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TOPS knives
- Thread starter SIFU1A
- Start date
- Joined
- Dec 6, 1999
- Messages
- 667
What TOPS knife were you looking to get? They have a list of all TOPS dealers list on their site.
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2001
- Messages
- 1,639
I'm ordering a Sea Wolfe shortly (from S4 Supply, BTW).
They might be a tad expensive for a production fixed-blade, but they sure sound good.
Mike
They might be a tad expensive for a production fixed-blade, but they sure sound good.
Mike
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2001
- Messages
- 4,306
Brian Jones
Moderator
- Joined
- Jan 17, 1999
- Messages
- 7,560
Michael,
I can assure you that TOPS knives are not production fixed blades. They have a machine grind the basic blank, yes, but the rest is done individually by hand by master blademakers in their shop. Mike Fuller personally oversees the making of each blade. I'd call them semi-custom/production, but it's not like they are mass-produced in a big CNC factory...just so ya know!
Best,
Brian.
I can assure you that TOPS knives are not production fixed blades. They have a machine grind the basic blank, yes, but the rest is done individually by hand by master blademakers in their shop. Mike Fuller personally oversees the making of each blade. I'd call them semi-custom/production, but it's not like they are mass-produced in a big CNC factory...just so ya know!
Best,
Brian.
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2001
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- 1,639
Ah, I guess that explains the prices. I've got the Sea Wolfe on order, then it's going to River City Sheaths for IWB carry.
Might check out one of the larger ones to keep in my truck.
Mike
Cliff Stamp
BANNED
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- Oct 5, 1998
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- 17,562
The prices are high because of the name, you can find knives made out of the same materials or better, *individually* made (which usually gets higher status, but is of no importance to me personally) for about half the price of the TOPS line. Consider for example Mineral Mountain Hatchet works just to name one.
-Cliff
-Cliff
Newt Livesay knives are also 1095 steel with a good heat treat and great handles. I am not dissing TOPS products, but making a sharpened crow bar of 1095 steel no longer really floats my boat.
If you want good quality for a lower prices Both Mineral Mountain Hatchet Works, Newt Livesay, Becker Knife and Tool, Kabar and others make a very competitive product for less. I often wonder why someone doesn't just market a tactical crow
bar out of exotic steel. Making it thick and "strong" does not make it cut. Normally the excuse is the knife has to be tough to pry open ammo crates etc. Yeah well maybe, but its not the best tool for the job, and I seldom do that anymore.
If you want good quality for a lower prices Both Mineral Mountain Hatchet Works, Newt Livesay, Becker Knife and Tool, Kabar and others make a very competitive product for less. I often wonder why someone doesn't just market a tactical crow
bar out of exotic steel. Making it thick and "strong" does not make it cut. Normally the excuse is the knife has to be tough to pry open ammo crates etc. Yeah well maybe, but its not the best tool for the job, and I seldom do that anymore.
- Joined
- Dec 6, 1999
- Messages
- 667
They are the CQT Magnums. The 154cm Blades are hand ground.
Brian Jones
Moderator
- Joined
- Jan 17, 1999
- Messages
- 7,560
Mike990,
From what I hear, the early incarnations of TOPS knives needed some adjustment, but the ones I have used (and used hard in the woods and elsewhere) are anything but sharpened prybars. yes, some are thick for specific reasons, as requested by rescuers, etc., but many are great all-around blades.
I heard the Steel Eagle 111 was too thick in the edge, but the one I have (in hunters point) slices tomatoes AND chops down trees. The balance and feel is excellent on all the pieces I've handled, small and large. And the contoured micarta handles feel wonderful. I skinned squirrels with the Skin-at, and for the hell of it, skinned a squirrel with the 111, just to see if it could be done! It worked great (obviously not as well as a small one). We skinned a squirrel with the CQT-M, and did light chopping with it too! A full bow and arrow set was also fashioned from willow using just the CQT Magnum.
So, SIFU, you were wondering about the CQT Magnum? I'm going to be posting a review soon on the one I have in bowie-blade, smooth edge. I think I may have found my all-around survival/utility/defense blade. It is simply awesome in design and execution for all these things, and I'll go into detail on a separate post soon. I can't believe I like a folder as my favorite all-around blade -- I've always been a fixed blade junkie. This is a folder with a fixed-blade attitude, though!
All the Best,
Brian.
From what I hear, the early incarnations of TOPS knives needed some adjustment, but the ones I have used (and used hard in the woods and elsewhere) are anything but sharpened prybars. yes, some are thick for specific reasons, as requested by rescuers, etc., but many are great all-around blades.
I heard the Steel Eagle 111 was too thick in the edge, but the one I have (in hunters point) slices tomatoes AND chops down trees. The balance and feel is excellent on all the pieces I've handled, small and large. And the contoured micarta handles feel wonderful. I skinned squirrels with the Skin-at, and for the hell of it, skinned a squirrel with the 111, just to see if it could be done! It worked great (obviously not as well as a small one). We skinned a squirrel with the CQT-M, and did light chopping with it too! A full bow and arrow set was also fashioned from willow using just the CQT Magnum.
So, SIFU, you were wondering about the CQT Magnum? I'm going to be posting a review soon on the one I have in bowie-blade, smooth edge. I think I may have found my all-around survival/utility/defense blade. It is simply awesome in design and execution for all these things, and I'll go into detail on a separate post soon. I can't believe I like a folder as my favorite all-around blade -- I've always been a fixed blade junkie. This is a folder with a fixed-blade attitude, though!
All the Best,
Brian.
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2001
- Messages
- 485
you know, i think that's a great idea. I want a nice sharpened black titanium-nitride coated titanium prybar. Think about how popular it would be! You could even add a pocket clip 
Brian, They are fine knives. Also 50-75 bucks extra is not a lot to pay for a knife if you really happen to like its design better than others out there. And tops has some cool designs. But truth be told its still good old 1095 steel and heat treating that stuff is no magic anymore. Its done well by many people. What would cost you about 150 bucks made by Livesay or Mineral Mountain Hatchet Works, is going to cost about 225.00 from TOPS. It will look different, but given .25 thick 1095 and a decently ground edge and both those guys do great handles as well in mincarta as well, I dont see it. And someone could make a good argument that for raw cutting power and durability, I am not getting anything out of a Livesay or Mineral Mountain that a big 1095 Ontario fixed blade would not deliver.
But again I want to make clear anyone who likes TOPS designs should go for it, a few extra bucks is not the end of the world.
But again I want to make clear anyone who likes TOPS designs should go for it, a few extra bucks is not the end of the world.
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2001
- Messages
- 1,639
Exactly. I paid $140 for my black-and-blue G10 Sea Wolf.
There are a TON of great fixed-blade knives out there for similar money (more or less) but I really like the look and feel of this one and TOPS appears to be at least as good as the rest.
Mike
There are a TON of great fixed-blade knives out there for similar money (more or less) but I really like the look and feel of this one and TOPS appears to be at least as good as the rest.
Mike
Brian Jones
Moderator
- Joined
- Jan 17, 1999
- Messages
- 7,560
Mike990,
i think you said it best. there is no magic -- it's a matter of preference. I like some of the TOPS designs a lot, others I don't care for. The TOPS blades have served me very well in long term survival situations, and I know I can trust them to perform.
I love Newt's knives. They are no gimmick, basic designs that anyone can rely on when the sh*t hits the fan. They also feel good in the hand.
I know that TOPS chose 1095, because, as you said, there is no magic anymore. The folks who designed them are former or current military, and many designs are for very specific requirements. 1095 proved itself through several wars in the form of the Kabar/USMC Fighting/Utility knife. It's a good all-around steel, high carbon, easy to resharpen and maintain in the field.
I've never used Mineral Mountain sutff...be curious to see and paly with them. I'll look into those as well.
i think you said it best. there is no magic -- it's a matter of preference. I like some of the TOPS designs a lot, others I don't care for. The TOPS blades have served me very well in long term survival situations, and I know I can trust them to perform.
I love Newt's knives. They are no gimmick, basic designs that anyone can rely on when the sh*t hits the fan. They also feel good in the hand.
I know that TOPS chose 1095, because, as you said, there is no magic anymore. The folks who designed them are former or current military, and many designs are for very specific requirements. 1095 proved itself through several wars in the form of the Kabar/USMC Fighting/Utility knife. It's a good all-around steel, high carbon, easy to resharpen and maintain in the field.
I've never used Mineral Mountain sutff...be curious to see and paly with them. I'll look into those as well.