Tops or Esee?

I have the tops BOB, it is too thick for me but I am surprised it sharpens up very well.

I want to try the brakimo which looks like it might be the better tops bushcraft knife.

I forget who the British bushcrafter is that popularized that sabre ground scandi style knife that the BOB and Brakimo are fairly reminiscent of. Sort of a Kephart outline, they seem to be du jour.

The other popular bushcrafting knife is scandinavian or finnish patterns.

These two styles seem to be the kings of the bushcrafting workd right now.
 
Tops and esee are bot great choices at that price point. Then there is the rub, at that price point there are dozens of choices. Great choices. My advice is grab the knife with the best handle and go from there.
 
LukeTheSpook said:
Tops and esee are bot great choices at that price point. Then there is the rub, at that price point there are dozens of choices. Great choices. My advice is grab the knife with the best handle and go from there.
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Good point imho. The handle makes all the difference in the world using the knife. Both knives you're looking at have relative flat factory handles. For the Esee there are much more ergonomic handles available from TKC (but they come at a price),
 
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knoefz said:
Good point imho. The handle makes all the difference in the world using the knife. Both knives you're looking at have relative flat factory handles. For the Esee there are much more ergonomic handles available from TKC (but they come at a price),
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This is why I would go with the TOPS BOB if the decision is between it and anything Esee. The BOB not only cuts better than the Esee, it comes with a very well designed and comfortable handle. By the time that you buy an Esee and put a decent set of scales on it, you are approaching Fallkniven/Bark River territory price wise. I makes no sense to me to spend that kind of money on such a mediocre performing knife.....
 
neeman said:
I am quite underwhelmed by the BOB (very polite)
The 'scandi' grind is just a convex edge backed by a saber grind, it is just too far away from a scandi
It is a heavy knife, and too short to use the weight for chopping, thick enough but too short for battening thicker rounds, and too heavy for fine work

I completely displaced the BOB by a Becker BK 16, a much lighter field knife

I have the Terävä Jääkäripuukko, 140 mm (5.5") in stainless steel
https://www.varusteleka.com/en/product/terava-jaakaripuukko-stainless-steel/56525

It is a superb field knife as tough as nails and holds a edge for ever
The Scandi has a small secondary bevel, that you can sharpen out over time to come to a zero edge
but the secondary bevel strengthens the edge
the spine is sharp for fire matches
The handle a molded rubber is very comfortable
The dangler sheath is solid leather and has a strong plastic insert that holds the knife very well

this is the 110 cm knife

And all for $65!

you can wait for the 110 (4.3") to come into stock, but it has been a long time

See comparison review 11:30 minute
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I'm getting one for myself for Christmas!
 
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