TOPS love'um or hate'um

[ZOO]

I own 2 TOPS knives 1)screaming eagle and 1) wolf pup.

thoughts anyone??

Zoo

 

[Temper]

I have a plain C.A.T love it

 

[durbanposion]

how do they hold up under hard use?

 

[djolney]

I keep having a problem with spending that much on a piece of non differentially tempered 1095.

I like the designs, but would like to see a more robust steel and heat treat protocol.

But I'll probably end up with a Steel Eagle, eventually.

 

[madcap_magician]

I have a Prairie Fox and a Ranger Shortstop. The grip on the Ranger Shortstop is too short, but it's a pretty knife. The Prairie Fox is one of the most useful knives I've ever seen, and the blade coating they use is thick and tough. Both knives were razor sharp when I got them, and while 1095 isn't any S30V, it's a good, solid steel, even if I do prefer stainless. I would highly recommend many of their small FBs for pocket carry, especially the Street Scalpel.

 

[Daniel L]

I've never handled one, but the pitcures seem to show pretty thick grinds... how do these cut? (i.e. are the edges overly thick?)

thanks,

 

[Goodmanfj]

I have one of the Hoods Woods Anaconda's and love it ,great digger, hacks like a axe. I have hit wire fence , rocks and the steel holds up great, Also they are great people to deal with ,.

 

[benchmademan]

i carry a TOPS Tracker in my backpacking rig. it's very useful in the woods for chopping and brush clearing. i use a smaller fixed blade as a companion for food prep or smaller tasks. i love it. it's a very well made and well designed blade. i really like the steel that it uses. i'd recomend it to anyone looking for a no-compromise outdoor hard-use knife.

 

[SilverFoxKnows]

great little knife. I don't know why there isn't more buzz about this one.

Frank

 

[madcap_magician]

Yeah, only I accidentally dropped mine on the laundry room floor in my dorm basement, cracked the damn tip right off. I felt like an idiot.

 

[Brian Jones]

Folks,

I still say 1095 is one of the best all-around steels to use in the woods. The combination of toughness, edge-holding, and ease of resharpening in the field all make it great for my use.

Bill Bagwell said it best: there is a lot of hype about the latest-greatest steels, because there is so much competition in the knife field, and everyone is trying to make waves by coming out with, or using, new "super" steels. It's a lot of hype in most cases.

Very few of the "wonder steels" were actually made for use as a knife steel.

For example, when I have military folks ask me if they should go with D2 or 1095 in a combat/utility knife, I always tell them go with 1095, as D2 can be too brittle for impact and prying work, and can chip out or break. Not that D2 is a new wonder steel, but you get the idea...

~B.

 

[Danbo]

For the most part, I think TOPS knives are overpriced for what you get. However, I do like some of their models and own one of the models that Rob Simonich designed. I think it's called the Lancero, and is ground out of CPM3V. I do like that knife quite a bit.

 

[Peter La]

1095 is a good all round steel, key word good. Their prices seem a little high for the steel they use. Of course, I have never held one so I cannot comment on anything else.