TOPS Tracker question.

F

FRANKeCAST

Joined
Dec 27, 2004
Messages
76
I was recently looking at my Tops Tom Brown,Jr Tracker knife and they give you a little Instruction manual with it.( I did a quick search,but didn't find anything regarding my question.)

The version of the knife I have is clearly different from the knife shown in the manual. My question is,where there different versions of this blade or was the blade in the manual a prototype?

My blade has a serial number of G-4413.

Frank
 
People have had handmade tracker knives. The most recent i know about was made by Roger Linger. Look for a post called roger linger WSK for pic's. Also dave beck made the tracker before TOPs and i think its better. The manual in its fullness can be found at Tom Browns website www.trackerschool.com
 
Ghost93 thanks for your reply,but I think I was unclear as to what I meant.

I have the TOPs Tracker knife,but in the manual It shows my knife only with higher grinds and a more round Quarter rounder/Gut hook. What I meant was were there different variations of the actual TOPs knife or was the knife pictured in the manual a prototype/older model that could have been changed for some reason?

Frank
 
Im not sure if there are other varitions to the TOPs version, but you could call them and ask.
 
I had one of the first year run of the production models. I also got to see and play with one of the later versions.

The observations were;

The handle on my version was much more contoured.

The "quarter rounder" on my version was much more in the shape of a hook. (but not as much as the one in the manual)

The "draw knife" grind on my version went higher.

If I remember correctly the "Tracker" knife in the manual was a prototype. They made much more of a gut hook on it. I think it was the only one done like that.

As far as different versions, I conclude that the more popular the knife became TOPS had to spend a little less time on details such as, contouring the handle slabs, to meet the demand in a more timely fashion..
 
Run a search on this website for Tops tracker or WSK you'll find lots of comparisons to Mr. Beck's version or Mr. Lingers version.
 
Frank, the only TOPS Tracker with a true "gut-hook" was number 005 and when they first came out I took pictures of it and sent them to the Tracker School upon request of Mike Fuller. The problem was it confused some people as to it's intended use so it was replaced with a standard model that did not have as pronounced a transition between grinds. A "gut-hook" at that location is only for legs and backstrap etc... getting close to the gut area just makes a big mess, trust me! Other pictures are now used in the manual and may be from some of the newer runs. Some of the first knives had a higher grind as Mike had two different people grinding them. With practice the newer models have become more uniform and cause less problems with the Kydex sheath fitting. I prefer the Sullivan Leather sheathes myself.
 
Vermonster and Allen242,

Thank you very much. I figured It had to be something along the lines of Production of the knife. I think I'm going to get rid of mine,I'm not happy with it.

Thanks.

Frank
 
FRANKeCAST said:
Vermonster and Allen242,

Thank you very much. I figured It had to be something along the lines of Production of the knife. I think I'm going to get rid of mine,I'm not happy with it.

Thanks.

Frank
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Frank,
I would be more than happy to buy your tracker from you Please let me know if you would like to do so. bennypickaxe@cox-internet.com
 
pikey30 said:
I never seem to hear much about TOPS knives, how is there quality and performance?
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Two knives from TOPS. The steel eagle and the Tom Brown Tracker. I like them both in fact most of the summer I carried both. (Not at the same time) I like the Steel Eagle a bit more than the Tracker only because it is not an easy knife to get used to. You just can't pick it up and use it. I would never part with it, I just use the Eagle a bit more. I would not have any problem only carring a tops knife of any kind and being worried it would fail. :D
 
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