Tracker Knife

here is a close up of the EVO handle, very ergo! TW, can you get pics of the sheath, handle etc? I am curious...

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Hey Gundy, I'll get some pics up tonight if I have time. The handle is nice on the Tracker but I would prefer a more defined grip. The grooves are nice for the thumb. The sheath has two rubber o-rings that are thick (1/4") between the belt clips and sheath that allow them to rotate for carry options.
 
Guys,

The saw teeth on the TOPS actually work very well -- they used the design of a chain saw, and tested it with many spec ops and outdoors folks, using it in the field. All the TOPS blades have that same config, because it works. I have a TOPS blade with this saw tooth configuration, and have sawed through hardwood and softwood. It ain't fancy blade cut outs. It's the first saw back I've used that actually saws and doesn't just notch. Just FYI.

The only thing is that the saw is the thicknees of the knife, so if it's a 1/4" thick knife, you got a 1/4" wide cut.

~B.
 
Originally posted by Trace Rinaldi
Ric what makes the TOPS knife inferior? Have you handled one?
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Dave Beck's knife feels better in the hand and I just like 01 better than 1095. He used to use D2 I also like that better that 1095. The Saw on Dave Beck's knife is pertty much a self cleaner, the TOPs saw tends to get clogged. And I hate that black spray paint the coat them with. Almost as bad as a Busse.
I have a few pics of an original I will try to post a little later. Hope this helps.

Ric
 
Just got my tracker today. Heavier than i thought,heavier than my Busse Steelheart. Took it out and choped some with it. Have to get use to using it like a hatchet instead of a knife. The fence breaker works well,and the saw teeth does a very good job of notching. Not to convinced about the gut hook yet. But think it will work very well of rounding the edges on staves for bows and such. I do really like the feel of the handles, smooth and rounded and big enough for good grips.
 
I would have preferred a more grippy handle material like they use on some of the Buck knives. I think the micarta is a little slippery, especially when wet.

On a more conceptual note, I wonder who has the license to produce these knives. Is Dave Beck ripping off TOPS even though he produced them originally? Or did Tom Brown give them both licenses to produce his design?

Kevin Haney, Coordinator
Mid-Atlantic Primitive Skills Group
"Where 'primitive' is not a pejorative!"
www.mapsgroup.org
 
Man do i hate to say this,but my Busse Steelheart out performs my Tracker. In chopping and as a drawknife. Its lighter and faster cuts into the wood deeper while chopping sorta like comparing the cut of a machete to a hatchet
 
That is no surprise then. Look at the EVO compared to the TOPS Tracker and specifically the height of the grinds. TOPS commonly uses very shallow sabre hollow grinds and thick and obtuse edges. This geometry allows them to be out cut and even out chopped by much smaller and lighter knives such as you found, as well as for example Davenport described a 7" Steel Heart out chopping and out cutting a 10" TOPS Anaconada.

-Cliff
 
I agree completely about the grinds on the tracker. Way to thick and to shallow. I personally think 1/4" is to thick for this knife also. Truthfully though it really is a good knife, And this summer when I make the Appalachian trail the Tracker will be on or in my pack My SAK "soldier" will be in my pocket.
 
Speaking of Busse, wouldn't ya'll like to see a tracker type knife in IFNI? The way it would hold an edge, the wear resistance would be a great feature in an all around knife like that.

As for Beck ripping off TOPs by making the tracker again, the way I understand it Dave spent about 10 years helping Tom design and refine the knife. I don't know about the new ones he's making (haven't gotten mine yet) but I know the originals were a bit different then the TOPs so maybe they are outside the patent issue. I know just from the copy right laws Dave has the right to make them. If he designed it copy right laws protect him. Unless he gave that up somewhere along the line.

Ric
 
The reason im taking the Tracker over the Busse is because the Tracker is new. Me and my steelheart have already done some traveling together. This way I can take her for a spin and see how she handles.
 
Be sure to let us know how the Tracker handles banger...

You going to do a review?

Better yet, send her to Cliff and let him put it through the paces...but, you may get it back a little worse for wear...;)

Be safe and take plenty of pics if you can!
 
As for Beck ripping off TOPs by making the tracker again, the way I understand it Dave spent about 10 years helping Tom design and refine the knife. I don't know about the new ones he's making (haven't gotten mine yet) but I know the originals were a bit different then the TOPs so maybe they are outside the patent issue.
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Why is this even an issue. Everyone borrows ideas from everywhere in this business. Just think about how many people have made versions of the Iron Mistress, or the Rambo Knife. Worry about making a good knife and the rest will take care of itself. There is nothing in specific in this design that we have not seen previously from a number of makers. The combination of features is interesting, but certainly not unique enough to accuse anyone of ripping off anything.

n2s
 
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