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TOPS Knives Tracker Digger Fixed Blade
01 / 08
TOPS Knives Tracker Digger Fixed Blade
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Product Description
You should never put your blade in the dirt, right? Not the case with the TOPS Tracker Digger Read More
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steelersteve13
70
Apr 21, 2019
I guess some people just like to reinvent the wheel, probably to feed their own egos. Kinda like how a new boss will change things just because he wanted to, even if his changes were for the worse.
Dutch7
53
Apr 19, 2019
Three digging options that make 1000% more sense than a Tracker Digger:
1) Japanese Hori Hori Knife for under $30 on amazon
2) Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel, under $30 here (as axeguy suggested)
3) Titanium garden trowel, under $25 on ebay --search for "titanium shovel small head"
Afterward, take the extra money and buy a decent bush knife, or buy a Mora and pocket the rest. Then you can beat up on your digger and take good care of your actual cutting tool.
(Edited)
CardinalZin
21
Apr 19, 2019
Dutch7Thank you so much for this. I've already got the Cold Steel shovel, just ordered a titanium head, and it can't be long before I get a hori hori as well. Awesome!
Beardy
Apr 19, 2019
Something worth noting is that the tracker series is designed in collaboration with the Tom Brown Tracking and Survival School. It’s designed for folks that enjoy going out in the woods with nothing but their knife for extended periods of time. Think of them as a survivalists Swiss Army knives. They are not EDC. They are not defensive weapons. They are not garden tools. They serve a niche market well, but are impractical for everyone else.
Beardy
Apr 19, 2019
True enough. And just like a Swiss Army knife these things are compromises to fit lots of functions into a small space, rather than to do one thing well.
My my point is that the functions they choose to try to combine into one tool are not things that would be useful for most people. They are for a peculiar sort of person with an unusual interest.
Of of course they also appeal to the mall ninja who is a great post apocalyptic survivor within n the confines of his own mind.
(Edited)
bobtheaxolotl
104
Apr 20, 2019
BeardyDutch7: No, it was designed to look cool for a movie, and then they sold it through the school to make extra money. Having used one of these knives that I thankfully didn't purchase, it's more or less bad at everything, and is one of the worst possible choices for camping or survival. If you had nothing else available to you at all, it's better than trying to make due with rocks and sticks, I guess, but only marginally.
The grind is low and so very fat that it's a terrible cutter. The change in grind midway through means you can't chop with the correct part of the blade, so it makes it less efficient at the one task it might be ok at. The "saw" on the spine is nearly entirely useless. I guess you could tie a rope to it and use it as a boat anchor, so it has that going for it.
(Edited)
MaxwellDemonic
838
May 21, 2018
Being double-edged makes it illegal to carry in a lot of places (like PA where the only other illegal thing are Automatics). Also the materials clearly don't warrant the absurd cost of this piece of mobile probable cause.
Axeguy
1372
May 21, 2018
MaxwellDemonicSorry if too graphic! My point was...The Point! This double edged implement is way more useful as a club vs a dagger. I don’t think this tool was envisioned when double-edged knives were banned where you are. If so, all pro-grade spades would be banned under a similar argument. I think if you had this in that jurisdiction, you could successfully argue that this is a tool... I mean, would it ever leave your camping gear? If so, what are the odds that you would be EDCing this in the civilian world? (Not much better in the military world...)
MaxwellDemonic
838
May 21, 2018
AxeguyThere are separate statutes for tools as opposed to knives. One could argue that this is a mini-spade, but it's going to be a tough sell with the sheath. Otherwise it's definitely qualifies as a dagger in that it's a sharpened double edge blade that comes to a point.
Axeguy
1372
May 20, 2018
It is unusual and really draws the eye. Like others have commented, though, it seems a costly and impractical gimmick. If you wanted a practical and cost-conscious do-it-all digger with proven ability, why not try Cold Steel’s Special Forces shovel? It has been dropped here before. With sheath and shipping, it comes in near thirty bucks. My sons and I have been digging, chopping, and throwing with these for years. Handle replacements (wood) are less than twenty bucks. The steel is decent. They are...kinda...Fun!
I think that the TOPS Tracker Digger might end up a fun thrower...but “Goodbye Warranty!” I think it’s a collector at this price point. I try to enjoy every knife I buy or trade for at ALL price points but—for me—I couldn’t see more joy in this tool than in its dirt-cheap Cold Steel competitor. Thanks for your time. Cheers!
planb10113
352
May 19, 2018
I have a hard time seeing the value in most of the TOPS knives. 1095 steel and micarta scales does not make a $200 knife.
Then there's the design and marketing of the knife. If you're willing to spend this kind of money on a knife and then start digging with it, why not get something half the price (like a Kabar BK7) and then buy a small titanium trowel? You'd be carrying less weight, have a more versatile knife, and both would stay in better shape.
I feel like TOPS Knives markets to the undiscerning knife enthusiast. Interesting/cool looking designs, but over priced and not as functional as other options.
William_Shiu
176
May 19, 2018
planb10113First thing came up in my mind was I would probably cut myself if my hand slip while using this knife for digging. I also find the practicality for chopping of this knife is very questionable due to shape, weight distribution and length. Plus re-sharpening of the neck would be somewhat cumbersome. Lastly, a real farmer or hunter is less likely to use an $200 super thick knife to skin an animal.
Checkyourinfobeforeyoupost
0
Oct 3, 2019
planb10113(I know this is old, but)
TOPS knives are differentially tempered so that in "hard use" they will bend instead of breaking. Some other companies that successfully use 1095 steel are: Esee, OKC, Ka-Bar(1095CroVan). I personally think tops has the advantage with the differential HT, followed by Ka-Bar with their 1095CroVan. I would think the designer did their homework/testing with this design & it worked out for what THEY were intending. Not many people seem to be able to wrap their head around the concept, so if you don't get it, then don't buy it...
(Edited)
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