Opinions on TOPS?

[taddster21]

Thank you all for the tons of help! By any chance did anyone have any experience with the TOPS ATC Lobo? This is the one I am considering. Thanks again!

 

[jfive]

That's very kind of you, t1mpani. I assume you are not working for TOPS .
Unfortunately shipping between Germany isn't just a little bit risky but also quite expensive . Nevertheless I appreciate your kindness!

 

[t1mpani]

That's very kind of you, t1mpani. I assume you are not working for TOPS .
Unfortunately shipping between Germany isn't just a little bit risky but also quite expensive . Nevertheless I appreciate your kindness!

No, I think if I was working for TOPS they'd probably take issue with my comments on their blade etching and edge profiles.

Understood fully---like I said, it sounded like a better idea in my head before I saw your location.

 

[DNK]

They make good knives, but folks tend to think they are bit pricey for 1095.

I've seen this comment a lot about TOPS. I guess my follow up question is-- compared to what? Here's a quick, unscientific comparo. The TOPS Outpost Command and ESEE 5 are pretty similar in size and general appearance (TOPS is a little heavier with a slightly bigger blade). At a certain online retailer (rhymes with wifebro), the ESEE 5 is $31 more than the Outpost Command. The TOPS Tactical Steak knife and the ESEE 3 are almost the same size. The ESEE is $45 more than the TOPS. The big difference there, however, is that the TOPS is 440C instead of 1095. They appear to have a model similar to the Izula which is about the same price too. I've never had any of these knives in hand or side by side and am just comparing interwebz stats (would love to see side by side pics/reviews of comparable models if anybody has them). I know this is a sample of one and apparently ESEEs are currently in short supply, so it may not be statistically significant. I'm not a shill for TOPS and I like ESEE knives; I just wonder if people are comparing apples to apples. TOPS are definitely more expensive than Beckers, but so are ESEEs.

I don't own any TOPS knives yet (I do have an ESEE), but probably will. They offer a lot of models, so there's something for everyone. Unfortunately, some of them look a little tactidouchey and sound worse (e.g. "Close Quarters Explosive" and no, I didn't make that up). But they make some really good looking knives, that appear normal and functional.

I agree that a maker's mark or name would suffice. Although, I might be able to tolerate "BAMF" on both sides of the blade if it was done in sort of a textured/holographic paint effect (like the new U.S. bills) where you could only see the letters at a certain angle (like looking down at the spine). That way, normal people wouldn't feel intimidated and only the bad guys you were stabbing with it would realize they were being extinguished with tacticoolness.