Tops pathfinder school knife (or go save with ESEE3?)

F

Fjell

Joined
Oct 11, 2007
Messages
97
I'm looking to buy a new small fixed blade. During my search I came across the Pathfinder School Knife.

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I like the looks of the knife though it seems to me shaped more as a hunter-knife then a bushcraft knife. However, I have no experience with the brand Tops at all. It's not a wellknown brand where I live. On the internet I also couldn't find many reviews of this knife. Apparently it isn't popular/much sold.

Is here anyone who has experience with this knife. Is it worth buying. Or could ik beter go for the esee3 which has a proven track-record?

Thanks for the input.
 
I have both and you really can't go wrong with either, I'd more directly compare the Pathfinder to the ESEE4, as it's a little larger than the ESEE3.

Having said that, the Pathfinder School knife has become my main knife, it goes everywhere I go in the field, I've field dressed a deer and either used or tested it for just about everything and it just keeps on going.

Probably the best online reviews are Will Stewart's at Woods Monkey or Mistwalker's right here on BF.

The one downside to the Pathfinder is the typical TOPS thin kydex sheath, but I ordered the optional tan sheath with the flap and MOLLE attachments, in a southpaw version straight from TOPS. Adds more cost to the knife, but is worth it.

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or save even more money and go with the KaBar/Becker 17.

The TOPS just isn't the blade shape/design I would look for to be a bushcraft/rural survival knife. Looks more like a urban commando ''survival'' knife. But that's just me.

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The E3 is a nice blade though, but like was said, the E4 is closer in size to the TOPS.

The only thing with ESEE knives is the handle ergos, some people like the square scales but a lot of people dont. They are rather slab-sided
 
That KaBar/Becker 17 looks like a great knife, and even I'd admit it is a LOT cheaper than the TOPS. I've wanted to order one myself, but the last year of so I've been trying to make myself "use what I have" more and "buy more stuff" less, but that series from KaBar/Becker looks like a lot of good planning went into them!
 
Go get yourself a Blind Horse Knives large workhorse. Excellent knife. If it's too big get a BHK Patch knife I love mine, on hiking and backpacking trips I carry a boys axe (28in) and my 7in patch knife.

Just my 2cents

~Zim
 
That question is like asking whether you should get an apple or an orange in my opinion. I have both and both are fine knives. The TOPS is 3/16 steel where the ESEE=3 is a shy 1/8, the TOPS has a fuller handle, but is rougher textured than the ESEE-3, the TOPS has a sharper tip, the ESEE has more belly. The ESEE-3 is an awesome slicer but I'd take the TOPS PSK in the bush given the choice. Remove the guards and it's near my ideal bushcraft knife.
 
You have more grip, holding, cutting, positions with the esee3 because of the lack of guard. Also, when not in the woods, being a bit smaller you'll take it with you more often while in the city.
 
Thanks for the input. Somehow I overlooked the thickness of the pathfinder knife. I thought it was like the esee3, but it's like the esee4. I don't like thicker blades on small knives, so for now I think I favor the esee3.

I didn't saw the BK17 before. It's a nice looking blade. I have a BK9 which I like, but the handles aren't good and the sheath is really awfull. How is this with the BK17?
 
Fjell said:
I didn't saw the BK17 before. It's a nice looking blade. I have a BK9 which I like, but the handles aren't good and the sheath is really awfull. How is this with the BK17?
Click to expand...

The sheaths for the BK17 (and the 16 and 15) are high quality nylon...MOLLE compatible. I'm not a fan of nylon sheaths, but these are very nice...totally unlike the BK9 sheaths. The scales are zytel, comes with a brown and a black set...but KaBar is releasing factory micarta scales as an upgrade....sometime or other. TommyTheWho makes very nice wood scales for them.

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17, 16, 15 from top to bottom

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top is factory, bottom has been stripped and blued.

sheath
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The thing that I didn't like about the ESEE-3 is the handle. It was way too thin to be comfortable to my hands. I certainly wouldn't buy one without handling one first. The TOPS looks much more comfortable to me.
 
You can get an ESEE-3 blank and some scales from the knife connection for a tiny bit more than you can get a stock ESEE-3 from other places.
 
I got the Tops. 5" Steel Eagle with saw back for a tester, & after testing I had pmoore take that traction coating off & convex it & it turned out to.be a good add on;)
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