TOPS Shango..

mtnfolk mike

mtnfolk mike

Gold Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2006
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those of you that have been on the forums for a while, know that i am a sucker for a good neck knife, and/or small utility style fixed blade... when i heard that Joezilla had designed a necker for TOPS knives.. i knew that i had to give it a try....
i have had this knife this knife for a few weeks now, and had meant to write a review after i got it, but we have been super busy and i also started a new PT job, which is going very well..


i now present you with the TOPS SHANGO.. designed by Joezilla (a.k.a. Joe Flowers)

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here are some specs as per TOPS site...

O/A Length: 6 1/2"
Bladen Length: 2 3/4"
Thickness: 5/32"
Steel: 440C RC 58-60 Cryo Treated
Handle: Skeleton
Blade Color: Tactical Gray
Sheath: Kydex
Weight: .15lb

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out of the box, the knife was surprisingly sharp... despite having TOPS thick grind, it cuts fuzz sticks with no problem what so ever...

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i have been carrying and using this knife just about everyday since i got it... it has done just about everything an EDC/neck knife is meant to do... after i had recieved it, i carried this knife the whole time during a 5 day camping trip and 3-d archery shoot.. it was the go to knife for me... the size and shape of the knife are very versatile and user friendly...

the SHANGO has been used for a lot of kitchen prep work and is continuing to do so, the nice wide bellied blade is suited perfectly for the job... to the blade would also make a nice skinner as well.. the hump along the spine allows you to easliy choke up on the blade if needed..

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yummy... teriyaki skirt steak...

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the SHANGO comes with a very well made fold over kydex sheath, i was really impressed with it, when i first opened the box.. it even has a thumb ramp along the back, so the knife can be pulled out easlily..

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TOPS also includes some really cool little gadgets with the SHANGO... a pocket sharpener, a loud whistle and a cool magnesium/ferro rod combo..

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one of my favorite features of this knife, is the small scraper at thebase of the blade... it is designed to be used for for scarping the magnesium and then striking it with the ferro rod... Joe makes it look really easy in his video, but it does take a few tries to get used to it and get going.. i finally did after the 4th or 6th try...

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all in all i think this is a very cool knife and a really well thought out design.. nice job once again and congrats to JOezilla... if your looking for a new neck knife and or EDC fixed blade, give the TOPS SHANGO a try... it is a lot of blade for such a small package...

thanks for looking...

cheers... Mike
 
tops knives must among the most overpriced knives on the market. what makes them so expensive, the quality of the steel? maybe it's the mall ninja names they give them.
 
I wonder how hard it would be to put some handle slabs on that?

I like that is has a real point; in my book, that is a necessity for a small knife.
 
shumpo soki said:
tops knives must among the most overpriced knives on the market. what makes them so expensive, the quality of the steel? maybe it's the mall ninja names they give them.
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TOPs tends to get this a lot. I'm not sure why. I think it is the noobs like the one quoted who have yet to actually experience anything bladewise and have little faculty but to repeat what other noobs have said.

If you are going to try and lump TOPs into a hype-inflated company try again. While, I do not like all of their offerings and they are creative on their names (the owners are known to have a sense of humour - tactical steak knife anyone?), I give them credit for coming up with unique designs like this one.

Perhaps the person quoted isn't familiar with the quality of 1095 with a good heat treat? It is considered by many to be one of the best cutlery steels out there. What it lacks in stain resistance it makes up for in spades on toughness and ease of sharpening. So it has been used for more than a century. It works and it works well. Check out some of the finest custom makers here on BF and many of them choose 1095.

Don't criticize the steel, criticize the blade geometry because that is usually where TOPs needs more effort. While we talk about steel choice and cost factor, draw your eye to the handle materials (not this necker version, but most TOPS offerings). They use high quality micarta and not a cheap rubber/kraton coating like many other companies which try to blindside you into a price point by putting in a new steel of the day all the while cheaping out on the handle materials.

Anyhow, good review Mntfolk Mike. Good to see this in General Discussion too!
 
it's 440C not 1095 - too bad, and I wonder why it's coated if it's 440C? I like the design a lot though!
 
Now here's a straightforward and excellent review of a well-thought out and designed knife!

I give everything about it :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
fishface5 said:
it's 440C not 1095 - too bad, and I wonder why it's coated if it's 440C? I like the design a lot though!
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Just from a comfort standpoint in a neck knife, a coated tang is more comfortable against the skin than a bare metal tang once the temperature gets below about 40 F. True, while you're wearing it it'll heat up, but once you have it out and using it and then pop it back under your shirt, there's a noticeable little shudder you have to go through. I had my Simonich Bitter Root up antelope hunting in Wyoming and had used it putting my game tag on, and those couple of minutes out in the fifteen degree weather seemed to turn that little guy into a piece of dry ice. :D
 
I like the design. Well thought out and executed. My problem is I can't stand stainless steel.
 
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