A Word on TOPS knives
As a user and abuser of TOPS knives, let me give a few words in general on the pros and cons of TOPS knives as well as a comment about the issue of the difference between a steak knife and a good outdoor knife.
TOPS (Tactical Operations Products) is a semi custom knife maker that uses mostly tried and true designs to produce a decent product. By and large, TOPS knives are made of a differentially heat treated 1095 High carbon steel that takes and holds a great edge. TOPS products are known for their durability and utility for uses they are designed for.
That being said, TOPS knives rarely come with the best grind available and the edges really need to be buffed and stropped prior to using them for fine work.
This is easily accomplished with a decent emery board , arkasas stone and about 20 mins of work, usually ending with a strop.
The TOPS Tracker has all of the same basic features as the other knives made by this company. If your dead set on a tracker, the TOPS Model is a good price for a decent version of this blade. That being said, the Tracker is (in my experience) a combersome knife to use for its intended purpose. The different edges make it hard to sharpen in the field under primitive conditions without the aid of modern sharpening tools. The extreme belly of the front end makes chopping an odd affair at best, and at worst, the blade skips off of the intended target due to the lack of a decent "sweet spot" which would otherwise be there.
Now some pro of the knife: The handle is comforable and in my opinion, a good shape for an outdoor knife. I have seen trackers re-ground to remove the variable edge geometry and it made a very comfortable skinning and general purpose outdoor knife, but then, it was not the Tracker anymore but instead, a large skinner style blade.
Now about outdoor knives in general and their relation to the steak knife.
Similaritys: they are both made of some sort of metal, usuallly steel, they both have a handle, edge and point (it varys though) They have the same purpose:to cut something.
Differences: THe steel as you mentioned is better, the blades are more robust, the handle is designed to be used under wet, bloody, sticky conditions and still allow the tool to stay in your hand, weather we are speaking of a hunting knife, survival knife or combat knife, an outdoor knife has to be stiff enough to endure carving wood, cracking bone or at least seperating it from raw meat. Some of these things can be said of a steak knife but I welcome you to try and dress,skin, and butcher an elk with your average steak knife (im not talking henkles here, thats a whole different ball game!)
Anyway my reccomendation is that you start with a decen Marbles Ideal or Woodcraft, or even a K-Bar before spending the $$ on the Tracker. If you have any questions on what to start out with, feel free to e-mail me and Ill help you put things in perspective.
RR
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