Tom Brown Tracker Knife

S

Survivalboy

Joined
Aug 9, 2004
Messages
73
I really love the Beck WSK, but Dave Beck has stopped making them. Is there anyone beside TOPS that make a version of this knife? I know one knife is not supposed to do all things, but I just really like this style of blade, and would like one. What is eveyone elses opinion of this knife?

SB
 
I have a new found interest in the knife. I wont spend that kind of money on a 1095 dinner plate (tops) and the beck has a long waiting list.

A manufacturer called jensen(sp?) makes a similar, very cool looking "tracker" style knife for around the same price as the TOPS.
 
I was told Beck recently stopped making them. He will start making knives again next year but not the WSK, only traditional style knives. I'm currently having a custom knife maker make a version of this knife for me.
 
:( Well that sucks.

Why is he discontinuing the WSK? I've procrastinated on ordering one; I may have missed out because of it.
 
Here is a few photos of my new Tracker style knife being made by Roger Linger.

First drawing

medise1.jpg


First grind

medise3.jpg


Here it is with out the teeth

mtracker2.jpg


Picture just after the teeth were cut

mtracker5.jpg
 
Making knives for my buddy Myakka is always an adventure into areas not yet traveled. He has helped teach me a lot by challenge alone. With this particular knife I have gained a great admiration for Dave Becks abilities as a knife maker and also for Tom Brown, the original designer. After grinding one and seeing its potential I am sold on it as a work horse when a real work horse is required and I can see where it would lend itself well while in a tight spot.

Roger
 
Roger,
I have a PASSION for this knife and this design. I have tried everything to get my hands on one of these knives, but I am coming up short every time. I have even tried printing the design out and cutting a template out of wood. I have zero knife making skills and I don't know anyone who does. I think your version is FLAWLESS and I am very impressed. Would you consider making one of these for me? Please email me at jefcbrow@aol.com if this is something you would consider.

Thanks alot,
Jeff
 
Tracker,
Just shoot Roger an email at rlinger1@netzero.net, he is a great guy to deal with. Roger has many several knives for me so far, and can answer all your questions. Good luck

Ron

I have a link to Roger site on my homepage. ;)
 
As a fan of this version of knife and a previous owner of a version by Peter Jensen, you did a kick a$$ job on YOUR design. Excellent!


Cerberus
 
Roger/Myakka – Is this knife going to be S30V? What kind of scales? Sheath? How much does it weigh?

Looks great, can’t wait to hear how the saw does and specs. Below is link to a thread on Hatchets and Large Knives with a post I made regarding the TOPS Tracker since we are on the topic.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=283287

“”No offense taken. The real positive for the knife is it is an all in one tool that is relatively compact. It would not be my first choice to clean game, carve, chop, saw, scrape, etc. But it does all these things, just not as well as a tool designed specifically for that task.

So, if you are working on trying to go primitive and carry the minimal, this maybe the knife for you. The question for someone looking at one of these knives is, “what trade off am I willing to accept and what is my current skill level? Ok, I'll carry a smaller knife, but do I need to carry a saw and/or a hatchet now?”

If you are not building your own shelter, implements, bow drill set, etc. and relying on manmade items, I suggest saving your money. Why else have a knife like that if you don’t have the skill?

Here is a review that might answer some of your questions of actual performance in comparison with the Beck WSK. Hope it helps. QB””

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...ghlight=tracker
 
Quiet Bear,
I have always been a big fan of Scandi knives and GB hatchets, but I also have carried larger Busses, Swamp Rats, and Beckers. The Tracker style has always intrigued me. Since Beck is no longer making this style knife, and I do not like the saw on the TOPS version, I figured I would have Roger have a go at it. Roger is currently making me a knife in O1 steel with a black micarta handle. The blade was just Heat-treat over the weekend, so I dont have all the specs. Maybe Roger will pop in and post some of the specs. I will write-up a small review after I recieve the blade from Roger and the Sheath maker.
As for the sheath it will be leather and have a loop for a FireSteel, the back spine of the knife is squared off so I will be able the spark a FireSteel with the knife, but most of the time I will be using my Bow & Drill kit to start my fires. I'm going to have the sheath made so I can carry the knife Worn HORIZONTALLY across the small of the back on the belt (Scout Style), and traditional, VERTICALLY DOWN style.
 
Hey thanks for help. Roger did email me back and I had a few additional questions for him. Whew!! I am really impressed with his work in these photos. Do you know if there is a kydex sheath option?

Thanks again,

Jeff
 
Very nice. I can tell from your posts and website you will be using the full functionality of the knife. Can't wait for the review.

I have the TOPS tracker and you are right about the saw. As they say, the best knife is one you are carring, unfortunately, I still don't carry it, but if I ever could only choose one knife...
 
After heat treating the blade I did a little testing of the saw. It seems to me about what I would expect from a 1/4 inch thick hand saw. It is pretty thick for that purpose. It does saw. I first tested it on a piece of dryed cherry 0.420 inch thick. I sawed against the grain. It saws and does not load up the teeth with dust. There is some dust left in the teeth but it does not load the teeth up. It seems to throw the dust away pretty well. I then took it outside and sawed a small green limb off a healthy locus tree. That was laborious and the sappy wood quickly loads up the teeth.

All in all I am thinking this ment as a saw in a pinch or for specific survival and convenience purposes and not ment for sawing firewood. Regardless of teeth construction a 1/4 inch thick hand saw is not the norm. For cutting notches in traps or whatever I see it as a very handy and practical part of the knife. If used to saw firewood you won't need the fire to keep warm.

Anyhow, that is what I have come up with after only testing the saw on two different types of wood, cured hard wood and green living wood.

As for the firesteel I made the blade spine with sharp hard edges and it strikes a firesteel very well, throwing a nice shower of fire sparks.

I have one final temper to perform tonight before being able to edge the blades, hatchet, knife and hook. My final temper will attempt to hit the hatchet blade at about 58 HRc and the knife and hook portion at about 59 to 59.5 HRc. Currently, as I write this, the blades are at about 60 HRc.

Roger
 
Roger,
The saw was intended more for notching then cutting. The knife is designed to help you make all the thing you need to live in the wilds ie: traps, shelter, friction fire tools and so on. I guess it's true when someone said there are tools out there that will do all those thing better then the Tracker but one has to wonder how much all the crap would weigh. I would say if I was going to move out in the woods miles from everywhere and build a cabin to live in ALA Dick Proenneke, I would take a pack mule and all the gear I would need for the tasks at hand. But if I'm going to go out in the woods for a shorter while then I want to carry as little as possable and the Tracker is the best tool for all the jobs you might need to do. From the photos it looks like you are a great craftsman.

Ric
 
Ric,

Thanks for helping me confirm what my first impression of the saw was ment to be for. It certainly seems to do very well indeed for the tasks you outline. It cuts plenty well enough for notching and so forth and the teeth (happily for me) do not clog up on dry wood. I can see where it would lend itself well to the tasks you describe.

I have to admit, when I began knife making it was my desire to make elegant little hunting knives but now that Myakka has gotten me into Scandi's, camp knives and WSK's I am becoming fond of them.

RL
 
Roger, since I seem to have encountered some trouble trying to email you, here are some questions.

Do you use other types of steels?
What handle material?
Is there a kydex sheath?
How long does it take to make and deliver one Tracker knife?

My email: mangsia@yahoo.com
 
Golok,

Try rlinger1@yahoo.com

Sorry you have had trouble emailing. My Netzero account gets cluttered up with lots of junk mail.

I will email you tomorrow (Tuesday) at the email address you posted.

As far as lead time, it is up in the air (kind of). I am getting lots of inquiries about the WSK but so far only one solid confirmation, aside the one I am making now for Myakka. With that and the other knives on order I am currently booked through middle of January or close to that. I am a one man band and make them one at a time. I do sometimes work on more than one at a time when circumstances permit but try to give priorty of finishing to the proper place in line.

The type of steel is up to you, within reason. It should be something appropriate for this type and size knife. The handle material is up to you, including ivory or just about whatever. All the above can and most likely will vary the cost.

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