| As ancient as mankind itself, the knife is | | | | created purely as a weapon. Later, it |
| the earliest form of weaponry for which there | | | | developed into an aesthetically pleasing |
| has been no substitute. Essential for | | | | weapon. Yoshimitsu was the greatest tanto |
| survival, the knife was developed out of | | | | maker in Japanese history and during his |
| necessity and has evolved through the ages. | | | | lifetime the tanto achieved a place of artful |
| From knives made of flint, to copper, to | | | | design. A smaller version of the katana, the |
| iron, humans have a unique relationship to | | | | tanto differs from others as it was designed |
| this tool, creating it out of the strongest | | | | primarily as a stabbing instrument but |
| material available and adorning them with | | | | possesses an edge that can slash as well. |
| patterns and decoration. A knife is a | | | | Unlike the katana, tanto are forged in |
| personal possession that is valued for its | | | | hira-zukuri, meaning they have no ridge-line, |
| craftsmanship and usefulness. Perhaps the | | | | unlike the shinogi-zukuri shape of the |
| most recognized knife in the world, the Bowie | | | | katana. The classic Japanese tanto shape has |
| Knife has an intriguing history. The story | | | | the point of the knife in line with the spine |
| begins in 1831 when Jim Bowie brought a | | | | of the blade and a graceful belly curve. With |
| whittled wooden model of his ideal knife to | | | | a blade length of only 6 to 12 inches, the |
| blacksmith James Black. Several weeks later, | | | | tanto cuts soft targets very well. The tanto |
| Black had produced two knives. The second was | | | | were most often carried by samurai, the |
| a modified version of Bowie's design. Bowie | | | | military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. |
| chose Black's version as it had a double | | | | Although commoners rarely carried a tanto, |
| edge. Soon, Black was inundated with requests | | | | women sometimes possessed a small tanto in |
| from customers who wanted a knife like | | | | their obi, or shash, for self defense. A |
| Bowie's. The knife's unique shape and | | | | 12-inch fighting and utility knife, the |
| hallmark large blade became popular for its | | | | Ka-Bar was first used by the U.S. Marines in |
| use as both a weapon and as a tool for | | | | World War II and has been carried into battle |
| fishing and hunting. The knife also gained | | | | by Marines since. Originally designed as a |
| popularity as a result of a fight Bowie was | | | | hunting knife in the 1800s, the Ka-Bar |
| involved in Texas with three men hired to | | | | reached popularity with soldiers who needed a |
| hill him. Bowie killed his would-be | | | | knife suited to trench warfare. Its final |
| assailants and the reputation of the Bowie | | | | shape was decided by the Marine Corps, who |
| knife was established. After Bowie's death | | | | introduced a slightly longer blade, a smaller |
| five years later at the Battle of the Alamo, | | | | fuller, or beveled groove, on the flat side |
| both he and his knife became immensely | | | | of the blade, and the stacked leather handle. |
| famous. Over the years, many knives have been | | | | From box cutter to can opener to hand-to-hand |
| referred to as Bowie knives. The term has | | | | combat, the Ka-Bar is the preferred piece of |
| become a generic one for any large sheath | | | | equipment with the U.S. Marine Corps and has |
| knife. Despite all the variations, it is said | | | | become a symbol of the Marines. |
| that for a knife to be considered a Bowie | | | | |
| knife, it must be long enough to use as a | | | | Safecutters Inc., provides an online store of |
| sword, sharp enough to use as a razor, wide | | | | utility knife box cutters for opening |
| enough to use as a paddle, and heavy enough | | | | shipping boxes and shipping packages, as well |
| to use as a hatchet. Forged in Japan during | | | | as safety knives to open moving boxes and |
| the Heian Period when Confucianism and other | | | | packages. For more information about Klever |
| Chinese influences were at their height, the | | | | Kutter and other Safecutters products contact |
| tanto knife lacked any artistic value and was | | | | us! |