Tracker Knife

yeah, I have just found out that 'spine serrations' are not allowed into Oz as they are deemed as 'double edged'...:(

I do not own the TOPS Tracker knife Mike. The specs are on their site. Size wise I believe it to be in the vacinity of the spec ops...:D , oh, thats right, you have not handled that one yet - me either....:cool: ;)


BTW Vermonster, thx for the kind words...I am absolutely wrapped in the little 'gecko' necker...wait till you see my bowie design! wooohoooo!

With the EVO, I just told Peter what I was after and I get a drawing on the fax 15 minutes later that was exactly what I was picturing in my head! Turns out, he has an older design called the Elite UDT wish has the same blade shape and config. He widened it, modified the handle and appearance a tad, added thumb notching city and blammo! He called me up after the fax was recieved and said, "..what changes do you want to make"...urm, none, just make it was my reply! The drawing had on it - "The EVOlution"...

It is a beast!
 
Just read the Tops 'worth it' thread and it sounds like it as good a knife as I'd hoped. I was worried with the early skepticism I read in the post, but that's changed. Can anyone comment on the Tracker knife itself? Help tide me over until next week... :)

The Evolution still wins in the looks alone column I think. That handle design really looks secure and comfy. Not to mention that blade. Good stuff!
 
It looks like a design by committee. It doesn't do anything for me:barf:
 
Originally posted by fudo
It looks like a design by committee. It doesn't do anything for me:barf:
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Design by committee. That is a very interesting way to put it Fudo!

I am not too sold on the saw teeth on the TOPS version, I am however, sold with the design and function with that of the original and ofcourse the EVO as I have tried and tested it without fault.

Tactical Knives completed a story once on the original Tracker and it really does show the virtues of the 'all in one' ergonomics and all of these facits were part of a lengthy field test before the final design was born. The originals were never production versions, but all custom made I believe. Knives of this stature will not complete every task, what knife will, but when coupled with a finer cutting tool and maybe a multi tool of sorts, you just about have a 'kit' worthy of tackling most outdoor situations.

The original concept is not a "Rambo" style knife - it works.

TW - the handle is very comfortable and I am glad I stuck with the original parameters.
 
To each his own on the design fudo! What else would you say I look at? The more I know and see the better! Sorry you don't like it because the maker is a nice guy and open to modifying his design to your taste/specs!
I like it and think it will work well for me just about like it is. :D As for the committee, if it was a committee of outdoorsman (which from my research, it is) I would want their trials and tribulations distilled down into an available knife design. I would love to be a maker able to make subtle and wild changes to knives to put to use and test in the field. That's where you get the real answers.

Gundy, speaking of staying true to the design, Pete is great on that. I tried to incorporate everything I could think of and am now staying more true to what the knife would do best instead of fitting everything possible (gut hook, saw, wire breaker etc.) on one blade.
 
Interesting to note that the custom version is $375 shipped and is ATS34, while the TOPS production version is $299 and 1095 (I believe its stock removal not forged).
 
I'm glad that the maker is a nice guy and I'm glad that the design works for you. I would prefer a GB hatchet and a SAK. Have a knife day!
 
Hey Fudo, Peter was the one that told me I NEED a SAK for my kit! I should have got one years ago...

Out of curiosity, anybody that has handled the original Tracker or TOPS version know of where the balance point is?

Here it is on the EVO. Is it the same? (if somebody could please check).

I might move the 'EVO' portion of discussion away from this thread shortly so as to keep the flow with the original question on Trackers...

May be time for an EVO review me thinks...:D

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I would like to know if exist this kind of knife ( like the traker ) in other range price.

50 to 150 dlls.

They are really really expensive if you consider that you will give them abuse.

Roloss_valdes
 
Hi:),

Sorry dude, there aren't really any knives like the Tracker. The only one that I can even think of that might be a bit close is the Puma White Hunter(and similar knives), in that they have multiple grinds, and edge profiles.

The Tracker is just too "out-there" a design for larger companies to handle, in my opinion. The grinds would be too costly to reproduce, and the market to small.
 
Gundy, thanks for the eye candy. Now, another decision to make in my life. Great looking knife with the different serrations.
 
Originally posted by gundy


Out of curiosity, anybody that has handled the original Tracker or TOPS version know of where the balance point is?

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Hi Gundy,

I did'nt catch your question on my first go'round:). I got to handle a Beck version a longtime ago at a show. The balance is just forward the first rivet/pin. It shocked me that the knife had such a neutral blance, I expected it to be blade heavy like a Bolo:).

I read that he was willing to customize to your wishes though.

Cool knives:).



HTH:D:).
 
Thx BB!

Sounds as though the same theory is at work here. Neutral balance for a more 'all-rounder'. I think it works very well. I had a similar knife custom made some years back and it was way way too nose heavy. I had fears of the same thing happening because of the weight up front on this design and when Pete asked me where I would like the balance point, I said whatever you think is best (hows that for trust!). Truth be known I did not really know at the time.

It has worked out to be spot on for my needs. I am extremely happy with those serrations too. Although they do not look agressive, they work a treat for notching etc. I now use a SAK for sawing and if something larger needs splitting, I just use the choppy bit on the EVO...

:D

gundy out!
 
fodo - thanks for the info. I'm going to lookup the SAK for sure with all praise! The hatchet... well I like them, but they don't like me :eek: This pic is my finger after a run-in with my NGR... no climbing for 4 months, but at least I just missed the tendon!

roloss_valdes - I looked all over and the knives in this post are the only ones I could find.

Bob-Bowie - Peter was willing to make all sorts of changes. The balance point he recommended was the middle point, but he could move front or back if you preferred.
 

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The balance point on the Tracker is just in front of the handle slabs.
That looks to be just forward of the Evo balance point.

Initial impressions are good. The knife is shaving sharp and beefy. The kydex has a 'floating rivet' at the top that rattles and basically just keeps the kydex from opening too wide to allow the blade to cut you, yet allow a good draw for the knife. But some shrink wrap should take care of that.

I'll get some pics up later tonight.

Yeah the finger was worse on my wife than me when it happened :) She turned 3 shades and then stark white when I bent the tip and it almost fell off :eek: I was smiling and happy I missed the tendon!

The pics I took were dark, but here they are...
 
Zytef,
Good luck trying to get an original.Dave has not made one in a couple yrs.Wish I had not got rid of mine now that the movie is finally comming out.
 
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