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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
TOPS Knives
- Thread starter Centurian
- Start date
- Joined
- Mar 20, 1999
- Messages
- 7,497
I havent yet, but all the knives on their site look awesome !!!
Dark Nemesis
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Crimson Horizon
Nothing but edge baby...
dark.nemesis@home.com
Dark Nemesis
------------------
Crimson Horizon
Nothing but edge baby...
dark.nemesis@home.com
Hello Centurian : I own the Tops CQT MAGNUM #747 (non-serrated edge ). I have both the standard sheath and the kydex break-away sheath. If I were going to put a pocket clip on the aluminum handle, I would start by asking Mr. Mike Fuller( CEO of TOPS) for a reference. It is a sturdy,heavy-by-design folder and perhaps Mike would know the exact spot to mount one. So far I am pleased with both sheaths. How does the knife "test-out"?
It happened to me...True story. Anyone want my partners name and phone number to verify the fact, please let me know. For the last 7-8 years, Cadillac(my partner) and I have always camped during the Month of February here in Michigan. This year we decided to take a 3 day canoe trip down the Au Sable river, which at its deepest point is about 4-4 1/2 feet. The river is not wide and flows free year around. The first night out went well, cold but no big deal. Temeratures ranged from 3-4 degrees at night to about 10-15 daytime, very little wind but lots of snow ! After a shore lunch on the second day, we traded places in the canoe. I went up front. I elected to carry my Magnum in the cordora sheath with a ranger rubber band around the velcro flap closure because in the canoe, I wanted a secure lock just in case of a spill...of course that could never happen to "expert" paddlers like Cadillac and I.
We were rounding a sharp bend in a narrow part of the river and there in front of me was a long thin piece of ice floating away from shore in the direction of the canoe. I shouted for Cadillac to go sharp right, he did, we missed the ice but were close to shore. The river bed rose sharply upward, the canoe hit bottom hard and came to a complete, sudden stop. I kept going..."spred-eagle" over the front of the canoe and into the water. First time for everything. Oh shi*, it was cold! Got up, fell down again, went all the way under. Got up again, climbed a deep snow bank to level ground and started the survival process. Everything on my body froze solid, except one item.
My partner took good care of me, as I was in stage 2 of hypothermia and headed for stage 3. Next morning I woke up inside a sleeing bag with a fire going nearby...clothes were drying. I looked down and in the snow was the Magnum inside the nylon sheath just laying there. I opened the frozen sheath, took out the knife and to my amazement, it thumbed open in one smooth effortless motion to a beautiful sounding "click" as the blade stopped in position...almost like " Hi, what can I cut for you today...no problem, I'm TOPS." My other folders froze-up solid. This tool cut extremely well (154CM steel @ 60RC.)during the entire trip. It has a working edge ( not thin, but will shave hair)and cut an ample amount of wood, nylon rope, my frozen blue jean pant legs ( up to the knees),meat, fish,fruit,vegetables and whatever else my partner used it for. Edge retention was excellent! A light honing after the trip produced a near-factory edge. I will take this folder with me anytime I enter the wilderness. If I had but one folder to choose from...hands down the TOPS MAGNUM would be it, and that is not because it did not freese up, altho that was impressive.
It happened to me...True story. Anyone want my partners name and phone number to verify the fact, please let me know. For the last 7-8 years, Cadillac(my partner) and I have always camped during the Month of February here in Michigan. This year we decided to take a 3 day canoe trip down the Au Sable river, which at its deepest point is about 4-4 1/2 feet. The river is not wide and flows free year around. The first night out went well, cold but no big deal. Temeratures ranged from 3-4 degrees at night to about 10-15 daytime, very little wind but lots of snow ! After a shore lunch on the second day, we traded places in the canoe. I went up front. I elected to carry my Magnum in the cordora sheath with a ranger rubber band around the velcro flap closure because in the canoe, I wanted a secure lock just in case of a spill...of course that could never happen to "expert" paddlers like Cadillac and I.
We were rounding a sharp bend in a narrow part of the river and there in front of me was a long thin piece of ice floating away from shore in the direction of the canoe. I shouted for Cadillac to go sharp right, he did, we missed the ice but were close to shore. The river bed rose sharply upward, the canoe hit bottom hard and came to a complete, sudden stop. I kept going..."spred-eagle" over the front of the canoe and into the water. First time for everything. Oh shi*, it was cold! Got up, fell down again, went all the way under. Got up again, climbed a deep snow bank to level ground and started the survival process. Everything on my body froze solid, except one item.
My partner took good care of me, as I was in stage 2 of hypothermia and headed for stage 3. Next morning I woke up inside a sleeing bag with a fire going nearby...clothes were drying. I looked down and in the snow was the Magnum inside the nylon sheath just laying there. I opened the frozen sheath, took out the knife and to my amazement, it thumbed open in one smooth effortless motion to a beautiful sounding "click" as the blade stopped in position...almost like " Hi, what can I cut for you today...no problem, I'm TOPS." My other folders froze-up solid. This tool cut extremely well (154CM steel @ 60RC.)during the entire trip. It has a working edge ( not thin, but will shave hair)and cut an ample amount of wood, nylon rope, my frozen blue jean pant legs ( up to the knees),meat, fish,fruit,vegetables and whatever else my partner used it for. Edge retention was excellent! A light honing after the trip produced a near-factory edge. I will take this folder with me anytime I enter the wilderness. If I had but one folder to choose from...hands down the TOPS MAGNUM would be it, and that is not because it did not freese up, altho that was impressive.
I also own one of the Tops CQT MAGNUM #747. Without question it is the best large folder I own (I also have a SIFU and a XLarge CS Voyager). The quality of the MAGNUM is top notch. You will love it. I feel that it is a bit too thick to carry in your front pocket, with a clip.
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2000
- Messages
- 598
Why is Tops better than the Sifu?
rogue_spear: Don't get me wrong. I like my SIFU, but the Magnum seems like a much stronger knife. When you pick them both up, open them and use them, the strength of the Tops is evident to me.
The construction of the SIFU has many "parts". The standoffs all have to be adjusted and realigned periodically etc. It is made kind of like a "sandwich" with layers and many pieces screwed together.
The Magnum, on the other hand, has fewer parts and is built like a tank. Very solid and nothing to work loose.
I carry the SIFU a lot however, because it carrys nicely in my jeans front pocket. The Magnum needs the sheath.
The construction of the SIFU has many "parts". The standoffs all have to be adjusted and realigned periodically etc. It is made kind of like a "sandwich" with layers and many pieces screwed together.
The Magnum, on the other hand, has fewer parts and is built like a tank. Very solid and nothing to work loose.
I carry the SIFU a lot however, because it carrys nicely in my jeans front pocket. The Magnum needs the sheath.