TOPS Knives

I think they are poorly made for the price. 1095 is not expensive steel and they leave it rough under the powder coat. That is both lzay and gives the 1095 an easy time rusting if the coating wears. Also many I have seen would need reprofiling to be real cutters. Not bad, but not worth the money IMO.
 
I am with BigJimSlade. I have had to strip the finish off a couple and buff them out. Coating came off with lacquer thinner and a razor blade. Had to regrind the edge. Handle scales could have been nicer. Non transferable warrenty.
 
From reading through the thread, it's a mixed bag.

Maybe that's why we don't hear more about TOPS,
- the question in the initial post.
 
I bought one of the close quarters knives 5 inch blade, 1/4 inch thick. The day I bought it I just started splitting 2X4's (It told me to do it) I bought it with the intention of abusing it, thus the 1095. Oh yeah I shopped around and got it for near half the list price. I love it.
TC
 
For those that say that they are overpriced, what would you say a reasonable street value would be?

BTW, the example I seen was well made.
 
For a factory knife out of 1095 that doesnt even get smoothed all the way (not that that makes it poorly made, but I think its a poor design decision for a tactical field knife and lowers the maufacture cost alot, therefore the knives should be cheaper than a smooth finished version), I'd say about half or there MSRP at most. You should be able to find them cheaper than the msrp though. There folders are a bit different. They are shopped out to a good company and use better materials ( I like 1095, its just not expensive, hence they have a big mark up) but are still pricey compared to there competition.
 
I own 3 TOPS (SkyMarshall,Coyote Blue and Blue Otter) they're all great and very thought knives especially the SkyMarshall but you've gotta to get them off E-Bay...they're a lot cheaper!!!!
 
BigJimSlade said:
I think they are poorly made for the price. 1095 is not expensive steel and they leave it rough under the powder coat. That is both lzay and gives the 1095 an easy time rusting if the coating wears. Also many I have seen would need reprofiling to be real cutters. Not bad, but not worth the money IMO.
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Well all of us are unsure on how TOPS finishes their blades. The coating is 3mm thick. I have used the saw on my Steal Eagle 111-A and there isn't any chipping or destruction of the coating.

And if the coating does where, you can send it back and for 5 bucks get it re-coated and resharpened.

A good wipe down and the blades good. I haven't had any probs with my Steel Eagle (still wicked sharp and the traction coating is great).

Yes you are certainly correct about how expensive they are. 200 + dollars for a some 1095 is rather irrational. It could be because of their coating that makes these knives so expensive. Their camo coating, though, looks cheesy and bady done. But surf enough online and you'll find a good price.
 
I own a Steel Eagle, Armageddon, Lone Falcone, Tracker, & Scalpel. I love the designs, especially the Steel Eagle! Plus a 1/4" Slab of the reliable 1095 steel - What is not to love.

My TOPS Knives...
2006-12-09_TOPSToys.jpg
 
D.A.R.T, B.E.S.T, CQT folders, and a few others are made of steel other than 1095. S30V, 154CM, 154CM (747 heat treated to RC60) and N690 Cobalt (Thunder Hawke), and some are made from damascus, respectively.

My next TOPS is most likely going to be the D.A.R.T. 7" blade, linen micarta handles, S30V steel, heat treated by Paul Bos, designed by Trace Rinaldi, and from TOPS. I think those characteristics would add up to a fine knife.

BTW KnifeFury, the Scapel looks devious. How is it?
 
Spears said:
Well all of us are unsure on how TOPS finishes their blades. The coating is 3mm thick. I have used the saw on my Steal Eagle 111-A and there isn't any chipping or destruction of the coating.

And if the coating does where, you can send it back and for 5 bucks get it re-coated and resharpened.

A good wipe down and the blades good. I haven't had any probs with my Steel Eagle (still wicked sharp and the traction coating is great).

Yes you are certainly correct about how expensive they are. 200 + dollars for a some 1095 is rather irrational. It could be because of their coating that makes these knives so expensive. Their camo coating, though, looks cheesy and bady done. But surf enough online and you'll find a good price.
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TOPS powder coats there blades and it is a well known and common process. I dont have a problem with powder coating but it can and does come/wear off. 1095 is a carbon steel that will rust in many conditions. Any sort of surfacing or texture increases this. If im in the field I cant send it back for refinishing. My good friend Jeff Benowitz will go into some of the ranges up here for a month without coming out to get supplies. The simple fact is any knife maker will tell you for good corossion resistance smooth is better. I assume they leave the texture for two reasons. One, money, its cheaper by far. Two, it looks cool regardless of performance or fits the "tactical look" they want. I dont think the angles on there grinds are very good either and would like to see them thinner even for a chopper, but thats a taste thing and I'm shure many people like there profile.
 
Sorry for my ignorance on the coating process and yes, a smooth blade is much better, a less likely chance of stuff catching and generally a less likely chance of small "craters" gathering moisture. Thus much less chance of the steel oxidizing and rusting.

This is from care and feed instruction on the TOPS website.

1. Some of our models have a coating of an Epoxy Hybrid Base with Polyester, which is electrostatically applied and baked on in an oven. It is industrial strength and the toughest material we could find. From time to time, the Saw Teeth on the top of the blade may lose small pieces of the coating. This is NOT a problem, as the sharp abrasive angles of the teeth are made to cut hard, and the coating will in fact come off the edge eventually.
 
I find it interesting that of the pictures posted, particularly from people who "love their Tops" that none show any wear whatsoever. It makes me wonder how at least these individuals can laud the product without even using it. At the least, it only partially answers the original poster's question. I didn't think there was much of a collector market for these either, but maybe I'm wrong. My $.02.
 
eojk said:
I find it interesting that of the pictures posted, particularly from people who "love their Tops" that none show any wear whatsoever. It makes me wonder how at least these individuals can laud the product without even using it. At the least, it only partially answers the original poster's question. I didn't think there was much of a collector market for these either, but maybe I'm wrong. My $.02.
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:D :D As I said, I love the designs. I bought them more for my collection, although I have used and sharpened the Scalpel & Lone Falcone, but not enough to really show on the coating. :D :D
 
The best thing to do, besides discussing about it, is to buy a TOPS and see for yourself. I mean, people say this, people say that. Just buy one and see if it's good or not. See if it lives up to what you would have expected it to be.
 
Spears said:
The interesting thing about the tracker is that it is weighted in the front. This allows the user to be able to spear throw it. I don't believe it's an axe/knife, though it certainly looks like one.
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1. I love TOPS knives, and Mike Fuller is a friend.

2. Why is it that the newbs always announce their presence by bringing dead threads to the top?

3. JimSlade, the blades are left rough so the coating will stick better. It is not rocket science. EVERY item that I have ever seen that gets powdercoated was beadblasted first, but you might know something that I don't.

STeven Garsson
 
Well that certainly answer's my newb question. Are TOPS blades bead-blasted? And so it seems that they are.
 
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