TOPS Knives; any experience?

S

shrogran

Joined
Sep 26, 2004
Messages
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I don't know anyone who has ever handled a TOPS knife. After some recommendations on a former thread of mine i started looking into TOPS.
The Armageddon and Steal Eagle Combat look pretty darn sturdy to me. What is the deal on these knives? I am especially interested on the handle and how they handle over a longer period of time. I am gifted with rather small hands and from the pics it seems the handles are rather big? Or am i mistaken?
Pretty impressive blades anyhoo :eek: :D :D
 
I sold Tops knives for several years and they are indeed a sturdy solid knife. The handles are not overly large or wide. As for how they hold up, I would say with their solid construction I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Scott
 
While I really like Tops Knives,
I'd recommend looking at Ontario's RTAK and similar knives.
These are great knives with D2 steel, although they're not as flashy as TOPS, you'll be getting more for your money with those.
 
I was impressed with the TOPS knives I saw firsthand at a show. Also impressive were the amount of knife designs and potential uses they were designed for.
 
The one I handled at a gun show had a superb handle, felt really solid, I cannot attest to the blades, I don't know what kind of steel they use, or the Rc rating or anything. The handle was sure nice, though. Very grippy, like it was stuck in your hand when you make a fist around it, it wasn't going to budge, or slip around in your grip at all. They're pretty darn expensive, too. The one I handled was about 7" overall length (fixed blade as all tops knives are) and about $225. I got an Al Mar SERE Operator with fixed S30V blade of about the same size for $160 that I'm much happier with.
 
Walking Man said:
While I really like Tops Knives,
I'd recommend looking at Ontario's RTAK and similar knives.
These are great knives with D2 steel, although they're not as flashy as TOPS, you'll be getting more for your money with those.
Click to expand...

Yeah, i have looked into RTAK, but the one i would want (RTAK1S with combo edge) has the unbelievable deliverytime of over a year, maybe even much longer (and i am not kidding) in the Netherlands. Same for Swamprats (Battle Rat). I would be on a waiting list for an unknown amount of time.
Thats why i am now also looking at other brands and what experiences there are with them. So far TOPS seems to be ok, according to what i hear here, so i will see if it can be delivered before i am too old to handle it :D No offence to RTAK or Swamprats, i would LOVE to own one, but i can't wait that long...
 
RTAK is made by Ontario and distributed like any other Ontario knife. That means any dealer has access to them. Just find a dealer who will ship to Europe and ask him to send you one. There shouldn't be any wait. The same holds true for TOPS.
 
my backpacking/camp knife is a TOPS Tracker and i love it. it was worth every penny. it's really sharp and takes punishment. great weighting and grip. i aloways look forward to using it.
 
TOPS also uses 154CM and S30V in many models as well.

I own quite a few TOPS knives, and have used them hard in the wilderness and tactical environments. They have never failed me, or failed to amaze me with how well they take extreme punishment.

Best,

~Brian.
 
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