TOPS Loner

[steelscout30]

Does anybody have any opinion on these? 3/16" stock in 1095 carbon steel with about a four-inch blade, micarta handles, Kydex sheath; it seems to be the ticket for EDC/SD duty and to beat up around the campsite. I think it could be ticketed for about the same animal defense/camp tool as the Spyderco Temperance, but instead of stainless/composite in carbon/micarta. The package just appeals to me. I was wondering if anyone who owns one or has experience with it could foster an opinion.

Thanks in advance.

God bless you, America, and our men and women overseas.

KATN,

Wade

 

[StretchNM]

I don;t know what model that is and I don;t own any TOPS blades anyway. But...I've handled several models in my favorite knife shop....several times. The thing I don;t like about TOPS is how low they begin the grind on their primary bevel. Just to be clear, I mean where they begin the initial grind below the spine, not the "edge". You start with a 3/16" or 1/4" blade, about 1-1/8" deep, and the primary bevel begins at about 1/2". That makes for a super-shallow primary bevel, and consequently a super-shallow edge.

I suppose you can get them sharp as you want them, but good luck trying to get a 15 degree primary edge. My opinion of the TOPS knives I've handled and seen specs on is: they're long-bladed hatchets. Good firewood choppers I suppose.