What is it about Tops knives that keeps you spending?

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JTR357

JTR357

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It's 1095 folks. Some of the cheapest steel out there. Granted they have some interesting designs but I swear they have a blind following.
This isn't "rage bait". I am genuinely curious why you would spend the same on some thick behind the edge 1095 prybar over a CPM-3V thinner (100% better performing) stock knife? Please tell me what I'm missing? Sure you could bring up ESEE or Becker but they are priced accordingly. Tops has this mysterious brain washing vibe to them. I just don't get it. So come on Tops fans, tell me what they have that makes them different.
 
JTR357 said:
It's 1095 folks. Some of the cheapest steel out there. Granted they have some interesting designs but I swear they have a blind following.
This isn't "rage bait". I am genuinely curious why you would spend the same on some thick behind the edge 1095 prybar over a CPM-3V thinner (100% better performing) stock knife? Please tell me what I'm missing? Sure you could bring up ESEE or Becker but they are priced accordingly. Tops has this mysterious brain washing vibe to them. I just don't get it. So come on Tops fans, tell me what they have that makes them different.
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Interesting that you listed 3v for me and good for my response.
I own a bark river gunny in 3v bought it because of all the hype I heard about the steel and I liked the design of the knife. Took it out for a hike carried it every day for awhile. Actually put it through some tough work baton type work. It's got edge chip out.
Ya see the thing is my Tops BOB never got that. Yeah yeah every steel is better than 1095 and so on and so forth BUT!!! My Tops BOB never did that.
I own to many knives to list but at the end of the day it's typically the new super steels I'm let down by in one way or another.
Hope that answers your question. Please know I've had my BOB for a very long time and didn't pay anywhere near what they sell for these days but it's a pretty good do all knife need be. Do I carry it much anymore? No but l wouldn't hesitate to for hard use or do all work.
 
This is the stuff I'm looking for. I'm not ridiculing Tops fans. I'm genuinely curious why you stick by them, when there are clearly better alternatives.
 
Also I wouldn't use BRK as a standard regarding steels. Heck I've seen half a dozen of their magnacut blades rust worse then O1, only to be blamed on "cross contamination" from belts. Funny that that doesn't happen with any other company.
 
JTR357 said:
This is the stuff I'm looking for. I'm not ridiculing Tops fans. I'm genuinely curious why you stick by them, when there are clearly better alternatives.
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Well "CLEARLY" better alternatives wouldn't be my experience. I've found that there are so many lesser loved steels that simply outperform what is considered a better alternative. Buck 420hc blows most supersteels outta the water. Ya see I'm kinda known on my old forum for beating the absolute snot outta knives basically trying to replace the axe. I've actually had knives sent to me by makers to do such horrible things to and post results.
I've learned that though a super steel may keep it's edge 5 times longer that matters none when I have to spend 10 times longer to sharpen it and or repair it's damaged edge. The numbers don't work out for me.
I like tops knives not gonna say I love them in fact the BOB is the only one I own but I will say I TRUST IT. It's never let me down and a few simple swipes on the opinel honing steel I carry and it's back to razor sharp. Can't do that with 3V nor most new super steels.
I own and EDC S30V but that's mainly cause I love the two or 3 knives I have in that steel not for the steel itself.
 
I have owned used abused and basically mistreated this knife for the sake of science and to prove a point for a long time.
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That's hickory I have plenty more pics of it being beaten through larger pieces from my firewood pile and never not once had it had edge damage. Hollow ground 420hc certainly no super steel and always cleanly slices paper when I'm done.
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Pics from the same day as the pics above. So "CLEARLY BETTER OPTIONS" ????? Meh. I don't know about that.
Tops makes a good reliable knife have they gotten a little overpriced? YES But what price do you put on reliability?
 
JTR357 said:
While I may agree that BUCK's 420HC is better than any other 420, I wholeheartedly disagree with it "blowing supersteels out of the water". The numbers & the facts are out there on paper to prove it, as well as real world testing.
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Real world testing above!!! 3v bark river gunny didn't even come close. I'll post pics of the the damaged specimen tomorrow if I have time it's been sitting since kinda lost interest in it after that.
 
That bucks been reprofiled as well so it's thinner than a stock grind. I'm not gonna argue with ya I've tested and beaten so many knives in so many steels for the sake of this very argument and can tell ya what has lasted and what hasn't.
 
waynemanning74 said:
Real world testing above!!! 3v bark river gunny didn't even come close. I'll post pics of the the damaged specimen tomorrow if I have time it's been sitting since kinda lost interest in it after that.
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With BRK, you cannot be certain that the steel is actually 3v and if it is, they may not have done a good heat treatment.

Try some 3v from a more respected manufacturer and then make your decision.
 
Hard to get a pic of it but it's the and yes can be fixed but I just lost interest after it did it. 3v was supposed to be SO GOOD. yet I already owned better.
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It's that shiny glint in the edge.
 
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