Rinaldi Armageddon from Tops Knives!

Trace Rinaldi

Trace Rinaldi

Joined
Oct 3, 1998
Messages
1,774
Well Brian said to start another thread here,so here it is.. This is the new collaboration Mike Fuller and I have been working on since Blade Show. http://www.thrblades.com/tops2.jpg
Feel free to post it as a picture Brian or anyone.
Talk about 2 heavy weights (Literally) getting together on something..HAHA.. There will be more to come also..
 
That's gorgeous, Trace! Is it planned to be in 1095, or will there be options for other steels?
 
OH YEAH BABY! OH YEAH. I AM GETTING ONE OF THOSE!

SWEEET!

fd551587.jpg
 
Trace, you da man! that looks freakin' awesome! I don't like a lot of recurves due to them beign hard to sharpen using a simple stone in the bush. That blade, however, just looks badass. Good going man!!
 
The Armageddon I have... has seen nearly a year of field work now. It is a terrific blade with great balance and power. There is a review of the blade on our website.

When Trace teamed up with Mike Fuller of TOPS it meant that this incredible blade would now be available to many more people. Everyone I know is excited about this new partnership and particularly about this new blade. Mike and Trace are two of the nicest guys in the business and their work is second to none.

Great work Trace!

Ron
 
Being the proud owner of a handmade Armaggedon, and several TOPS knives, I know for a fact that this thing will ROCK! Any tentative release date for this bad boy? I'm getting one for sure!:D
 
Man that looks awesome!I noticed danbo mentioned he wanted it to be in Cpm.I too have a knife with this steel but have not had a lot of experience with it yet.Is this steel stainless or not?How about long term edge durability? Any info would be great,thanks!
 
When can we get 'em and how much? Definitely on the "Must Have" list :)
 
Trace,

I'd also like to know the price.

How does the subhilt (correct term?) affect your grip when you choke up for finer control, or when you hold your hand as far back as possible for increased power?

Could you please show a picture of this knife without extreme perspective distortion? As a professional photographer, I understand using available means to make a subject look snazzy. (Not that this knife needs it--gilding the lily.) But I'd like to see as informative a picture as possible of the Armageddon, to get a better understanding of the design.

Brian Jones,

Has there been any change regarding the subject we corresponded about?
 
Hi Mike:
Yeah here is a brighter broadside view of the knife.. http://www.thrblades.com/tops1.jpg

The specs are 10.5 Blade just under 16.5" overall.. Differentially treated 1095, .25" thick
Weight is 22 oz. and 28 oz in the sheath..

It will also be modular and upgradeable into an SKS system eventually too. The price will be around the same as the Anaconda..

The integral subhilt works great in my opinion.. Maybe Ron would elaborate a bit more on the design since he has more time behind one than anyone else..

Thanks for the kind words guys and glad you like the new collaboration..

Hmmm CPM steels in the future? stranger $hit has happened..:p
 
Hey Trace!


Folks can see some photos and read about the Trace ARM testing and use at http://www.survival.com/trace.htm. You can also see the ARM chopping frozen Elk leg bone in Volume 12 of our series.

When I read Trace comment about the sub-hilt I went back to the site listed above and that's when it dawned on me that I have been carrying this thing around for nearly a year and a half! Time flies when you're having fun.

The sub-hilt became one of my favorite features on the knife. Though the handle is extremely comfortable and stable in the hand as it is, the ability to choke up on the blade some gives the user more options when working.

I use the sub-hilt in several ways. Mostly I choke up on the handle to improve my leverage for twisting the blade spine to edge. The extra material acts like a small lever that increases power and security.

There is just enough space behind the subhilt for a full fist so in a chopping swing you can really get the weight of the blade out in front of the hand. It's as if you add an inch to the blade length. Generally I hold the blade with my finger in the rear notch and with a tight grip I get VERY secure control over the blade even when my hands are nasty with fat or blood. In the forward notch you can choke up so much you can use the blade for light carving as in fuzz sticks and the like.

I can say this. After all this time and after so many people playing with the blade and using it I know for a fact that though the sub hilt design looks a little unusual, eventually you will wonder why there aren't more blades with it. At least now I know why so many custom makers play with the design.

The balance on the blade is superb. The distribution of handle metal to blade is just right to give you a fast, hard hitting knife. The blade seems to have been "tuned". Some large blades "ring" and send uncomfortable vibrations back to the users hand. The one "Sings" as if there is a spirit in the metal that just wants to work.

I guess you can say I like it.

Ron

:cool: :cool: :cool: :cool:
 
Ad copy! I must see Ad copy!
 
Thanks Ron, I knew you would come through with a better answer than I could! ;) Saved me all that typing too! You da man!! BTW if you guys want to see what an Arm can do to frozen elk leg bones you MUST see Rons new video! Even I was impressed!! Although a bit scared as Ron was getting NUTS with those knives I thought he was gonna lop off a finger or WORSE:-) WOW!

Rob hell man there aint gonna be no ad copy we're using your speach about the Tops Armageddon from Blade show I video taped!!HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...
I am not shitting you, I STILL break that tape out and watch it when I am bored, and need a GOOD laugh...:) :cool: :) YOU sir SLAY ME!!!!
 
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