TOPS Knives Exposed

Tops has some crazy designs but they also have some diamonds in the rough. I'm not going to preach about it again but I'm very happy with the Dragonfly.

I couldn't resist the FMS shipped to my door for $79.00 so I went and did it. I'm glad I did because it is a cool knife and could sell for more in my opinion. It is a little smaller than I pictured but after using it I can appreciate the size. So far it has been amazing in the kitchen, I can't get enough of it.

I'm not sure what the "Black River Wash" coating is, but I really like it. It looks like bare steel with a patina of some kind but very smooth and slick. I have been giving it a rinse and drying before putting it away and have had no problems with rust of any kind.

The thickness is 1/16th but not all the way to the edge. If you look very closely, you can see that about 1" up, just where the finish changes color, the blade tapers to a very thin edge. Nothing else I have tried cuts quite like it.





 
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Thanks for the review! Looks like good quality American made knives!
 
beachmaster said:
I like the direction tops is going, thats for sure.
My first tops was a dart made of s30v that I deployed with. I wish I had that more than anything. When I moved from Germany one of the shippers decided that he needed it more than I did... along with a gg&g axe made of s30v that was given to me as a graduation present by my father :/
My second tops was a scorpion. I liked it, but it fit loosely in its kydex sheath, and the fragile tip broke... somehow. I never used the knife, so Idk how that happened. Oh yeah, that was stolen too by those shippers:/
I wasn't too happy with either knife. The dart came plane dull. Working edge my butt. Working edge = dull. The scorpions sheath was a lot down, as well as the tip.

The msk was my last try with tops. At first I wrote tops off in my frustration, but now that I have it figured out, I do really like it.

My only issue with it is that i think the grind should be even higher for such a small knife. But oh well, its as bullet proof a knife as I can put in my pocket :-)
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I like the direction they are going too. Their HOG 4.5 with a full flat grind and nicer ergonomics than a lot of other TOPS knives is another one I like very much.

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FTR-14c said:
I couldn't resist the FMS shipped to my door for $79.00 so I went and did it. I'm glad I did because it is a cool knife and could sell for more in my opinion. It is a little smaller than I pictured but after using it I can appreciate the size. So far it has been amazing in the kitchen, I can't get enough of it.
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The Frog Market Special is another one I want to try out.


timw1 said:
Thanks for the review! Looks like good quality American made knives!
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They have always been very well made, with great fit and finish, I am just liking their new directions :) And yes, 101% US made as they say.
 
Great post. I like it that I get the feeling both you and your daughter enjoy and recognize the times together.

I haven't considered a TOPS before seeing the Scandi Trekker as many of the TOPS were a design I couldn't relate to.

How would you compare the steel of the Scandi Trekker to say an ESEE?
 
StrayRound said:
Great post. I like it that I get the feeling both you and your daughter enjoy and recognize the times together.

I haven't considered a TOPS before seeing the Scandi Trekker as many of the TOPS were a design I couldn't relate to.

How would you compare the steel of the Scandi Trekker to say an ESEE?
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Thank you. I know what you mean, some of their designs are out of my areas of knife use as well, but they make a lot of designs that never hit the limelight on you tube the way some of their more tactical designs do, which is unfortunate. They are both 1095 with similar hardness. While I would prefer higher grinds given the choice personally, I can deal with the hybrid scandi grind for the better ergonomics in long term use.
 
Ok so I was wrong about TOPS. They have moved and are not 15 miles from me anymore. I stopped by there today (they shut down to eat turkey it seems) and measured the mileage. They are just five miles from my front door. Yeah, they are going to get tired of seeing me. I'll be baaaaack!
 
Awesome! With you living that close, maybe you can help me bug them into making a non coated version of Steve's Pasayten Lite Traveler :)
I think with it being their cryo-quenched 154CM in an un-coated package like that, it could become my all time favorite camp knife.
 
TheMadIndian said:
that's awesome, my kids come out with me too. great feeling passing on passions & skills
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I agree, my little girl loves hiking and playing in the woods. I also believe there is also a positive effect that especially for girls that helps with self confidence and being comfortable in a place so many are afraid of (the woods).
 
Mist....thank you so much for this thread...best read I have had in a long while..both my girls were completely thrilled to begin to learn about the joy of edged tools when they were pretty young (7 & 9).
I got them swiss army knives and we would sit on the deck and learn to open and close them properly...then how to use them safely..before long they were whittling..I am very thankful for that time together...I saw a little of their joy in your daughter's eyes.

Thanks again bro.

Seth
 
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Had a very brief but enjoyable meeting with the owner and the marketing director today. We may see some more interesting products and reviews in the near future. Stay tuned.
 
enjoyed this post. my daughter's a bit wee for long hikes, but she's already into my smoked oysters. she calls them yucky, but keeps eating them?
 
JoberSeven said:
enjoyed this post. my daughter's a bit wee for long hikes, but she's already into my smoked oysters. she calls them yucky, but keeps eating them?
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It's ok, she'll get there. You gotta walk those little legs off now, because she'll be running your's off later :)

Yucky in looks I suppose...they don't really look all that appetizing to me, but I still love them :)
 
Mistwalker, just curious, do you have any experience with either the Pasayten Lite Traveller or the Shango XL? Been looking at Tops lately and from their offerings those are the two that seem most appealing to me. Any thoughts, suggestions, or photos would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
 
I love the knife too ... havent gotten to use it alot yet but it handles great.

I love the pictures and its good to see kids in the woods enjoying and learning most dont want to even go outside these days.

Great post glad you got the time with your daughter... and you both got to try out some new blades.
 
Mist buddy do we have any TOPS dealers on the forum, I love their knives but the cost here in Canada is crazy.
 
It's so lovely to see you and your daughter having so much fun. Precious times indeed.
 
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