Gii
Canada

Apr 28, 2014

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Review

Good Balance Sharp Sheath has awesome attachment points

Mib
New York

Feb 25, 2015

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

A Soldiers Review of Cold Steel 80PGTK GI TANTO FIXED 7"

This product comes out of the box " Mission Ready". The tip is fully protected with a neat protective device. The sheath is ready to tie down on your vest or just stick it on your u-til belt. I am a retired Federal Agent, former soldier and, use to putting my butt deep in harms way. My specialty is to protect american personal and or highly sensitive cargo. My use for this product is to stay alive in emergency situations when guns won't be used or I have run out of bullets. To be blunt the knife for me is used to cut my way out of deadly situations use your imagination men. For example; insertion without detection, take out enemy personal without detection, and various utility options. Things that are great about this weapon are; it is a heavy duty blade with the ability to cut through bone without bending, make deep cuts when slashing, open the wound once your in with maximum destruction of organs, maintain its razor sharp blade, slides out of sheath very easy, totally dark- no shinny parts to give you away. If you are looking for a combat knife with a blade built to; devastate the enemy, handle utility needs, thats easy to carry, can be tethered any where you wish on your body, belt or vest, and comes ready to raise hell right out of the box or just go fishing with your son this is it. I was very surprised at the quality, craftsmanship, and ability of this knife for the money. I give this blade a 5 star EXCELLENT rating and I intend to use this knife on my next mission. For the price everyone should have this blade in their inventory of ready weapons. In fact, 2 as I am ordering a second one to keep hidden on my person inside my uniform as a last resort. How about you, ready to try one?

Skylar
DE

May 09, 2011

Pros: Overall Quality, Sheath/Scabbard, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Great Quality

For the money, this is one great blade. It is razor sharp right out of the box. Full tang, removable scales, and fantastic sheath! The belt loop on the sheath unsnaps and velcros so you don't have to undo a belt to slide it on. there are lots of attachment options on the sheath itself as well. I haven't really thrashed on it but I did sink it right through a sheet of 1/4 inch plywood. Legendary Cold Steel quality for sure!

David M
oklahoma

Jun 19, 2013

Pros: None

Cons: None

This is the best do it all knife out there put some grip tape on the handle and chop, throw, cut, dig it does it all. I put a fire rod on my secure ex sheath which is an awesome sheath by the way and now it starts fires too much recomended knife. I also took off the paint to give it a rugged look. It looks great. I quote lynn thompson when I say (with this knife u are a force) Get this knife!

Rodney
Ohio

Sep 08, 2012

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

wonderful

got mine a day ago and its well balanced strong and sharp

Danny
Oklahoma

Apr 14, 2011

Pros: Weight, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials

Cons: Handle Material, Finish, Blade Sharpness

So far so good. Seemingly great knife for the money.

Just got mine in the mail from Cold Steel. As far as first impressions go, I'm very pleased with this knife. I'm testing it out soon to see if how durable it is. If the blade is half as tough as it feels then I think it will do great. The blade could be sharper from the factory though, mine was practically round.

William C.
Fort Collins, Co

Feb 23, 2012

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Great knife

The knife is Sharp right out of the box. Very good quality and can't be beat for the price! Thanks to Cold steel and Knife Center.

Larry S
NJ

Dec 21, 2013

Pros: Weight, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Handle Material

Many are more costly, but not better.

Good weight and balance...the sheath couldn't be better. Most people who buy knives like this are expecting something "magical"......this knife is a bare bones killing instrument....nothing more. And it couldn't be better if it cost 5 times as much.

Desmond W
Louisiana

Jul 28, 2012

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

A man's knife

Just got my knife yesterday. It is everything as advertised. I love the feel and look. It's made for a man. I can't wait to cut something. I will love to throw this knife. Great Price and fast shipping.

Link P
here and there

Apr 25, 2013

Pros: Weight, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Materials, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Sheath/Scabbard, Finish

HOT DAMN!

I've owned mine for about 2 years, and it's seen some heavy duty use... I can affirm that this blade is by far the most bang for your buck you can get... I use it for EVERYTHING. Literally. Cooked, cleaned, gutted, shovel, pry bar, can opener, even as a makeshift hammer! after that amount of abuse, yes, it needed sharpening, and a slight recutting of the tip, but what knife wouldn't? In order to make it more user friendly in the handle, I grinded off the top quillion guard, wrapped it in paracord, sanded off the finish and blued the whole damn thing! Now its end of the world zombie apocalypse proof! This thing can handle my abuse, it sure as heck can handle anything! The secure-ex sheath gave out before the blade even blinked... I just made a new one. I'm buying more of these, cause you can never be too prepared.

Justin
Calgary, AB

Dec 29, 2016

Pros: Weight, Overall Quality, Sheath/Scabbard, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

BadAss Knife!!!!!

This knife is everything it says it is. Beautiful weight, and it came out of the box sharp as he** and I could shave with it. Every knife I've purchased from cold steel I've never been disappointed. Cheers!!!!

Neil M.
Oz

Jul 21, 2016

Pros: Overall Quality, Sheath/Scabbard, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

7 inches of nasty

It's a tactical meat cleaver, I love it!

Jake L
Rhode Island

Jul 22, 2016

Pros: Weight, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Materials, Finish

Cons: Sheath/Scabbard

Great Buy

I use this knife quite frequently and it's held up great for the past two years. It's 1055 high carbon steel holds up well for the price. The only thing about it is the sheath slightly dulls the knife but it's not too much of a problem.

Charles H.
Mason, Tenn.

Dec 14, 2011

Pros: Weight, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Handle Material

All business

You need and want a survival knife? Look no further! This GI Tanto is all you need. Not only is it wicked looking, but this thing can power through just about anything. I have this hanging on my "when the sh*t hits the fan" rig. Good steel, good balance and heck of a good price....Just get it!

Jake
Arizona (AZ)

Aug 10, 2017

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Great knife

I've used this blade for chopping and fine cutting. It's a good overall knife. Great weight and easy to use. It's also very sharp right out of the package. I was able to shave my arm hair with it. If you're looking for a blade like this it's definitely a great blade and the price is great too. Hope this is helpful.

David J
Palmerston North,

Sep 08, 2014

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

The one

if you want a hard core no BS knife for all purposes this is it AAA+++

Jm
Virginia

Jul 18, 2020

Pros: None

Cons: None

love it

Bought as truck knife for me and for my brother. Pulled out a dremel and cut off the top ear of the hand gaurd. Took 5 minutes. Much easier to handle now. Love that it is just a true full tang chunk of metal. Perfect truck knife. I have like 3 of these things.

Aravinthan Rp
Karur District, Tamilnadu, India, Other

Dec 24, 2014

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Be glad if you could own One

Guys, I am from India. I told you this because 25 dollar for me is not a easy money. But, trust me it's worth every penny you spend. A great knife to own. It could cut through a 4 inch dry teak wood like nothing. Just go head and grab one. It's an all purpose baby. I am glad I was able to get my hands on this one. Please don't reject this just because it's made in China. :). Love you knifecenter.com. xoxo for KC from India.

Happycamper
Seattle

Nov 01, 2012

Pros: Weight, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Cold Steel GI Tanto 1yr Update

Update!!! after having this knife for over a year now, Ive used this knife alot in the year ive had it and I just love it, I have the canvas sheath which Is the weak point IMO Id much rather have the secure ex that the other CS knives have they are great, but the canvas works fine its just a preference. This knife is a tank, It will hack well and baton through firewood to split it, it will clear small trees and every other camp chore you can think of. the only true down side is the handle, the scales as they come are very slippery and they need to be removed and the bolts need loctite to ensure they hold tight. But thats no big deal it takes 30 sec to do and after that its fine. Also the tip is a bit fine but if you only have this knife, that tip will be very handy for detail work. Also in a self defense/tactical role that tip will penetrate like crazy. The one review saying the knife broke is either a fluke or insane expectations of a knife, any time ive broken a knife or a tool, its when Ive been doing something I shouldnt be, Screwdrivers knives, hell even breaker bars have limits, and from what ive seen and done with the CS GI tanto, breakage isnt something Id worry about. Also he said the edge rolled when he threw it, If you watch the CS video they do throw it but its edge up, so the false edge is what impacted the target. Also the guy throwing had great technique and it was a good soft wood target, throwing a knife is so abusive, even throwing knives break, and they are made for it. frankly the knife has too sharp of an edge and has too fine of a tip to be a throwing knife. Its a utility/camping/survival knife, yes it was thrown in the CS vid but they have a million of them and dont care if one breaks. It is a utilty blade that can be thrown in a pinch However in the CS vid they put the knife in a vice and bend it using a cheater pipe to around 80* it most likely didnt spring back straight but it would still be useable,so if that didnt snap it, you shouldnt be worried about snapping it either. And if you do its your fault not the knife. it a fantastic knife that will serve you well, it may have some design shortcomings like the handle, or the blade starts 2" in front of the hilt. but its great value All in all its a fantastic knife especially for $25.

Jrp
montana

Mar 30, 2015

Pros: Weight, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Sheath/Scabbard

nice

A sharp knife, looks good. Good for what I need it for.

Craig
Boise, ID.

Aug 09, 2016

Pros: Overall Quality, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Handle Material

Love it!

I plan to use this as my camping/hiking knife. I like the sturdiness, weight, and balance, as well as the sheath.

Al L
GULFPORT, MS

Jul 03, 2015

Pros: Weight, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Materials

Cons: None

FOR THE $$$ - ABSOLUTELY UNTOUCHABLE!!!

i have been buying and using knives & other edged tools for 50+ years. Never have I seen anything this impressive from a value position. Have owned this blade about 3 months. Cosmetically, it is NOT pretty. Functionally, it is Miss Universe!!! I have cut everything from blackberry vines to branches 3+ inches in diameter. This knife backs away from nothing! It came reasonably sharp. Sharpened it once & it is still that way. Title (above) says it all... On a money spent per utility value, no other knife I know of, from ANY maker even comes close. ONE PRO NOT ON THE LIST - PRICE!!!

David M
Crowley, Tx

Mar 07, 2013

Pros: Weight, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Finish

Cons: Handle Material

Great Blade

Great blade for multi-purpose use. Took off toy handle and made one from Micarta...very nice

Luis H
Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brasil

Oct 01, 2012

Pros: Weight, Sheath/Scabbard, Finish

Cons: None

Excellent knife

Gonna take a trip through Latin america and I'll take this knife with me, I can stay calm, because I know that I have a knife I can trust!! Congratulations to Knife Center for their excellent products Thanks

Tim
Spring Hill, Tn

Jan 17, 2011

Pros: Weight, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Handle Material

Gotta love this knife

What an awesome knife for the money! It is very hefty and very sharp. It will serve as a camp knife, hacker, throwing and defensive weapon. It meets all of those standards and then some. It came with a kydex/hard plastic sheath with various slots and holes along the sides for easy attachment, or just use the belt strap which accommodates any belt size. Small criticism, but the hilt could be 1/2 to 3/4" longer and the plastic plates could be rounded instead of concave to better fill the hand. Nobody comes close for the price!

Bigw
Maryland

Jul 10, 2015

Pros: Weight, Overall Quality, Sheath/Scabbard

Cons: Handle Material

Subtle? No. Awesome? Yes.

This thing is not subtle or beautiful. But it doesn't need to be. It is a tool, not a work of art. It takes a nice edge and you can really beat on it. It feels like something a peasant farmer in the third world would own. Basic, simple, reliable and cheap. I suppose it would be a formidable weapon, but I think its best use is as a tough-as-nails beater knife in the back country. The only thing I don't like is the handle. It is too slick. Wrap it with something.

Almarshem
People's Replublic of California

Aug 09, 2016

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Cold Steel GI Tanto Fixed 7"

Have one, gave one as a gift. This price was too good to pass, bought 4 more. Excellent knife, balanced, Cold Steel razor sharp (...but I repeat myself), purpose built and high quality. shoulda' bought 'em all!!!

Max123
Beliot,WI

Aug 30, 2012

Pros: Weight, Overall Quality, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Handle Material

I love this knife. just the sheath its self should be 25 bucks. i have a a pretty big knife collection and by far this knife ranks up with some of my other hight dollar knives. although scence it is carbon steel the blade may rust if the blade's coating rubs after hard use ,but with a little CLR the rust will come right off. Ha!

Dave
NORTH GA. MTNS.

Oct 28, 2015

Pros: None

Cons: None

A BEAST

It's a beast. You can get it reasonably sharp. It is not a fine carving tool. It's a pointy end in soft tissue, pry open stuck stuff, hacking, chopping, type GI knife. You don't mind beating the finish off of it because it's cheap. Good truck knife.

Jay
Boston

Jun 26, 2015

Pros: Weight, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Finish

Cons: Handle Material

Exelent survival knife

Exelent survival knife and the price is great. Troughs great too.. Handel could be a textured G -10 but for the price I am very happy.

Some Guy
Western ny

Feb 25, 2020

Pros: Weight, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Never had a problem with this knife

I had and thrown mine for a good three years now and I can't hurt this knife. The tip never broke the only sign of wear is the is the coating wore off the tip of the knife but that's to be expected after tens of thousands of sticks in a wood target the handle is slick so I wrapped it in electrical tape and scuffed it with sandpaper to give it better grip this also keeps the scales from breaking on the occasional bad throw I also ground the top side of the hand guard off and put some jimping there for no spin throws and works great I've been throwing for years and have broken some other knives usually from extreme distances or throwing in Sub zero weather at frozen targets so that's mostly on me just screwing around but this thing just keeps on going Yee hee

Hungry556
Ontario, Canada

Oct 07, 2011

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Pure Awesomeness! Life does not get any BETTER! :D

Fast mailing, great quatity, fantastic service, super communications! Life is great. What a great product and a marvelous price point. I have put myself through university (28 years ago) teaching at an Air Crew Survival School and I wish I had this knife with me. Back then I used a USMC Kabar for the dirty chopping, slashing, and hacking duties. Today, for half the price (maybe a third) of a Kabar, Cold Steel GI Tanto exceeds my expectations to do all the nasty things many collectors would not even dream about doing to their tools. I love this knife. It balances well. The sheath is bombproof and will easily survive the zombie invasion! For the price: Don't buy ONE! Buy TWO of them! Actually, I bought THREE of them. One for my bug-out-bag, one for my Rav4 and the 3rd for my wife's Rav4. I'm ready for the crash of the stock markets and the Zombie apocalypse. No seriously, this is a fantastic deal and the vendor is top shelf. What's not to like? Cheers mates!

Hugh
WV, the "Beautiful Mountain State"

Mar 06, 2014

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

A knife that's tough as nails.

1). This knife may not be perfect for every outdoorsman or every outdoor task, but what it may lack here or there it more than makes up for in being versatile, tough, and reliable. 2). Whether batoning, chopping, or slicing, this particular knife can handle the use and abuse, be resharpened easily and quickly, and is just the right size to not be too big or too small. 3). The tanto tip does come to a fine and narrow point, which is ideal for precise picking and detail work, it can bend if it experiences a solid impact against a hard object, but it should be kept in mind that a good knife should be handled and used properly, even the most expensive knives on the market can be damaged through misuse. 4). The straight edge of the blade can function as a planer for making feather sticks to start a fire, and the sharp false-edge is very useful in removing bark or small tree limbs/brush without having to use the actual cutting edge (which further preserves the integrity of the real edge). 5). This knife and its hard sheath are very sturdy, which is rare for any knife under $50. 6). It should be noted that 1055 carbon steel is extremely tough, it may lose its edge after a prolonged period of hard use, but overall it is an excellent knife for anyone needing a solid medium length blade. 7). The handles/scales and the hard sheath are made from polypropalene plastic, which is exceptionally impact resistant, tough, and resists chemicals and can be easily cleaned with soap and water. 8). The blade and any areas of the exposed steel should be wiped clean regularly and oiled to prevent staining or rust. 9). The sheath can attach to almost any vest, belt, backpack, or other piece of wearable gear, which makes it very wearer friendly. The hard sheath prevents accidental injury from the blade if the wearer falls during carry. 10). The knife is a solid full tang with bolt-on handle scales, if purchased brand-new it will come in a box and the contents will be securely packed and wrapped. 11). Despite its very reasonable price, this truly is a quality made knife and sheath, I am a skeptic and quite critical about what I spend money on, but this knife is a true bargain that's hard to believe but is every bit as good as COLD STEEL says it is. 12). Anyone with knife handling experience knows the difference between real field use and ignorant abuse of gear, if used properly and not abused ridiculously, this knife will not fail or break. No more needs to be said about this issue. 13). Obviously this knife isn't a $300 custom blade, but as an avid collector and responsible user, I can honestly say that this knife will hold its own against the high-priced blades and it will not disappoint. 14). At its low cost, this knife is ideal for a multiple purchase, where one can be stored or packed in various places to have a good knife on hand wherever your adventures take you, but you should be aware of your local state/county rules, laws, and regulations about carrying or concealing it. Educate yourself. 15). Forget about using this knife as a ''throwing knife'', seriously, what use is a good knife if it's out of your hand several feet away, and also throwing a knife can damage the edge, which cripples the knife. Be smart, don't do dumb things to good pieces of gear or you'll ruin them. 16). Summary: Good knife, good sheath, good price.

Happycamper
Seattle

Jun 02, 2011

Pros: Weight, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Handle Material

GI awesomeness

I have the nylon sheath version of this knife and this weekend i took it out and really put it through the paces, its a fantastic hacker makes light work of thick branches, its hefty enough to use as a hatchet the hanldle is the weak spot on this knife but some blue loctite threadlock takes care of that, i wish i had the secure ex sheath i have other cold steel knives with it and there fantastic, i dont know why the one guy got a chisel edge on his but mine is just a regular grind at id say about 30* and the top "false" edge is sharp enough to slice paper like the real edge, all it took was a pass through a gerber ceramic sharpener to knock the paint off and get it that sharp, this knife is just as good as a Kabar or any other survival/utility or fighting knife you can buy for less than $100 and this thing only costs $25 fantastic buy one before they raise the price

Ralph M.
Dallas

May 21, 2014

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

extreme quality little cost

This is my go to. It's Velcroed to the rollbar in my jeep. The knife is super strong and extremely intimidating. I could use it for many task,but for now since I am in a large number of not too nice places it's main purpose is quick defense. The videos on this knife tell the story. Many uses, pick one. Extreme quality little cost.

Sl
magna ut

Jan 09, 2012

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

great knife!!! for the$$$!!!

My younger brother got one of these G.I. tantos for christmas. I got a trench hawk and love it but after seeing and handling this knife i knew i had to get one. I plan on using it as a light camping/ survival knife going to order one along with a leather neck sf. The shealth with this knife is amazing for a knife this cheap. I've never had a problem with any of my cold steel knife sheaths. The 1055 carbon steel blade is mean its razorsharp can shave the hair off my arm... dry! The coolest this is the handle scales come right off and you can convert your knife into a spear. For this price everyone should have one!!!

Michael R.
16 Colton Rd, Edison N,J 08817

Oct 09, 2014

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Heavy in a good way. Nice workmanship

Fern
Capital of Canada

Oct 10, 2017

Pros: Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard

Cons: Weight

Cold Steel GI Tanto with Secure-Ex sheath

Good knife, I like the sheath a lot. Sturdy and awesome with tek-locs. Shipping was on time, in fact earlier then expect which was a pleasant surprise. Blade is a little beefier than expected, but it's solid. All in all, pleased with the shipping and the product. Thanks KnifeCenter, another happy customer!

Kevin
west ny state

Nov 17, 2014

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Sheath/Scabbard

THIS THING ROCKS

I use this thing almost EVERYTHING I gutted game with it butchered game with it used it in a kitchen on veges ive used it as a pry bar chopped wood with it made a survival spear out of it YOU CANT KILL THIS THING the only problem I have with this is the sheath makes it hard to draw because it is TO tight

Jake H.
BrookPark OH

Apr 24, 2012

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

elegant

great knife for the money, good blade retention and coating, Secure-Ex Sheath is one of the best features of the knife...makes a great balanced thrower...extremely versatile knife

Shilo L.
magna, UT

May 17, 2012

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

best 25 bucks I've ever spent!

i received this knife a little while ago, and let me tell you it is the best 25 bucks i've ever spent. i took it on a fishing trip, chopped wood, split wood, made fire tinder etc... every job i put in front of this knife it accomplished. the sheath is worth 30 dollars alone, it is very very high quality for the price. it has a friction fit with a belt loop/ button snap, tons of options for lashing it to gear, and a quick attach/ release belt loop which is very sturdy, you don't have to worry about loosing the knife. the blade came razor sharp, and is really strong. i was splitting through 4" of hard wood and the 4mm blade could take it. it is easy to resharpen, and blade sharpness lasts a long time. the handle scales are nice and strong. i hammered tent stakes with them and they held up nicely. some people have had issues with the screws getting loose, which then causes the scales to fall off. i put some plumbers tape on the screws, and they didn't loosen one bit. i recommend this knife to EVERYONE! if you took your time to look at this knife and read this review you should definitely add this to your cart before checking out. this knife is well worth the money.

Dale Bloom
Grand Junction , Mi

Aug 14, 2011

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

I should have ordered two!

The blade came sharp right out of the box. The false edge only took a minimum of work to get it sharp. The handle is comfortable in my hands, although probably not the best for someone with really large hands. The sheath is well done. I have done some cutting in my woods with it and the blade holds an edge well. The coating is tough and will take quite a bit of use to wear off. All in all I think this is a superiour knife for $23. Get it.

Phil P
The Projects

Sep 06, 2011

Pros: Weight, Blade Material, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Handle Material

Cold Steel GI Tanto

Awesome no nonsense knife for the money! A must have !

Britt J.
Texas Hill Country

Aug 09, 2016

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Sheath/Scabbard

Great Knife....Awesome Price......

I admit I have a problem . I like edged tools for many reasons and for many uses. This one will fill many of those uses. The knife was on sale for just under $20. At that price I bought two. One to use and the other may be a gift to a family member or friend to show my appreciation.

Paul
AZ

May 24, 2013

Pros: None

Cons: None

excellent and affordable product

Super sharp and rugged no-nonsense knife. Sheath is very thin and streamlined and is comfortable on the belt or stuck in a pack. Blade is thick enough to chop wood and sharp enough to skin with. This knife should cost twice the price but i am glad it didn't.

Nathan H
pueblo, co

Jan 25, 2020

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Awesome Commando Knife

It is a war club/tanto solid knife without loose parts---"stripped down" is the way to put it. No complaints about it. It is a Government Issue hand-to-hand combat blade like you might see Schwarzenneger using in.Commando or an Agent undercover might use for a stealth attack. Very cool. I needed a Full Tang blade and this was great.

Chris A.
Providence, RI

Aug 29, 2011

Pros: Weight, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Great Knife at a Great Price

This Cold Steel is certainly a "no nonsense" tactical/survival knife. It comes with a nice edge on the blade and its heavy feel will allow you to cut, slice and chop all types of wood/material. The sheath holds the knife securely. If any Cons, I would have liked to have seen some checkering on the handle or a softer material for a better purchase. Overall and great knife...and for the price, you can't go wrong!

Bjorn P
Wisconsin

Dec 26, 2012

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Sheath/Scabbard

Great buy, great all-around knife

I purchased two of these knives for their high functionality and great reviews. I was pleased with my decision. The knives are quite heavy and durable, and appear as though they could take quite the beating. The knife can be hard to draw one-handed if it is just on your belt as it locks in securely. Also, because this is a combat knife the tip is quite pointed and is the most vulnerable part of this knife. Blade comes pretty much razor sharp. Overall and amazing product and much more heavy and durable than it even looks in the pictures.

Ck
taiwan

Aug 19, 2016

Pros: Handle Material, Finish

Cons: Overall Quality, Blade Material, Blade Sharpness

not as expected

not so sharp

Hobbs
Indiana

Aug 25, 2016

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Great value, easily modified

The cold steel G.I. Tanto is a full tang piece of high carbon steel. Mine came very sharp and with a Securex (kydex) scabbard. Sheath is nice, knife is a no-frills utilitarian tanto design open to modifications by the end user which is my reason for purchasing it. The price was too low to pass it up. I couldn't find much information online about the cutting edge length, so if anyone else is curious: Sharpened cutting edge is 6" long False top edge, easily sharpened if desired This can be reshaped to be nearly identical to the Australian HH Tanto if one wishes, or shaped into a clip point Bowie not unlike the SRK. I purchased it mainly for utility use and when I become bored or find it no longer useful, I can change it to suit me. As a side note, the sheath secures the blade by clamping down behind the finger guards. Some reviews complained about the scabbard not releasing the knife. As with most kydex or hard plastic sheaths, scabbards or holsters, just put your thumb on the sheath at the edge and push down and the knife pops right out.

Jm
NC

Jun 01, 2011

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials

Cons: Finish, Blade Sharpness

Good Value

For $23, you won't do much better.

Corey
Ont ca

Apr 09, 2017

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Finish

Not a primary blade

Purely a combat knife but thats not a problem Love the sheath

Cursemer
Commiefornia

Jan 20, 2019

Pros: Weight, Overall Quality, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials

Cons: Handle Material, Finish

Great knife all-around.

Can attest to the quality of both the knife and sheath. Only reason this is a 4 and not a 5 star rating is due to the handle material being the antithesis of grippy, and doesn't have any kind of texturing to it (there's texturing but it's unbelievably shallow and made for looks more-so than actual utility), and it isn't rubberized, so if you plan on using this to chop as a bushcraft knife, or swing it around as a fighting knife, you'd better buy yourself a tough cord of leather or nylon for that hole at the pommel and loop it to your wrist, or else this thing is going to go flying out of your hand.

Dan'l Boone
Kan-Tuck-Y

Feb 23, 2014

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Finish

AWESOME AND INEXPENSIVE

This knife is pretty big, the width of the blade is about 2 in and the sheath makes it about 3 in so its to wide to strap on your backpack shoulder straps which is what I bought it for. The black coating on this knife is not very good just taking it out of the sheath it is starting to rub off on one spot close to the tip. The secure-ex sheath is nice to have for a MOLLE vest or pack. On the description it says the blade is 7 in, the distance from the guard to the tip is 7 in, the cutting edge is 6 in but the leftover inch is a finger choil for a choked up grip. The secure-ex holds the knife super tight in and you have to pull hard on it. The button snap is easy to unsnap but it still holds nicely, I've had a sheath with the snap so tight that it broke trying to unsnap it. The reason I gave the knife 4 stars is because of the coating that comes off quick everything else is great. I wish the sheath was a little bit more narrow so it was easer to store and didn't take up so much room on your vest like if your in the military and you need more room for ammo, radio, or handgun. I like this knife alot and for $25. Buy one.

Ric R
Richmond, VA

Dec 28, 2011

Pros: Overall Quality

Cons: None

Cold Steel GI Tanto Fixed 7" Carbon Steel Blade, Secure-Ex Sheath

Used for camping/hunting, good balance and blade.

Anthony B.
Miami, FL

Oct 13, 2014

Pros: Weight, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Handle Material

Amazing Knife

This knife is a great example of what Cold Steel does. They make work horse knives and this is an example of that. It Chops and Cuts and the Sheath is pretty nice for the money. I have one and I am going to get one for my lady so she can have one. The only reason I don't give it 5 Stars is because the handle could be better but its not bad.

Toby L
Williamsburg, In

Feb 09, 2015

Pros: Weight, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard

Cons: Handle Material

feels good

Don't care for the handle , seems tuff and all but also is a bit slick for my hand . Maybe I have dry hands but not sure but how its gonna do after handling a wet limb then hacking with it , time will tell ,,,, don't care for seeing the word on the blade , thought it was US made. Fits nice in sheath , sheath very adjustable , I`m left handed so always nice to be able to switch them over. A drop of red loc-tite on the screws of the sheath may be good to do also. Don't like giving review before real testing but just don't think handle is going to have a grip to it .

Jacob H
Mars, Pa

Jul 18, 2012

Pros: Sheath/Scabbard

Cons: None

Awesome for the Money

I have been using this knife in some pretty hard use roles over the last year and a half, and it has preformed pretty well. I have done everything from splitting wood to throwing with this knife. Everyone is collectively saying the same thing here.. awesome knife for a beater or someone on a budget, to get a decent fixed blade with nice sheath for under 50 bucks is a deal. Pros: -Inexpesive -Able to do a paracord wrap on handle -Nice Sheath (durable, holds knife well) Cons -made in china -Edge retention isn't amazing Ps: anyone who owns or is going to own this knife.. definitely remove the handle do a paracord wrap on the knife.. makes it so much lighter and easier to grip

Toby
indiana

Feb 26, 2015

Pros: Weight, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Handle Material

nice

said handle has great grip , don't see it that way , maybe I just have old dry hands but don't think it has great grip. Hell of a psc. of steel thought . very good fitting sheath.

Bigw
Maryland

Apr 07, 2015

Pros: Sheath/Scabbard

Cons: Weight, Handle Material, Blade Sharpness

I'm a Rough Boy

If you are looking for a finely crafted blade, keep on looking. This is a heavy, blunt instrument ready for rough work. The edge it came with was garbage, but a little work with the Arkansas stones got it razor sharp. It is pretty easy to sharpen free-hand given the linear design of the blade. The handle material is nothing special, a bit slick for my taste. But it is a thick, heavy full-tang blade. I haven't beaten on it yet, but it looks like it will take a beating easily. I am sure the coating will wear off almost immediately. It is one of the heavier knives I own - not sure about taking it backpacking because of the weight. This is more for situations when you want a beater knife that you know you aren't going to break. I cannot imagine what I would have to do to break this knife, but it would be something pretty extreme.

Suzanne
Alabama

May 20, 2015

Pros: Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Sheath/Scabbard

cold steel

Great knife for camping, hiking or anything outdoors that a knife might be needed. This is a VERY sturdy and sharp knife. Plastic sheath also well built HOWEVER if the knife is pushed into the sheath as far as it can go it can be EXTREMELY difficult to remove.

X Villa
Nevada

May 16, 2011

Pros: Overall Quality, Sheath/Scabbard, Finish

Cons: Weight, Handle Material, Blade Sharpness

Gi tanto must get

Get it, I love the sheath and the blade is great

Kyle
Detroit MI

Aug 17, 2011

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Sheath/Scabbard, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Blade Material

Great penetration, weak tip

This knife is the best penetrator i have ever seen. The angular design feels weird in your hand at first, but it didnt take long to learn to love. The scales take some getting used to. The only problem i had was that i dropped it and the very tip busted off, rendering it somewhat useless. As a caution to other buyers I'd say be mindful of the tip when using this knife as it breaks kind of easily. For the money, though it's more than worth it.

Dave M.
Ohio

Oct 05, 2015

Pros: Overall Quality, Sheath/Scabbard, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Great knife for the money

This is a great all around knife for the price. I have used it for small tasks and even batoning. This is a hard knife to break. Plus...... It is cheap enough that you won't feel bad using it as a tool.

Sold On The Cold Steel Gi Ig
Seattle

Feb 15, 2011

Pros: Weight, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Handle Material, Sheath/Scabbard

awesome all rounder

For the price this is a fantastic knife, i wasnt crazy about the handle, but i removed the handle scales and wrapped it in in paracord. One full leangth layer and about a 2.5 inch wrapped cord band for extra "meat and padding on the handle. it has plent of heft and solves the usual problem with tanto knifes the blades are too narrow almost half as wide of a bowie, so katana knives like the 8" KaBar tanto dont really hack through wood, you can baton but im not a huge fan of that method, the Gi tanto is at least 1/2 to over 1" wider than all of the other tanto knives i have and about a .25" wider than my bowie's and even though its only a 7" blade it a very long knife the hilt ends the blade doesnt start for an inch and a half. the 7" inch Gi is almost as long as my 8" kabar, this will not break i would never worry about this thing and if the false edge on the back isnt begging to be sharpened i dont know what is i think it could cut a tender steak out of the box,Speaking of edges the very shallow deep back-cut grind and the almost perfectly symmetrical tanto grind (the 45 degree corner that makes it a tanto) wich is frequently off so there are really 2 small corners that are weaker and are thin therefore wont hold an edge as well and that tanto grind is the most used part for cutting. alrigth no more rambling, Cold steel knocked this one out of the park. and if they are are reading reviews a molded grippy semi soft rubber handle like on the super edge and a secure ex sheath raise this knife from being outstanding to brilliant and a market leader

Chris
South Georgia

Aug 23, 2011

Pros: Weight, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Handle Material, Sheath/Scabbard

Great budget knife.

This knife is great for the money. I have had mine for a year know without even a nick in the edge. I use it mainly for camp chores, self defense against animals on the trails(I have never needed it for this purpose) and throwing when I get bored.Overall a great defensive blade with some utility function. I only give it a 4/5 because I would prefer a handle with a better grip and a finger choil,maybe a thicker blade, and alas I bought mine before CS offered the secure-ex sheath.

Don B
San Diego, Ca

Dec 01, 2012

Pros: Weight, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

GOOD KNIFE FOR THE PRICE

GOOD BLADE, GOOD SHEATH, SO SO HANDLE. NOTHING SOME HOCKEY STICK TAPE CAN'T FIX.

Norm K
Tennessee

Aug 09, 2016

Pros: Weight, Overall Quality, Sheath/Scabbard, Finish

Cons: Handle Material

Cold Steel 7" tanto

Bought it for a bug out bag/car knife. It's pretty big. Feels great in my hand, but wish the handle had more grip, I think I'm going to wrap it with paracord. Great value.

Sonofaranger
GA.

Feb 03, 2011

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Finish

Cons: Overall Quality, Blade Material, Blade Sharpness

eh to soft of steel

This knife is good an all but I dont like the steel its to soft I cut limbs the size of my wrist in two hits only becuase of weight alright knife.

Christopher Joneschristopher Jonesjojo
Orcas, WaOrcas, WaOrcas, Wa

Jun 03, 2011

Pros: Weight, Materials

Cons: None

Good Field Knife

Its good and sturdy for field work and is thick enough but do not throw this knife... i can tell it will fall apart if so. The tip on my smashed down quite easily. Otherwise its great for self defense and other tasks. Could use some sharpening. (Great Weight to it)

Double L
Down south

Nov 08, 2015

Pros: Blade Material

Cons: Handle Material, Blade Sharpness

A decent,inexpensive fixed blade knife.

I'll be honest i was quite surprised when i read all the reviews here about the GI Tanto.I am in no way trashing the knife,or the brand,but in my opinion several fans have over exaggerated the GI Tanto's overall capabilities,and have made it out to be much better than it actually is.Make no mistake,the GI is a very stout,thick,carbon steel knife.But it has average ergonomics,and that's being polite,a handle that's too short for my liking,not to mention poor traction on the handle.The top part of the guard is useless,and tends to get in the way.I also dislike the distance between your hand and the actual cutting edge.A knife this large/heavy tends to be clumbsy anyways,and with your hand so far apart only makes it more unweildy when using the knife to cut with.I agree this knife is a beast,but pay close attention to the superlatives most say about it,99% only talk about how great the GI does two things,chopping trees and batoning wood.I dont build log homes,or use a knife to split firewood,so those two tasks dont appeal to me.I care much more about how a knife feels in the hand,it's balance,and also it's CUTTING abilities.And while the GI Tanto is an awesome "stabber",prybar,and wedge,it struggles at cutting due to it's geometry,and the fact that 1055 does not hold a good edge,it's known for being a tough steel,not it's edge holding.Overall,ignore the hype,the bottom line is the GI Tanto is a DECENT fixed blade knife at an inexpensive price.For $10 more the Schrade SCHF9 or the SCHF9N(ss model) is a far superior survival knife overall.

Ted I.
Cumming, GA

Aug 11, 2011

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Finish

Cons: Overall Quality, Blade Material, Materials, Blade Sharpness

The steel is very soft and I would not recommend this as a reliable knife. It folded and bent when used on cutting young sweet gum trees. You can't do the things that ColdSteel does to their knives in their videos. Yes, it is heavy and 3/16" thick but that does not make it a heavy-duty knife.

Rodger Rodger
Buffalo, NY

Mar 31, 2024

Pros: None

Cons: Blade Material, Blade Sharpness, Finish, Handle Material, Overall Quality

Don’t Bother…Read 1 star reviews.

Look at the other 1 star reviews. New company destroying CS reputation. I have an original CS GI Tanto to compare, this is much thinner more brittle stock than the original. 5 min review, tip bent, with hand pressure on flat cutting board. Tip is needle thin. The stamps are gone and cheap sprayed on logos. The photos shown here are of the OLD knife! BEWARE. This knife should have been 1095 to begin with. Lynn Thompson where are you? What’s with these cheesy big letters with a lightning bolt on the sheath (which is thin and below normal standards of CS. I write maybe two reviews a year.

Josh
portland area, Oregon

May 18, 2011

Pros: Weight, Sheath/Scabbard, Finish

Cons: Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Material, Materials, Blade Sharpness

DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY

This is a bad knife. Let me explain why by starting from the least upsetting problems to the most problematic. The handle is crap the screws start coming out imediatley (after one throw). I took them off and wrapped the handle in paracord. Next the chisel ground blade on the one I got folded over and made the blade ineffective. This could be fixed by taking it to a stone. The LARGEST PROBLEM I had with this knife is that it BROKE IN HALF after throwing. Even though it's advertised as a throwing knife by cold steel and the literature say it will stand up to anything "you can dish out." DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY

Ricardo S S
Braine L'alleud, Ae

Dec 08, 2015

Pros: None

Cons: Overall Quality

Cheap & poor quality

I used it as a throwing knife. The tip just bent from the first day, so I threw the knife...to the waste bin where it belongs.

Reviews and Ratings for Cold Steel 80PGTK GI Tanto Fixed 7" Carbon Steel Blade, Secure-Ex Sheath

Price: $29.95

Customer Reviews

Review

A Soldiers Review of Cold Steel 80PGTK GI TANTO FIXED 7"

Great Quality

wonderful

So far so good. Seemingly great knife for the money.

Great knife

Many are more costly, but not better.

A man's knife

HOT DAMN!

BadAss Knife!!!!!

7 inches of nasty

Great Buy

All business

Great knife

The one

love it

Be glad if you could own One

Cold Steel GI Tanto 1yr Update

nice

Love it!

FOR THE $$$ - ABSOLUTELY UNTOUCHABLE!!!

Great Blade

Excellent knife

Gotta love this knife

Subtle? No. Awesome? Yes.

Cold Steel GI Tanto Fixed 7"

A BEAST

Exelent survival knife

Never had a problem with this knife

Pure Awesomeness! Life does not get any BETTER! :D

A knife that's tough as nails.

GI awesomeness

extreme quality little cost

great knife!!! for the$$$!!!

Cold Steel GI Tanto with Secure-Ex sheath

THIS THING ROCKS

elegant

best 25 bucks I've ever spent!

I should have ordered two!

Cold Steel GI Tanto

Great Knife....Awesome Price......

excellent and affordable product

Awesome Commando Knife

Great Knife at a Great Price

Great buy, great all-around knife

not as expected

Great value, easily modified

Good Value

Not a primary blade

Great knife all-around.

AWESOME AND INEXPENSIVE

Cold Steel GI Tanto Fixed 7" Carbon Steel Blade, Secure-Ex Sheath

Amazing Knife

feels good

Awesome for the Money

nice

I'm a Rough Boy

cold steel

Gi tanto must get

Great penetration, weak tip

Great knife for the money

awesome all rounder

Great budget knife.

GOOD KNIFE FOR THE PRICE

Cold Steel 7" tanto

eh to soft of steel

Good Field Knife

A decent,inexpensive fixed blade knife.

Don’t Bother…Read 1 star reviews.

DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY

Cheap & poor quality