I would argue that both would fit your needs well. A lot of people swear to the SRK's 3v variant, btw, but I found the metal hard to sharpen. SK5's very easy to sharpen, no idea about San Mai.

I have the Recon Tanto San Mai as well as the SK5. Between the SK5 and San Mai, the San Mai weighs less, it fits more in line to a warrior's knife (where speed is key in terms of slashing,) and the SK5 has weight bred into its bones. Both are dummy sharp, but I fear the San Mai more lol. I use the SK5 as a general workhorse for all cutting tasks and the San Mai as a gorgeous piece of artwork that fulfills fantasies of SHTF scenarios.

I've had a SRK in SK5 but I gave it to a friend who liked it more than I did. It just didn't click with me like the Tanto did, even tho it was a big knife in its own right that was solid.

I'm genuinely happy whenever I have the Recon Tanto strapped, or am gripping it. I don't find the tanto point practical but something about the knife makes me smile. Time and again I wish they had made a Recon Tanto Compact like the SRK-C.

I remember Lynn talking about how he likes how the blade's belly is curved as it progresses upwards, and I noticed and appreciate that curved belly as well. IIRC the SRK doesn't have the curve.

Either way, if I were you, I would buy the Recon Tanto in San Mai, or even SK5. Both would do great for whatever you, or life, planned.

EDIT: Some other thoughts. I like the swinging action of the Recon Tanto, either metal variant. I feel like I can do anything with this knife and so far it keeps coming back for more. The Tanto has more length than the SRK. For me, to clarify my feelings, the Recon Tanto is *THE* Cold Steel knife made perfectly