Hoodlum Chopper

caine

caine

Gold Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2003
Messages
4,196
Got this knife in yesterday. Made my day. I LOVE THIS KNIFE. Awesome design I think. Handles perfect and works great. I was alittle worried about the edge being to thick buts its not. Its right on. The grinds are perfect. I took it out this morning for a short time and played around some. More play time is coming though.



The Hoodlum Blade
Designed by Ron Hood
Made in USA by TOPS Knives
Specs:
The Hoodlum with scales weighs 13.8 OZ
The Hoodlum with a 550 wrap Handle weighs 12 oz.
Blade drop is only 13 degrees.

Made with ceramic bead blasted 3/16th 5160 RC 58-60.

Blade is 10"

OAL is @ 16 in.
 

Attachments

  • DSC01950.jpg
    DSC01950.jpg
    68.1 KB · Views: 295
  • DSC01952.jpg
    DSC01952.jpg
    44.6 KB · Views: 252
  • DSC01954.jpg
    DSC01954.jpg
    69.5 KB · Views: 259
  • DSC01956.jpg
    DSC01956.jpg
    32.9 KB · Views: 224
  • DSC01958.jpg
    DSC01958.jpg
    82.8 KB · Views: 375
Thank you for posting the pics and review.

Is the tang seletonized?

I am curious as that much blade in such a lightweight package is awesome. I wonder how they kept the weight down?

-Stan
 
I know tops get a bad rap sometimes and it seems especially the Tracker does. I recently got a great deal on a tracker with the super nice hedgehog sheath, the sheath alone is a $200 item and I got the knife and sheath for trade of a knife I wasn't using and less cash than the sheath costs. Now edge geometry and design and all that aside. The knife was very well made, the handle especially is exteremely nice. I would have no problem purchasing any knife from Tops judging by the quality of the Tracker I got.

I left the Tracker with Lamont Coombs a knifemaker, he is going to strip the black epoxy stuff off the blade and regrind the edge. While the Tracker would make a great chopper as is the edge was too hatchet like to make it as effective as a knife. He is going to hollow grind and maybe take out the funky bump in the blade. Then I really have something.

That Hoodlum is sweet looking. Whats that notch on the back of the knife? A billy pot lifter?
 
not sure about the tang. Im going to say no because the blade is not that wide. So I think that helps. The notch it a wire cutter but could lift pots
 
Looks like it's taking some deep bites :thumbup: How wide is the blade? The weight seem almost impossible for a full tang knife that size.
 
Thanks. Looks and sounds great. Been eyeing those myself. May be inclined to treat myself if I hadn't recently picked up two khukuris :) Have fun.
 
WOW..I havnt wanted a TOPS in a while...that looks awesome! Cool pics man, I think I have to try this one.
 
Ron has sent me several emails on that one. It looks to be pretty well thought out.

My G.L. Drem bowie fits that size range for me though.

As to TOPS from every report I've seen they make top quality stuff.

Looks like you've got yourself a great, fun hard use knife.
 
Caine - do you have other choppers you could give us a comparison against? Maybe even some comparison pics?
 
I don't know what's up with people not liking TOPS. I mean, they make what others design, but I've never heard their workmanship was bad.

It's interesting that the grip is a semi-sub hilt design. How does that work for choking up?
 
very nice design - I like the 13* offset and the pot lifter/wire breaker notch.
 
I like it but I'm not as excited about the notch. I don't have to break heavy wire hardly ever and I can lift pots with a glove or stick. But as long as it doesn't significantly weaken the blade, what the heck.

DancesWithKnives
 
Awesome-looking blade you've got there.

It looks like it would make a good tool, but the feel I'm getting is that it would be an awesome weapon, also an important aspect of survival as well. As others have observed about its apparent "lightness" and its ergos and blade angle looks like it would be alive in the hand.
 
Thanks for the review caine! It's interesting to see it being 3/16"...that sounds like a great compromise yet still plently hefty. Ron Hood is a master at using a big blade to do all chores big and small...I know he put some thought into this one.

ROCK6
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top