- Joined
- Mar 3, 2003
- Messages
- 38
" Lately there seems to be some stir in the discussion of Tracker knives. I felt as if I should clear the air and answer some questions folks have been having regarding the Beck TRACKER knives.
First off, I began work on the TRACKER knife project back in 1989. At that time, the first rough prototypes were being crafted by someone else. The knife was then called the "Medicine Blade". After I began crafting the knife, with some of my own improvements, Tom Brown saw the potential and from then on we worked together on the design. Although Tom had come up with the basic design concept, I was the one who had done much of the design work and all the manufacturing from then on. I hand-crafted over 525 custom TRACKER knives from the beginning until 2001.
An interesting note is that the knife wasn't even referred to as the TRACKERknife until I registered and began using "TRACKER" stamping on my blades. Yes, I was the first to use "TRACKER" and owned the trademark at one time. In fact for several years my knife was also refered to as the Tom Brown Tracker and was publicized as such in an issue of Modern Maturity magazine.
As far as the design goes, I believe "ripping someone off" is rather a strong accusation. Especially when it is clear that little seems to be known about my history with this knife. If any eyebrows are lifted, I would think my direction would be the last place anyone should stare too strongly. After all, my design varied greatly from the original prototype. I did all the physical work, got the knife published in magazine articles, and sent the knives all aroung the world to be tested to make the refinements.
Tom wanted me to mass produce these knives but being a perfectionist and someone who is constantly trying to improve my work, I didn't want to cheapen the design by making a production version. Therefore, Tom decided to seek out a company to mass produce his ideas, as I continued to completely hand-craft my own one at a time to push the design to it's limits.
The TOPS knife clearly copies many of my own ideas but the TOPS knife seems to be getting all the publicity and I don't believe that is right. Nothing against TOPS, but most folks don't seem to realize my TRACKER is also shown in the upcoming movie "The Hunted". I'm not given much credit however, other than a brief statement by Tom in the latest Blade magazine. I think that is simply due to the financial backing going into selling these knives. I can not comment on the quality of their knife, as I haven't had the opportunity to try one myself, but I sincerely hope they are doing a good job.
TOPS & or Tom Brown may have a registered trademark & design patent on the TOPS version due to the movie. However, that would only serve to protect the "new design" knife from being copied. Being "grandfathered as the original maker and user of the TRACKER who in the past used the design & trademark in commerce allows me to legally continue to make my version along with the TRACKER stamping as long as I don't attempt to copy their design changes of the blade markings.
It is a shame how big business can over-shadow and take due credit away from the little guy who shed alot of sweat & cut many fingers during the very long days developing the knife into what makes it famous (before TOPS got involved)but I guess if there is more money to be made, well...small custom knifemakers should beware!
Well anyway, after taking a year off to take a long needed break & refine new skills, I, Dave Beck, am back with the "original" TRACKER knife. I may not get the credit I deserve from my knife's involvementin the movie but my new TRACKER based on my original "C" model is certainly going to turn some heads!" As quoted from Dave Beck
First off, I began work on the TRACKER knife project back in 1989. At that time, the first rough prototypes were being crafted by someone else. The knife was then called the "Medicine Blade". After I began crafting the knife, with some of my own improvements, Tom Brown saw the potential and from then on we worked together on the design. Although Tom had come up with the basic design concept, I was the one who had done much of the design work and all the manufacturing from then on. I hand-crafted over 525 custom TRACKER knives from the beginning until 2001.
An interesting note is that the knife wasn't even referred to as the TRACKERknife until I registered and began using "TRACKER" stamping on my blades. Yes, I was the first to use "TRACKER" and owned the trademark at one time. In fact for several years my knife was also refered to as the Tom Brown Tracker and was publicized as such in an issue of Modern Maturity magazine.
As far as the design goes, I believe "ripping someone off" is rather a strong accusation. Especially when it is clear that little seems to be known about my history with this knife. If any eyebrows are lifted, I would think my direction would be the last place anyone should stare too strongly. After all, my design varied greatly from the original prototype. I did all the physical work, got the knife published in magazine articles, and sent the knives all aroung the world to be tested to make the refinements.
Tom wanted me to mass produce these knives but being a perfectionist and someone who is constantly trying to improve my work, I didn't want to cheapen the design by making a production version. Therefore, Tom decided to seek out a company to mass produce his ideas, as I continued to completely hand-craft my own one at a time to push the design to it's limits.
The TOPS knife clearly copies many of my own ideas but the TOPS knife seems to be getting all the publicity and I don't believe that is right. Nothing against TOPS, but most folks don't seem to realize my TRACKER is also shown in the upcoming movie "The Hunted". I'm not given much credit however, other than a brief statement by Tom in the latest Blade magazine. I think that is simply due to the financial backing going into selling these knives. I can not comment on the quality of their knife, as I haven't had the opportunity to try one myself, but I sincerely hope they are doing a good job.
TOPS & or Tom Brown may have a registered trademark & design patent on the TOPS version due to the movie. However, that would only serve to protect the "new design" knife from being copied. Being "grandfathered as the original maker and user of the TRACKER who in the past used the design & trademark in commerce allows me to legally continue to make my version along with the TRACKER stamping as long as I don't attempt to copy their design changes of the blade markings.
It is a shame how big business can over-shadow and take due credit away from the little guy who shed alot of sweat & cut many fingers during the very long days developing the knife into what makes it famous (before TOPS got involved)but I guess if there is more money to be made, well...small custom knifemakers should beware!
Well anyway, after taking a year off to take a long needed break & refine new skills, I, Dave Beck, am back with the "original" TRACKER knife. I may not get the credit I deserve from my knife's involvementin the movie but my new TRACKER based on my original "C" model is certainly going to turn some heads!" As quoted from Dave Beck
