EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – Every once in a while, you get reminded that great things sometimes come in small packages.
Such is the case with RoseCraft Blades’ Tanasi Lake Tear Drop knife.
This knife is almost small enough to be swallowed up in my closed fist, but it packs a wallop as far as functionality and craftsmanship – as you expect with any RoseCraft knife.
And just a reminder for the sake of transparency: I am part of RoseCraft’s pass-around group for traditional knives. I get to carry each knife around for a few days and then mail it off to the next content creator on the list.
Under this arrangement, I have no limitations on what I can say about each knife.
Here goes:
For starters, what really jumps out about the Tanasi Lake Tear Drop is its “bora bora” blue bone handles.
The dye job highlights the minute differences and slight imperfections of the natural bone, giving each knife a unique look.
The “bora bora” blue is a light blue that conjures up images of a beautiful, calm ocean.
But the handles aren’t the only thing that stands out on this offering.
The Tanasi Lake is a variation of the traditional jackknife, a one-bladed slipjoint (no lock). Jacks, I have to admit, are fast becoming my favorite traditional pattern.
And the blade on this one is one of my favorite styles – a spearpoint which can handle a wide range of EDC tasks around the house and office.
The blade is just a tad over 2 ¾ inches with a cutting edge of about 2 ¼ inches.
Here are some other numbers: It’s 3.5 inches when closed, 6.3 inches when open and weighs just 2.2 ounces.
When I choke up and put my thumb on the spine of the blade, I can fit my whole hand on this knife. Small, but effective.
The body of this knife has two brushed steel bolsters. The one at the front end reminds me of a traditional Barlow-type knife.
At the back end, the knife body “swells” and ends in a rounded bolster that looks like a teardrop, hence the name.
The walk and talk (the way the knife opens and closes) is super snappy but at the same time, you can use the long-pull nail nicks to open it up rather easily.
The knife has a half-stop which is a great safety feature on a slipjoint, making it so it is nearly impossible to fold the blade down on your hand while in use.
The fit and finish is exactly what you would expect from a RoseCraft knife – pins, rosebud shield, bolsters all coming together seamlessly and merging with the bone handles; immaculate back spring; and perfect blade centering.
RoseCraft is based in the U.S. but manufactures their knives overseas, mostly in China. Whoever does their quality control is on top of things.
Every RCB knife I have had my hands on just seems to be a near-perfect combination of functionality, craftsmanship and reasonable price.
To be honest, I’m bummed out that I have to mail this knife off. I like it so much I am going to go out and buy one for my collection as soon as I find a bit of extra cash.
The Tanasi Lake Tear Drop is currently listed on the RoseCraft Blades website for $59.99. It also lists for the same price at the C. Risner Cutlery website.
Here are some YouTube channels that I find fun and informative:
The Cutting Edge (Formerly Last Chance Knives)
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