TOPS B.O.B. Knife (Brothers of Bushcraft)

T

The_Guide

Joined
Feb 1, 2009
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Hey guys,

I have been picking up a few knives for outdoor use lately, and I stumbled across the Tops BOB Fieldcraft knife. Not bug out bag, but a knife designed by the Brothers of Bushcraft. It looks pretty cool, and people seem to like it.


I was just wondering if anyone here had any user experience with the knife? Or any other thoughts in general.

Its pretty inexpensive, but looks very capable.

PIC:
bob01.jpg


It comes with a kydex sheath, ferro rod, and 2 mag rods in a firesteel sized package. Plus a Tops survival whistle...

I am going through a Bushcraft knife phase, and at this price I figured why not?

Any thoughts?

Cheers!
:thumbup:
 
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TOPS has a funny reputation: Very good execution of highly questionable designs. They make some downright silly stuff. This is clearly not one of those. Rowen mfg. used to make TOPS. Rowen is just about the best at making 1095 blades. Can't say what Rocky Mountains USA does. I'd Google them. TOPS is not making their own blades, they are farming it out to this Rocky Mountains USA company who doesn't sell knives presumably. 1095 is a tremendous bushcraft steel if you take care of it...it'll rust and stain even quicker. The fact that they state the manufacturer is probably a good sign. The form of the blade looks very good to me. Handle looks good. If the price was right I'd go for it. Any "funny" reputation TOPS may have does not come from quality...they have lots of knives that look like they were made for Klingons...almost fantasy patterns. Then they show up with some real functional designs.
 
It's a great blade. A little thick for scandi in my opinion. The Jango notch on the back is worthless I have only seen one person use it successfully (Joezilla). If I still had mine I would grind it off.
 
They say its a modified scandi grind... probably a bit convexed looking at the pictures and how light reflects. Had I not bought the TOPS Dawn Warrior right before they came out with the BOB knife, I would have gotten it. If I were you, I'd probably put a proper scandi grind on it... their 1095 is very very tough.
 
panzertroop said:
It's a great blade. A little thick for scandi in my opinion. The Jango notch on the back is worthless I have only seen one person use it successfully (Joezilla). If I still had mine I would grind it off.
Click to expand...

I'm able to use the "Shango Notch" on my Shango no problem, but it took removal of coating from the butt and extra squaring. I agree that it's on the thick side for a scandi but I hear that there's a thinner scandi around the corner.
 
It looks like one of the more practical Tops designs to come out in a long while. I'd want more writing on mine, though. :)

Prof.
 
Tops has some quality blades, and this one has been on my medium list for awhile. I am curious how well it performs for being that thick. Post results!!!
 
Yeah, I read that... it was very thorough to say the least. I will admit, it was that review that really piqued my interest in the Fieldcraft Knife.

(im a bit of a sucker, it only takes one glowing review to get me interested)
 
Tops, IMHO, is a GREAT knife Co. . Yes, they do have some bizarre designs. Everybody has different tastes. They are in the business of selling knives. The more people they can sell them to, the more money they make. I like them, a lot. I only own one. Tops Alaskan Harpoon. If i had $10 for every person that looked at it & laughed, then held it & realized it is an EXTREMELY comfortable, multi-grip, useful HD knife---it would have paid for itself already. Get what you want. Tops makes great blades. Just pick yours carefully. The BOB looks like an excellent choice. :D

100_1059.jpg
 
I just received one the other day.

The grind is like a scandi with a convexed edge. It came sharp and after a few minutes on the strop it easily pushes hair.

The handle is nearly if not as comfortable as my Ratmandu, which is saying a lot.

Haven't had a chance to try out the shango notch yet, it is not likely to be that big a feature to me.

The supplied firestarter would wear out rather quickly in use, I'll probably trade it out, or just keep it for emergency use.

The knifes lines are a bit misleading in photos and on first impression. It looked to be a bit rounder of a nose than I prefer, but upon examination it has a good point, plenty for drilling and piercing work.

I like the 3/16's thickness. It provides the extra strength for prying, and batoning without going overboard like a 1/4 thick blade of this size.

The sheath is one of the best factory supplied sheaths I've seen. While the belt clip is a bit different, it does function well and does allow for multi positional carry.

Overall Tops has done a bangup job on this model, It is one of perhaps three models they make that I would even consider, most of their designs are way out in left field.

This knife would serve well in the one tool role if you like traveling stupid lite. Even better if carried with a hatchet or axe.
 
Good basic field knife design in a well proven steel. Looks like a rampless Bravo 1, of course with a few bells and whistles thrown in. For the price it should give good performance.
 
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