TOPS Knives
POB 2544
Idaho Falls, ID 83403
www.topsknives.com
SF Command
TOPS Knives is run by a career Special Forces operator who ensures the quality of each of the firm's products personally before they are carried by his company and/or shipped out to clients. TOPS bladeware is designed and handcrafted in the United States and design consideration comes primarily from bona fide experts who rely upon quality equipment for their safety and mission success.
I've worked with the SF Command for roughly a month now. It is also known in the TOPS catalog as the ATC-HONDA #HO1020. TOPS refers to the SF Command/Hondo as one of its All Terrain Companions.
The SF Command is ground from 1095 high carbon alloy steel with a Rockwell rating of 58. The blade is a dull black in color with the coating very durable wear-wise. The handle grips are black linen micarta with red liners. These are fixed to the full exposed tang using 3 Allen screw fixtures in conjunction with 2 brass fixtures and epoxy glue. Fit and finish of the handle grips is superb.
The blade is a radical departure from the standard drop point thought process. It appears more like a high performance jet aircraft line of thinking than the standard combat knife blade. At 4.75" in length the blade is stout and razor sharp from the sheath. The false edge is likewise well sharpened and allows for excellent penetration as well as deft back cuts for those adept at this technique of CQB with a blade.
The point is well reinforced due to the grind line taken with this model and both the primary and secondary edges are quite easy to sharpen using either stone or hone. This is due to both well considered edge geometry for the catagory of knife this is, and the Rc 58 rating which is tough enough to take a beating but not so hard as to require specific sharpening aids or enhanced experience to care for the edges. 1095 is an excellent tool steel and, as AL MAR told me years ago, makes for a fine knife IF the heat treat is done properly in conjunction with the steel used. TOPS gives every indication of monitoring their heat treating processes carefully as both my Sea Wolf and SF Command have suffered no defects or damage in this area since I began carrying and using them.
The handle grips, also available in blue-black G-10, are nicely designed. The guard is both upper and lower and integral to the handle. The knife is comfortable to hold and use under field conditions and the micarta/G-10 grip slabs have not been polished so that they become slick when wet. The knife moves well in the hand during grip manipulations and grip changes. There is a series of 3 shallow grooves just behind the upper guard which afford enhanced purchase on the knife using a modified saber grip or for hard cutting applications. In the reverse grip the knife is a delight, the integral skull crusher (rounded and dropped with lanyard slot cut into it) is 100% functional for smashing or crushing AND it does not poke, prod, or stab you during carry if on the pants or pistol belt.
I like the fully exposed tang and as noted earlier the fit and finish of the grip slabs is perfect. There are no sharp edges (other than on the blade) to snag, grab, or distract the hand while the knife is in play. Everything has been rounded and smoothed for the benefit of performance and comfort of the user.
At 4.75" the blade is long enough to reach vital organs while penetrating standard clothing or uniform wear. This is an excellent slasher although clearly the ability to thrust and penetrate is where the SF Command shines.
The Kydex sheath for the knife is designed so one can carry the knife on either the right or left side by merely reversing the knife in the sheath. I've never seen this done before and it works...and works well. The sheath is well formed and put together. It is sturdy. There are additional attachment points provided and the primary securing system is a tough rubber loop like one finds on quality dive knives and the 21st Century KA-BAR hard body sheath. You can carry the sheath on a standard belt or military pistol belt with no problem. Overall I rate the SF Command sheath as EXCELLENT.
I jumped this knife and it rode perfectly from ramp to DZ sans any concerns or problems on my part. The blade was used for a variety of standard field tasks and the edge has held up nicely. In H2H practice the SF Command is swift in the hand and more than capable of getting the job done. SF Commands are being carried in combat at this time and are hallmark knives of operators trained by Mr. Kelly Worden of Tacoma, Washington.
Like the Sea Wolf, which was designed by Mr. Worden as well as the SF Command, the SF-C is based on many years of proven close quarters knife combatives training and techniques. This is a wonderful camp and field knife of medium size and weight as well as a carefully thought out CQB fighting knife. The Sea Wolf carries very nicely on a load bearing vest thanks to the Kydex sheath and stout/strong spring clip that TOPS provides. The SF-C is a pistol or pants belt knife due to the current sheath design.
Frankly, I'd love to see a leaner, lower profile clip carry sheath for the SF-C offered. This for that operator who wants a full size knife for concealed uniform or civilian clothes carry and/or attachment to a LBV.
The SF-Command / Hondo is $179.00 retail from TOPS. The Sea Wolf is $149.00. This is exceptionally fair pricing for such knives and TOPS is to be commended for offering quality bladeware at affordable pricing to the average guy or gal needing a truly solid bit of working steel.
TOPS offers a clean, easy to read catalog which features a broad array of designs in both fixed and folding/auto formats. Those looking for a tough, durable, compact folding fighter would be well served by checking out the TOPS CQT Magnum line, particulary the #711 in tanto point format.
The SF Command and Sea Wolf are exceptional knives and I have no problem advocating either as a first line choice for anyone needing such a blade for their "silent partner".
GW
POB 2544
Idaho Falls, ID 83403
www.topsknives.com
SF Command
TOPS Knives is run by a career Special Forces operator who ensures the quality of each of the firm's products personally before they are carried by his company and/or shipped out to clients. TOPS bladeware is designed and handcrafted in the United States and design consideration comes primarily from bona fide experts who rely upon quality equipment for their safety and mission success.
I've worked with the SF Command for roughly a month now. It is also known in the TOPS catalog as the ATC-HONDA #HO1020. TOPS refers to the SF Command/Hondo as one of its All Terrain Companions.
The SF Command is ground from 1095 high carbon alloy steel with a Rockwell rating of 58. The blade is a dull black in color with the coating very durable wear-wise. The handle grips are black linen micarta with red liners. These are fixed to the full exposed tang using 3 Allen screw fixtures in conjunction with 2 brass fixtures and epoxy glue. Fit and finish of the handle grips is superb.
The blade is a radical departure from the standard drop point thought process. It appears more like a high performance jet aircraft line of thinking than the standard combat knife blade. At 4.75" in length the blade is stout and razor sharp from the sheath. The false edge is likewise well sharpened and allows for excellent penetration as well as deft back cuts for those adept at this technique of CQB with a blade.
The point is well reinforced due to the grind line taken with this model and both the primary and secondary edges are quite easy to sharpen using either stone or hone. This is due to both well considered edge geometry for the catagory of knife this is, and the Rc 58 rating which is tough enough to take a beating but not so hard as to require specific sharpening aids or enhanced experience to care for the edges. 1095 is an excellent tool steel and, as AL MAR told me years ago, makes for a fine knife IF the heat treat is done properly in conjunction with the steel used. TOPS gives every indication of monitoring their heat treating processes carefully as both my Sea Wolf and SF Command have suffered no defects or damage in this area since I began carrying and using them.
The handle grips, also available in blue-black G-10, are nicely designed. The guard is both upper and lower and integral to the handle. The knife is comfortable to hold and use under field conditions and the micarta/G-10 grip slabs have not been polished so that they become slick when wet. The knife moves well in the hand during grip manipulations and grip changes. There is a series of 3 shallow grooves just behind the upper guard which afford enhanced purchase on the knife using a modified saber grip or for hard cutting applications. In the reverse grip the knife is a delight, the integral skull crusher (rounded and dropped with lanyard slot cut into it) is 100% functional for smashing or crushing AND it does not poke, prod, or stab you during carry if on the pants or pistol belt.
I like the fully exposed tang and as noted earlier the fit and finish of the grip slabs is perfect. There are no sharp edges (other than on the blade) to snag, grab, or distract the hand while the knife is in play. Everything has been rounded and smoothed for the benefit of performance and comfort of the user.
At 4.75" the blade is long enough to reach vital organs while penetrating standard clothing or uniform wear. This is an excellent slasher although clearly the ability to thrust and penetrate is where the SF Command shines.
The Kydex sheath for the knife is designed so one can carry the knife on either the right or left side by merely reversing the knife in the sheath. I've never seen this done before and it works...and works well. The sheath is well formed and put together. It is sturdy. There are additional attachment points provided and the primary securing system is a tough rubber loop like one finds on quality dive knives and the 21st Century KA-BAR hard body sheath. You can carry the sheath on a standard belt or military pistol belt with no problem. Overall I rate the SF Command sheath as EXCELLENT.
I jumped this knife and it rode perfectly from ramp to DZ sans any concerns or problems on my part. The blade was used for a variety of standard field tasks and the edge has held up nicely. In H2H practice the SF Command is swift in the hand and more than capable of getting the job done. SF Commands are being carried in combat at this time and are hallmark knives of operators trained by Mr. Kelly Worden of Tacoma, Washington.
Like the Sea Wolf, which was designed by Mr. Worden as well as the SF Command, the SF-C is based on many years of proven close quarters knife combatives training and techniques. This is a wonderful camp and field knife of medium size and weight as well as a carefully thought out CQB fighting knife. The Sea Wolf carries very nicely on a load bearing vest thanks to the Kydex sheath and stout/strong spring clip that TOPS provides. The SF-C is a pistol or pants belt knife due to the current sheath design.
Frankly, I'd love to see a leaner, lower profile clip carry sheath for the SF-C offered. This for that operator who wants a full size knife for concealed uniform or civilian clothes carry and/or attachment to a LBV.
The SF-Command / Hondo is $179.00 retail from TOPS. The Sea Wolf is $149.00. This is exceptionally fair pricing for such knives and TOPS is to be commended for offering quality bladeware at affordable pricing to the average guy or gal needing a truly solid bit of working steel.
TOPS offers a clean, easy to read catalog which features a broad array of designs in both fixed and folding/auto formats. Those looking for a tough, durable, compact folding fighter would be well served by checking out the TOPS CQT Magnum line, particulary the #711 in tanto point format.
The SF Command and Sea Wolf are exceptional knives and I have no problem advocating either as a first line choice for anyone needing such a blade for their "silent partner".
GW
)
I bet you are one of a very small group (maybe the only member?) who will jump a knife as part of its test!