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B Griffin said:
From Craig and Leo the year it released at Blade, and then later in their face book group. I guess they got the licensing issues straightened out, or maybe they are just leaving it up until they sell all of the first batch. That's what they did with a couple of other models they ran into legal issues with years ago.



Good I'm glad you like it. I designed that one for me personally to suit my needs. I originally wanted to just have a small run made in a good stainless steel for close-to-the-body for myself and my students, but Mike Fuller liked it and wanted to put it in production. I wanted to make a couple of tweaks after the first batch that would have improved comfort and performance a little bit, but they wouldn't do it.. They eventually did a few small runs in stainless, the last being CPM S35VN which is what I carry now. But between them not wanting to do a stainless option, not letting me do the tweaks it needs to really suit me, and the personality differences I ran into with the new leadership, I asked them to cease and desist production of it so I can do another iteration elsewhere, without having to also compete with a version of my own design I'm not 100% happy with for what it was supposed to be for myself and my students. The Tibos didn't get the differential heat treat. The blade was too small. That's why there were several other colors of it, but never a Black River Wash run of them.
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:eek: wow! Nice to talk to you, this is pretty cool! :D I love my Tibo, I think you did a killer job on it. I have had mine for years now and its held up perfectly through everything Ive put it through. Ive used it for small game hunting quite a bit and its seen use on the trapline too. I have used it when out boating and fishing. Ive used it as a pocketknife to do normal everyday stuff too. Lol Ive used it alot and carried it even more.
After years of use I just have to say, great job! :cool: Heres some feedback if you want it. I like that its pointier than most neck knives (makes it better for opening up squirrels and fish and such). I like the powder coat, its excellent, especially since I live in a salt marsh on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. The jimping is great, though a little rough on bare hands. The knife fits my hand very well, though I cant find any scales for it (those blue ones you have in that picture are sweet!). :( The steel is great, even though you didnt get the heat treatment you wanted apparently, it is still done very well. I like the fire striking choil thing too and the sheath is solid. My favorite thing about it is that its thin. The Tibo cuts like crazy! Overall its one of my favorite knives, and it wasnt even too expensive.
How did you want to tweak it? Id be interested in a version 2.0! That sucks that TOPS wouldnt cooperate with you. Also, the knife in that picture is really cool!
Sorry to go off topic on the OP and get longwinded.
 
CVamberbonehead said:
:eek: wow! Nice to talk to you, this is pretty cool! :D I love my Tibo, I think you did a killer job on it. I have had mine for years now and its held up perfectly through everything Ive put it through. Ive used it for small game hunting quite a bit and its seen use on the trapline too. I have used it when out boating and fishing. Ive used it as a pocketknife to do normal everyday stuff too. Lol Ive used it alot and carried it even more.
After years of use I just have to say, great job! :cool: Heres some feedback if you want it. I like that its pointier than most neck knives (makes it better for opening up squirrels and fish and such). I like the powder coat, its excellent, especially since I live in a salt marsh on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. The jimping is great, though a little rough on bare hands. The knife fits my hand very well, though I cant find any scales for it (those blue ones you have in that picture are sweet!). :( The steel is great, even though you didnt get the heat treatment you wanted apparently, it is still done very well. I like the fire striking choil thing too and the sheath is solid. My favorite thing about it is that its thin. The Tibo cuts like crazy! Overall its one of my favorite knives, and it wasnt even too expensive.
How did you want to tweak it? Id be interested in a version 2.0! That sucks that TOPS wouldnt cooperate with you. Also, the knife in that picture is really cool!
Sorry to go off topic on the OP and get longwinded.
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Thank you! You actually nailed a lot of the more utilitarian thinking behind this knife, I grew up fishing and trapping commercially. But I should probably do a separate thread to discuss the GFO elements and the rest of the thinking behind the design. Here I'll just stick with what's relative and say that no I actually got the exact heat treat I did want on the Tibo. I honestly do like their through-hardened 1095 on the smaller narrower-bladed knives. I just personally prefer a good stainless because I grew up in south Florida. As for scales, get on face book and look up Joe Snarski and LMF Knives. He makes the scales for the Tibo
 
bobobama said:
I've got one of these; my only TOPS knife. It is definitely sweet! Very comfortable in the hand, nice size and fairly lightweight. I got the model with the top edge sharpened, which is an option they offer. Takes it out of the all-around user mode and makes it strictly tactical. Problem is, I'm not really a tactical knife guy. My bad.

Like it's been noted before on the forum, TOPS sheaths often leave something to be desired, and the one that comes with this knife is no exception. The sheath itself is OK but the rotating clip is not; it's a nice concept but poorly executed. Mine rotated itself right off the sheath, so I hooked up a Tek-Lok to it instead and now everything's fine.
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I put a Spyderco G clip on mine for the same reason. I trashed that lame metal clip.
 
Makael and Jocephus 1 could you please tell me more about the Backpacker Bowie?? This knife peeks my interest!!:D Thanks..:D
John
 
I have the Prather War Bowie from TOPS and for a thick knife it cuts great. Its handled everything I have used it for with out any issue. TOPS does offer some crazy looking designs though. Their models that are intended as outdoor or hunting knives seem more useful than their tactical models.
 
I've owned 4 Tops knives and I sold all of them. My main problem with them is that they are too over built. Meaning they are heavy and too thick. I also didn't like all the writing otherwise they were made well and very easy to sharpen knives. But the friends who bought the knives love them.
 
jmh33 said:
Makael and Jocephus 1 could you please tell me more about the Backpacker Bowie?? This knife peeks my interest!!:D Thanks..:D
John
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Great little knife, kinda small handle in hand but very comfortable.
 
OBX351 said:
My main problem with them is that they are too over built. Meaning they are heavy and too thick.
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Yes. And the reason for this is because their Flagship model, the Steel Eagle came about because Mike Fuller had a few stick tang knives fail on missions in Vietnam, and the main goal of TOPS starting out was to make knives soldiers could trust to handle extremes. So all of them were full tang, thick, and had low saber grinds to leave a lot of mass in the spine. Essentially, and intentionally, sharpened pry bars. Which could help explain some of their growing pains and QC issues when they started venturing into thinner blades for more practical applications.
 
Only tops knife I’ll probably own but it’s a good one. Good edge geometry and ergonomics no matter how hard you press in to something it doesn’t generate any pain into your hand. Slight I’m guessing unintentional recurve but whatever.
As far as price like you guys have discussed I think the price point on this particular model is right on. 49F19D9F-8CAA-4C7D-A119-D91973ED6687.jpeg
 
Have not bought one a couple of years, but I did like the Rouge wolf, Tomohawk Hunter and Hog 4.5 - still have all there, plus a regularly use an MSK 3.5 as a backup pocket knife for when I am wary of handing out my other EDC to folks who might field dress their bagel on a rock....or some cutting task sure to mangle the edge a little.

Lately, the Little Bugger has caught my eye - I like warncliffe blades, and it's thinner stock, looks like a handy EDC...

Also, I think the latest kitchen offering, the Dicer 3 Paring knife would fit into my outdoor user quiver - thin stock, high primary grind and what looks like a useful handle and overall blade shape - knifeworks has this model for $129 in s35vn w/ included kydex sheath.
 
I have two TOPS knives, a Cut 4.0 and a Lion's Toothpick (LTP). Both have a very thick stock but are otherwise great knives. The LTP didn't cut well when I got it, I had to resharpen it at ~15 degrees on a KO worksharp blade grinder, now it's a cutter. I like the Cut 4.0.

I wish they would make smaller versions of their knives with thinner blade stock and CPM154/S35VN. Their sheaths are serviceable, just not refined.
 
sXePhenomenal said:
Only tops knife I’ll probably own but it’s a good one. Good edge geometry and ergonomics no matter how hard you press in to something it doesn’t generate any pain into your hand. Slight I’m guessing unintentional recurve but whatever.
As far as price like you guys have discussed I think the price point on this particular model is right on. View attachment 1139191
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I have two of those. Great little knife.


Tops does a great job staying current. Keep a eye out.
 
jmh33 said:
Makael and Jocephus 1 could you please tell me more about the Backpacker Bowie?? This knife peeks my interest!!:D Thanks..:D
John
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I really like it, but my wife LOVES it. She carries it quite a bit when we go backpacking. She loves the ergonomics. Its hard to explain. The knife isn't a bushcraft knife, and it isn't a survival type knife. Rather, it's in its own category. Its a solid knife. I'd buy one again.
 
B Griffin said:
Thank you! You actually nailed a lot of the more utilitarian thinking behind this knife, I grew up fishing and trapping commercially. But I should probably do a separate thread to discuss the GFO elements and the rest of the thinking behind the design. Here I'll just stick with what's relative and say that no I actually got the exact heat treat I did want on the Tibo. I honestly do like their through-hardened 1095 on the smaller narrower-bladed knives. I just personally prefer a good stainless because I grew up in south Florida. As for scales, get on face book and look up Joe Snarski and LMF Knives. He makes the scales for the Tibo
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Love the Tibo, such a capable little knife. When I first got mine, I realized I would never go into the woods again without it as my small knife, and i immediately bought a second one while I still could because I never wanted to be without one again! Nice work. The subtle differences in it's blade geometry and the fact that it is slightly thinner than similar competitors make all the difference in function. It is the exact right thickness, the current trend being to make small knives too thick to work well at their intended function.
 
Of the two TOPS I’ve owned , I’ve had nothing but great experiences with them. Both are extremely solid and very well made. TOPS makes high quality blades.
 
PMCsoldier said:
Ok so to make sure I’m following correctly Becker is a KBAR product? For lack of better words a line of knives they produce? I was just shopping on Blade HQ and saw a couple I think I will buy and try out. Before I do that I will check out Tomars. I really appreciate the info. I am honestly only familiar with a handful of makers and that’s simply because when I find a maker I like I tend to stick with them.
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Check out the Becker subforum here..... The people There are the Best!
They too stick with Their favorite brand, and have their own group called Beckerheads....... You are only minutes away from becoming one...haha.... ;)

A number of their models are discontinued, but still pop up here on the exchange frequently..... I personally recommended the Bk4, and the Bk5.
 
Love TOPS!
They are thick, and some designs are pretty wild.

Here's my current collection:
US Combat Knife
Silent Hero
Black Rhino
Nighthawk
Xcest Delta folder
MSF 4.0 folder
Ferret
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