Tops Power Eagle??? Anybody use one?

S

Scottman

Joined
Jun 24, 2007
Messages
1,079
I'm in the "want" for a new bush tool, a "chopper" knife in the around $150-250 mark. Has anyone used this tool?



O/A Length: 17 5/8"
Blade Length: 12"
Thickness: 1/4"
Steel: 51-60 Spring Steel
Handle: Tan Canvas Micarta
Blade Color: Black Traction Coating
Sheath: Nylon
Weight: 1.6 lbs
With sheath: 2.0 lbs
Designed by: Leo Espinoza
 
I've heard good things about it. Aside from cost, TOPS does make solid bladed tools. The nice thing about the Power Eagle is the full, flat grind and the leaf shap. You get mass when you need it, the grind profile would help in cutting and the point is still useful. It's heavier than similar sized machetes, so the purpose has to be more towards thicker vegetation; it's not something you're going to use to clear a bunch of briars or tall grass. On the flip side, it would do much better at chopping thicker material...

ROCK6
 
I've handled one, like how it felt. But at the time I decided to buy several Condor machetes instead. As was stated, it'll be a better at thicker stuff. It's too beefy for thinner stuff in my opinion.
 
ROCK6 said:
I've heard good things about it. Aside from cost, TOPS does make solid bladed tools. The nice thing about the Power Eagle is the full, flat grind and the leaf shap. You get mass when you need it, the grind profile would help in cutting and the point is still useful. It's heavier than similar sized machetes, so the purpose has to be more towards thicker vegetation; it's not something you're going to use to clear a bunch of briars or tall grass. On the flip side, it would do much better at chopping thicker material...

ROCK6
Click to expand...

That pretty well sums it up. It's great if what you are chopping in heavier saplings or bamboo, for making camp or building a fighting position...or a heavier shelter where snow is more of a concern than rain. For briers it can be a bit much because you have to back off the amount of force or else the recovery from the strike becomes fatiguing to the side of the body used. Once you learn to control the mass it isn't bad though, and works great for clean cutting through up to 1-1/4 hickory saplings and even larger if you're strong enough. I know two survival instructors in Michigan for whom the Power Eagle is their go-to knife in the winter, and one of them is Len McDougall.
 
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