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One Stick Fire, TOPS Pathfinder Knife
- Thread starter Mistwalker
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A lot of people on this forum knock TOPS knives but in all my time on the forums I have never heard of TOPS knives suffering damage through hard use.
Compare that to say Bark River knives which I am constantly hearing about their edges chipping and rolling etc. If I was going car camping and wanted a pretty knife to slice my tomatoes see-through-thin and practice making traps etc then yeah I'd probably opt for a Barkie etc but if I was heading out on a multi day trip where there was a high possibility of getting into a survival situation where I had to rely on my knife then I'd take a TOPS knife over most others. JMO !
Compare that to say Bark River knives which I am constantly hearing about their edges chipping and rolling etc. If I was going car camping and wanted a pretty knife to slice my tomatoes see-through-thin and practice making traps etc then yeah I'd probably opt for a Barkie etc but if I was heading out on a multi day trip where there was a high possibility of getting into a survival situation where I had to rely on my knife then I'd take a TOPS knife over most others. JMO !
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Great thread B
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It's not the materials or construction that I dislike about them. To be blunt, it's the goofiness of some of them. Slots and holes and other cutouts and then for what they are, they are not exactly bargain knives. When you get to the more "simple" and straightforward patterns, they're not exactly priced the way one would expect for such a knife but instead priced for the TOPS name. :::shrug:::
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Yeah not all the designs appeal to me but they do so many that most people can find something they like.
As for their prices if you shop around you will find them much cheaper than their listed price and when ya compare them to similar Busse's and Swamprats etc they aren't bad.
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I have no doubt they are tough. My Brother has one. 
Beckers are tough too, the fatass plastic handle was too big for my hands to safely control a knife when hacking and chopping but I always loved the Necker!
There are few TOPS knives that look really great and this thread is about one of them. Some of the rest of them we are definitely in agreement with. Not my cup of tea at all.
Beckers are tough too, the fatass plastic handle was too big for my hands to safely control a knife when hacking and chopping but I always loved the Necker!
There are few TOPS knives that look really great and this thread is about one of them. Some of the rest of them we are definitely in agreement with. Not my cup of tea at all.
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I am there too. Seems thin handled, unrefined, covered in the TOPS coating, and mass produced at custom prices. I personally think the BHK knife for Dave is a much better execution of a knife.
BUT - that is my worthless opinion - and if the end user likes it - I can pack sand!
TF
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I as a whole have little need for most of the TOPS patterns--most are too chunky with shallow saber grinds on 1/4" stock or similar, and the edges come pretty obtuse from the factory. Also, they are expensive.
That being said they are nothing short of quality, and that makes me a HUGE fan of some of their models. I own the Shango, and it's a great little knife--sort of like a stainless Izula with a longer handle. They make a lot of goofy designs, but if you sort through them you can find some real gems.
That being said they are nothing short of quality, and that makes me a HUGE fan of some of their models. I own the Shango, and it's a great little knife--sort of like a stainless Izula with a longer handle. They make a lot of goofy designs, but if you sort through them you can find some real gems.
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- Oct 21, 2007
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I'm not sure what I think about this blade. It has a guard, a choil, rough handles, and all other sorts of things I don't usually care for in a woods knife. It's odd that Dave would endorse this and the BHK knife, because they seem such opposites. Dave probably has plenty of time behind a knife, so I wouldn't expect him to put the Pathfinder name on junk... but who knows?
If you like it, that's all that counts. Despite my dislike for a lot of their designs, they do build quality knives. I would have to have one in hand before I'd be convinced though. I would be surprised if this knife can escape the TOPS tacti-cool mold.
BTW--great post and pics. Thanks for the review.
If you like it, that's all that counts. Despite my dislike for a lot of their designs, they do build quality knives. I would have to have one in hand before I'd be convinced though. I would be surprised if this knife can escape the TOPS tacti-cool mold.
BTW--great post and pics. Thanks for the review.
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Bryan is becoming quite the Knifemaker.
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Yeah, well, as you have already probably figured out, that really detracts from the ability of the knife to save your life. 
I have no doubt they are tough. My Brother has one.
Beckers are tough too, the fatass plastic handle was too big for my hands to safely control a knife when hacking and chopping but I always loved the Necker!
There are few TOPS knives that look really great and this thread is about one of them. Some of the rest of them we are definitely in agreement with. Not my cup of tea at all.
Heisn't your cup of tea becouse you and so many others, have a issue with money ...TOPS knife are expensive, as a matter of fact are expensive.
Expensive when compared with kabar, Becker, ESEE which they offers the same steel for less money.
Even though it may cause frustration and issue, all those companies together they don't offer as many product as TOPS do.
Someone said that TOPS knive come dull....I agree! I have to say all my Busses come dull too.
We can justify and modify the things we like to reflected in ourselves just becouse we lake it; not becouse the cost of money!
nutz knife, knife nutz
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The beauty of your post is, I can both agree and disagree with it because I have a hard time understanding what you are saying.
The beauty of your post is, I can both agree and disagree with it because I have a hard time understanding what you are saying.
Me too.:foot:
I have a hard time understanding my self sometimes
Mistwalker
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This is the Breeden I think it looksl like..........but you would know that being your picture and all!
Yeah lol, not just my picture, my design as well
I thought that was likely the one you were thinking about but he also designed a sere knife with the same handle, somewhat different blade. That one is the Warthorn, I have a similar but smaller one called the One-Zero also.I have no doubt they are tough. My Brother has one.
Beckers are tough too, the fatass plastic handle was too big for my hands to safely control a knife when hacking and chopping but I always loved the Necker!
There are few TOPS knives that look really great and this thread is about one of them. Some of the rest of them we are definitely in agreement with. Not my cup of tea at all.
TOPS makes a lot of different designs in many different shapes. Granted not every knife they make is one I would personally want to carry, but the same can be said about SOG, Randall, ESEE, Ka-Bar, Ontario, Becker, Gerber and any other company that can named. However they do, as with the others, make some I do like a lot and even some of my favorite designs. I have had an affinity for sharp, pointy, at least partially tactical knives for some years now.
I am there too. Seems thin handled, unrefined, covered in the TOPS coating, and mass produced at custom prices. I personally think the BHK knife for Dave is a much better execution of a knife.
BUT - that is my worthless opinion - and if the end user likes it - I can pack sand!
TF
I would expect no less from a Bernie Garland fan
(yes I know Bernie makes absolutely beautiful knives, I hope to give one a go some day)I do not see your opinions as worthless, just not always the same as mine
. I hope you all always feel free to express opinions in my threads (hopefuly without name calling), if we all thought the same none of us would ever be able to learn anything...would we?The day we can no longer express opinions here will be the day I stop coming :thumbup:
I as a whole have little need for most of the TOPS patterns--most are too chunky with shallow saber grinds on 1/4" stock or similar, and the edges come pretty obtuse from the factory. Also, they are expensive.
That being said they are nothing short of quality, and that makes me a HUGE fan of some of their models. I own the Shango, and it's a great little knife--sort of like a stainless Izula with a longer handle. They make a lot of goofy designs, but if you sort through them you can find some real gems.
Well said.
Thanks bro glad you enjoyed it.
I think maybe Dave is like others of us here who sort have split personalities when it comes to knives and want different knives for different moods...I know I do. Sometimes I get all about a tactical train of thought, other times I need something that is a lot less tactical...but I still like a good sharp point no matter what
Thanks Man, glad yo enjoyed it. I'm going to re-size the pics again tomorrow after I get back in. I'm still not sure what's up with them...it is annoying I know.
Bryan is becoming quite the Knifemaker.
Yeah, he picked a heck of a time to take a break didn't he?
I second that motion!!!!!!!!
Well, can't please everyone...
.
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