Tom Brown Tracker

A

Aaron Only

Joined
Nov 1, 2010
Messages
16
I've been curious about this knife for sometime and recently tried to find a decent review. Mostly I can only find detailed reviews from people who are biased against it from the get go, and it seems they only use the time to back up their opinion. I was hoping to find an unbiased review, if anyone out there knows of one or would like to share their opinion I'd love to hear it.
 
I had one. The blade was too thick, the grind sucked, and the handle was uncomfortable. Sold it shortly after I got it. I'd recommend checking out some of the other makers offerings....... Try googling wsk, or dave beck wsk......
 
There was a good actual use review in youtube but it seems to be lost or I just can't find it...
Anyway, unless you are ready for some serious regrinding, I would rather stick with more conventional designs. The knife doesn't really offer anything that same lenght knife wouldn't.
 
Bill Siegle made one a while back that was about the best version imo, I really like Mark Terrell's Urban Version as well although I have not handled it.

The Siegle was the most balanced of the versions I have tried, including RS6, TOPS, Dave Beck and one from the bay by a maker who sells a ton of them but I can't remember the name of the top of my head.
 
Zombie Zeke said:
Bill Siegle made one a while back that was about the best version imo, I really like Mark Terrell's Urban Version as well although I have not handled it.

The Siegle was the most balanced of the versions I have tried, including RS6, TOPS, Dave Beck and one from the bay by a maker who sells a ton of them but I can't remember the name of the top of my head.
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You're not talking about Red Scorpian Six are you? Never seen or held one from that company but have heard some not so good things about them....
 
It's pretty much a useless knife in my opinion. There are much better choices out there.
 
In all fairness, if you have some outdoor experience at all, it's not hard to picture why this knife has very limited use. The deep belly is excellent for skinning game, the flat portion with thumb curve behind it is good to shave wood (make fuzz sticks) and break bones, and the saw is decent for notching. That's about it. Because the edge is interrupted between the flat and the belly, it doesn't work for draw cuts (like food prep), it doesn't work for chopping (the sweet spot for chopping is right by the transition point), and it sure is very limited for batoning. For 28 oz weight I expect more capability, because for that same weight I can carry a hatchet AND a decent knife.
 
Dave Canterbury had some videos of it put to good use. They're some of his first videos I believe, before he became one of the youtube deities.

There's also a member here who made a very good video series on the Tracker. Can't recall the name though.
 
Sep said:
If I read the threads correctly that particular Tracker knife has been majorly reprofiled and resharpened, so it doesn't represent the factory edge.
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Correct, that TOPS TB Tracker was reground by Horndog with a belt grinder and he's known to put very acute zero grind convex edges on his knives.
 
Zombie Zeke said:
Bill Siegle made one a while back that was about the best version imo, I really like Mark Terrell's Urban Version as well although I have not handled it.

The Siegle was the most balanced of the versions I have tried, including RS6, TOPS, Dave Beck and one from the bay by a maker who sells a ton of them but I can't remember the name of the top of my head.
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I worked will Bill Siegle before the Hunted was released and he made several variation of the Tracker for me. The closer we go to a conventional knife the better the knife.

4839287inchtrackervariant.jpg


n2s
 
It is a movie prop which can perform cutting activities if sharpened. Any benefits over a similar length straight knife would only be user preference.
 
I held one once at a fair. It is ridiculously heavy for its length. I saw no point to its thickness as it is too short to chop effectively. I guess it's a whole lot better than nothing, but I would hazard a guess that it's not very good at any one thing, and would be outperformed by any solid 7" survival knife in almost every aspect. One of my cheapest survival knives is a Kabar heavy bowie, and I would prefer that over the Tracker any time.

Just my .02 of course. :thumbup:
 
i had one a few years ago and got rid of it... it was a love hate? errr hate to love relationship.

but shortly after i just had an itch that i could no longer ignore and had to scratch.

recently obtained another one through a forum member, reground/convexed it and i LOVE IT!!! sure its not your typical tried and true straight blade, kukri, hatchet etc etc and saw combo... but its fun to beat on something thats not the norm sometimes while out.

if you have enough sharpened steel to cover all the bases... i see no reason NOT to have a wsk type knife in your collection. keep in mind though that out of the box the tops tracker is a boat anchor if you dont take it to the belt/grinder and let it literally rain sparks lol. :D :thumbup:

my 2cents
 
tabeeb762 said:
Dave Canterbury had some videos of it put to good use. They're some of his first videos I believe, before he became one of the youtube deities.

There's also a member here who made a very good video series on the Tracker. Can't recall the name though.
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I never saw a TB Tracker vid on WildernessOutfitters page. If anyone could find a TBT vids by Canterbury somewhere else on the web, please post them.
 
bladerique said:
I never saw a TB Tracker vid on WildernessOutfitters page. If anyone could find a TBT vids by Canterbury somewhere else on the web, please post them.
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it was his earlier videos and i believe he swore by the tracker lol :)
the last i saw ,he primarily showcases his blindhorse custom
 
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