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TOPS tough?
- Thread starter cupcake
- Start date
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- May 19, 2003
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- 1,848
They use 1095 carbon steel...pretty good stuff.
Good edge retention, not as flexable as some other steels out there.
Good edge retention, not as flexable as some other steels out there.
There is one at the house here that has been beat up a bit with no problems. I believe it was an early A2 variant though... Either way, I have had a few that held up quite well. I find them a bit overpriced for 1095 personally, but other than that they are damned fine knives.
Cliff Stamp
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- Oct 5, 1998
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- 17,562
cupcake :
Considering the warrenty is claused against abuse, this doesn't say they are very tough at all. I have used one (Steel Eagle) and saw breakage under minimal forces. If you want a heavy duty knife; Himalayan Imports sells high quality large khukuris and Swamp Rat and Busse Combat high quality fixed blades.
-Cliff
Considering the warrenty is claused against abuse, this doesn't say they are very tough at all. I have used one (Steel Eagle) and saw breakage under minimal forces. If you want a heavy duty knife; Himalayan Imports sells high quality large khukuris and Swamp Rat and Busse Combat high quality fixed blades.
-Cliff
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2003
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- 1,268
I got some TOPS, they're good knives, 1095 steel...sheaths are ok...But for the price of a TOPS believe me a Swamp Rat is much better!
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2003
- Messages
- 44
I have a TOPS CAT and have used it hard with no problems. It even survived a horrific drunken knive test/ passaround in which several ammocans lost their lives.
Despite what Cliff says, I have seen some of the knives repaired under warranty and find it hard to believe they were not abused. But they were repaired or replaced anyway and that speaks a great deal about TOPS service. Plus, you don't have to wait a year to get it back like some other makers. As for tough, most people I know who actually USE their knives like 1095 steel, it's not sexy or flashy just dependable and when heat treated properly outlasts most of the 'fancy new steels'.
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2001
- Messages
- 27,031
TOPS knives ARE tough! The coating scuffs and scratches pretty easy, but who cares? Just from a standpoint of cost of raw materials vs. finished product, they are a little pricey for being 1095... but 1095 is still a great steel! It takes a wicked edge pretty easy, and holds it a good while. From my personal experience, they have excellent customer service.
As for being "as tough as the ads say they are" - I don't know. How tough do their ads say they are?
As for being "as tough as the ads say they are" - I don't know. How tough do their ads say they are?
averageguy
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- Jun 10, 1999
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- 1,599
Tough on a budget for a fraction of the price = Greco knives.
Beware though, fairly thick edges like on some standard Busse knives (does not apply to Greco customs which are wonderfully ground).
Fit and finish is not as nice as TOPS.
Before I would buy from any of the above mentioned makers I would look at the Becker line of knives from Camillus and more especially the new RTAK - TAK and RAT7 from Ontario. For a little more than these check out the Entrek line of knives - talk about tough on a budget and very nicely ground. I was VERY impressed with an Entrek Huntsman I picked up recently.
If you want quality tough with nice grinds for TOPS prices look for a Dawson or Siegle knife. The Moxie Fighter from Mr. Hankins is also a pretty tough knife at a very fair price.
Beware though, fairly thick edges like on some standard Busse knives (does not apply to Greco customs which are wonderfully ground).
Fit and finish is not as nice as TOPS.
Before I would buy from any of the above mentioned makers I would look at the Becker line of knives from Camillus and more especially the new RTAK - TAK and RAT7 from Ontario. For a little more than these check out the Entrek line of knives - talk about tough on a budget and very nicely ground. I was VERY impressed with an Entrek Huntsman I picked up recently.
If you want quality tough with nice grinds for TOPS prices look for a Dawson or Siegle knife. The Moxie Fighter from Mr. Hankins is also a pretty tough knife at a very fair price.