{"product_id":"san-mai-damascus-tanto-knife-edc","title":"Ronin Tanto Knife – Handmade San Mai Damascus EDC with Pine Cone Handle \u0026 Leather Sheath","description":"\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" bis_size='{\"x\":12,\"y\":9,\"w\":560,\"h\":19,\"abs_x\":428,\"abs_y\":269}'\u003e\u003cstrong bis_size='{\"x\":12,\"y\":9,\"w\":145,\"h\":18,\"abs_x\":428,\"abs_y\":269}'\u003eThe Ronin Tanto Knife\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" bis_size='{\"x\":12,\"y\":45,\"w\":560,\"h\":98,\"abs_x\":428,\"abs_y\":305}'\u003eThe tanto point is the strongest tip you can put on a knife, and that's the whole reason this knife exists. The Ronin is a full-tang \u003cstrong bis_size='{\"x\":232,\"y\":64,\"w\":149,\"h\":18,\"abs_x\":648,\"abs_y\":324}'\u003efixed blade tanto knife\u003c\/strong\u003e with a 5.5-inch San Mai Damascus blade, a stabilized pine cone handle, and a skull-engraved Italian leather sheath. It runs 10.25 inches overall — sized to be the knife you actually carry. An \u003cstrong bis_size='{\"x\":461,\"y\":104,\"w\":65,\"h\":18,\"abs_x\":877,\"abs_y\":364}'\u003eEDC tanto\u003c\/strong\u003e that takes the rough jobs around camp, the shop, and the bush.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" bis_size='{\"x\":12,\"y\":159,\"w\":560,\"h\":58,\"abs_x\":428,\"abs_y\":419}'\u003eThis is the first \u003cstrong bis_size='{\"x\":104,\"y\":159,\"w\":142,\"h\":18,\"abs_x\":520,\"abs_y\":419}'\u003eDamascus tanto knife\u003c\/strong\u003e in our lineup, and I built it the same way I build our hunters: forged by hand, one at a time, with a handle no two of which ever come out the same.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" bis_size='{\"x\":12,\"y\":234,\"w\":560,\"h\":19,\"abs_x\":428,\"abs_y\":494}'\u003e\u003cstrong bis_size='{\"x\":12,\"y\":234,\"w\":185,\"h\":18,\"abs_x\":428,\"abs_y\":494}'\u003eWhat a tanto point gets you\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" bis_size='{\"x\":12,\"y\":269,\"w\":560,\"h\":98,\"abs_x\":428,\"abs_y\":529}'\u003eThe tanto comes from Japan. The original tantō was the samurai's short blade, made to punch through armor, and the modern shape keeps that job description. Instead of a curved belly, a \u003cstrong bis_size='{\"x\":104,\"y\":308,\"w\":112,\"h\":18,\"abs_x\":520,\"abs_y\":568}'\u003etanto knife blade\u003c\/strong\u003e runs a straight cutting edge into a second angled edge at the tip. That geometry stacks steel directly behind the point, so the tip is far stronger than a drop point or clip point.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" bis_size='{\"x\":12,\"y\":383,\"w\":560,\"h\":156,\"abs_x\":428,\"abs_y\":643}'\u003eIn plain terms, this is the knife for piercing, prying tip-work, scraping, and hard cutting — the jobs that snap the tip off a normal blade. The straight edge also works like a chisel for carving and feather-sticking, which is why a tanto earns its keep as a camp and bushcraft blade. I'll be straight about the trade-off: a tanto has no belly, so it's not a skinning knife. If you hunt, this rides next to your skinner and takes the abuse, so your skinner stays sharp for the animal. If you're new to the shape, read our guide on \u003cstrong bis_size='{\"x\":387,\"y\":481,\"w\":134,\"h\":18,\"abs_x\":803,\"abs_y\":741}'\u003ewhat a tanto knife is\u003c\/strong\u003e, and the deeper one on \u003cstrong bis_size='{\"x\":130,\"y\":501,\"w\":192,\"h\":18,\"abs_x\":546,\"abs_y\":761}'\u003ewhat a tanto knife is used for\u003c\/strong\u003e — they cover exactly where this point earns its keep and where it doesn't.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" bis_size='{\"x\":12,\"y\":556,\"w\":560,\"h\":19,\"abs_x\":428,\"abs_y\":816}'\u003e\u003cstrong bis_size='{\"x\":12,\"y\":556,\"w\":205,\"h\":18,\"abs_x\":428,\"abs_y\":816}'\u003eSan Mai Damascus — the blade\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" bis_size='{\"x\":12,\"y\":592,\"w\":560,\"h\":117,\"abs_x\":428,\"abs_y\":852}'\u003eThe blade is San Mai, the three-layer Japanese construction. A hard VG10 cutting core runs down the middle, clad on both sides in pattern-welded 15N20. The core takes the edge and holds it at 59 to 61 HRC. The cladding wraps that core in tougher steel, so the blade absorbs shock instead of chipping. On a knife built for tip abuse, that lamination matters more than on any other blade shape — a strong point only helps if the steel behind it is tough.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" bis_size='{\"x\":12,\"y\":725,\"w\":560,\"h\":98,\"abs_x\":428,\"abs_y\":985}'\u003eThe VG10 core is stainless, so this \u003cstrong bis_size='{\"x\":221,\"y\":725,\"w\":142,\"h\":18,\"abs_x\":637,\"abs_y\":985}'\u003etanto Damascus knife\u003c\/strong\u003e handles moisture far better than the carbon 1095 Damascus tantos all over the market at 55 to 58 HRC. You get the pattern and the hardness without babysitting the blade against rust. The wave running down the blade is the real San Mai laminate line. It's in the steel, not printed on it. If you want the full story on the steel, Naqash breaks it down in \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.stagsteelknives.com\/blogs\/blog-posts\/what-is-a-damascus-knife\" target=\"_blank\" bis_size='{\"x\":286,\"y\":804,\"w\":204,\"h\":18,\"abs_x\":702,\"abs_y\":1064}' rel=\"noopener\"\u003e\u003cstrong bis_size='{\"x\":286,\"y\":804,\"w\":204,\"h\":18,\"abs_x\":702,\"abs_y\":1064}'\u003ewhat a Damascus knife really is\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" bis_size='{\"x\":12,\"y\":839,\"w\":560,\"h\":19,\"abs_x\":428,\"abs_y\":1099}'\u003e\u003cstrong bis_size='{\"x\":12,\"y\":839,\"w\":91,\"h\":18,\"abs_x\":428,\"abs_y\":1099}'\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\" bis_size='{\"x\":12,\"y\":875,\"w\":560,\"h\":235,\"abs_x\":428,\"abs_y\":1135}'\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\" bis_size='{\"x\":52,\"y\":875,\"w\":520,\"h\":19,\"abs_x\":468,\"abs_y\":1135}'\u003eKnife Name: Ronin Tanto Knife (full tang)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\" bis_size='{\"x\":52,\"y\":894,\"w\":520,\"h\":19,\"abs_x\":468,\"abs_y\":1154}'\u003eBlade Steel: San Mai Damascus — VG10 core \/ 15N20 cladding\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\" bis_size='{\"x\":52,\"y\":914,\"w\":520,\"h\":19,\"abs_x\":468,\"abs_y\":1174}'\u003eBlade Hardness: 59–61 HRC\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\" bis_size='{\"x\":52,\"y\":934,\"w\":520,\"h\":19,\"abs_x\":468,\"abs_y\":1194}'\u003eBlade Style: Tanto point\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\" bis_size='{\"x\":52,\"y\":953,\"w\":520,\"h\":19,\"abs_x\":468,\"abs_y\":1213}'\u003eBlade Length: 5.5 inches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\" bis_size='{\"x\":52,\"y\":973,\"w\":520,\"h\":19,\"abs_x\":468,\"abs_y\":1233}'\u003eBlade Width: 2 inches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\" bis_size='{\"x\":52,\"y\":992,\"w\":520,\"h\":19,\"abs_x\":468,\"abs_y\":1252}'\u003eBlade Thickness: 5 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\" bis_size='{\"x\":52,\"y\":1012,\"w\":520,\"h\":19,\"abs_x\":468,\"abs_y\":1272}'\u003eHandle: Stabilized exotic multi-color pine cone, 4.75 inches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\" bis_size='{\"x\":52,\"y\":1032,\"w\":520,\"h\":19,\"abs_x\":468,\"abs_y\":1292}'\u003eHandle Pin: Copper Masonic skull\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\" bis_size='{\"x\":52,\"y\":1051,\"w\":520,\"h\":19,\"abs_x\":468,\"abs_y\":1311}'\u003eOverall Length: 10.25 inches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\" bis_size='{\"x\":52,\"y\":1071,\"w\":520,\"h\":39,\"abs_x\":468,\"abs_y\":1331}'\u003eSheath: Premium Italian leather, skull-engraved, removable belt loop, horizontal and vertical carry\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" bis_size='{\"x\":12,\"y\":1124,\"w\":560,\"h\":19,\"abs_x\":428,\"abs_y\":1384}'\u003e\u003cstrong bis_size='{\"x\":12,\"y\":1124,\"w\":140,\"h\":18,\"abs_x\":428,\"abs_y\":1384}'\u003eThe pine cone handle\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" bis_size='{\"x\":12,\"y\":1160,\"w\":560,\"h\":98,\"abs_x\":428,\"abs_y\":1420}'\u003eThe handle is made from real pine cones, stabilized in resin and ground by hand. The cone scales sit locked in the resin with amber, blue, and deep red running through them, and the copper Masonic skull pin matches the skull on the sheath. The resin won't crack or swell in wet weather, it fills the hand properly, and since the cone decides the pattern, yours is one of one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" bis_size='{\"x\":12,\"y\":1274,\"w\":560,\"h\":19,\"abs_x\":428,\"abs_y\":1534}'\u003e\u003cstrong bis_size='{\"x\":12,\"y\":1274,\"w\":71,\"h\":18,\"abs_x\":428,\"abs_y\":1534}'\u003eThe sheath\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" bis_size='{\"x\":12,\"y\":1309,\"w\":560,\"h\":98,\"abs_x\":428,\"abs_y\":1569}'\u003eThe Ronin ships in a hand-stitched premium Italian leather \u003cstrong bis_size='{\"x\":375,\"y\":1309,\"w\":119,\"h\":18,\"abs_x\":791,\"abs_y\":1569}'\u003etanto knife sheath\u003c\/strong\u003e with a skull tooled into the shield and basket-weave worked across the body. The belt loop is removable, and the sheath is set up for both horizontal and vertical carry, so you can run it on your hip or flat across the back of your belt. Most fixed blades don't give you that choice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" bis_size='{\"x\":12,\"y\":1423,\"w\":560,\"h\":19,\"abs_x\":428,\"abs_y\":1683}'\u003e\u003cstrong bis_size='{\"x\":12,\"y\":1423,\"w\":115,\"h\":18,\"abs_x\":428,\"abs_y\":1683}'\u003eKeeping the edge\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" bis_size='{\"x\":12,\"y\":1459,\"w\":560,\"h\":78,\"abs_x\":428,\"abs_y\":1719}'\u003eA tanto has two edges that meet at a corner, and that corner is the working point of the knife, so it sharpens a little differently than a normal blade. It's not hard, you just treat the long edge and the tip edge separately and keep the corner crisp. We wrote a full walkthrough on \u003cstrong bis_size='{\"x\":113,\"y\":1518,\"w\":189,\"h\":18,\"abs_x\":529,\"abs_y\":1778}'\u003ehow to sharpen a tanto knife\u003c\/strong\u003e so you get it right the first time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" bis_size='{\"x\":12,\"y\":1553,\"w\":560,\"h\":19,\"abs_x\":428,\"abs_y\":1813}'\u003e\u003cstrong bis_size='{\"x\":12,\"y\":1553,\"w\":162,\"h\":18,\"abs_x\":428,\"abs_y\":1813}'\u003eMade by hand in Canada\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" bis_size='{\"x\":12,\"y\":1589,\"w\":560,\"h\":117,\"abs_x\":428,\"abs_y\":1849}'\u003eWe've been forging at Stag Steel Knives since 2001. Every blade is forged, ground, heat treated, and finished by hand in our Canadian shop. That's the difference between this and the factory tantos or the soft carbon \"Damascus\" sold online. If you've been looking for a \u003cstrong bis_size='{\"x\":12,\"y\":1648,\"w\":198,\"h\":18,\"abs_x\":428,\"abs_y\":1908}'\u003ehandmade tanto knife for sale\u003c\/strong\u003e that's genuinely rust-resistant and genuinely one of a kind, this is it — San Mai steel, done by hand, arguably the \u003cstrong bis_size='{\"x\":376,\"y\":1667,\"w\":104,\"h\":18,\"abs_x\":792,\"abs_y\":1927}'\u003ebest tanto knife\u003c\/strong\u003e construction there is.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" bis_size='{\"x\":12,\"y\":1722,\"w\":560,\"h\":39,\"abs_x\":428,\"abs_y\":1982}'\u003eIt belongs to our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.stagsteelknives.com\/collections\/hunting-knives\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"handmade hunting knives Collection\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003e\u003cstrong bis_size='{\"x\":119,\"y\":1722,\"w\":170,\"h\":18,\"abs_x\":535,\"abs_y\":1982}'\u003ehandmade hunting knives\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e range and the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.stagsteelknives.com\/collections\/damascus-hunting-knives\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Damascus hunting knives Collection\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003e\u003cstrong bis_size='{\"x\":383,\"y\":1722,\"w\":166,\"h\":18,\"abs_x\":799,\"abs_y\":1982}'\u003eDamascus hunting knives\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e collection, and it's equally at home among our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.stagsteelknives.com\/collections\/bushcraft-knives\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"bushcraft knives Collection\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003e\u003cstrong bis_size='{\"x\":301,\"y\":1742,\"w\":107,\"h\":18,\"abs_x\":717,\"abs_y\":2002}'\u003ebushcraft knives\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" bis_size='{\"x\":12,\"y\":1778,\"w\":560,\"h\":39,\"abs_x\":428,\"abs_y\":2038}'\u003eI make these one at a time, so when this one sells, the next won't match it. If it's the one you want, don't sit on it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" bis_size='{\"x\":12,\"y\":1833,\"w\":560,\"h\":19,\"abs_x\":428,\"abs_y\":2093}'\u003eFree shipping across Canada, with affordable shipping rates to the USA and worldwide.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n  \"mainEntity\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"What is a Damascus tanto knife good for?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"The reinforced tanto point is built for piercing, prying tip-work, scraping, and hard utility cutting, the jobs that break normal tips. It excels as an EDC, camp, and bushcraft blade. It is not a skinner; it is the knife that does the rough work so your skinning knife stays sharp.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Is this a fixed blade tanto knife with a sheath?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Yes. It is a full-tang fixed blade tanto and ships in a skull-engraved Italian leather sheath with a removable belt loop, set up for both horizontal and vertical carry.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Will this San Mai Damascus tanto rust?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"No, not the way carbon Damascus does. The VG10 core is stainless, so it resists rust through field use. A quick wipe and an occasional drop of oil keeps it spotless.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"How do you sharpen a tanto knife blade?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Treat it as two edges: sharpen the long straight edge flat on the stone, then the short tip edge separately, keeping the corner between them crisp. Do not round through the transition, as that corner is the tanto's working point.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"What makes the tanto point knife tip so strong?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"The tanto runs a straight edge into a second angled edge at the tip, which stacks steel directly behind the point. That geometry makes a tanto point far stronger than a drop point or clip point for piercing and prying.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Is this a good EDC tanto knife?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Yes. At 10.25 inches overall with a 5.5 inch San Mai blade, it is sized for everyday carry and camp work, and the rust-resistant VG10 core means it handles daily use without constant maintenance.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"What steel is this tanto Damascus knife made of?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"The blade is San Mai Damascus with a stainless VG10 cutting core clad in pattern-welded 15N20, hardened to 59 to 61 HRC. The hard core holds the edge and the tougher cladding protects the reinforced tanto tip.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Is this a Japanese tanto knife?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"It is a Japanese-style tanto. The blade shape and the San Mai three-layer construction both come from Japanese blade-making tradition, while this knife is forged by hand at Stag Steel Knives in Canada.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"What is the handle on this handmade tanto knife made of?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"The handle is real pine cone stabilized in resin, ground by hand and fitted with a copper Masonic skull pin. The cone decides the pattern, so every handle is one of a kind.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Do you have Damascus tanto knives for sale made in Canada?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Yes. This Damascus tanto knife is forged, ground, and finished by hand in Canada, one at a time, and ships free across Canada with affordable rates to the USA and worldwide.\"\n      }\n    }\n  ]\n}\n\u003c\/script\u003e","brand":"Stag Steel Knives","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46945406124220,"sku":"SK-029","price":300.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/4621\/4332\/files\/damascus-tanto-knife-leather-sheath-belt-loop..jpg?v=1781219825","url":"https:\/\/www.stagsteelknives.com\/products\/san-mai-damascus-tanto-knife-edc","provider":"Stag Steel Knives","version":"1.0","type":"link"}