Black Star (by TOPS)

That is a sweet knife. I think it's my favorite TOPS. I don't really like most of their knives, esthetically. That Black Star, on the other hand, is very nice.
 
That is a very nice looking knife. I bought a baghdad bullet about six months ago. Unhappy with the finger choil area. Not secure enough, however this knife looks great, as well as being larger than the bullet, which I would love. Thanks for the review!
 
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Good solid spearpoint, not as tactical as some of their other's. Looks like a good using field blade.
Keep up the new reviews and threads man, liking your shrade btw
 
C_Kyle said:
That is a sweet knife. I think it's my favorite TOPS. I don't really like most of their knives, esthetically. That Black Star, on the other hand, is very nice.
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There are several TOPS knives I do like, but this one really caught my eye. Great size and shape, awesome ergos, handles like a dream.


DTOM996 said:
That is a very nice looking knife. I bought a baghdad bullet about six months ago. Unhappy with the finger choil area. Not secure enough, however this knife looks great, as well as being larger than the bullet, which I would love. Thanks for the review!
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Yeah, the bullet looks like a smaller version of the striker defender tool right? The choil on it isn't as deep. I definitely love everything about the handle of the Black Star, I'm glad I went with it.


Brad "the butcher";7980258 said:
Good solid spearpoint, not as tactical as some of their other's. Looks like a good using field blade.
Keep up the new reviews and threads man, liking your shrade btw
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Thank you, glad you like the reviews. The point is awesome, really nice and strong for tip work but still great penetration. I think it's a great all around field knife.

Thanks man, I'm really liking it too. They did a great job on bringing that one to life.
 
I really like that blade shape and the size of it. even the serrations look pretty useful. This reminds me of the old TOPS Laser Strike model designed by Jeff Randall, one of the best models ever IMO.
 
That's a nice looking knife, love the molle sheath. I have a TOPS tracker (I know not everyone's cup of tea) built like a tank. I like a lot of the tops knice but I wish they wouldn't coat them in that black crap. I hate that trend in knives. I would prefer a nice bead blast finish.
 
tknife said:
I really like that blade shape and the size of it. even the serrations look pretty useful. This reminds me of the old TOPS Laser Strike model designed by Jeff Randall, one of the best models ever IMO.
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It's definitely a lot like the laser strike...not sure about the over all dimensions and thickness but the perimeter lines look very similar. But, the edge geometry is totally different in that the Black star is not a flat grind, it's more optimized to being a combat knife having a thinned/partially sharpened spine but still some meat between it and the primary edge for more strength.
 
akthor said:
That's a nice looking knife, love the molle sheath. I have a TOPS tracker (I know not everyone's cup of tea) built like a tank. I like a lot of the tops knice but I wish they wouldn't coat them in that black crap. I hate that trend in knives. I would prefer a nice bead blast finish.
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Their knives are definitely solid built.

Well, it is 1095 hi-carbon, I suppose they feel they have to take some steps toward rust prevention...not everyone knows how to force a patina. It does much to deal with reflectivity issues...a big concern for a large part of their target market, and personally I like the added texture for grip when holding the blade in a pinch grip doing tip work.
 
Question, MW.

When you used the fish hook for a compass needle how did you magnetize it? Does scraping it with a knife do it? Or did I just gloss over something, somewhere in your post?

The only time I've ever had any luck out of a paper clip was when I used a push-pin to put a hole in opposite sides of a pop bottle lid. I magnetized the paperclip by stroking the tip with a really strong magnet and it worked pretty well. I tried it with one of the larger ones and it wouldn't do much, but with one of the small ones it works out good.

I always enjoy reading your posts. Mostly because I'm living vicariously through you, what time I'm chained to college textbooks...indoors....yuck...how do non-woodsy/ indoorsy people live this way?!

Keep up the good work, muh light skinneded brutha.
 
DennisStrickland said:
mistwalker as usual you did great pics & a great review. was a real treat to watch this last one , thanks dennis
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Thanks for the compliments Dennis, I'm glad you enjoyed the thread!


KEmSAT-Survival said:
Question, MW.

When you used the fish hook for a compass needle how did you magnetize it? Does scraping it with a knife do it? Or did I just gloss over something, somewhere in your post?

The only time I've ever had any luck out of a paper clip was when I used a push-pin to put a hole in opposite sides of a pop bottle lid. I magnetized the paperclip by stroking the tip with a really strong magnet and it worked pretty well. I tried it with one of the larger ones and it wouldn't do much, but with one of the small ones it works out good.

I always enjoy reading your posts. Mostly because I'm living vicariously through you, what time I'm chained to college textbooks...indoors....yuck...how do non-woodsy/ indoorsy people live this way?!

Keep up the good work, muh light skinneded brutha.
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Thanks bro, glad you like the posts.

Yes, just the scraping magnetizes the tip of the hook, same thing works with a sewing needle if you have one. I'm not understanding all I know about this type of magnetism... using a stainless steel cup that a regular magnet won't stick to as the water vessel the needle is drawn to the side (and not the north side), and using the lid of my guyot gets the same results...so I'm not sure if this is a "static ?" magnetism or if there is metal inside the guyot lid. I guess I'll try the magnet on the guyot lid just to see, not sure why I haven't already...oh yeah, now I remember...I'm married and have kids ;)
 
This evening I went out in the woods out back, since we were having a break in the rain, and had a little firecrafting fun.


Splitting some knotty black walnut

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Then a little whittling...This is some of the Black walnut and a piece of Cedar.

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Then I whittled a few fatwood fuzz sticks, split some small pieces for fuel, then did a little "90 degree scraping for some fuzz.

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A couple of sparks from a Going Gear badger (which works really well with these serrations) later and ignition.

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mistwalker said:
Nice knives, that Stalker looks great...but apparently Rick (Magnussen) finally wore me down and I'm hung up in a full tang phase... for the moment at least. Though I am liking the looks of SOGs new North West Ranger, still waiting to see what the sheath looks like.
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I got an awesome deal on a Ranger Shiv, interested to see how that knife ranks. I wanted a 7-8 inch long 'old world' style fighting knife for complimenting my tomahawk and Magnussen's Bushkeeper is within a quarter of an inch of the dimensions that I drew up, so until I can save up the bones for that blade I'll strip and patina the shiv, and give it a good scandi grind. :o 125 dollar MSRP for a Aus-6 knife? no thanks, appears to be a solid design but for the price I'd rather have an Al Mar SERE or something like that.
 
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Wow Mist, you are getting new knives like crazy lately! That looks like a decent design. I like how the choil integrates with the finger guard. I bet your index finger just naturally goes there and it looks comfy too!

Your earlier rhetort on the choil reminds me of when I first received a BK7 from DocCanada. I started to use it, and out of habit from all my other larger blades, my index finger unconsciously positioned itself right onto the back of the blades. Ouch - drew blood :D
 
That is one good looking knife and a great review , thanks :)

I'm curious as to the purpose of the false swedge , for ferrocium rods/etc ?


Tostig
 
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