TOPS BTK, Bird & Trout Knife

Mistwalker

Mistwalker

Gold Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2007
Messages
18,962
I have been getting back into fishing more lately so when I saw this little guy on the TOPS website I decided to give it a shot. Water borne activities are an area where I am rather fond of steels with corrosion resistance, and while I always have a heavy cutting tool handy somewhere near by I like having a smaller fixed blade knife on my person when I am fishing. They come in handy for lots of little cutting chores.

This is the TOPS BTK (Bird & Trout Knife)

DSC_3910.jpg


DSC_3891.jpg




The specs are

Over All Length:.....6.75 in / 17 cm
Blade Length:........3 in / 7.6 cm
Thickness:............1/8 in / 3 mm
Steel:..................440c RC 58-60 Cryo Treaded
Handle:................Grey Micarta
Sheath:................Leather Paddle
Weight W/Sheath:.....5.3oz / 150.25 g
Weigth W/O Sheath:...3.5oz / 99.2 g
Desiged by:..........Allen Jensen

The sheath is really comfortable, and the whole rig is so light I wore it all over town forgetting I had it on my belt.

DSC_3909.jpg





It has a slight S-Curve shape with with a Nessmuk style hump in the blade. It is a small knife but still really comfortable in the hand in multiple grips.

DSC_3904.jpg


DSC_3912.jpg


DSC_3906.jpg





It is also very sharp and has a very nice pointy tip to work with.

DSC_3914.jpg


DSC_3898.jpg





So far I've only gotten to take it on one actual fishing trip. The knife really is well suited for the tasks. It is light and nimble and very sharp so using it to cut line and string and such while maintaining a grip on other things was easily doable.

DSC_3854-1.jpg





On that trip for whatever reason I wasn't having any luck with lures so I fell back on an old stand-by...dough balls made by wetting down crackers.

DSC_3881.jpg



Part 1 of 4
.
 
Last edited:
This little bee wouldn't leave my bait alone so I added him to it.

DSC_3879.jpg





Once I actually caught a fish I quickly realized I no longer had my stringer in my back pack. So...I had to make one by melting the end of a section of para-cord into a point and tying a loop in the other end. The point of the BTK worked really well for making a small slit in the thin skin under the lower jaw of the fish to insert the stringer into.

DSC_3886.jpg


DSC_3878.jpg


DSC_3888.jpg





I didn't catch many, but before long I had plenty for a nice afternoon meal.

DSC_3896.jpg


DSC_3890.jpg


DSC_3918.jpg






And with wonderful timing I got a phone call right after this shot that called me away from my trip and to a meeting. So...this little guy and his two friends ended up getting a reprieve and were released to be caught again another day.

DSC_3920.jpg




Part 2 of 4

.
 
Not getting to use the knife for food prep in the field I decided to use it at home later to make my own version of Beef Stroganoff (no sour cream, Lisa can't stand it).

Started with the mushrooms which the knife obviously handled easily.

DSC_4030.jpg


DSC_4041.jpg





Then on to the Shallots. The full flat grind slices really well .

DSC_4047.jpg


DSC_4054.jpg






The a little Arneheim pepper for a kick. The Nessmuk hump really helps with control in fine work.

DSC_4061.jpg


DSC_4067.jpg


DSC_4092.jpg


DSC_4097.jpg


DSC_4110.jpg


Part 3 of 4

.
 
Then on to cubing up some Chuck eyes, This little knife is really an excellent slicer, and once again that Nessmuk hump helps with great control. No wonder people Like Nessmuks in the kitchen.

DSC_4072.jpg


DSC_4073.jpg


DSC_4078.jpg


DSC_4081.jpg


DSC_4082.jpg






Then it was on to cooking...

Sauteing the veggies

DSC_4137.jpg






Then browning the meat and adding in the veggies

DSC_4139.jpg






Add in the mushrooms

DSC_4140.jpg





Make a gravy using beef broth, corn starch, and herbs and spices to taste and pour over. Then simmer a bit.

DSC_4141.jpg





Serve over extra wide egg noodles, and viola dinner!

DSC_4142.jpg


.
 
Looks like an ideal camp knife. Might also be a perfect hunting knife for those who prefer them on the small side. I might prefer a bit thinner blade. And the large lettering on the side of the blade is off-putting, at least to me. Overall very nice! Thanks.
 
moxie said:
Looks like an ideal camp knife. Might also be a perfect hunting knife for those who prefer them on the small side. I might prefer a bit thinner blade. And the large lettering on the side of the blade is off-putting, at least to me. Overall very nice! Thanks.
Click to expand...

Thanks, glad you enjoyed the review. Yes it is a little on the small side but that does make it quick in the hand and nibble to work with. I think it will be great for fish and small game. The blade is uncoated other than the lettering, so I think that would likely come off with a little effort if one wanted to remove it.
 
as usual mist you do a through review with great pics. the knife is an attractive little package but stiff hands like mine need a little more to hold on. would be great as a backup blade but slender blades cut fish & veges better. however you're a knife xpert so the stubby package was no dissadvantage to you. thanks for the persentation.
dennis
 
Thanks guys, glad you liked the review. I'm wanting to get it out and try it out in bushcraft uses and firecraft too, just haven't done it yet.
 
Mist, everytime I think I am doing good on my diet, I read one of your posts & all of a sudden the hunger pangs start up. . . :)
I have a pretty big set of paws (10 1/2" tip of thumb to tip of little finger), & I have looked high and low for a small knife that would do exactly what you used it for, but with no luck. If you applied "force" to this knife, is the handle long enough to hit the back part of your hand instead of wanting to turn in your palm? I don't know if that makes sense or not to you, but that is the problem I have with small knives. Great shots of the knife, guess I will go & fix another wonderful, scrumptous, delictable salad once again . . . . :yawn:
Be safe.
 
Angus McGunnigl said:
Great review ans thanks for the new recepie !!!
Click to expand...

Any time man, never know what I'm gonna throw together till I start looking around to see what here :)



JUST1MOR said:
Mist, everytime I think I am doing good on my diet, I read one of your posts & all of a sudden the hunger pangs start up. . . :)
I have a pretty big set of paws (10 1/2" tip of thumb to tip of little finger), & I have looked high and low for a small knife that would do exactly what you used it for, but with no luck. If you applied "force" to this knife, is the handle long enough to hit the back part of your hand instead of wanting to turn in your palm? I don't know if that makes sense or not to you, but that is the problem I have with small knives. Great shots of the knife, guess I will go & fix another wonderful, scrumptous, delictable salad once again . . . . :yawn:
Be safe.
Click to expand...

I haven't tried much "bushcraft" type stuff with this one but so far it hasn't tried to turn in my hand. My hand only measures 9.25" in that dimension but I think I have unusually short pinkies...
 
Thanks for a nice review Brian,I like the nessy look of that B&T.
Not a real deep belly,but still has the nessy hump.
Thats one more for the damn list.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top