BOB TOPS or ESEE-4???

C

chemistguy

Joined
May 28, 2013
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308
I like the full flat grind on the ESEE-4 but I'm worried that knots will chip or roll the thin edge. The BOB TOPS is brutally strong but probably not as good for splitting???
 
Don't worry about the ESEE 4, it will handle it. And realistically, how much chopping or batoning are you going to do with a 4" blade?

Doc
 
The ESEE 4 is a well proven design by a great company,I don't think you can go wrong with it. Never heard a Bad thing about TOPS quality either, so buy the one you like better. IMHO FFG is better for everything except splitting wood.

Or buy a Laser Strike, best of both worlds. I love mine, its a great knife.
 
TOPS Bob. The ESEE's handle is way too small for a man. Either that or they have some pretty dainty paws in Alabama.
 
I have the BOB
It is heavy to carry and heavy in the hand
It out weights any other knife I have
That is part of its attraction, that it is so solid
I like the scandi-ish profile, as I prefer scandi grinds
It is 4 1/2" blade

But
The ESEE-4 is lighter by 6 oz
It is 4" blade
So the ESEE-4 be lighter and more nimble in the hand, more like a regular knife
 
The edge on an esee 4 is not thin. Thicker than my esee 6.
I thinned the edge back on my 4 and its still sturdy......you won`t have a problem with it.

I do not have or handled a BOB tops.
 
Man, I haven't looked into the Tops BOB until I saw this thread. That knife looks awesome. It looks like it has a micro-ish bevel on the edge. I wonder how it performs? I would think it would bite deeper into wood with the scadi type grind and lack of coating on the edge. Hmmmm...

Would like to hear more about the BOB. Anyone have negatives about it?
 
I was using the BOB this weekend

It is a great knife
BUT

"It is heavy to carry and heavy in the hand"
It is 3/16" thick, and this is my first (and last) bushcraft knife that is 3/16th thick
There is nothing that this knife with its design that it could not do in 1/8"
I do not feel there is anything added by the extra thickness, and the unfortunate extra weight

The fire stick striker cutout is a waste of time
And makes even light banging with my hand of the top of the knife, to split small kindling, very uncomfortable
I will have to grind it flat and round it

There is no flat ground spine for a fire steel
(sorry the BOB guys, but why)

I do not like the kydex sheath of outdoors
It turns it too tactical and is not a comfortable carry
And eventually the thin metal clip will break
I purchased a BHK #9 dangler sheath

I would look closer at the DRAGONFLY 4.5 and then the TOPS CUB
Both are 'scandi' and 1/8" with nylon field sheaths
(There is a great review here of the DRAGONFLY 4.5)
 
I just got the BOB but I have not tested it yet. Its really thick and kind of heavy. Anyway I will probably go out and use it tommorrow.
 
Are you set on either of these? If not, maybe you could look at a Becker BK16 or 17. Just an idea. Whatever you choose, they're all good outdoors blades.
 
I've heard many good things about the Esee 4,looking at the handle shape though I think the Tops or Becker would be more comfortable. I have no complaints with my Tops BOB,I kind of like the security of it being a little heavier built,Tops are pretty much bomb proof anyway.

Well,I do have one complaint,I do not like the Shango notch.We should petition Tops to get the pommel rounded,and they would have Mr. Flowers do the work on each one. j/k ;)
 
Sidehill Gouger said:
TOPS Bob. The ESEE's handle is way too small for a man. Either that or they have some pretty dainty paws in Alabama.
Click to expand...

I've used both quite a bit, and I was going to say something similar. Rowen does an excellent heat treat with their 1095, so the ESEE 4 blade will take a lot of hard use, at 3/16 thick even with the full flat grind it's not exactly fragile, so no worries there. It's also pretty cool n those odd instances where discretion, available space, or weight limitations may play a role. However unless you plan to put the aftermarket scales on the ESEE-4 (which do make a HUGE difference in ergonomics and user comfort), I'd take the handle of the BOB for long term use any day. The BOB has one of the most comfortable handles I have run across on a production knife.
 
I like ESEE & TOPS....I have the TOPS B.O.B & I really like it. The handle on this knife is the most comfortable I've got & I have plenty to chose from. Myself I didn't like the metal clip on the sheath so I modded it, I added a leather dangler to the kydex, very easy mod & now it's awesome ! But you can't go wrong with either but for me I chose the TOPS & I don't regret it !
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