--- product_id: 65070188 title: "COLD STEEL Recon Tanto 7\" SK-5 Razor-Sharp Blade 4.75\" Kray-Ex Handle Military Tactical Fixed Blade Knife w/Secure-Ex Sheath" brand: "cold steel" price: "63871CFA" currency: XOF in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 category: "Cold Steel" url: https://www.desertcart.sn/products/65070188-cold-steel-recon-tanto-7-sk-5-razor-sharp-blade store_origin: SN region: Senegal --- # 4.75" ergonomic Kray-Ex handle 7" SK-5 razor-sharp blade Secure-Ex sheath for safe carry COLD STEEL Recon Tanto 7" SK-5 Razor-Sharp Blade 4.75" Kray-Ex Handle Military Tactical Fixed Blade Knife w/Secure-Ex Sheath **Brand:** cold steel **Price:** 63871CFA **Availability:** βœ… In Stock ## Summary > πŸ—‘οΈ Own the edge that commands respect and readiness ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** COLD STEEL Recon Tanto 7" SK-5 Razor-Sharp Blade 4.75" Kray-Ex Handle Military Tactical Fixed Blade Knife w/Secure-Ex Sheath by cold steel - **How much does it cost?** 63871CFA with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.sn](https://www.desertcart.sn/products/65070188-cold-steel-recon-tanto-7-sk-5-razor-sharp-blade) ## Best For - cold steel enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted cold steel brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - β€’ **Ready When You Are:** Secure-Ex sheath offers quick access and safe transport for high-stakes readiness - β€’ **Unmatched Edge Retention:** SK-5 high-carbon steel blade stays razor-sharp through the toughest cuts - β€’ **Battle-Tested Reliability:** Trusted by military & SWAT for 20+ years of combat-proven performance - β€’ **Secure Grip in Any Condition:** Ergonomic Kray-Ex handle ensures firm control, even when wet or under pressure - β€’ **Versatile Tactical Powerhouse:** From utility tasks to critical missions, precision cutting is always guaranteed ## Overview The Cold Steel Recon Tanto is a 7-inch fixed blade knife crafted from SK-5 high-carbon steel, renowned for its razor-sharp edge and durability. Featuring a 4.75-inch Kray-Ex handle for ergonomic, secure grip and a Secure-Ex sheath for safe, quick carry, this combat knife has been battle-tested by military and SWAT teams worldwide for over two decades. Designed for tactical versatility and precision, it delivers unmatched performance in both combat and utility scenarios. ## Description COLD STEEL RECON TANTO SK-5 FIXED BLADE KNIFE: The Cold Steel Recon Tanto continues to redefine the standard for combat knives around the globe. With over two decades of active military service, this blade has seen action in numerous conflicts, earning the trust of special military units and SWAT teams alike. Renowned for its exceptional quality and reliability, the Recon Tanto stands as a testament to Cold Steel's commitment to producing top-tier combat knives. Crafted from SK-5 high-carbon steel, the blade of the Recon Tanto boasts superior strength, durability, and edge retention. Its razor-sharp edge ensures precision cutting and piercing capability, making it a formidable tool in any tactical situation. Whether used for utility tasks or combat scenarios, the Recon Tanto delivers consistent performance. The handle is constructed from Kray-Ex - durable and grippy material that provides a secure hold even in adverse conditions. Engineered to resist wear and tear, the ergonomic design ensures comfortable handling during extended use, allowing for precise control and maneuverability. For convenient carry and protection, the Recon Tanto comes equipped with a Secure-Ex sheath. This rugged sheath securely houses the blade, offering peace of mind when transporting or deploying the knife. Review: Amazing Cold Steel EDC!! Grade A of course!! - Cold Steel was founded by Lynn Thompson in 1980. During the 40 years he was owner and CEO he worked hard to provide knives that were innovative, as economical as possible and TOUGH. He and his crew used to produce CDs that showed them doing crazy testing to demonstrate how durable his products were. Cold Steel is responsible for many "firsts" like the tanto blade we are all familiar with now. My favorite thing about Cold Steel when I first found out about them was they told you what alloy they used in the knife and their catalogs, and later their website told you all about the alloys they used. As an alloy expert and fan this was so fun compared to the other knife makers. Back then, and still to this day, most manufacturers only use one, or a few different alloys exclusively. Sorry about the history lesson! I'm just such a Cold Steel fan. Over 30% of my collection of hundreds of knives are Cold Steel. This review is for the Cold Steel Recon Tanto with the SK-5 blade. Just FYI this knife is available in VG-10 San Mai as well but it will cost you about three times as much. As is typical with Cold Steel the fit and finish were flawless. All measurements met the specs as listed on the Cold Steel website. As usual all measurements were made with Starrett micrometers and calipers. The Kray-Ex handle is one of my very favorites. It's thick and blocky and would be easy to hold to anyway but the grip pattern and the rubbery texture is grip defined, even if you're greasy, or covered in mud. Add to this a nice big finger guard. Cold Steel uses a grip like this on many of their knives which is just dandy in my opinion. Although this knife is available in the outstanding VG-10 San Mai but you won't need that, SK-5 is outstanding as well. SK-5 is extremely hard and tough and the best non stainless knife steel I've ever used or tested. SK-5 is a Japanese alloy able to reach 65 HRC in hardness and still remain tough. The knife arrived razor sharp and required no sharpening prior to testing. I use proprietary test equipment to test blades for edge retention and toughness. Sacrificial materials are man made so testing will be exactly the same every time. As mentioned SK-5 is the best non stainless I have encountered. No noticeable dulling occured and there was no chipping or edge rolling. The Tuff-Ex coating is extremely durable and so no damage was caused to it or the tip while stabbing food cans. Hardness tested at 64 HRC. Only Magnacut alloy holds up as well to my edge retention and toughness testing. About the Tuff-Ex coating...this is a very tough coating and during my research I wasn't able to find out exactly its composition. It can be chipped and can be removed with powerful paint remover so it's not indestructible like Cerakote but I've had this and other Cold Steel knives for years and haven't worn through or chipped the Tuff-Ex myself. The Secure-Ex sheath does its job well. I've had this knife for over two years and the sheath still holds the knife tightly. Maybe I'm odd, but my favorite pack has MOLLE on the shoulder straps and I've built a rig that allows me to hang sheaths like this upside down on one of the straps. I find this to be much better than hanging a knife from my belt. Cold Steel Tanto blades make outstanding EDCs in my opinion. You could remove a splinter with the point, and you've got a nice belly for general slicing purposes. Of the hundreds of knives in my collection if I had to keep just one for some reason, this knife would be in the top 10 and that's saying something!! Note about carbon steel tools: Rust is your enemy but one easily defeated. If you get your blade wet take a sec to wipe it off. When not in use coat your blade with a fine film of oil or wipe it with Vaseline. If you do get rust on your blade soak it in apple cider vinegar and the rust will dissolve. SK-5 can be darn hard so it's easier to take a few moments to touch up the sharpness on occasion rather than waiting until the blade is dull. So this is a rugged, high performing knife with a truly amazing grip at a very reasonable price! Get one!! Grumpy old guy seal of approval!! Review: Great model all these years later - Revisiting some favorites from my childhood and this does not disappoint. Seems as sharp and sturdy as the old carbon V model I had--but admittedly never used that one too hard. It's amazing that these haven't gone up in price in 30 years--and the one I just bought during a sale was probably $20 cheaper than my original. Sheath isn't quite as nice as the original but it's sturdy and totally usable. Highly recommended. ## Features - COMBAT DESIGN: The Recon Tanto has been extensively used in various conflicts over the past two decades, earning its reputation as a go-to combat knife for military and SWAT teams worldwide, thanks to its exceptional performance and reliability - SUPERIOR BLADE QUALITY: Crafted from SK-5 high-carbon steel, the Recon Tanto boasts a razor-sharp blade that delivers superior durability, abrasion resistance, and outstanding cutting power with excellent edge retention for demanding combat situations - DURABLE HANDLE: Designed for durability and secure grip, the Recon Tanto features a Kray-Ex handle that ensures optimal control and comfort during use, even in wet or challenging conditions, providing confidence in handling during high-stakes situations - SECURE CARRY OPTION: Equipped with a Secure-Ex sheath, the Cold Steel Recon Tanto offers a safe and convenient storage solution, allowing for easy and secure carry while ensuring quick access to the knife when needed - SPECIFICATIONS: Weight: 8.7 oz (246.6 g); Blade Thickness: 5 mm; Blade Length: 7 inches; Blade Steel: SK-5; Handle Length/Material: 4.75 inches Kray-Ex; Overall Length: 11.75 inches; Knife Type: Fixed; Blade Shape: Tanto; Additional Features: Secure-Ex Sheath - TACTICAL VERSATILITY: This fixed blade knife serves multiple purposes from utility tasks to tactical operations, delivering consistent performance and precision cutting capability in any situation requiring a reliable combat tool - ERGONOMIC CONSTRUCTION: The ergonomic design of the handle resists wear and tear while allowing for comfortable handling during extended use, ensuring precise control and maneuverability in various operational environments ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | ASIN | B07BHGB22X | | Age Range (Description) | Adult | | Age Range Description | Adult | | Best Sellers Rank | #28,968 in Sports & Outdoors ( See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors ) #46 in Fixed Blade Hunting Knives | | Blade Edge | Plain | | Blade Length | 7 inches | | Blade Material | Carbon Steel | | Blade Shape | Tanto Point | | Blade Type | Tanto | | Brand | Cold Steel | | Brand Name | Cold Steel | | Color | Black | | Customer Package Type | Flat Free Package | | Customer Reviews | 4.8 out of 5 stars 2,915 Reviews | | Global Trade Identification Number | 00705442017394 | | Hand Orientation | Ambidextrous | | Handle Material | Kray-Ex | | Included Components | Sheath | | Item Length | 11.75 inches | | Item Shape | Rectangular | | Item Type Name | FIXED KNIFE | | Item Weight | 10 ounces | | Manufacturer | Cold Steel | | Model Name | Recon Tanto | | Model Number | 49LRT | | Number of Items | 2 | | Part Number | 49LRT | | Power Source | Manual | | Product Care Instructions | Hand Wash Only | | Recommended Uses For Product | Hunting | | Reusability | Reusable | | Size | 7.0" | | Special Feature | Manual | | Special Features | Manual | | Style | Modern | | Theme | Sport | | UPC | 705442017394 | | Unit Count | 1 Count | | Warranty Description | Knives & Blades: We stand behind our products 100%. We subject them to the highest standards in the industry and strive to make each as perfect as possible. We warrant that this product is free of defects in workmanship and materials. This warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, resharpening, damage caused by misuse, lack of normal maintenance, or disassembly. Remember, anything can break or… | ## Product Details - **Age Range (Description):** Adult - **Blade Material:** Carbon Steel - **Brand:** Cold Steel - **Color:** Black - **Handle Material:** Kray-Ex - **Included Components:** Sheath - **Model Name:** Recon Tanto - **Recommended Uses For Product:** Hunting - **Special Feature:** Manual - **Style:** Modern ## Images ![COLD STEEL Recon Tanto 7" SK-5 Razor-Sharp Blade 4.75" Kray-Ex Handle Military Tactical Fixed Blade Knife w/Secure-Ex Sheath - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71yDNw93dSL.jpg) ## Available Options This product comes in different **Material Type** options. ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazing Cold Steel EDC!! Grade A of course!! *by G***Y on October 1, 2026* Cold Steel was founded by Lynn Thompson in 1980. During the 40 years he was owner and CEO he worked hard to provide knives that were innovative, as economical as possible and TOUGH. He and his crew used to produce CDs that showed them doing crazy testing to demonstrate how durable his products were. Cold Steel is responsible for many "firsts" like the tanto blade we are all familiar with now. My favorite thing about Cold Steel when I first found out about them was they told you what alloy they used in the knife and their catalogs, and later their website told you all about the alloys they used. As an alloy expert and fan this was so fun compared to the other knife makers. Back then, and still to this day, most manufacturers only use one, or a few different alloys exclusively. Sorry about the history lesson! I'm just such a Cold Steel fan. Over 30% of my collection of hundreds of knives are Cold Steel. This review is for the Cold Steel Recon Tanto with the SK-5 blade. Just FYI this knife is available in VG-10 San Mai as well but it will cost you about three times as much. As is typical with Cold Steel the fit and finish were flawless. All measurements met the specs as listed on the Cold Steel website. As usual all measurements were made with Starrett micrometers and calipers. The Kray-Ex handle is one of my very favorites. It's thick and blocky and would be easy to hold to anyway but the grip pattern and the rubbery texture is grip defined, even if you're greasy, or covered in mud. Add to this a nice big finger guard. Cold Steel uses a grip like this on many of their knives which is just dandy in my opinion. Although this knife is available in the outstanding VG-10 San Mai but you won't need that, SK-5 is outstanding as well. SK-5 is extremely hard and tough and the best non stainless knife steel I've ever used or tested. SK-5 is a Japanese alloy able to reach 65 HRC in hardness and still remain tough. The knife arrived razor sharp and required no sharpening prior to testing. I use proprietary test equipment to test blades for edge retention and toughness. Sacrificial materials are man made so testing will be exactly the same every time. As mentioned SK-5 is the best non stainless I have encountered. No noticeable dulling occured and there was no chipping or edge rolling. The Tuff-Ex coating is extremely durable and so no damage was caused to it or the tip while stabbing food cans. Hardness tested at 64 HRC. Only Magnacut alloy holds up as well to my edge retention and toughness testing. About the Tuff-Ex coating...this is a very tough coating and during my research I wasn't able to find out exactly its composition. It can be chipped and can be removed with powerful paint remover so it's not indestructible like Cerakote but I've had this and other Cold Steel knives for years and haven't worn through or chipped the Tuff-Ex myself. The Secure-Ex sheath does its job well. I've had this knife for over two years and the sheath still holds the knife tightly. Maybe I'm odd, but my favorite pack has MOLLE on the shoulder straps and I've built a rig that allows me to hang sheaths like this upside down on one of the straps. I find this to be much better than hanging a knife from my belt. Cold Steel Tanto blades make outstanding EDCs in my opinion. You could remove a splinter with the point, and you've got a nice belly for general slicing purposes. Of the hundreds of knives in my collection if I had to keep just one for some reason, this knife would be in the top 10 and that's saying something!! Note about carbon steel tools: Rust is your enemy but one easily defeated. If you get your blade wet take a sec to wipe it off. When not in use coat your blade with a fine film of oil or wipe it with Vaseline. If you do get rust on your blade soak it in apple cider vinegar and the rust will dissolve. SK-5 can be darn hard so it's easier to take a few moments to touch up the sharpness on occasion rather than waiting until the blade is dull. So this is a rugged, high performing knife with a truly amazing grip at a very reasonable price! Get one!! Grumpy old guy seal of approval!! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great model all these years later *by A***R on April 30, 2026* Revisiting some favorites from my childhood and this does not disappoint. Seems as sharp and sturdy as the old carbon V model I had--but admittedly never used that one too hard. It's amazing that these haven't gone up in price in 30 years--and the one I just bought during a sale was probably $20 cheaper than my original. Sheath isn't quite as nice as the original but it's sturdy and totally usable. Highly recommended. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Not Perfect, But Still Great *by A***R on March 1, 2026* This is my first Cold Steel fixed blade knife, better late than never as I wanted one for two decades, so I had to jump on a good sale which put the price at a fair amount. The blade has been extremely sharp and symmetrical. The handle is a very nice grippy rubber with aggressive bumps, but you can still slide your hand over it. Part of the handle's finger guard is what locks the knife into the sheath, but I think the retention is too much. I have the snap look snapped backwards around the sheath's dangling belt loop to keep it out of the way. The biggest problem with this knife is imbalance, not enough weight in the handle, so I wish there was more tang material for weight. It ships well, with a horrendous amount of silicone grease all over the blade for a coated blade. I never used SK-5 steel before, but in knife testing videos, the Recon Tanto holds up really well to hard use. The blade thickness and length feel very nice, although I think 5" might be better with a little more pointed tip. 5mm thick is also fine, about the minimum I'd expect. The steel composition is rather unremarkable with it's super simple ingredients, so I'm amazed at how much abuse the knife handles in test videos. I'm worried about rust more than anything, but at least Cold Steel seems to have nailed down the heat treatment and geometry. I can't tell if it has a subtle hollow grind or flat grind. I'd call the knife tanto-like more than tanto because the tip looks a little chisel-like compared to real tanto, but I hear the pointier yokote has some advantages. Combine that with a light weight handle, and it feels more like a chopper than a slicer. I was expecting something more of a sengoku battlefield tanto, but it feels like a bushcraft tanto. In that sense, I don't really like the knife as much as I thought I would. There's a ricasso instead of a habaki, and mine is thankfully the shorter 1cm long version. The belly has nice curvature for slicing. The tip heavy imbalance doesn't make it handling it feel enjoyable from what you may imagine a combat knife to feel like, but it can perform survival knife duties. Maybe Cold Steel's SRK would be better. The sheath is okay. It's extra wide to account for Molle slots and cordage holes. The sheath feels pretty good, not as cheap like Schrade. The belt loop might be polyester, not as good as nylon webbing, but I like the hook&loop with snap button closure that lets you take it off a belt without taking off your belt. You can tug the knife out without ruining the plastic card that joins it to the sheath. I'd rather have two metal clips on the sides for pocket carry. It might be too long for IWB. It's a good size for horizontal carry on the low back, but difficult to draw. It's really made for chest carriers and unsheathing with two hands from the belt or backpack. Cold Steel's Kobun has a better sheath for EDC purposes, so I guess I'll have to get one of those next. I'm feeling mixed opinion about the Recon Tanto. I thought I'd fall in love with it, but it's kind of like, meh. Well, it's a great knife that I got for a good price, so I'll still find a place for it to give it purpose. ## Frequently Bought Together - COLD STEEL Recon Tanto 7" SK-5 Razor-Sharp Blade 4.75" Kray-Ex Handle Military Tactical Fixed Blade Knife w/Secure-Ex Sheath - Cold Steel SRK 6" SK-5 Clip Point Razor-Sharp Blade 4.75" Durable Kray-Ex Handle Tactical Fixed Blade Knife w/Secure-Ex Sheath - COLD STEEL SRK Compact 5" SK-5 Clip Point Razor-Sharp Blade 4.5" Durable Kray-Ex Handle Tactical Fixed Blade Knife w/Secure-Ex Sheath --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - πŸ›’ **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** β€” Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** β€” Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - πŸ’° **No Hidden Fees** β€” All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - πŸ”„ **15-Day Free Returns** β€” Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - πŸ”’ **Secure Payments** β€” Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** β€” Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.sn/products/65070188-cold-steel-recon-tanto-7-sk-5-razor-sharp-blade](https://www.desertcart.sn/products/65070188-cold-steel-recon-tanto-7-sk-5-razor-sharp-blade) --- *Product available on Desertcart Senegal* *Store origin: SN* *Last updated: 2026-10-15*