The Tops Long Horn Bowie looks like a very interesting knife. I dont own one yet, but I am thinking about buying one, Im just wondering if there is anyone here on the forum owns one that could tell me some info about it. I really like the design and the handle shape, but Im not sure exactly how comfortable the handle is or the rocky mountain tread micarta scales. They do offer it in green micarta scales as well. I find myself eye balling this knife online. But then there is another dilemma I have! Im also eye balling the ESEE Junglas. I realize its like $15 more than the Long Horn and it has a far better sheath. Though the sheath is not a make it or break it deal for me, but I know the Junglas has an excellent reputation and really good. Reviews. The only thing I would like on a large blade like that would be a finger choir but I still like the Junglas. I want to use either of these two as my primary knife for most if not all outdoor activities. I do like a knife that chops b/c its a breeze for de-limbing trees etc, which I dont want to dig out my hatchet just for that. After watching some YT reviews and reading online, I am leaning towards the ESEE Junglas. If thats the case it be the first ESEE I own. I do own a couple Tops knives, some cheap Chinease beaters, and a newly acquired A.G. Russel Mark II combat Bowie. Oh god noooo! My knife addiction is getting worse....lol....
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Tops Long Horn Bowie
- Thread starter Diecorpse
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My coworker just bought the Tops Longhorn a few months ago and really likes it. He got it with the rocky mountain tread. I've handled it a few times and it feels pretty comfortable. The knife overall just looks really cool. The sheath however is not that great. There is some "rattle" in it if that matters to you. The Esee Junglas will be better at de-limbing because of its length and weight but the Longhorn will be easier/more comfortable to carry around on your hip all day. Of course, the correct answer is GET BOTH.
Thats what I was wondering about. I usually like to carry my knife most of the day. Thanks for the info bud. My wife really likes the Long Horn Bowie. It does have that sweet sexy appeal to it as my wife likes to say! The sheath is not that big of a deal. I have a friend who has some skill with leather and she's got all the equipment and tools, so Im sure if I give her a simple design for a sheath, she can make one for me much cheaper than a custom leather maker. She just got done making a leather/ wool coat for a friend and my god it looks professional and she triple stitches the seams! Thanks again for the input... 
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These are really different knives. The Esee is bigger and will be less belt friendly. This may not matter to you but to most it does. The Esee Sheath will be far superior meaning that if you do belt carry it on a belt it might actually work better depending on how bad the tops is. The TOPS is a more of a sharpened prybar at .25" thick. Not very good at actual knife tasks. The Esee also has the far superior warranty,h
And as for price, the Junglas is less money depending on where you go. Knifeconnection has them at $155 shipped when in stock. I bought all of my new Esees there, well one at USA made Blade.
https://www.theknifeconnection.net/junglas/
And as for price, the Junglas is less money depending on where you go. Knifeconnection has them at $155 shipped when in stock. I bought all of my new Esees there, well one at USA made Blade.
https://www.theknifeconnection.net/junglas/
Not sure how you can say that without having actually used it? I know my coworker has taken it on a few fishing trips already and has used it to clean his fish. Every time I ask him how he likes that knife he says he loves it. It won't slice as well as a thinner blade for sure but there's pros & cons to everything I guess.
Anyway, JJ Johnson also has a little review of the Long Horn:
[video=youtube;WPDRH0mJHto]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPDRH0mJHto[/video]
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So one can't comment on something unless they own and use it? Okay then...
What I do have experience with is using .25" thick knives and they don't do what knives are meant to do very well: cutting things. Chopping, Botaning, prying, and generally smashing things, yes. Cutting things? No. But hey, the OP can disregard my opinion if he wants and listen to the second hand information you are providing. To each their own.
The Junglas won't be that great at camp cutting tasks either do to its size. If it were me, and I wanted a do it all camp knife I would look at something the length of the tops and as thin or thinner than the Junglas. Luckily I don't have this problem as I always have more than one knife with me in the woods. Oh, and I would need a much better sheath than the TOPS. IMO a terrible sheath makes a great knife unusable because I won't carry it.
Quite a lot depends on blade geometry, more so than thickness.
I have 1/4 inch thick blade, which cuts better than 3/16 thick blade, which in turn cuts better than 5/32 blade. So, can thick blade cut well? Yes it can.
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Can certainly be true but generally isn't. OP would need to know more about the thickness behind the edge.
Craytab, no, don't take my comment like that. Just seemed a bit unreasonable to dismiss a knife as not being a good cutter without having any experience with it that's all. Of course, Ive only held that particular knife and haven't actually used it either so you may very well be right. I do own a Fallkniven A1 though which is a quarter inch thick and it cuts pretty darn well.
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Completely different grind and edge, right?
I do appreciate everyone's input. But I do know a thing or two about knives. I mainly use my Tops Condor Alert that is a quarter inch thick that has low saber grind. I really like the knife but it does give me a hot spot on my pinky if I use it to chop if not wearing gloves. If it didnt have that hook at the end of the tang then it would be good. Funny, I can do more fine work and feather sticks better with it, than I can with my smaller and thinner knives, even those that are almost a full flat grind. The thickness has nothing to do with how well you can use the knife. Usually its more so the length, grind angle, geometry, and even edge retention that determines how functional a knife can be. Plus having experience with Tops, they take and hold a hair shaving sharp edge very well. One of the best knives I have ever used and was a breeze at feather sticking, batoning, and general uses was my Schf9! The rubber grip was awesome and recurve worked wonderful slicing and cutting. I lost it due to a shady deal with a fellow for a trade. Learned my lesson and got burned so not doing that again. Though I have another one coming, I still want my high quality, trusty knife like my Tops. I have seen J's review of the Long Horn but he doesn't cover all the aspects of the handle ergonomics and what not. I usually like to watch Gideon's Tactical knife reviews, he explains all the ergonomics about the knife and how well it slices, chops, and batons, explains if the handle has any hot spots etc. Im wanting this knife that I can easily do all my playing out in the woods, comfortably carry just about anywhere I go, and something that works great to process my deer or elk.
Anyway, I appreciate everyone's input, but I think Im going to pull the trigger on the long horn Bowie. I believe its exactly what Im looking for and will do exactly what I want to get done. Plus it gives me an excuse to get a custom sheath! Wife couldn't argue with that!