TOPS Knives, ANY Good?

S

Spydiefan04

Joined
Jan 8, 2005
Messages
819
Been looking at TOPS knives for some time think they look wicked good. Especially like the Moccasin Ranger, Wolf Pup, Tracker, Cheetah, Steel Eagle designs. I like 1095 for fixed blades from previous Ontario and Ka-Bar experience. Though I think the prices may be a bit high for 1095, I want to know what anyone thinks that has used TOPS knives, especially the models listed above.
 
The tracker is TOO heavy for my tastes... When I'm not packing a busse, I use (Heavily) the steel eagle 107c. Beautiful Knife and I have been very pleased. The wolf pup feels excellent in the hand and would make a great skinner IMO. Can't go wrong with the moccasin ranger. What primary use are you looking for in it? :confused:
 
I was a dealer for Tops for several years and felt they make a very stout durable knife. The knives you indicate are very nicely designed. The Tracker is a bit too awkward for me but the couple I sold were well taken by the people who bought them. They are a bit pricy but I think they're well made.
Scott
 
Well I'm receiving a Tracker as a Gift, not going to use it, worked out a deal to receive one as payment for some help I'm giving others, and just think its awesome used in movied The Hunted, so I'll put it away and keep it:)

Oh yeah not to seem ignorant but what is the Tracker designer for SD, Chopping??? I really think it looks great but don't know what I could do with a knife like that?
I think the Tracker and Cheetah are too of the coolest looking knives I've ever seen, as well as the Moccasin Ranger.
I have a Becker C/U 7 (replaced my Ka-Bars) and use it for slicing, esp HEAVY cardboard. Cutting/Slicing would be use, I personally never chop anything with a knife. Thinking about something in the 4in range. The Moccasin Ranger looks more Ka-Bar like and the Operation-Badger looks more C/U 7 like. How would Wolf Pup, Cheetha, or Skinat be as slicers, trying to stop using 7in utility fighters as utility knives but just find them so versatile. Also are TOPS any better than and other 1095 knife?
 
i love TOPS knives for fixed blades. they're like Striders for half the price. i own the moccasin ranger, the border crossing and the black rhino (paracord-handle version), my brother owns a steel eagle 107d. the moccasin ranger is a great knife and lies very well in the hand. so does the border crossing, which is more of a SD-knife than a bush-knife, and it has 154cm steel making it somewhat 'better'. the black rhino is a nice hardcore-knife as well, although mine is the paracord version and it's not very comfy to hold and use. they are really tough knives though, you can chop, pry and throw with them, anything goes. only thing against 1095-steel is that edge-holding isn't that great, but that could be expected i guess. i used my black rhino awhile ago on a short outdoor-vacation and used it a couple of hours for chopping, cutting and some soft-wood prying. it did the job reasonably well, although when i got home i noticed the edge had already dulled a bit. i was kind of surprised with that, since the edge-angle is at a huge approx. 35 degrees.....

now, my brother's steel eagle, i don't like that one very much. sure, it's heavy and tough and looks cool, but it has that 'extra choil' on the handle which separates your index finger from the rest and makes for kind of an awkward grip. i didn't feel really comfy with the handling.

most versatile and ergonomic TOPS i have is the moccasin ranger. it's near perfect for a fixed blade, and i don't think TOPS-knives are pricy either, i think they're more like a bargain.

one thing to notice though, some of the kydex-sheaths tend to loosen up on their grip of the knife quite soon, especially occurs with the heavier knives...

another thng i really like about TOPS knives is that they are fully handmade and finished very well. it just adds that extra touch knowing a TOPS is more or less a custom knife.

dennis
 
Decent knives and they offer a lot of different designs, but way over priced for the materials used. Most of their large designs should retail for $125-$175. Given the price of their knives I think one could get a better knife cheeper from Swamp Rat, Chris Reeve, or even Randall.
 
Well it looks like I may be happy after all :). Poor edge retention with 1095 is no prob for me, I like the strength and ease of sharpening. One guy said TOPS are like cheap Striders, but with 1095 instead of S30V I'd expect the TOPS knives to actually be tougher, if not as good at edge holding, perhaps someone with an S30V fixed blade (Strider or Chris Reeve Green Beret) could enlighten me.
 
i got a Strider MTL with S30V-blade and compared to the TOPS edge-retention is much better. one odd thing about the latest S30v-striders though is that they feel really lighweight, almost cheap, compared to the heft of a TOPS. i still haven't tried my strider on heavy chores yet, but it's probably better in the end.......but hey, it costs almost 3x the price of a TOPS....
 
TOPS offers a huge variety of styles, that is certainly a plus - there has to be something for everyone in their line-up. And once you have held one you will agree that they have amazingly comfortable handles for their size and weight. My Favorites are the Storm Rider (though I wish they made it in a slightly shorter blade length) and the Wolf Pup.

1095 is a Good steel, easy to sharpen for those in the field (which I have been) and also helpful for those just learning the fine art of Scary Sharp sharpening. :D

Search around and you can find very good prices.
 
Awesome, I didn't know they made such good stuff, you hardly ever see a TOPS review on here, everyone is Busse, Swamprat, or Strider happy. I def. see myself getting a Moccasin Ranger to go with that Tracker. Is 159USD a good price for the Moc Ranger or can I do better? Also, how is it as a slicer, thanks so much for all the info I'm not scared to buy a TOPS now(I'm reluctant to buy a knife from a co. I've never bought from before)

Also, While I'm here, how are their folders, I'm not a fan of 154CM, prefer VG-10, but maybe they heat treat different, think the magnum cqt hunters point looks great:)
 
Their folders are well made. I sold several of them and fit and finish were good. The tolerances were tight and lock-up was good. I have not experienced their ghostrider series folders, so I cannot comment on them. I suspect they are good also.
Scott
 
Tops makes are great product. I have the Hawk Recon. The only draw back for many is the price, but as the old saying goes- "you get what you pay for". :cool:
 
Spydiefan04 said:
Well I'm receiving a Tracker as a Gift, not going to use it, worked out a deal to receive one as payment for some help I'm giving others, and just think its awesome used in movied The Hunted, so I'll put it away and keep it:)
Click to expand...

Hey Spideyfan04, it sounds like you are getting a good knife there, but THAT MOVIE! That was one of the WORST movies I've ever seen - and I've seen some bad ones!!!
 
tops have alot going for them so i too am confused why they don't get more press around here :( mike fuller is a heck of a nice guy and one way or another you will be satisfied with your purchase or be refunded.

ron hood has probably been using tops the longest and you can see many of the models in his survival videos such as the big steel eagle 111 in the jungle video and the anaconda in most of the others.

in comparison i would say the tops is just as durable as the striders for many reasons such as 1095 is more forgiving than s30v and micarta handles is alot tougher than paracord.
 
Is that one called the "Ranger's edge" (or something) any good? If I had the money, I would have bought it at the last gun show.
 
I've got my first TOPS knife coming from a deal I made here on BF. It is a Lancero model, and constructed from 3V steel. I'll be sure to post once I receive it.
 
I'm going to change my opinion on TOPs a little. My main gripe is that they are over priced and over Hyped. However, I have found several on line sources that are selling them substationaly below TOPS' MSRP, falling into the range of Swamp Rat and Ranger Knives. Now about the Tracker, the only TOPS knife I have seen in Iraq was a Tracker, and that was 2 weeks ago. One of the guys in a new Tactical Psyops team had one. Overall I was not that impressed, and neither was he, but the Iraqies went ape **it over that knife. I thought one guy was going to piss himself. He used it to break open a box those Iraqies got real excited. So I guess we should'nt overlook the intimidation factor.
 
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