Spyderco Forums

We customers don't know how the sales truly went but considering that it's discontinued (and I don't remember if it made it more than a year in production?) that's usually an indication that it at least wasn't financially feasible to keep in production for one reason or another.

So if you bought one or didn't, what were your reasons and if you didn't buy one what could be different to change your decision?

I expect quite a lot of "it's too big" comments which is completely understandable, so this is more for the people who weren't turned by the size of it before anything else.

For me personally, it's a combination of size and aesthetics.

Size wise, I like full size knives but this did push past even that. I typically only buy knives I can EDC, I don't even buy a lot of fixed blades for this reason so this wasn't something I would carry a lot so I struggled to justify a use for it.

Aesthetics wise it's a little harder to pinpoint. This may be one of the few times when I might prefer some finger grooves, or maybe a mid handle "pinky stop" of sorts. I feel like the handle is a bit too neutral? What stops my hand from slipping away from the pivot if I'm not choked up on the choil? This may be one of the only times I ever say anything like this, but I think Cold Steel have the right idea with their very large folder handle designs, where they shape a dedicated grip into the front of the handle and then work out the bottom of the handle as a secondary option.

I really wanted to play with one of these for the Power Lock but never got around to it, same with the Chinook 4. I wouldn't be opposed to a new version but I'd still have to get over these same hurdles.

I had some of the same issues , weight was a big factor at 9.5 ounces , so they got the name right . Production actually was from 10/14 to 5/18 so it did hang around for a while. I think would have been okay with the ergos . I too was interested in the power lock used on it and the Chinook 4 . I do love the blade design . Dan

Probably the only reason I never bought one was the price. Especially compared to an XL Cold Steel with the track record of the Tri-Ad lock, the Tatanka was priced too high for me to try it.

I carry a Rajah II everyday at work, and often a Hold Out I off work. The Tatanka looks like a great design and great quality, but I doubt it'll ever be in my price range. Personally, I might be able to justify the price if it was a salt model, but I'm sure that would drive up the price even more.

So what was the blade length on this?

Jeb wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 17, 2025 7:07 am

So what was the blade length on this?

Overall Length 11.55" (293mm)
Blade Length 5.05" (128mm)
Steel VG-10
Closed Length 6.50" (165mm)
Edge Length 4.50" (114mm)
Weight 9.2oz (261g)
Blade Thickness 0.157" (4mm)
Handle G-10
Clip Position AmbiTip Carry Position Tip-Up/Down
Lock Type Power Lock
Grind Saber
Sheath N/A
Origin Japan

When the Tatanka was readily available, I wasn't the same collector that I am now. I also had to be much more selective and rational with the knife I was carrying. I was living in Boston city limits at the time so the Tatanka wasn't exactly legal to carry either.

I considered grabbing one when it was discontinued but I just never pulled the trigger. If the Tatanka had been readily available within the past 5 years or so, I most likely would not have hesitated and bought one.

I picked one up at a Seconds Sale. Carry wise, I don't have any pockets deep enough for the clip to function, so that's a pretty useless feature. The weight also works against carry comfort. It needs a belt sheath for support.

I never warmed up to the blade shape, grind or thickness. Pretty much a total loss in those departments for me. I suppose I'd feel differently if I was creeping around de-animating sentries, but that was never something I dreamed of.

The Power lock is what I bought it to check out, and it is interesting. It works well and sheds debris better than a conventional back lock. I suspect the blade grind was selected to provide enough mass to justify using the lock.

I kind of regret not buying one, but that's probably just because they're no longer available. I'd never carry the thing. I learned that lesson many years ago with the REKAT Sifu. Bought a couple and they just sat in the drawer and were ultimately sold. I'm happier with knives half that size now.

The Tatanka was way over my budget when it was available around 2018. Those days I had a hard time justifying the price of a PM2. It was also larger than a PM2, so it didn't appeal to me at all.

It was only after spending time on this Forum that I became open to the idea of getting a Native Chief, a Military, and other large folders.

i wasn't here for the tatanka. if it was rereleased, i'm not sure i'd buy one though. i'd rather spend $55 for an xl voyager and drill a hole in the blade myself. the triad lock is tough to beat. and im almost certain spyderco couldn't come close to touching the price of the xl cold steels.

i love spyderco, but that part of the market isn't really where they are competitive.

11.5" OAL length is verging on the ridiculous for a folder. My SOG Bowie 2.0 is .5" shorter in OAL and has 1.25" more blade.

$215 street price in 2018. That doesn’t sound astronomical today but that knife would be $350+ today.

I think big knives tend to get beat on a lot and people probably grabbed a Resilience instead.

I would buy one right now if I could. Sound like a big beast, I like big beasts lol...

Yeah that's outside my justifiable scope.
If I didn't already have a dozen other models ahead of it on the list of budget saving, then only maybe I'd grab one for the novelty and the lock. Cool they made it. But yeah that's just simply a low priority for me.

I had a Tatanka that I got for $179.20 on 10/24/2014.

I got it to check out the lock design. I took it apart to admire the engineering. The quality was crazy high all around. It flicked open nicely. My State restricts blades over 4 inches so I moved that Tatanka along some years after getting it.

Watching the USD to Yen exchange rate makes me think the Tatanka should come back at least for a flash batch.

Evil D wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 17, 2025 5:37 am

We customers don't know how the sales truly went but considering that it's discontinued (and I don't remember if it made it more than a year in production?) that's usually an indication that it at least wasn't financially feasible to keep in production for one reason or another.

So if you bought one or didn't, what were your reasons and if you didn't buy one what could be different to change your decision?

I expect quite a lot of "it's too big" comments which is completely understandable, so this is more for the people who weren't turned by the size of it before anything else.

I'm squarely in the market the Tatanka was made for. I have totally normal sized hands and can legally EDC something that size - and often do.

I thought about getting one, but I decided against it.

No nice way to put this on this forum, so I'll just say it. The Voyager XL was lighter weight, a similar size, and 1/3 to 1/4 the price so I went with it instead.

Do I regret that choice?

Sort of.

The Voyager is a great knife. I liked it enough I bought a few more. The BD1 version I bought back then has held up to some seriously abusive stuff and kept on trucking.

But I wish I picked up a Tatanka too. I feel a little guilty always asking for larger folders from Spyderco and skipping that one.

But the weight, the saber grind, the basic steel, the high price - the Voyager just seemed like a more practical option in many ways.

If they brought it back I'd plan on buying one, even if it were built exactly the same.

What I'd love to see is a lightweight FRN version with a full flat grind blade to help further reduce the weight.

I'd love seeing more models in this size range, but I prefer folders that weigh under 8oz,with 4-5oz being my best compromise sweet spot for ease of carry / nice heft in hand during use.

I first handled a Tatanka in Tokyo back in 2016, i found it intriguing, more so than practical :)
Got the opportunity to buy one for a ridiculously low price a couple of years after so i had to strike. I like it, but i don't think i will carry it "out in the open"

In hand:



VS Military:

Larry_Mott wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 17, 2025 12:57 pm

I first handled a Tatanka in Tokyo back in 2016, i found it intriguing, more so than practical :)
Got the opportunity to buy one for a ridiculously low price a couple of years after so i had to strike. I like it, but i don't think i will carry it "out in the open"

In hand:



VS Military:

That is a hilarious picture. It's not often you see a Military looking small next to something.

Larry_Mott wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 17, 2025 12:57 pm

I first handled a Tatanka in Tokyo back in 2016, i found it intriguing, more so than practical :)
Got the opportunity to buy one for a ridiculously low price a couple of years after so i had to strike. I like it, but i don't think i will carry it "out in the open"

In hand:



VS Military:

Wow love the comparison with the Millie . If possible could you do one with a Stretch XL ? Curious about something . Dan