tops worth it?

M

Matt Seling

Joined
Oct 12, 1998
Messages
285
Am I under the wrong assumtion that Tops might be charging a bit much for their carbon steel knives. Or are their designs well worth the money, assumed that they are coustum or semi?

thanks
Matthias
 
Very much worth the money. The craftsmanship and the "presence" of the knives when you hold them are incredible. Fit and finish are incredible. Many blades in 154cm as well, heat-treated by Paul Bos.

The pictures on the website don't do the knives justice. Everyone from BFC and elsewhere, when I have them hold some of my TOPS blades, are struck, exclaming "WOW! I didn't realize how sweet these things were!"

I've used several of their blades in intense wilderness, or other situations, that would constitute knife abuse, and they sailed through the punishment with no problem at all.

Best,

Brian.
 
I agree that TOPS are good knives that perform well. However, I also agree that some of their 1095 knives are over priced. TOPS is not custom, it's a factory, but I believe they do a lot of hand finishing. I wouldn't buy a TOPS sight unseen, some of their more radical designs look good on the page, but, at least to my taste, don't make the grade in the hand. My personal feeling is that the higher marketing presence comes with a higher price.
 
TOPS is a semi-custom shop, with every knife overseen by Mike Fuller personally. The blanks are laser cut, then all the work is done by hand by craftsmen in the shop, as well as heat treat. They are what I'd call semi-custom, but most certainly not factory pieces.

Best,

Brian.
 
Originally posted by Brian Jones
Many blades in 154cm as well, heat-treated by Paul Bos.
Click to expand...
The blanks are laser cut, then all the work is done by hand by craftsmen in the shop, as well as heat treat.
Click to expand...
:confused: Could you please clarify these two opposing comments? :confused:
 
Sorry, Tony. The only blades heat(CRYO)-treated by paul Bos are the ones made of 154cm steel. The rest are all heat treated in the shop.

~B.
 
I've got a #302 Interceptor, and I think it's great. Fits my hand perfect and clips inside my pocket.
 
That's a new term. "Semi-custom." Sounds like more TOPS hype.

Does "semi-custom" mean the factory will customize their laser blanked blades? Will they attach "custom" handles? Or does it mean that the work is done by "hand." Hand held power tools? Does "oversee" mean Mike Fuller inspects each knife? Is Mike Fuller a master bladesmith, member of the ABS, Knifemaker's Guild, etc.? Is the edge ground by Mike Fuller, or does he stand behind them or the machine when it's ground? From their literature, advertising and the press they receive, TOPS sure sounds like a factory. If it quacks like a duck, walks like a duck... Queen cutlery does hand finishing, but they are a factory.
 
Originally posted by brownshoe
That's a new term. "Semi-custom." Sounds like more TOPS hype.

Does "semi-custom" mean the factory will customize their laser blanked blades? Will they attach "custom" handles? Or does it mean that the work is done by "hand." Hand held power tools? Does "oversee" mean Mike Fuller inspects each knife? Is Mike Fuller a master bladesmith, member of the ABS, Knifemaker's Guild, etc.? Is the edge ground by Mike Fuller, or does he stand behind them or the machine when it's ground? From their literature, advertising and the press they receive, TOPS sure sounds like a factory. If it quacks like a duck, walks like a duck... Queen cutlery does hand finishing, but they are a factory.
Click to expand...

Semi-custom is my term, man. Semi-production, semi-custom, whatever. You must have a lot of time on your hands to worry so much about trivial details. The blades are hand ground and finished. Yes, they will customize your blade for you based on what features you want. Mike is also a bladesmith, yes. I don't know what piece of paper he does or does not have -- if it's that important to you, call TOPS and ask Mike, or have him fax over his bonafides. They use the same kind of grinders (belt and otherwise) that you'll find in any custom knifemakers shop.

No, I do not work for TOPS in any way shape or form. If you really are in dire need of verification of what I say, then take the time to get up off your bum and go visit them and then you can rest easy.

Good enough?
 
The term semi-custom (or semi-production) isn't all that new Brownshoe.

When you order a "custom" knife from a dealer, you have no say in the design or materials, yet the knife is still considered a custom.

If I'm not mistaken, James Piorek, Chris Reeves and a few others do exactly the same thing as Mike Fuller. Their knives are also referred to as semi-custom.

As for TOPS knives, I like 'em. Their designs are a lot more well rounded than others.
 
...I'm a Strider/Busse man myself but I was able to handle some of their knives at he Ny Custom show, and while most of them were not to my personal liking...(Except the Boarder Patrol:eek:) ...They seem like very tough good use knives...
 
I think that their designs are sound from what I saw of them. Looks like they are a high productivity version of what the Busse knife company does. Only difference is that Jerry Busse uses INFI steel. Even before that he used to use A2 tool steel. TOPS using 1095 carbon steel is decent. Although it would be nicer if they went to something a little bit more expensive. I like their knives. Just wished they were a little cheaper. Just my 2 cents. :)
 
I'll let you know when the Steel Eagle I just order arrives. However, I had one of their Magnum Folders and the thing was built like a tank. Unfortunitly, it was hard to open so I traded it off. The guy I traded it to said that the knife was not the norm and got a new one from TOPS. From what I hear they stand behind their products and I think their designs are greaaat:) Plus find me another fixed blade with a tanto point that weights 30 + ounces:eek:
 
Great thread. Opinions expressed respectfully.

Nice.

Anyhow....

TOPS are quite nice knives. I've got a friend who has the ATC Rover and it sure is a stout and tough knife. He is team leader in our SAR group and has used the knife hard with no problems.

As afar as price goes, who's to say? You do get what you pay for, and I think this does apply to the knife industry.
 
I checked out the TOPS website again. Re-read some articles that are posted. Read their history. No claim to be any "semi-custom" shop. No claims that Mike Fowler is a knife maker. He is claimed to be an expert in Tatical Operations. No claims about "hand-finishing." Looks like a factory, advertises like a factory, etc.

However, it's not worth really worth discussing "custom" vs. "hand-made" vs. "semi-custom" vs. "benchmade" except to say "buyer beware." Some guys forge their damsacus with a power hammer, beat the blade out by hand, and finish with power tools. Others do the whole thing with hand tools. Others buy barstock, laser cut blanks, send it to a CNC shop for finishing and "hand make" the knife through assembly, sanding and polishing. Darrel Ralph knife kits that can be assembled in 2 hours are sold as "handmade custom knives". Some individuals called "custom makers" produce enough of a one kind of product that it can be listed in major catalogs with fresh stock in less than 2 months. These terms "custom", "handmade" are one of the major areas where a knife buyer can be ripped off.
 
It's all been said, nothing else to be done but verify in personn.

Folks, I really have no time to bother arguing with this anonymous internet chairborne commando buttmunch troll named brownstain, do you?
 
Just for the record... I am seriously considering picking up a Tom Brown Tracker from TOPS. From what I read, it is an improvement on the original design and is worth every penny. The biggest reason I want to pick it up is the inherent design is so versatile and it is ONLY MADE by TOPS. Kudos to the company for getting their hands on a great design and improving on it to be a hot product. Closest thing I ever seen come close to it in versatility of design is the Spetsnatz Spade. Have no idea where to find one of those, though. Just my 2 cents. :cool:
 
"semi-custom" is just another term for "very expensive factory-made".

People might be reluctant to spend hundreds of dollars on a mass-produced factory knife, so the marketing gurus came up with terms to indicate that the knife is "almost a custom-made knife".
It's like buying a reproduction of a famous painting, and paying the price of the original.

SOMETIMES you do get what you pay for, but sometimes you just pay more for a name only.

Let the buyer beware.
Allen.
 
Allen,

Then what do we call the process I described above? Semi-production? Handmade? I'm not really into the particular vernacular here, but can say that TOPS are excellent handcrafted knives, and the company is owned by some of the most honorable people I've ever known. I'm not being snide at all -- I'm just wondering what the most accurate term would be for the process. I used semi-custom, from hearing the word thrown around in the industry, and it seemed to fit. Maybe Mid Tech is better, like Rob Simonich is doing now?

To everyone else, they aren't out to "make a buck" with bad quality stuff. They have too many deep and longstanding relationships with their peers in the SpecOps and LEO communities to send their friends pieces of crap that will get them killed in the field. The pieces are purpose designed and tested with, by, and for Seal Team 3, DEA, SF, and many other agencies and units around the world. They don't get purchased until the design and manufacture is right, and stands up in the field. Mike Fuller and his co-owners have been there and done that (Mike being a decorated 5th SF Vietnam Vet, with multiple tours under his belt, among other things). These guys have honor and ethics coming out their ears. Like the Strider boys, they have the old boy network in their favor, and these guys all trust each other to have each others' sixes, whether together in the field or secondarily by supply of a capable and excellent piece of gear. Click here and scroll down to "Profiles" to get an idea of where these guys come from:

http://www.topsknives.com/whatsnew/whatsnew.html

TOPS has been supplying gear and knives to the Spec Ops community (TOPS = Tactical Operational Products) long before they even bothered entering the civilian market (read -- long before you ever heard they existed). Their stuff has been tested and proven time and time again in real world environments by many, including myself. They do what they are supposed to, and they keep on going. They are simply very very reliable knives, no question.
 
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