-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Tops mil spie-3
- Thread starter Mistwalker
- Start date
Mistwalker
Gold Member
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2007
- Messages
- 19,053
Thanks for posting this. I thought it was 1095, didn't catch that it was 154CM when looking at it the other day.
Love the blurred batoning pics-makes it look like you're really going to town on it!
No problem man, not 1095 like most TOPS knives.
Yeah, I wasn't exactly taking it easy on it
Yeah... well...a few years learning what true hunger was really like when I was a teen gave me a deep appreciation for good food
.
Mistwalker
Gold Member
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2007
- Messages
- 19,053
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2009
- Messages
- 942
Hey mistwalker, I know this is kind of an unfair question/comparison but I'm trying to put some equipment together for my brother in law to take to his next tour in the sandbox and I'm torn between the ESEE 3-mil, ESEE HEST, ESEE 5 (yes, I know, all ESEE, but they have the best warranty and I want him to feel like he can use them for anything he needs to) but this knife also caught my eye... What would you prefer? Sounds like you also have some ESEE cutlery so I was hoping your comparison might help me out...
Thanks for the review, looks like a nice stout knife with a decent coating on there.
Thanks for the review, looks like a nice stout knife with a decent coating on there.
Mistwalker
Gold Member
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2007
- Messages
- 19,053
Actually the answer to your question really isn't as cut and dry as you may think...at least not from my perspective.
First off what you should get him may greatly depend on the SOP for his unit. Our part in the middle east is now interesting in all its "rules". I've heard stories about people in some units not being allowed to take knives over certain blade lengths.
Secondly, what he'll need will depend greatly on his role over there.
Third...opinions always vary and I really suck at saying something is categorically better than something else when all the knives mentioned are high quality tools... I really hate being drawn into that. Different knives are better at some things than other knives but that doesn't necessarily say they are better other than under specific circumstances.
Personally I know I'd want more than one knife to choose from for different tasks. Of the knives you've mentioned I only own some of them. This knife is a great knife so far. It's very utilitarian in design, it's nice and stout, and I wouldn't mind at all having it as my small knife in the field. Then the 3MIL is really hard to beat as far as slicing ability, general utility, and great multiple carry options. It's light enough that it's not a burden on long hikes loaded with gear and just like the Mil Spie 3 and HEST the size is not intimidating in a "hearts and minds campaign"...but it is a little thin for my tastes as a rough-use "survival" knife. The HEST is a great little knife too, it's stout but it has a rather short blade as it is meant to be "discrete" so... like any of these three would be better paired up with a larger knife for more capability outside an urban environment. Out in a wilderness environment I'd personally want to pair any of the above three knives with something like the ESEE-5 or 6 or a TOPS Combat Bowie 2.
Sorry I can't be more help than that....
.
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2007
- Messages
- 911
When I look at the knife Im seeing a nice blade pattern with a decent double bevel grind but piss poor handle ergos. Mostly because it looks so thin and small all around but also all the jimping and the jagged looking mini handle slabs. I've had and used similar handle designs and boy do they make otherwise fine knives into crappy ones unless Im using gloves.
If I can't work with a knife handle barehanded with serious force without it hurting my hand it's not good for edc or wilderness use. Most neckers without handle slabs suffer from this. Now look at well known Mora Clipper, a really thin small grip but ergonomically extremely nice. There is no reason why a stick or nested tang or full tang with handle slabs couldn't be made ergonomic while still being usable for iwb carry or other non-visible carry methods.
But nonetheless... what doesn't work for me may work fine for you and you do seem to get along fine with designs I shy away from. One thing I try keep in mind is if I had the chance to actually try a knife I just might change my opinion. Thanks, good review :thumbup:
If I can't work with a knife handle barehanded with serious force without it hurting my hand it's not good for edc or wilderness use. Most neckers without handle slabs suffer from this. Now look at well known Mora Clipper, a really thin small grip but ergonomically extremely nice. There is no reason why a stick or nested tang or full tang with handle slabs couldn't be made ergonomic while still being usable for iwb carry or other non-visible carry methods.
But nonetheless... what doesn't work for me may work fine for you and you do seem to get along fine with designs I shy away from. One thing I try keep in mind is if I had the chance to actually try a knife I just might change my opinion. Thanks, good review :thumbup:
Mistwalker
Gold Member
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2007
- Messages
- 19,053
While it is designed more for military applications and for hands that are much more likely to be gloved, it isn't as uncomfortable in use...the time it takes to start a fire and prepare a meal as one would think looking at it. Or at least to me it isn't, I've had no issues with it at all in such cases...but I haven't just sat around carving with it either...I don't carve recreationally.
As for stick tangs...I've loved my pilot knives and Ka-Bars very much but bent them all over time giving lessons in fire starting and trap building. The only stick tangs I've never managed to bend were my old SOG S1 Bowie with its overly thick blade and tang, and my SEAL Teams. I have decided to give a Fallkniven A1 a shot and see how it does, it should be here in a couple of days, but I have yet to see a Mora that wouldn't leave me feeling severely under-knifed in the field for my uses.
I know better than to click your threads as they really make me want whatever it is you are reviewing. Now..not only do i want a tops mil spie (add it to the list of things i want because of you ) i want some damn steak and eggs! Great review AS ALWAYS BRO! BTW check out BCUSA...someone rehandled one of your schrade designed. Looks pretty good.
) i want some damn steak and eggs! Great review AS ALWAYS BRO! BTW check out BCUSA...someone rehandled one of your schrade designed. Looks pretty good.
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2007
- Messages
- 911
I don't carve recreationally either but one doesn't have to use a knife for hours to appreciate good ergos, right. I mean good ergos improve handling precision, cutting force applied to what ever is being cut and reduce arm/hand muscles fatigue, bruising and skin abrasions.
About stick tangs, Fallknivens are robust Im sure but you might give a try for Scrapyard knives and sissipuukkos by J-P Peltonen. Both have quite robust stick tang knife models. The sissipuukkos are decepting as their tangs are nearly the width of the handle and the bigger model uses differential heat treat to toughen the blade. I bet you would like either the M95 or the M07.
But actually my point wasn't about full tangs vs stick tangs, it was handle ergos on slim knives and how that TOPS knife appears(as I have no experience with that particular one) to me as poor in that area. Handle design, construction and materials just don't look right for extended stay in the green side thats all
Oh I agree with you about Moras. I don't really care for them either because of their thin stock, obtuse grind and edge vulnerability.
Mistwalker
Gold Member
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2007
- Messages
- 19,053
I know better than to click your threads as they really make me want whatever it is you are reviewing. Now..not only do i want a tops mil spie (add it to the list of things i want because of you
Thanks Bro, glad you like the posts!
The Mil Spie is a good design. I like how it is much more utilitarian than a lot of "tactical" designs on the market today.
Steak and eggs is one of my favorite meals...I just don't eat it all the time anymore...but...knowing I was going to be cooking over an open fire a lot that trip I just couldn't resist
Thanks man, I'll check it out, I've been wanting to do that myself but really haven't had the time.
Mistwalker
Gold Member
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2007
- Messages
- 19,053
I don't carve recreationally either but one doesn't have to use a knife for hours to appreciate good ergos, right. I mean good ergos improve handling precision, cutting force applied to what ever is being cut and reduce arm/hand muscles fatigue, bruising and skin abrasions.
About stick tangs, Fallknivens are robust Im sure but you might give a try for Scrapyard knives and sissipuukkos by J-P Peltonen. Both have quite robust stick tang knife models. The sissipuukkos are decepting as their tangs are nearly the width of the handle and the bigger model uses differential heat treat to toughen the blade. I bet you would like either the M95 or the M07.
But actually my point wasn't about full tangs vs stick tangs, it was handle ergos on slim knives and how that TOPS knife appears(as I have no experience with that particular one) to me as poor in that area. Handle design, construction and materials just don't look right for extended stay in the green side thats all
Oh I agree with you about Moras. I don't really care for them either because of their thin stock, obtuse grind and edge vulnerability.
I see what you're saying. No it's definitely not going to be a favorite "bushcraft" knife as it is...new scales could change that a bit though. Mainly I was just impressed with how well it does handle in bushcrafty type tasks being marketed more to a tactical clientele. That's really not all that common lately it seems. I'd definitely take this one over a Mora any day even if I had to wrap the handle with something to make it more comfortable. I am going to try it with a cord wrap...if i ever locate my standard allen wrenches...never loan your wife you allen wrenches...
I do like the looks of a few of the Scrapyard knives I've seen, I'll give the others a look too, thanks!
Mistwalker
Gold Member
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2007
- Messages
- 19,053
I think it's going to do ok in food prep as well.
I didn't want anybody hating on me so I left out dessert...strawberries in natural syrup over Sarah Lee pound cake with real whipped cream
I tend to eat ok at home too
.
I didn't want anybody hating on me so I left out dessert...strawberries in natural syrup over Sarah Lee pound cake with real whipped cream
I tend to eat ok at home too
.
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2008
- Messages
- 1,484
Mistwalker
Gold Member
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2007
- Messages
- 19,053
Thanks JC, glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks Mick, glad you liked the post.
I've tried to like Moras I really have. I've heard so much about them and seen where so many people use them but I'm assuming they all carry a larger chopping tool. I spend a lot of time on what starts out as quick day hikes for photos that sometimes turn into over nights and I seldom take more than a knife on those trips. Moras just aren't the knife for me.
mistwalker Nice review, I enjoyed reading:thumbup:
I wonder if is a full tank or something like these two
Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed reading the post.
This one definitely has a skeletonized handle from what I saw on the TOPS site. It's marketed to be used either way...and as soon as I find my/go buy some standard allen wrenches I'm removing the scales and wrapping the handle to see how it feels.
