TOPS Tom Brown Tracker vs Paratraxx

Horn Dog

Horn Dog

Joined
Sep 9, 2005
Messages
4,363
Recently I purchased a TOPS Tom Brown Jr. Tracker. Then I saw this el cheapo copy from the ever popular Bud K for $20. Today, I tested them against each other chopping oak limbs. Both were tested "as is". The Paratraxx chopped reasonably well, but the little knife stored in the handle flew out and one of the pins in the scales started backing out. The saw on the top of the blade worked pretty well. The Tracker was next. To my dismay, the $200+ Tracker did not chop as well as the el cheapo. I suspect the reason was a slightly shorter blade and a very thick edge profile. I took the Tracker to my belt sander and put a thinner edge on it using a 180 grit belt. I finished with a fine grit German stone and a ceramic rod. The blade was now hair shaving sharp. Back to the chopping block I went. The TOPS chopped a little better, but still requried much more effort and a lot more chops than the Paratraxx. Then I tried the 1/4" thick saw. The Paratraxx saws better,too. Sorry, no pics (my daughter has the camera). The Tracker is well-made and is no doubt tougher than the 420 Pakistani Wonder. But it damn sure isn't worth ten times the price!
 
the Tops needs a massive reprofiling to make it efficient. The tracker is overpriced, IMO, but if you think about it is worth 10 times the worth of a Paratraxx- which is worth nothing. At least the TOPS is not going to self destruct in your hands while chopping wood.

Too many TOPS knives have pathetic little hollowgrinds with thick edges. You could always send it to a knifemaker and get it reprofiled. . . Or ditch it and get a knife that doesn't suck.
 
Victor, I have customized several ParaTraxx knives. I bought several from BudK. I reshape the handles, change the back contour a little or sometimes put new scales on. Buff to a mirror shine. The little knife can be tightened by drilling the detent mark in the blade a little deeper. Make a leather sheath for them and bam! Okay knife. My Tracker is now polished to a mirror finish with rattlesnake handles setting in a display case. I have a Customized ParaTraxx in each vehicle I own.
 
Thanks guys.

I really didn't need either knife, I just love to play with choppers out back, and this survival design interested me. While I am no knife maker or machinist, I am going to take some serious steel off the Tracker. I've been practicing free-hand on the Chi-Com 1" X 30" sander with cheap machetes all summer. I think I can do it alright. Glad to know its been done before. I appreciate the offer to improve the Paki-Traxx, but I think I'll just use it on my property until it self-destructs. Then maybe I'll fashion some crude rubber hose and friction tape handle for it (I'm such an artist). Its always like this. When will I ever remember that a $6.00 Tramontina will out chop a Becker? Why do we even buy choppers? My old Plumb Boy Scout axe will out chop them all. Remember the old Boy Scout axe and knife combo sets of the '60s? Its just more fun to wack things with a big bad knife, I guess.
 
It's a sad realization how many well respected companies are unable to get a decent primary grind on their not exactly cheap knives, just to satisfy their prying-doors-open customer base. Then a reality comes crashing down: You don't need to pry much with a survival knife.....because there are no doors in the wild....:D.
 
Who pries doors? Prying wood is done outdoors. The knives have shallow hollow grinds because it is cheap.
 
HoB said:
It's a sad realization how many well respected companies are unable to get a decent primary grind on their not exactly cheap knives, just to satisfy their prying-doors-open customer base. Then a reality comes crashing down: You don't need to pry much with a survival knife.....because there are no doors in the wild....:D.
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HoB: You are so very right. The real truth is, get a good machete. I'm getting too old to carry a two pound knife that makes me bend over to clear brush anyway. BTW, I just finish "reprofiling" the edge on the Tracker. As the late Israeli General Moshe Dyan said, "Ven I shut vun eye, it looks pretty good". Chops a little better, too. Good thing the edge was only about 3.5", or it would have taken much longer.
 
Victor L Ross said:
HoB: You are so very right. The real truth is, get a good machete. I'm getting too old to carry a two pound knife that makes me bend over to clear brush anyway. BTW, I just finish "reprofiling" the edge on the Tracker. As the late Israeli General Moshe Dyan said, "Ven I shut vun eye, it looks pretty good". Chops a little better, too. Good thing the edge was only about 3.5", or it would have taken much longer.
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You know the rules! Pics!! :D

I agree that a machete is much better than even a standard knife for clearing brush, but I have never had to clear brush when preparing firewood for camping. That is where a big knife is useful (not that a machete is not a big knife, just more specialized).
 
Rat Finkenstein said:
Who pries doors? Prying wood is done outdoors. The knives have shallow hollow grinds because it is cheap.
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I was trying to make somewhat of a joke, Rat. If you absolutely insist that I'd be serious :D (boy that is a stretch of the imagination): Sure there are some wood-prying applications, but really not many and usually the entire cross-section carries the brunt in those applications, so no need for a thick grind. As to who pries doors open...no need to start a fight but I have had on multiple occasions people tell me, that they needed a thick grind on survival knives because they would use their knives for forced entry, prying open all kinds of doors....

I really don't see the shallow hollow grind as a problem....if that shallow hollow grind were applied at a shallower angle and leaving a thinner shoulder thickness....the shallow hollow grind would be just fine. Besides, I think it is just as sad, if not sadder, to think that these thick grinds on a $200 knife could be explained with the cheapness of the grind.
 
Yeah, when my daughter gets back with the camera, I'll try to post some pictures. I hope they come out a little blurry. I'm sure my work is laugable to some of you guys.
 
Rat Finkenstein said:
You know the rules! Pics!! :D

I agree that a machete is much better than even a standard knife for clearing brush, but I have never had to clear brush when preparing firewood for camping. That is where a big knife is useful (not that a machete is not a big knife, just more specialized).
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I've chopped a fair amount of campfire wood with machetes, but a big heavy blade might do it better. Any excuse for me to continue with my insane addiction to big ole knives will do just fine. Thanks.
 
HoB said:
I was trying to make somewhat of a joke, Rat. If you absolutely insist that I'd be serious (boy that is a stretch of the imagination): Sure there are some wood-prying applications, but really not many and usually the entire cross-section carries the brunt in those applications, so no need for a thick grind. As to who pries doors open...no need to start a fight but I have had on multiple occasions people tell me, that they needed a thick grind on survival knives because they would use their knives for forced entry, prying open all kinds of doors....



I really don't see the shallow hollow grind as a problem....if that shallow hollow grind were applied at a shallower angle and leaving a thinner shoulder thickness....the shallow hollow grind would be just fine. Besides, I think it is just as sad, if not sadder, to think that these thick grinds on a $200 knife could be explained with the cheapness of the grind.
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I agree- Which is why I prefer a Full Flat Grind. A full Hollow grind all the way to the spine would also perform well.
 
Victor L Ross said:
I've chopped a fair amount of campfire wood with machetes, but a big heavy blade might do it better. Any excuse for me to continue with my insane addiction to big ole knives will do just fine. Thanks.
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I have as well. It did get the job done. :thumbup:

Of course a chainsaw and woodsplitter would have been easier. . . :D

machete.jpg
 
So the Paratraxx would be a good one to try some mods?

Does it comes with a sheath?
 
Yeah, a very heavy duty plastic one with steel belt clips for vert or horiz carry. Sorry, forgot to get pic of sheath.
 
Wow! that Tracker has a very short edge grind. (smaller than I thought it was) It should have been made with a flat or convex grind all the way to the spine (or close to it), IMO.



Looks like you have a few good choppers there. :thumbup:
 
I have a trunk full of them. I just grabbed these for a quick pic before the sun went down. As you can probably see, the Ontario Bowie and Camp machete are the two most worn. The RTAK has been used a lot, but it still looks pretty good. Recently, I got the new RTAK II. It is really sweet. More comfortable handle and seems to have better balance. I really like the Ranger RD-9, but haven't used it much....yet. The Tom Brown Tracker is a real diappointment. It costs twice as much as the RTAK, and is a poor chopper. It is heavy, though. Would make a great $200 boat anchor.
 
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