Tops knives warranty sucks

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Polamalu

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So I called tops knives to ask if I put a convex edge on their knives, will it void the warranty. They said if you reproflie the edge in any way it will void the warranty.

Now that's just ridicuious and it just means they don't stand behind their workmanship.

Some of their knives has good designs but comes with a crappy sheath and also way overpriced considering they're only using 1095 on most knives. Price is actually on par with ESEE, bark river and survive knives which has great warranty.
 
Should have bought en ESEE. You still can.

I handled a vast array of Tops knives at the SHOT Show last year.
Tops knives does absolutely nothing for me. Many of them are silly clown thick for my use.
Ill take an ESEE over a Tops knife every day of the week and twice on Sunday.
Just my opinion of course. Opnions my vary. To each his own...blah, blah, blah....
 
BladeScout said:
Should have bought en ESEE. You still can.

I handled a vast array of Tops knives at the SHOT Show last year.
Tops knives does absolutely nothing for me. Many of them are silly clown thick for my use.
Ill take an ESEE over a Tops knife every day of the week and twice on Sunday.
Just my opinion of course. Opnions my vary. To each his own...blah, blah, blah....
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I have the firestrike 45. And I just threw a mean convex on it. Now it's shaving sharp. I also had the esee junglas but I sold it so I can pre order the GSO 10 from survive knives
 
How often do you break a knife? If you convex the edge isn't it stronger? So many worried about the warrenty its crazy, most of tops knives are.thick and take abuse, some designs I find gimicky others useful. The tops B.O.B. knife is the most comfy knife I own. Even esee with there awesome warranty how often do they have a claim? Rarely, most from careless abuse. If you like the knife get it, use it as a knife and it won't break
 
Yeah they do suck. They need to hire someone that can sharpen something. The last 2 knives I had by them couldn't cut paper out of the box. Complete failure for a knife. They are wide unsharpened pieces of steel.
 
Sig_Op said:
How often do you break a knife? If you convex the edge isn't it stronger? So many worried about the warrenty its crazy, most of tops knives are.thick and take abuse, some designs I find gimicky others useful. The tops B.O.B. knife is the most comfy knife I own. Even esee with there awesome warranty how often do they have a claim? Rarely, most from careless abuse. If you like the knife get it, use it as a knife and it won't break
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I have knives that is made from various carbon steels also crucible steels. From my experience if the heat treat is on point and it has atleast 3/16th inch thick spine it won't break on you.

I'm not going to lie, I use my knives for batoning. Who does not like it? It's fun and it's a way of testing how tough your knife is. Some custom knife and semi-production knife makers actually encourages us to baton with their knves because they are that confident that it won't fail on you, unless you happen to have a lemon. But we all know if you have 1/8th thick spine knife you wouldn't baton with it cause it not for that application.
 
David Lowry said:
Yeah they do suck. They need to hire someone that can sharpen something. The last 2 knives I had by them couldn't cut paper out of the box. Complete failure for a knife. They are wide unsharpened pieces of steel.
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Yeah it's funny because I called them regarding that and their response was they did it that way to so the edge would have less of a chance to chip or roll.
 
Polamalu said:
Now that's just ridicuious and it just means they don't stand behind their workmanship.
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To me it means they don't stand behind YOUR workmanship. Too many people with grinders messing up the heat treat is my guess. Not saying you can't do it properly, just that there are a lot of guys who can't. I would think most companies don't warranty that. I know Scott Gossman stopped doing regrinds for people because of warranty issues and he for sure knows what he's doing.
 
Polamalu said:
So I called tops knives to ask if I put a convex edge on their knives, will it void the warranty. They said if you reproflie the edge in any way it will void the warranty.

Now that's just ridicuious and it just means they don't stand behind their workmanship. ...
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Wait, what???

Putting a convex edge on a blade is simply sharpening at a different set of angles... Sharpening an edge too acute or obtuse could lead to rolling and/or chipping in use, which most makers/companies do not "warranty" (i.e. repair/replace free of charge) as it is part of normal "wear & tear", this includes Busse and Survive! Knives, though many offer sharpening as a fee-service including Benchmade.


So that MUST be what they meant, right? Right? Not that sharpening the knife voids the warranty but that they don't warranty general edge wear? No company could reasonably assert that sharpening a knife compromises its structural integrity and could result in gross failure, nor that only their staff are qualified to sharpen the tool so as to avoid gross failure... right? If you sharpen your dull TOPS knife to a lower angle to improve performance and later the blade fractures or the scales fall off or the tip bends away, they'll still honor their warranty, right...?
 
Shotgun said:
To me it means they don't stand behind YOUR workmanship. Too many people with grinders messing up the heat treat is my guess. Not saying you can't do it properly, just that there are a lot of guys who can't. I would think most companies don't warranty that. I know Scott Gossman stopped doing regrinds for people because of warranty issues and he for sure knows what he's doing.
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I only used my worksharp knife and tool sharpener. So I still have a semi-thick edge. Give tops a call
 
chiral.grolim said:
Wait, what???

Putting a convex edge on a blade is simply sharpening at a different set of angles... Sharpening an edge too acute or obtuse could lead to rolling and/or chipping in use, which most makers/companies do not "warrantyif you (i.e. repair/replace free of charge) as it is part of normal "wear & tear", this includes Busse and Survive! Knives, though many offer sharpening as a fee-service including Benchmade.


So that MUST be what they meant, right? Right? Not that sharpening the knife voids the warranty but that they don't warranty general edge wear? No company could reasonably assert that sharpening a knife compromises its structural integrity and could result in gross failure, nor that only their staff are qualified to sharpen the tool so as to avoid gross failure... right? If you sharpen your dull TOPS knife to a lower angle to improve performance and later the blade fractures or the scales fall off or the tip bends away, they'll still honor their warranty, right...?
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I used my worksharp to put a convex edge. I've seen your reviews and i know you're pretty knowledgeable on knives. Simpy put what they told me was if I change their "V" grind to convex (not a full height) it will void the warranty. Sure you can sharpen it but if you back up the relief edge or sharpen it with a different angle we won't warranty it. I WAS FURIOUS when the warranty guy told me that. Give them a call and find out. You'll be displeased by them
 
Polamalu said:
I used my worksharp to put a convex edge ... Simpy put what they told me was if I change their "V" grind to convex (not a full height) it will void the warranty. Sure you can sharpen it but if you back up the relief edge or sharpen it with a different angle we won't warranty it. I WAS FURIOUS when the warranty guy told me that. Give them a call and find out. You'll be displeased by them
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Ack, I was sent to voicemail, so I'll just copy/paste the website info;

"TOPS warranty does not cover damage caused by misuse, abuse, alterations, improper handling, neglect, accident, improper sharpening or normal wear..."

"A free sharpening service is offered by the manufacturer which includes the blade edge, serrations and chain saw teeth, for the Original Purchaser ONLY. Should the working surface of your knife become marred or scored from heavy usage we will refinish it for you for a minimal charge."

So at least they offer a sharpening service, but to claim that the warranty is flat-out "void" should you sharpen the tool yourself is ridiculous and is NOT what their website (quoted above) states. Damage must be "caused by ... improper sharpening", i.e. the edge chips/folds or the tip snaps off because it was ground too thin by the user. I find it hard to imagine that they would refuse to warranty a blade which failed in a manner not related to your preferred sharpening angle/technique... But I will call again in the morning!
 
Shotgun said:
To me it means they don't stand behind YOUR workmanship. Too many people with grinders messing up the heat treat is my guess. Not saying you can't do it properly, just that there are a lot of guys who can't. I would think most companies don't warranty that. I know Scott Gossman stopped doing regrinds for people because of warranty issues and he for sure knows what he's doing.
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Exactamundo!
 
Tops are expensive for the materials used as was previously mentioned. Also when I get a knife I want one that will cut well. Tops edges are way too thick. Have to use twice the effort to remove same amount of wood as a more or Barkie.
 
hollowdweller said:
Tops are expensive for the materials used as was previously mentioned. Also when I get a knife I want one that will cut well. Tops edges are way too thick. Have to use twice the effort to remove same amount of wood as a more or Barkie.
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i love my barkie's! i recently took my bravo 1.5 and bolo 3 to kalalau trail in hawaii.
 
My one one only experience with a TOPS knife:
I purchased a TOPS 'Backbite', it arrived unbelievably dull as a butter knife on both the Wharncliffe edge as well as its secondary concave edge.
(both edges on the knife have a chisel grind)
I ran the pad of my thumb with a good amount of pressure along both edges without even a scratch resulting on my thumb.

I called and complained, and was told "send it back to us with the paperwork it came with and we will sharpen it".
For the $108.00 I purchased it for, I felt shouldn't have to "send it back" to be legitimately sharpened and I simply resold it and recouped my money.
TOPS did offer to resharpen it if I returned it.
I will not purchase again from the company.
 
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