Will the REAL Tom Brown Tracker please stand up?

Here is another shot with a paracord fob attached. The contouring on the handle in that first shot caught some weird light, so it looks odd on the lower part. It's actually much smoother than that. I think where this knife differs a lot from the TOPS copy is that the handle is slimmer and more curvaceous. The steel is 3/16" and the handle slabs are about 1/4" each, making the full handle width around 11/16". Let's just say 3/4". It's comfortable to me, but one of the complaints Brown had at the very start--that it wasn't "beefy" enough for his big hands. To each his own.

uc
 
Sorry if some people can't see the pictures. I'm using Google Drive to upload them, and then give them public web access rights. Not sure why some could see them and some not. Here's a collage of some more shots. I field tested the knife on a 2x2 piece of pine, and went through it in about 30 seconds with the chopping edge. It was still razor sharp, not a nick on it. I'm going to do some more abuse on it, and will post the results here for those interested.

uc
 
Update on this thread: I have made some minor changes to my father's original design of the Tracker knife, had it mass-produced, and I'm selling it on my website Link Removed. I also tell the full story of my father's design of the knife, and his interaction with Tom Brown. I think this new release of the "UKW Survivor", as I have named my version with the changes, is a great knife that overcomes many of the complaints people have about the TB Tracker. I went with stainless 9CR18MoV steel, so no coating on the blade. It's a pretty sexy knife, and well balanced and easy to use compared to the many copies out there. The full weight of the knife is exactly 1 lb. Please check out the site, I'll be getting a bunch of my handmade knives on there as well. I'd love some feedback from any buyers of the knife.
 
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BluesHarp said:
I'm interested to get honest feedback. What don't you like about the design?
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For one a guthook doesn’t work on that design, It looks hideous. Also you have that huge plain skull crusher sticking out the back.

Another is the price. $299.00 for that thing in that steel? HaHaHa
 
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BluesHarp said:
Update on this thread: I have made some minor changes to my father's original design of the Tracker knife, had it mass-produced, and I'm selling it on my website Link Removed. I also tell the full story of my father's design of the knife, and his interaction with Tom Brown. I think this new release of the "UKW Survivor", as I have named my version with the changes, is a great knife that overcomes many of the complaints people have about the TB Tracker. I went with stainless 9CR18MoV steel, so no coating on the blade. It's a pretty sexy knife, and well balanced and easy to use compared to the many copies out there. The full weight of the knife is exactly 1 lb. Please check out the site, I'll be getting a bunch of my handmade knives on there as well. I'd love some feedback from any buyers of the knife.
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I removed the link from your post, take the time to read the site rules please.

https://www.bladeforums.com/help/exchange-rules/
 
Not trying to be mean, but it looks like a very confused knife, and all the little extra sticky out bits and curves seem like they would be more of a hindrance than a help. Plus for that money you can get some fantastic all-around use blades in great steel. But seeing as how.ive never been a fan of the tracker design, take my opinion with a grain of salt.
 
BluesHarp said:
I'm interested to get honest feedback. What don't you like about the design?
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There you go, that'd be my changes:
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1. Get rid o the Pommel Hammer alltogether, keep an exposed tang, if you need to bonk something, you can still bonk with the butt of the knife.
2. Lowered the Straight Cutting Edge, because it seems difficult to use already and shortend the "guard" a little so the knife can go lower
3. Removed the Gut Hook, seems gimmicky and not very fitting with the design
4. Extended the Saw Portion
5. Extended the Chopping Edge/Made it Pointier
6. Too Lazy to do it, but I'd switch the GFN/FRN/Plastic Scales for Micarta or maybe Wood, maybe brown or Olive Green.

Also for the money the steel isn't a great choice, plenty of better stuff out there, I can understand that being a smaller outfit it might be difficult to go all out, but plenty of better budget steels that at least sound better. Again, it's all personal and subjective, you asked for feedback, so that'd be my two cents.
 
Thanks, b00n, that's the kind of constructive feedback I was looking for. This knife is a unique design as typical knives go, and it has been around for a long time--unfortunately as the "Tom Brown" interpretation of what my father originally intended. If I had been producing them for 30+ years, I would have certainly listened to my user community and made changes that made sense. This a new venture for me, so I'm testing the waters taking a 38-year-old design and adding a few new adjustments of my own, and seeing what people think. You've got to hold it to feel the immediate difference between this knife and that 2 lb. hunk of chopper that Brown made. I've done a fair bit of testing with this knife now that it's in production, and already have a few tweaks I'd make, but I think it deserves a second chance with someone who knows what they're doing. It's constructive feedback and a responsive maker that is going to result in something that sells. Tom Brown is not and was never a knife designer, nor does he understand the mechanics of a good knife. He got lucky and made a huge profit by taking my father's design and putting it in a movie as a combat knife. He's interested only in money and doesn't care how he gets there. His "interpretation" of the knife ruined the design from the get-go, and he never responded by listening to reviewers or users. I'm a knifemaker, and I can alter the design where it makes sense.
 
I believe your story. I believe that Tom Brown Jr. stole your father's design.

But I suspect that it was Tom Brown who created the value of that design -- not that that excuses him. I have a big Tops Tracker, designed by Robb Russon. I have yet to figure out what it's good for. I get the design idea of one knife trying to be three knives: a chopper, a camp knife and a pocket knife. But it doesn't work.

The knife is popular because Tom Brown is an aggressive self-promoter who somehow got a popular movie to feature the knife. The knife itself doesn't perform well at anything. It's like the Buckmaster 184, the Rambo I knife. I had one of those, too, complete with grappling hooks (LOL). I filled the handle with cool survival tools and took it backpacking, despite the weight. It was light for the cool factor. It was worthless as a knife. But popular.

I like your prototype better than the final knife, which looks like a single-bladed Swiss Army Knife.

You'd be better off designing three knives that actually work well for their intended purpose, and combine them with a dedicated carry system.
 
Additional thought, get rid of the screwed scale construction and go with through/tube rivets to attach the scales, since you're going with stainless, no need to disassemble really, and you can lose the lanyard hole in the process, if one needs a lanyard the lowest rivet hole will suffice in my opinion.
 
BluesHarp said:
...This knife is a unique design as typical knives go, and it has been around for a long time--unfortunately as the "Tom Brown" interpretation of what my father originally intended. ...I'm testing the waters taking a 38-year-old design and adding a few new adjustments of my own, and seeing what people think....
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Good luck with the undertaking !
Always admired your dad's design btw.
Yeah a skull crusher would have its uses...
Just my opinion of course, but the scales could be hollowed out along with an exposed full tang that has been skeletonized midsection as a hollowed out "storage space" compartment?
 
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GIRLYmann said:
but the scales could be hollowed out along with an exposed full tang that has been skeletonized midsection as a hollowed out "storage space" compartment?
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See I never understood the point of doing this. Yes you could store a few very small item in there, but it generally requires something to unscrew the scales which you probably would not have in a "survival" situation. It would make more sense to have a waterproof pocket attached to the sheath that would hold more and be easier to access and use repeatedly.
 
Is that really a $300 PRC made stainless knife made for chopping ? 9C is a cheaper version of 440C which is not exactly known for toughness. To top that off it ( the steel) is made in the PRC and as we know quality control is not great. I'm assuming that the whole knife is imported as I have never seen those cheap Chinese stainless steels knives made elsewhere. IMO it would be better off made in an easier to sharpen and tougher steel. $300 is 3V/4V or other great alloy price range.

Joe
 
I am reminded of vintage vaughn neeley fixed bladed survival hunting
and folding knife models with their hollowed out handle scales.
true, it may never get open without the help of some form of a screwing device;
but such a compartment makes an excellent secret storage space for at least a survivalist last will and testament ;-)
but seriously, having placed something within a knife
means that one never can quite misplace its whereabouts until
some SHTF situation presents itself at a more leisurely pace ;-)
(well, not unless the knife itself is lost through some mishap).
either way, its always an advantage to have some carry space
even if its for space no larger than for a mini survival pill capsule...
also with a little bit of work, a skeletonised section could be
made in to a multi sized bolt/nut fastener.
as in the vintage aitor skinner mutifunction knife
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The guthook behind the sawteeth would cause the saw teeth to rip the intestines/gut out of anything you were skinning, which completely defeats the purpose of a guthook.

Guthooks work best behind a dropped point with a smooth spine.
 
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