776]

Still a win for that knife... No one really is gonna use it like that in the field. So looks like its trust worthy enough. At least for a back up knife... Good vid...

[@GearReviewDepot]

I couldn’t agree more! 👍

[@Cands528]

That is some tough testing, I like these tough tests though it lets you know how tough the knives are!

[@GearReviewDepot]

I do appreciate you taking the time to watch. They certainly are enjoyable to make.

[@bladetherapy3797]

Never understood these types of videos- wonder if you crash your vehicle into concrete walls repeatedly until it won't drive and then what?

[@GearReviewDepot]

I explained it in the video. Watch It again.

[@thebuckeyebushcraftoutdoor4759]

In what circumstances would this happen under real world use .thanks for your test.i will definitely be buying this knife I appreciate your video

[@GearReviewDepot]

Absolutely almost possibly never. 😁 Thanks for taking the time to watch.

[@elmexicanochingon1475]

compre uno hecho en china y se doblo la punta solo pase el esmeril por la parte del contrafilo reduciendo el largo del cuchillo y haciendo mas fuerte el contrafilo y quedo muy bien debes tener cuidado de no destemplar el material pero es buen cuchillo el filo afeita

[@hildolfrdraugadrottin7279]

I've owned a lot of Cold Steel blades and other tools and I've always thought dollar for dollar they can't be beat. Ontario knives are pretty much the same. Their SP line and their machetes have an edge when it comes to big blades. The bigger blades in SP line are actually a better value imo. Their machetes are actually a lot better than Cold Steels machetes quality wise but they don't have all the cool designs. I've owned most of the machetes from both companies and they are all worth the money they cost. No one can beat Cold Steels big folders, no one even makes anything that compares. I have the original CS Recon Tanto that was made in the US but I actually like the design of the GI Tanto more and they are easy to modify and are0 dirt cheap. Great video, thanks for sharing!

[@GearReviewDepot]

Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to watch. 👍👊

[@justinbandy2610]

The tip on my Ontario Marine Raider snapped first time I used it. Punching a hole in a plastic 55gal drum. My bayonets are still 👌 however.

[@hildolfrdraugadrottin7279]

@@justinbandy2610 I hate losing the tips of knives. The original Raiders were made of 1095 which isn't the best option for big blades imo. They switched to 1075 for their Raiders if I remember correctly and lots of people were complaining about it but it's actually a better steel for big hard use knives. I cut down my Raiders blade and made it more like the SP6 which has a more narrow profile towards the tip. I also reprofiled the edge making it a lot thinner, stripped the coating of which was mostly missing from use and gave it a mirror finish. It's a completely different knife now and is a lot better chopper despite taking weight from the front of it. Mines one of the newer one's made from the 1075 and I used it as a small machete to clear saplings and to clear the bark off of the logs where I'm cutting them to length after skidding to save my chain from the dirt when I'm logging. It held up really well. I did end up switching to the SP53 which works even better for that type of work but lacks the piercing ability of the Raider. I agree on the bayonet thing, they are damn tough and normally have way stronger tips than most knives. I use to have a big cheap bowie out of 420 I'd use to stab holes in the bottoms of 55 gallon steel barrels when making burn barrels. I didn't hold an edge worth a damn but it was probably one of the toughest knives I've ever had. I think that's the same steel the Gerber Strong Arm is made out of and it's got a reputation of being extremely tough too.

[@justinbandy2610]

@@hildolfrdraugadrottin7279 My absolute favorite knife was a Wal-Mart bowie. Pretty sure ot was 420 as well. Lasted me a few years of use amd two week long trips to the Red River Gorge. Used it on a Hawthorne tree that took two half quarter sized chunks out the blade killing it.

[@hildolfrdraugadrottin7279]

@@justinbandy2610 Those are pretty tough too. A friend sold me a big bowie from walmart, I think it was a Mossy Oak brand. I was a great thrower and chopped pretty good as well. My X liked it so I gave to her. She is a whopping 90 pounds and it looks like a short sword when she's holding it. LOL A lot of people like to trash talk inexpensive knives but some of them are pretty decent all things considered. I'm going to pick up one of those timber rattlers from Amazon eventually. I'm sure the fit and finish isn't nothing to brag about but imo they are pretty cool looking and well worth what they are being sold for and would be useful to keep in my trucks tool box.

[@ahojajoj1727]

This is only proof you can break every knive if you really want

[@dingyudingy6848]

tip on gi tanto is extremelly thin , like needle point

[@GearReviewDepot]

Yes it is. Gave it to a friend, he sharpened the knife and has been using it since.

[@MrAjusog]

I wouldn't do this with a pry bar, why the hell would I do this with a knife?

[@GearReviewDepot]

Just because.👍

[@charlescollier7217]

Very much as expected. The blade, in general, is extremely durable (Cold Steel's 1055 spring tempered steel is good that way), but the tip is a point of vulnerability. It's just too fine for a blade of that length and intended purpose.

[@davidpeters1042]

Charles Collier I mean you are right but did you see what that knife handled? I promise you 95% of the more expensive knifes couldnt handle half of that

[@Ve-suvius]

It's a combat knife. The tip has to be relative thin for good penetration. So it did extremely well. Put a fat BK2 tip on it, and the stabbing will be way less effective.

[@awutterz3927]

Mine broke after a day of no spin throwing would not recommend tip fully snapped off and I’m relatively new to throwing so I don’t throw too hard

[@GearReviewDepot]

You do know it’s not a throwing knife, right? 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@yougotdropped9741]

Yeah for 25$. That is DAMN good. Perfect "Beater" knife sharpen it up shaving sharp and through it in the back end of your car and forget about it.

[@justinpombo1253]

Dremil a tip on good beater knive I got one for 21 bucks

[@GearReviewDepot]

Absolutely! I gave the knife to a friend, he fixed the tip and put a really good edge on it. Still using it today.

[@centraltexassurvivorpreppe7750]

I think you could still stab with it with enough force. Nice video!

[@GearReviewDepot]

Yep.

[@lucianbrad4291]

Hi there, Nice test and I would say that although the tip broke (a pretty small part actually) worth noticing that the blade is the longest among those blades you have tested before - so, is basic physics - having a longer moment you simply applied more torque on that tip ... Of course it will be easier to break longer blades rather than shorter ones ... As far as as I recall the longest blade previously tested was Esse 6 , right ?

[@GearReviewDepot]

That’s correct. Even though this one broke, the blade is still very usable. As a matter of fact I gave the knife To a friend who repaired the tip and has been using the knife ever since.

[@stever4651]

For the price you cant go wrong......Stay Safe...Steve from Chicagoland.

[@terrytaylor9206]

You finally snapped a tip! Love these videos. Thanks man.

[@GearReviewDepot]

Thank you for taking the time to watch.

[@southernlonghorn4507]

PPE anyone...at least some gloves?! Can’t think of a task I would want to wear gloves for more. When a knife breaks, it can be a train wreck. Thanks for the great tests. BE SAFE!!!

[@onetimeoutdoorsdj1394]

Great video as always thank you my friend day after my birthday the 17th was hot and I can't wait for the cold weather neither my friend

[@Milo30066]

You need calluses to be durable!

[@GearReviewDepot]

I respectfully disagree. I know of many things that are durable and they don’t have calluses. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@Hatch61]

Great test Tim, but what I really want to know is, will it cut through false eyelashes without breaking? Great video my friend.

[@GearReviewDepot]

lol. I don't know Hatch, we'll find out when I review them. lol

[@kodiakdebear2806]

Do you still have it I would love to rehome the poor thing

[@GearReviewDepot]

I do. Are you located here in the states?

[@kodiakdebear2806]

yes in MO

[@GearReviewDepot]

Send me an email to: [e-mail] with your name and address and I'll send it off to you. I'm sure you can easily bring it back to life.

[@kodiakdebear2806]

you got mail

[@jfilm7466]

I dropped mine in the dirt it hit a rock and the tip went. Total fluke. Reprofiled and been going great for years.

[@GearReviewDepot]

I passed mine off to a friend, he too fixed the tip, put a nice edge on it and has been using hard since.

[@francisgoldstien6153]

I bought one for hunting manatees with I'm sure it will hold up to the little baby ones But now I'm a little concerned about the top breaking When I go to Pierce the mammas skull

[@smash7777-]

You’re full of it! I seen you running like a big girl, squealing like a stuck pig, arms all flailing around like Forrest Gump doing the diarrhoea shuffle from a wee mouse! You were screaming for your mum to come save you! Now your all butt hurt you wanna jump on KZbin acting like a tough guy! Any more of your waffling and I’ll put the video of you doing the diarrhoea quick step up to get away from the wee mouse for everyone to see! Big blouse! 😁

[@PinetreeLine]

Great review Tim! Loving the tip tests!!

[@GearReviewDepot]

That's what she said! lol

[@johnwalters7415]

Were is it made

[@GearReviewDepot]

Taiwan China.

[@arsenalreign]

Just gonna slide in the tip

[@GearReviewDepot]

🤣

[@stevenrobertson6656]

Another epic test Sir. Keep em coming ! For the money the GI tanto is a decent knife. Just don't test the tip folks !

[@GearReviewDepot]

Never trust the tip. Thank you for watching.

[@richardallan455]

Spring steel temper? No chance,! All made in China, no mention of any special temper .

[@johnnorris6081]

Abuse....thats all...

[@GearReviewDepot]

John Norris Thank you.

[@buzzsah]

Right, it can be saved.