- Joined
- Oct 25, 2003
- Messages
- 703
I have been a knife enthusiast all my life and only now have I purchased the perfect knife.
The TOPS Moccasin Ranger is a full-tang 11.75 inch fighting/woods knife made from 1095 carbon steel 1/4 inch thick and tempered to rockwell 58. It has a slightly upswept 6.5 inch blade with a thick center ridge. The handle is grey linen micarta with a cool swirled pattern and the knife is powder coated black. It comes with one of the new black plastic-molded kydex sheaths. The entire knife is carved into a graceful S pattern. Including shipping the knife runs a little over $200 Note: the center ridge on my knife is thicker that the center ridge shown on some of the drawn images of the knife. In other words, go by the photograph in the TOPS web-site to see the real knife, not the drawing.
This is the ultimate knife. The moment you hold it in your hand you feel the quality. I cannot say enough about it. For years, I've been searching for a 1/4 inch 1095 knife with the slightly up-swept curve of the traditional long-hunter knives of the 1700's. I know 1'4 inch steel is pretty thick for most actual cutting jobs, but it just feels so heavy and solid. You get the feeling that you're holding a knife that will last a literal lifetime, one you could pound through the side of a tank.
I prefer a choke-up hold and this knife comes through with one of the most comfortable handles I have ever felt. It works well with any grip and isn't slippery.
The point is sharp without being fragile. Arguably, drop-point designs are inherantly stronger than up-swepts, but with 1'4" steel I think the point is moot (bad pun). The edge is razor sharp and touches up beautifully with an Arkansas stone. I would never own stainless anymore. Blue steel (carbon) just has so much more personality. Also it is so much tougher because of its flexability. Stainless will always feel brittle to me. I don't care what they say, carbon steel is tougher and it sharpens easier.
The Moccasin Ranger is kind of big for concealment. The plastic sheath, while practical, doesn't hide well. However, I plan to rivet my owh sheath out of leather (a job I've done many times). With a clip, it should make a good inside-the-pants job. The Moccasin Ranger doesn't have a overly thick handle, so I'm betting it will conceal well, even under a T-shirt. I love the fact that it has no guard and there's no ridge on the back edge to get in the way of your thumb.
A knife is man's perfect weapon and this one is simplicity itself. I may never have to buy another knife.
The TOPS Moccasin Ranger is a full-tang 11.75 inch fighting/woods knife made from 1095 carbon steel 1/4 inch thick and tempered to rockwell 58. It has a slightly upswept 6.5 inch blade with a thick center ridge. The handle is grey linen micarta with a cool swirled pattern and the knife is powder coated black. It comes with one of the new black plastic-molded kydex sheaths. The entire knife is carved into a graceful S pattern. Including shipping the knife runs a little over $200 Note: the center ridge on my knife is thicker that the center ridge shown on some of the drawn images of the knife. In other words, go by the photograph in the TOPS web-site to see the real knife, not the drawing.
This is the ultimate knife. The moment you hold it in your hand you feel the quality. I cannot say enough about it. For years, I've been searching for a 1/4 inch 1095 knife with the slightly up-swept curve of the traditional long-hunter knives of the 1700's. I know 1'4 inch steel is pretty thick for most actual cutting jobs, but it just feels so heavy and solid. You get the feeling that you're holding a knife that will last a literal lifetime, one you could pound through the side of a tank.
I prefer a choke-up hold and this knife comes through with one of the most comfortable handles I have ever felt. It works well with any grip and isn't slippery.
The point is sharp without being fragile. Arguably, drop-point designs are inherantly stronger than up-swepts, but with 1'4" steel I think the point is moot (bad pun). The edge is razor sharp and touches up beautifully with an Arkansas stone. I would never own stainless anymore. Blue steel (carbon) just has so much more personality. Also it is so much tougher because of its flexability. Stainless will always feel brittle to me. I don't care what they say, carbon steel is tougher and it sharpens easier.
The Moccasin Ranger is kind of big for concealment. The plastic sheath, while practical, doesn't hide well. However, I plan to rivet my owh sheath out of leather (a job I've done many times). With a clip, it should make a good inside-the-pants job. The Moccasin Ranger doesn't have a overly thick handle, so I'm betting it will conceal well, even under a T-shirt. I love the fact that it has no guard and there's no ridge on the back edge to get in the way of your thumb.
A knife is man's perfect weapon and this one is simplicity itself. I may never have to buy another knife.
