What the Heck Is a Reverse Tanto? Well, This Cool New Knife, for Starters

WeKnife’s Epaulette is a great excuse to break down this unusual, surprisingly useful blade shape.

By Steve Mazzucchi

Published October 24, 2024

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Updated October 24, 2024

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A little over two decades ago, the great poet Missy Elliott reminded the nation how beneficial it can be to reverse it.

This particular action, a key element of the song “Work It,” helped the not-at-all-salacious single hold the no. 2 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for 10 weeks (behind Eminem’s “Lose Yourself”) in the fall of 2002. Less than a year later, the associated album, Under Construction, was certified double-platinum with over 2 million copies sold.

The reverse tanto shape also draws inspiration from extant Japanese combat weapons such as the Bunka Bocho and Kiritsuke. Reverse tantos are also called K-tips in a nod to the latter.

Of course, music is not the only place where an about face can pay big dividends. Just look at the knife world, where the reverse tanto blade shape may actually be superior to the original silhouette.

In honor of WeKnife’s recently launched Epaulette employing the style, let’s take a closer look.

weknife-epaulette-in-hand — WeKnife’s new Epaulette features a prime example of the reverse tanto blade shape.

History, long and short

Of course, before we can contemplate the reverse tanto, we must understand the tanto. As we noted in an earlier piece, the tanto is one of the most recognizable blade shapes, thanks to the way its edge draws a line out from the handle before angling sharply up to the tip.

As modern as it looks, the tanto has a long history, dating back to 12th century feudal Japan, when and where samurai carried two swords for combat, the smaller of which was called the tantō (which translates to “short sword” or “dagger”).

weknife-epaulette-off-side — Unlike the original shape, the reverse tanto angles from the spine, not the blade itself.

While these blades had edges that angled up close to the tip, the modern EDC variety angles up from the belly, a tweak known as the “American tanto” that was introduced by Texas knife maker Cold Steel in the early 1980s.

Cold Steel is also credited with the reverse tanto, wherein the blade edge is traditionally curved while the sharp angle comes from the spine of the knife, as you can clearly see on the Epaulette.

This shape also draws inspiration from extant Japanese combat weapons such as the Bunka Bocho and Kiritsuke. Reverse tantos are also called K-tips in a nod to the latter.

A superior EDC blade shape?

As visually compelling as the reverse tanto is, it’s not just another pretty shape. It offers significant advantages over a number of styles, including the original tanto.

From a usage standpoint, the reverse tanto carries a lot more steel behind the tip than other knives do. This quality boosts its piercing ability, giving it a tip strength approaching that of a chisel.

The curved rather than angle blade edge also makes reverse tantos better at slicing and cutting than the original tanto.

From a durability standpoint, reverse tantos benefit from having a triangle shape leading into the tip. Engineers recognize the triangle as an exceptionally strong shape, enhancing the blade’s overall endurance.

weknife-epaulette-folded — The new Epaulette features a handle with a bead-blasted finish that enhances grip.

From a maintenance standpoint, the reverse tanto’s consistent edge can be ground thin and retain the strength of a much larger blade. It’s also much easier to sharpen than a classic tanto, which can be difficult to keep sharp due to the edge’s severe angles.

Designed by Mike Gavic of Gavko Knives, the new Epaulette can boast these blade shape advantages along with a number of other compelling features. This particular knife’s blade is a beefy 3.45-incher made of reliable CPM 20CV steel.

The handle, right-carry pocket clip and screws are all made of light but tough 6AL4V Titanium. A caged ceramic ball bearing ensures smooth deployment via a rear flipper or the angular, oversized thumb hole, and the blade is held in place with a sturdy frame lock.

Is it, as Missy Elliott might ask, worth it? That’s up to you.