Tops steel eagle for survival?

Status
Not open for further replies.
stabman said:
Ain't it weird how so many people don't ask themself that?
C'mon people, if you want to know what would be a good knife for "survival" in the woods, how about you go into the woods with some knives and test them out?
It ain't rocket science, and it ain't something that the internet can really tell you either...but a couple of days in the woods will.:)
Click to expand...

I worry a bit that the OP hasn't addressed that question, especially if he is planning an "indefinite" stay in the outdoors in Colorado. The TOPs Steel Eagle series is not the choice of someone who has spent much time in the woods, in my opinion. t's not the kind of tool that one spending an extended period of time outdoors would really consider using.

Hopefully I have gotten the wrong impression and he has spent some days in the woods practicing with the tools and developing the skills needed to spend an extended period in the woods.

It's really the same point that CWL was making.

Indefinite period outdoors in Colorado + expecting that a TOPs steel eagle would let you "survive" there = disaster (and probably a real survival scenario)
 
I'm a strongly believe that the people who own the knife should give the input about it. Experienced knives people concepts can be very speculative on the subject.

Cliff Stamp, did a review on the tanto version of steel eagle, which indeed give a good point of start.
http://www.cliffstamp.com/knives/reviews/steel_eagle.html

I own the steel eagle for many many years now and it's a very capable knife once you understand edge geometry; that the new owner should give to the knife to be able to use it at 100% of the capacity.


NEC_0301.jpg


NEC_0700.jpg
 
marcinek said:
What have you used in your previous visits to the woods? What did you like/dislike about the knives you used?
Click to expand...

Therein lies one of the problems... The knives I have had have always been too pretty to use because I didn't want to damage them. What a wuss. The only blades that I have really used camping have been machetes and hatchets for chopping wood. I havent done any campcraft or bushcraft but i guess this summer is as good as any to start.
 
Megadavric said:
Therein lies one of the problems... The knives I have had have always been too pretty to use because I didn't want to damage them. What a wuss. The only blades that I have really used camping have been machetes and hatchets for chopping wood. I havent done any campcraft or bushcraft but i guess this summer is as good as any to start.
Click to expand...

That's what kind of worried me. If you are planning "...to survive in Colorado for an indefinite period of time..." I think a few "controlled" trips seeing what campcraft and bushcraft skills/tools you might need would be in order.
 
marcinek said:
I worry a bit that the OP hasn't addressed that question, especially if he is planning an "indefinite" stay in the outdoors in Colorado. The TOPs Steel Eagle series is not the choice of someone who has spent much time in the woods, in my opinion. t's not the kind of tool that one spending an extended period of time outdoors would really consider using.

Hopefully I have gotten the wrong impression and he has spent some days in the woods practicing with the tools and developing the skills needed to spend an extended period in the woods.

It's really the same point that CWL was making.

Indefinite period outdoors in Colorado + expecting that a TOPs steel eagle would let you "survive" there = disaster (and probably a real survival scenario)
Click to expand...

Hey marcinek, cwl and stabman, I totally understand that concept. I'm not "planning" anything of the sort which is why I didn't say I was.

Sometimes it is better in life to try and learn from the experiences of others and go from there rather than learning the same lesson that someone might have already learned with a tool(e.g. Tops Steel Eagle aka "sharpened pry-bar") and spending the extra money that you didn't have to.

The need for practice with anything on which you plan on relying is obvious to anyone with a room temperature or greater IQ.

All I was asking for from this brain trust (theoretically full of expertise in the various knife crafts) was an opinion. You answered it by saying "The TOPs Steel Eagle series is not the choice of someone who has spent much time in the woods, in my opinion." Say no more.

Thank you.
 
Megadavric said:
The need for practice with anything on which you plan on relying is obvious to anyone with a room temperature or greater IQ.
Click to expand...

Obviously you haven't been here very long!!! :) Big, silly knife toting, survival fantasists pop up here all the time. Been watching too many "Survival" shows thinking that TV survival guru X's endorsed knife is going to magically allow them to survive in the woods. If one is doing this survival not too far away from the car, it's all great fun and Myke Hawke's survival-licious Hellion will be fine. Bash away!

But it's pure fantasy, and a ton of people have bought it hook, line, and sinker. Glad to hear you haven't.

Go check out the sub-sub forums in The Great Outdoors subforum here. That's where the experienced experts are...many of them just using a 10 buck Mora and a folding saw.
 
I think you should get what you will enjoy using/owning the most, rather than what's the most proper or practical way.

you're doing this for fun in the end, not to hide away in the woods forever, right? :) at least i hope so :p
 
For 33 ounces you can get several dedicated tools. rather than one big heavy cumbersome one that wont really excel at anything in particular.

Like .....

Bahco laplander saw ......6 oz
GB small forest axe........24 oz
Most 3-4" puukkos........4 -6 oz

Total 34 ounces. And each tool will work circles around the steel eagle at its intended purpose.

Or TONS of other combinations. Frankly as a one size fits all survival blade I think Id rather have a machete than the Tops. Lighter, easier to sharpen , less fatigue from working all day with it........

If you just want a cool badass knife thats a different story however, I have OTF autos for that same reason. But theres cool and theres work.....cool usually ends up opening the mail;)
 
Last edited:
Why do you think you "need" a big knife? What can you do with one and why would it be better than a 4" Mora?

Once again, your experience & skills mean much more than carrying the biggest knife you can afford.

From your original post, it appears that you are one of a long line of people who seem to equate Big Knife=I know what I'm doing. This doesn't make any real sense.

If you share what you realistically plan to do with that knife, then you may get better responses from some of us.

Typically, the kind of person who posts "Hey, I want a big knife for survival!" is code for "I don't know what I'm doing, so I think a big knife will compensate for my lack of wilderness skills!"
 
CWL said:
Why do you think you "need" a big knife? What can you do with one and why would it be better than a 4" Mora?

Once again, your experience & skills mean much more than carrying the biggest knife you can afford.

From your original post, it appears that you are one of a long line of people who seem to equate Big Knife=I know what I'm doing. This doesn't make any real sense.

If you share what you realistically plan to do with that knife, then you may get better responses from some of us.

Typically, the kind of person who posts "Hey, I want a big knife for survival!" is code for "I don't know what I'm doing, so I think a big knife will compensate for my lack of wilderness skills!"
Click to expand...

Do you mean to tell me that a big knife won't make me look like Arnold either? You can't read into this. The Tops was a gift so I wanted to ask the opinions of real knife experts (like you obviously). I don't know what I want "want" I just know what I have. Reading all over this forum and recently in the great outdoors section (per the suggestion of mercinek) I think I need to pick up something smaller with a fixed blade and either a flat or convex grind and begin studying bushcraft for that application. I also think that I need to hang the Tops on the wall or put it into a display case next to the OTF Automatic I was also given as a gift...
 
Megadavric said:
Do you mean to tell me that a big knife won't make me look like Arnold either? You can't read into this. The Tops was a gift so I wanted to ask the opinions of real knife experts (like you obviously). I don't know what I want "want" I just know what I have. Reading all over this forum and recently in the great outdoors section (per the suggestion of mercinek) I think I need to pick up something smaller with a fixed blade and either a flat or convex grind and begin studying bushcraft for that application. I also think that I need to hang the Tops on the wall or put it into a display case next to the OTF Automatic I was also given as a gift...
Click to expand...

Honestly look into getting an ESEE 3. It will do 99% of the things you need a knife for and for most people its unbreakable and heck if you do break it they simply replace it. However its a carbon steel blade (1095) so you will need to oil the non coated parts of the blade or they will rust.
 
If your only 2 knives are the TOPS and an OTF, perhaps you aren't ready to go into the woods just yet.

Like I said, skills over big knife any day, any season.
 
Megadavric said:
The Tops was a gift ...
Click to expand...

I'm actually reassured to know you got the TOPs as a gift and were wondering if it was good for the woods, as opposed to you intending to "survive in Colorado for an indefinite period of time" and you were thinking about getting that TOPs! :thumbup:

I agree strongly with what some of the others have posted. If you are driving out to the woods to have some fun, that TOPs might be a blast to play with. Bashing trees and whatnot.

If you are going to the woods to "practice survival," then I also think it's a great choice. Equipment in that case doesn't matter. In fact, the worse the equipment, the more you are going to be forced to learn your mental skills. So that sawback thing (do you have the tanto?) would be ideal.

Many of the serious, "hard core" woods guys I see around here seem to carry a relatively thin 4 inch fixed blade. The most serious, hard core woods guy I know carries ones. I doubt if he ever batons. I've seen him take soaked wood and start a blazing fire. The dude has skills.
 
CWL said:
If your only 2 knives are the TOPS and an OTF, perhaps you aren't ready to go into the woods just yet.

Like I said, skills over big knife any day, any season.
Click to expand...

I have others and a Graham Jackyl that should be comming soon(opinion?) but I bought that. Any suggestions on courses, books or videos to get a start and do some homework before I go out to camp?
 
marcinek said:
I'm actually reassured to know you got the TOPs as a gift and were wondering if it was good for the woods, as opposed to you intending to "survive in Colorado for an indefinite period of time" and you were thinking about getting that TOPs! :thumbup:

I agree strongly with what some of the others have posted. If you are driving out to the woods to have some fun, that TOPs might be a blast to play with. Bashing trees and whatnot.

If you are going to the woods to "practice survival," then I also think it's a great choice. Equipment in that case doesn't matter. In fact, the worse the equipment, the more you are going to be forced to learn your mental skills. So that sawback thing (do you have the tanto?) would be ideal.

Many of the serious, "hard core" woods guys I see around here seem to carry a relatively thin 4 inch fixed blade. The most serious, hard core woods guy I know carries ones. I doubt if he ever batons. I've seen him take soaked wood and start a blazing fire. The dude has skills.
Click to expand...

Alright I see where you guys are comming from and appreciate your concern.
 
CWL said:
Pssst. It isn't really the knife, it's really your experience and knowledge of outdoor survival skills that will save you.
Click to expand...

CWL said:
If your only 2 knives are the TOPS and an OTF, perhaps you aren't ready to go into the woods just yet.

Like I said, skills over big knife any day, any season.
Click to expand...


Now wait a minuite. If you dont have the right knives your not ready to go into the woods to gain the experience you need to be able to go into the woods, even though the knives dont matter?:rolleyes:

Your right experience and knowledge are everything. And last I checked there is only one real way to get those and it isnt by being belittled by people on the internet. You and I both know that you could take that Steel eagle and do a fine job of getting by in the bush. Albeit at serious risk of looking like a greenhorn. Is it the most apropriate gear selection for the job?...of course not, but it would damm sure get the job done, now wouldnt it.

Cut the guy some slack would ya? At least he has sense enough to realize going into the woods requires some thought out cutlery, hes on here askin and learning. So far just catching alot of flak.
 
CWL said:
Why do you think you "need" a big knife? What can you do with one and why would it be better than a 4" Mora?
Click to expand...


A Mora can't substitute a big knife.... no way, big knife can't substitute a machete neither.


CWL said:
Like I said, skills over big knife any day, any season.
Click to expand...

Thats the funny thing. You will be better off by saying "skills over No knife any day, any season."

Well, if you trust your skill that much "size don't matter" ain't!?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top