Knife Review: The Spyderco Tatanka folder (5" blade – VG-10)

Discuss Spyderco's products and history.
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subwoofer
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Re: Knife Review: The Spyderco Tatanka folder (5" blade – VG-10)

#21

Post by subwoofer »

JT wrote:I'm a little concerned, can that extra cam pinch your hand when opening/closing the blade?
Having handled this knife A LOT and opened and closed it A LOT, that is not something I have come across, nor had I got any hint it might happen in all the time I've been using it. I suppose there is a tiny chance if you press your hand onto the cam at the wrong time you might get a pinch, but My feeling is that you would have to actually be trying to make it pinch you - in normal use I don't see this being a problem.
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Re: Knife Review: The Spyderco Tatanka folder (5" blade – VG-10)

#22

Post by JT »

Thanks Subwoofer,
partly because of your review, I finally gave up and just placed an order. :D
Now the painful wait for the mailman begins.
I'll put the knife through it paces once I get it, starting with a week long fishing trip to Swedish Lapland, close to the Kebnekaise mountains:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kebnekaise" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Hopefully I get it before the trip.
The Cult Of The Curved Ones-C.O.T.C.O.
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xavierdoc
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Re: Knife Review: The Spyderco Tatanka folder (5" blade – VG-10)

#23

Post by xavierdoc »

Subwoofer- a detailed write-up on the technicalities of the knife and its design, thank you.

Personally, I'm much more interested in how it functions in protracted, heavy (for a folder) use. I'd also like to know how it carries in actual use.

I'm a big fan of the Tuff and the Resilience but my go-to oversize folder is the Rajah 1 (my only Cold Steel knife!) It, too, comes with a "no chopping" proviso but after more than 3yrs heavy use (including borderline hacking/chopping) it is still solid.

I'm hoping your part 2 will cover the knife in varied use, to the high standard of part 1.
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subwoofer
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Re: Knife Review: The Spyderco Tatanka folder (5" blade – VG-10)

#24

Post by subwoofer »

xavierdoc wrote:...
Personally, I'm much more interested in how it functions in protracted, heavy (for a folder) use. I'd also like to know how it carries in actual use.
...
I'm hoping your part 2 will cover the knife in varied use, to the high standard of part 1.
Knife reviews are a relatively recent addition to my reviewing activities, though I've been a knife user/collector for around 32 years now. I do have a detailed approach and what you see in the review post accounts for approximately 36 hours of my life, not counting the additional time carrying and using the knife.

It is unlikely I will have time to expand on the update post (I always add one to give me a place to put any additional information), certainly not to what you might want to see as I just don't have time. My current batch of review samples (mainly flashlights) numbers 15 with a further 15 waiting for the next batch. Each of these is going to account for around 24 hours of my life to get to the final review.

What I would say, is that no single review can cover every aspect every reader wants to see. Hopefully someone else will post a review of this knife with a different perspective and other insights. I have to work for a living and the reviewing has to fit around my day job.

Of course anyone reading this who has the knife, are most welcome to add to the content in this thread and post their use and experience of the knife.
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xavierdoc
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Re: Knife Review: The Spyderco Tatanka folder (5" blade – VG-10)

#25

Post by xavierdoc »

Shame.

Tell you what- send the knife to me and I'll let it stretch its legs!
kn!fer
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Re: Knife Review: The Spyderco Tatanka folder (5" blade – VG-10)

#26

Post by kn!fer »

Great review! Love that knife. Tatanka is on my "want it" list. Had it come with ZDP-189 blade and CF handle, OMG! It would be on my "got it" list! Would pay top $$$ for that beauty!
"Babying" various S90V, S110V, ZDP-189
Using VG-10
Meadowlark
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Re: Knife Review: The Spyderco Tatanka folder (5" blade – VG-10)

#27

Post by Meadowlark »

Here's a good thread I just found on the tatanka.
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shunsui
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Re: Knife Review: The Spyderco Tatanka folder (5" blade – VG-10)

#28

Post by shunsui »

Great review. I wasn't ready for the Tatanka back then.

Now I get it. Hope there's a sprint run or exclusive some day.

Gonna see what he thinks about subwoofers too.
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Re: Knife Review: The Spyderco Tatanka folder (5" blade – VG-10)

#29

Post by vivi »

Meadowlark wrote:
Sun Dec 17, 2023 9:38 pm
Here's a good thread I just found on the tatanka.
thanks, enjoyed reading it.

shame I became open to the idea of 5-6" bladed folders that weigh more than my usual ~6oz limit well after it was discontinued.

If I can track down a sprint C95 I know I'll find one of these eventually.
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Re: Knife Review: The Spyderco Tatanka folder (5" blade – VG-10)

#30

Post by Meadowlark »

vivi wrote:
Mon Dec 18, 2023 10:34 am
Meadowlark wrote:
Sun Dec 17, 2023 9:38 pm
Here's a good thread I just found on the tatanka.
thanks, enjoyed reading it.

shame I became open to the idea of 5-6" bladed folders that weigh more than my usual ~6oz limit well after it was discontinued.

If I can track down a sprint C95 I know I'll find one of these eventually.
You're welcome, same here.

I wonder where some of these members go; if they lose interest or maybe just read more than continuing to make/respond new posts.

Cool review, regardless.
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Re: Knife Review: The Spyderco Tatanka folder (5" blade – VG-10)

#31

Post by vivi »

yep, there's a lot of old timers I haven't seen in a while. fred sanford, chapman preferred, the peacant, pelagic, spyderedge forever....heck not even sure the last time I saw bloke. Hope they're all doing well.
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Re: Knife Review: The Spyderco Tatanka folder (5" blade – VG-10)

#32

Post by Meadowlark »

Yes, definitely remember reading a lot of those member's posts before I joined; I hope they're all doing well, too.
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Bolster
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Re: Knife Review: The Spyderco Tatanka folder (5" blade – VG-10)

#33

Post by Bolster »

JoviAl wrote:
Sat Dec 16, 2023 11:19 pm
<<<>>>

Hm, I'd expect to see JoviAl in this big-knife thread. Yoo hoo! Here's a knife you need, man!
Steel novice who self-identifies as a steel expert. Proud M.N.O.S.D. member 0003. Spydie Steels: 4V, 15V, 20CV, AEB-L, AUS6, Cru-Wear, HAP40, K294, K390, M4, Magnacut, S110V, S30V, S35VN, S45VN, SPY27, SRS13, T15, VG10, XHP, ZWear, ZDP189
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Re: Knife Review: The Spyderco Tatanka folder (5" blade – VG-10)

#34

Post by JoviAl »

Bolster wrote:
Mon Dec 18, 2023 10:05 pm
JoviAl wrote:
Sat Dec 16, 2023 11:19 pm
<<<>>>

Hm, I'd expect to see JoviAl in this big-knife thread. Yoo hoo! Here's a knife you need, man!
😂 I’ve been doing a long haul to Switzerland hence my radio silence. I would absolutely love a Tatanka!
- Al

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Alfak
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Re: Knife Review: The Spyderco Tatanka folder (5" blade – VG-10)

#35

Post by Alfak »

I hesitated at the time and didn't buy it and now I've been looking for it for 3 years in vain. I don't know why they stopped making such a good knife? Start the machines and make me one :)
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Synov
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Re: Knife Review: The Spyderco Tatanka folder (5" blade – VG-10)

#36

Post by Synov »

Alfak wrote:
Mon Feb 24, 2025 12:33 pm
I hesitated at the time and didn't buy it and now I've been looking for it for 3 years in vain. I don't know why they stopped making such a good knife? Start the machines and make me one :)
There is one on Blade Forums for $475 if you really want one.

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/spy ... a.2027377/
Visualizing the Tradeoff of Higher Hardness
S90V: Nirvana Military 2 CF Native 5 Fluted CF Manix XL CF Yojumbo CF Shaman CF Sage 6 CF Native Chief CF MagnaCut: Native 5 Fluted Ti PM2 Crucible CPM-154/S90V: Manix 2 CF 15V: PM2 Marble CF 4V: Manix 2 Marble CF 3V: Tuff REX 121: Sage 5 CF 20CV: Subvert CF ZDP-189: Dragonfly 2 Nishijin S30V: Sage 4 Damasteel: Native 5 40th Anniversary VG-10: Delica 25th Anniversary N690Co: PITS XHP: Chaparral Birdseye Maple
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Re: Knife Review: The Spyderco Tatanka folder (5" blade – VG-10)

#37

Post by Alfak »

thank you very much
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