A 4 day torture test for my new tom brown tracker.

[savagesicslayer]

I recieved my tom brown tracker 1 day before I was about to leave on a 4 day hike along the fundy trail/footpath.I spent the whole day aquainting myself with the knife and it's varyous functions.My knife came with an instructional booklet explaining how to use the different parts of the knife for this ,that,or whatever.
The tracker was the only knife that I took however I lent my ka-bar to my brother-in-law who came with me.
So we hit the trail early and it began to rain.A lot.I was eager to see how the coating would take the water.The first job I gave it was to cut a walking stick.It tore through the wood like butter.Hardwood at that.I liked that.
At camp that night we nddede wood so I cut some smaller trees 2-4" for fire starting.I cut the wood to length and split it too.I used the saw to grind off some shavings to start the fire.Some of it's other camp jobs included can opener,kitchen knife,food serving slab.
On the third day I had to use it to make a crutch for my brother-in-law when he sprained his ankle.(he's fine now though )I dug a fire pit with it on the third night and cut open a can of corned beef when the tab broke off.
Although dirty,scraped,and nearly sheathless it performed beautifully for me and will ramain my primary hiking knife.
All wasn't peachy though.My kydex sheath took quite a beating and almost didn't make it.I did find the saw held a lot of crud when it was used.And it is quite heavy.A smaller person probablly wouldn't like this as a long term hiking knife.
All in all I give it a 9.5 out of 10.

 

[fck1]

Good reviews!I want one sine a long time ago, so you convince me to buy one!

 

[Thomas Linton]

So what did it do that you could not have done with the Ka-Bar plus a baton?

 

[longbow50]

I've never had the opportunity to lug one around, so I can't comment on the knife. Glad you like it.

Myself, I got away from the larger survival type of blades and have found happiness with the smaller and considerably less $$$$ Mora and SAK sized blades. Less weight to pack and they can take care of any game, camp and woodscrafting chores I'll need to get done.

 

[savagesicslayer]

So what did it do that you could not have done with the Ka-Bar plus a baton?

I found my ka-bar bound in the types wood wich is common here the wider tracker blade splits better.
My ka-bar is an unstoppable slicing machine but the tracker has a wider blade that's better for chopping/splitting.

 

[bishop85gt]

Just a joke..although it is a heavy and thick I found that with a little ajustment to the edge (see Brian Goode) it cuts a whole lot better than it did when I first got it. It still chops nicely but now it cut's and slices much better. It still looks like a leaf spring with an edge.

 

[savagesicslayer]

[/QUOTE] It still looks like a leaf spring with an edge. [/QUOTE]
It shure didn't win a reputation based on looks did it.LOL
One cool feture was the wire break at the tip of the blade can double as a can opener with enough leverage.

 

[stevekt]

So what did it do that you could not have done with the Ka-Bar plus a baton?

Eliminate heavily armed "sweepers".

 

[golok]

I have always been fascinated by the Tracker knife. One of these days when I have sold part of my book collection, I shall get a customised version of this Tracker!

 

[Thomas Linton]

Eliminate heavily armed "sweepers".

Replacing the Ka-Bar or the baton?

There was (and still is) another do-it-all edged tool featured in the back of outdoor magazines: knife; axe; brush-hook; draw-knife; shovel; hammer. "Woodsman's Pal." (Unfortunately for sales, it never was featured in a movie.) Years ago, seduced by the concept, I bought one. It would, indeed, would do all the tasks specified -- after a fashion.

 

[elvenbladesmith07]

but its also like machete sized isnt it? try doing fine whittling with that!

 

[Thomas Linton]

That's the one. And it CAN do all those things to some extent. Compromise.

As for "fine whittling," and with no disrespect to those who love them, but is a Tracker a good choice for "fine whittling"?

 

[RickJ]

I really like the Blade Shape.

 

[savagesicslayer]

That's the one. And it CAN do all those things to some extent. Compromise.

As for "fine whittling," and with no disrespect to those who love them, but is a Tracker a good choice for "fine whittling"?

I do more fine work than you think with the tracker.It takes some getting used to but once you figure where on the blade does what job best it's pretty good.(I still cary my ka-bar though)

 

[savagesicslayer]

Replacing the Ka-Bar or the baton?

There was (and still is) another do-it-all edged tool featured in the back of outdoor magazines: knife; axe; brush-hook; draw-knife; shovel; hammer. "Woodsman's Pal." (Unfortunately for sales, it never was featured in a movie.) Years ago, seduced by the concept, I bought one. It would, indeed, would do all the tasks specified -- after a fashion.

It sounds like an efective tool do you have any pics?

 

[Thomas Linton]

It sounds like an efective tool do you have any pics?

www.equipped.com/pp/pic676.htm

 

[savagesicslayer]

Sweet.Whats the price tag on one of those?

 

[Thomas Linton]

Mine (without handguard) cost $19.00. They run about three times that now.

The hardness is pretty low -- easily filed.

 

[elvenbladesmith07]

thomas, when i said fine whitling, i was thinking about trying to carve with a machete sized tool thats rather heavy. the tracker has a much more managable sized blade for finer work, but still can chop rather well, especially being so compact.
if you have the room for a machete also then yes, a woodsmans pal, a small saw, and a small hunting knife would be better than just a tracker.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

a woodsmans pal, a small saw, and a small hunting knife would be better than just a tracker.

Have you compared it to a similar sized blade from someone who knows how to grind bushcraft knives like Ray Kirk? I would argue one of his bowies of similar size would be far more useful in general.

-Cliff