Tops Puukko vs Esee RB3

[NeedItCheaper]

Looking at those two knives, I feel like a vs thread is warranted. Both have; Scandi-grind, 1095 steel, 3.5in cutting edge, .13in thick, around 110-120$... Google yielded very little. Anyone have both and can speak to the pros and cons of each?

 

[GreenOwl]

I don’t have either but I’ll offer my opinion. I think the RB-3 is better. I like having a guard and I generally like handles that are more round than the tops puuko. I’ve had the Tops BOB and didn’t like it for that reason.

 

[tek77]

I had both. I only own the Tops now.
It comes down to preference.

Here are my thought on the Rb3:
- handle did not work for me. Its on the skinny side, especially close to the blade, where I usually choke up. The guard gets in the way for me in use.
- the balance of the knife was off. It’s handle heavy.
- I found the angle of the grind a bit off for that stock thickness. I prefer a more acute angle on the grind, witch makes for a better wood working scandi for me.

Tops puukko
- It’s not a true scandi, as it comes with a secondary bevel. I ended up convexing mine, for better overall performance. I’m sure you can turn it into a true scandi if you prefer.
- the handle feels better for my L/XL grip.

Both leather sheaths are decent. I prefer the knife to sit deeper in its sheath. None of the factory sheaths do that.
In time the sheath will get loose.
I found wet forming and waxing it to improve the retention.

Hope this helps some with your decision.

 

[EatingSarma]

I have regular ESEE 3 and have once used it as my literally only knife for like 10 days.

Literally everything from spreading pate on my bread and cleaning fish we caught to cutting wood, opening boxes, trimming carpets and wallpapers.

Regular ESEE 3 is more than tough enough for wood work, has nice finger choil and also guard for your hand, and full flat grind makes it hell of a slicer too.

So I'd go with ESEE RB3 as that's the closest to my ESEE 3.

 

[NeedItCheaper]

I don’t have either but I’ll offer my opinion. I think the RB-3 is better. I like having a guard and I generally like handles that are more round than the tops puuko. I’ve had the Tops BOB and didn’t like it for that reason.

Well, I've got a problem buying stuff needlessly as I have now bought the Tops Puukko. I'm a knife whore (too far?). The hand difference between the Puukko and the BOB is night and day. The BOB is blocky and full of hot spots. The Puukko is every nice. I haven't done any hard testing, so I don't know about edge retention, etc... I will say, the micro bevel is so aggressive I feel like I'm using a saber grind knife. What's the point of making a scandi grind that can't be used as a scandi? I'll see how it performs after reshaping the bevel. As of right now it is terrible for wood processing/feather making.

 

[Spey]

Tops puukko
- It’s not a true scandi, as it comes with a secondary bevel. I ended up convexing mine, for better overall performance. I’m sure you can turn it into a true scandi if you prefer.
- the handle feels better for my L/XL grip.

I will say, the micro bevel is so aggressive I feel like I'm using a saber grind knife. What's the point of making a scandi grind that can't be used as a scandi? I'll see how it performs after reshaping the bevel. As of right now it is terrible for wood processing/feather making.

Is this thread referencing the Tops Tanimboca Puukko?

I thought (assumed from photos and discussions I have had with a couple owners ...?) that the Tanimboca came from factory with a scandi (NO Secondary bevels) ...

 

[CWL]

From looks alone, I prefer the Tops, and I can reprofile the blade in a few minutes into a convex blade so the secondary bevel doesn't bother me.
I have several "bushcraft" knives, all handmade, but at this point, I prefer the puukko style more.

 

[buckfynn]

I have TOPS Tanimboca puukko. Mine had a fairly decent edge on it from the factory. In the photos below I put a slight convex edge on the apex.

 

[Spey]

Is this thread referencing the Tops Tanimboca Puukko?

I thought (assumed from photos and discussions I have had with a couple owners ...?) that the Tanimboca came from factory with a scandi (NO Secondary bevels) ...

From the last two replies in this thread it sounds like ..., you are telling me a OEM Tanimboca comes with secondary bevels (aka not scandi to the apex) ?
Do all Tops "scandi" knives have secondary bevels from the factory ?

Any chance anyone has measured the primary bevels on a Tanimboca and can post L/R dps ?

TIA

EDIT: to the OP question related to comparison (assuming both are "scandi").
It appears to be confirmed the Tops has both primary bevels and secondary bevels.
ESEE-RB3 has shorter primary bevels, with similar blade stock thicknesses (0.125" vs. 0.130"), which means the ESEE is more set up to run a full scandi grind.
Where-as the Tops, having taller primary grinds is more set to run with secondary bevels, scandi-vex, etc.

 

[gazz98]

I have no experience with either of those two knives.

I know nothing of TOPS and their warranty service but I know several people IRL and have read many times on this forum about how great the ESEE "no questions asked" warranty is. Hopefully someone with TOPS warranty experience will chime in or try the search function in the upper right if you want.

A warranty is always something to consider in whatever you buy imo.

Good luck!

 

[NeedItCheaper]

Is this thread referencing the Tops Tanimboca Puukko?

I thought (assumed from photos and discussions I have had with a couple owners ...?) that the Tanimboca came from factory with a scandi (NO Secondary bevels) ...

Yes, the Tanimboca. I can't get the light to shine on the edge properly, but there's a secondary bevel. When using the Terrasaur, I can press the flat against a stick, and get a bite. With the Tanimboca, I need to angle out by about 3/8in. The wording is shoddy, my apologies, I can't think of a different way to describe it. After working the edge, it might get significantly better, just annoying. I don't want to throw Tops completely under the bus here. My most used knife is the Ambush Alpha (now named Bravo Alpha) and the bevel out the box was trash. Now it's the best 3/16in thick I've ever used. Time will tell.

 

[MolokaiRider]

I love the Tops knife enough to purchase a backup. It is a joy to use.

 

[Spey]

Yes, the Tanimboca. I can't get the light to shine on the edge properly, but there's a secondary bevel. When using the Terrasaur, I can press the flat against a stick, and get a bite. With the Tanimboca, I need to angle out by about 3/8in. The wording is shoddy, my apologies, I can't think of a different way to describe it. After working the edge, it might get significantly better, just annoying. I don't want to throw Tops completely under the bus here. My most used knife is the Ambush Alpha (now named Bravo Alpha) and the bevel out the box was trash. Now it's the best 3/16in thick I've ever used. Time will tell.

NeedItCheaper,
I appreciate your confirmation (basically realization I had come to without being able to have a Tanimboca in hand).

I believe this is the specific reason I took a pass on this model some time back, as I had been burned in the past with knives that were supposed to be full scandi grind knives, but actually came with a secondary bevels installed from the mfr. Example: a number of years ago I purchased the Spyderco Nilakka as EVERY review and photo illustrated it came from Spyderco with true full scandi grind that allows the user to find the geometry specific to individual user application (the way we should all be selecting geometries for our edges). I was so pissed off because of this bait-n-switch (Spyderco deciding the general population can't handle sorting out their own geometries) because unlike a saber-scandi, a full height scandi (with secondaries) is a bitch to convert from having had secondary bevels applied. After a year or so, I gave up attempting to find one of the Gen-1 Nilakka's (the only one's to have a true scandi grind), and just moved on with other options.

Based on your comments, is seems we may have some common ground, and I would like to return the favor of your answer/confirmation with a potential recommendation of what I have found to be a stellar pocket scandi knife that I have been using for some time now. Video link below, to a short 1-minute look-around (no words needed for those that understand what they are looking at). Turn up volume for nice rain-day back-sound, and read the video details.

Enzo 75 Chaga Fire

Regards, and Thanks Again ;-)

 

[LimpCroissant]

NeedItCheaper,
I appreciate your confirmation (basically realization I had come to without being able to have a Tanimboca in hand).

I believe this is the specific reason I took a pass on this model some time back, as I had been burned in the past with knives that were supposed to be full scandi grind knives, but actually came with a secondary bevels installed from the mfr. Example: a number of years ago I purchased the Spyderco Nilakka as EVERY review and photo illustrated it came from Spyderco with true full scandi grind that allows the user to find the geometry specific to individual user application (the way we should all be selecting geometries for our edges). I was so pissed off because of this bait-n-switch (Spyderco deciding the general population can't handle sorting out their own geometries) because unlike a saber-scandi, a full height scandi (with secondaries) is a bitch to convert from having had secondary bevels applied. After a year or so, I gave up attempting to find one of the Gen-1 Nilakka's (the only one's to have a true scandi grind), and just moved on with other options.

Based on your comments, is seems we may have some common ground, and I would like to return the favor of your answer/confirmation with a potential recommendation of what I have found to be a stellar pocket scandi knife that I have been using for some time now. Video link below, to a short 1-minute look-around (no words needed for those that understand what they are looking at). Turn up volume for nice rain-day back-sound, and read the video details.

Enzo 75 Chaga Fire

Regards, and Thanks Again ;-)

Shoot I forgot all about Enzos! Those have been around a long time. I was really wanting to try one a decade ago and then completely forgot about them till now. Good call.

 

[MolokaiRider]

EnZO Birk 75 is a great knife. They are offered in a scandi or FFG. The scandi has a micro-bevel, but quite small.

I highly recommend them, as they are very well put together.

 

[Spey]

The scandi has a micro-bevel, but quite small.

In my experiences, I would *disagree. I have two 75's, one in Carbon Fiber & one in Ivory Linen Micarta (pic's below).
* possibly a generational change over time, or possibly dependent on how well the primary grinds are completed (not so good perhaps gets a secondary ...?).

The blade in the Linen Micarta was slightly used when I got it, with evidences of stropping and/or possibly extremely small micro-bevel by previous owner.
The blade in the CF is new/unused with no discernable signs of a micro-bevel, with slight signs of a light strop or deburring of the edge under magnification.

Linen Micarta blade I have sharpened a few times and used quite a bit.
Carbon Fiber blade is new/unused showing no signs of a micro-bevel.


Magnified image of Carbon Fiber edge shows no signs of micro-bevel, with primary grind lines extending to apex. Possibly slight stropping and/or deburring. Appologies for not being able to capture with camera-phone what I can see under magnification.

 

[Spey]

Shoot I forgot all about Enzos! Those have been around a long time. I was really wanting to try one a decade ago and then completely forgot about them till now. Good call.

Good news is, the Gen-2 (current production) has some nice improvements like changes to pocket clip and mounting along with slight handle improvements (scales flush with the liner, clip placed for deep pocket carry, counter sunk screws, liner modified for easier opening and closing).

I believe the Gen-1 was released just prior to the Gen-1 Spyderco Gayle Brady, and from what I see, possibly produced in same factory and of similar fit-n-finish ... ;-)
(Also, consider the GB-1 and the Gen-1 75 both had liners proud of the handle scales.)

Some of my disassembly notes from a year ago:

(

 

[MolokaiRider]

In my experiences, I would disagree. I have two 75's, one in Carbon Fiber & one in Ivory Linen Micarta (pic's below).
The blade in the Linen Micarta was slightly used when I got it, with evidences of stropping and/or possibly extremely small micro-bevel by previous owner.
The blade in the CF is new/unused with no discernable signs of a micro-bevel, with slight signs of a light strop or deburring of the edge under magnification.

Linen Micarta blade I have sharpened a few times and used quite a bit.
Carbon Fiber blade is new/unused showing no signs of a micro-bevel.
View attachment 1713874

Magnified image of Carbon Fiber edge shows no signs of micro-bevel, with primary grind lines extending to apex. Possibly slight stropping and/or deburring. Appologies for not being able to capture with camera-phone what I can see under magnification.
View attachment 1713876

That is quite interesting. Mine seem to have very small micro bevels. I have attached a pic.

Regardless, they are still fantastic. I am actually considering ordering a fourth, as I like them so much!

 

[LimpCroissant]

Good news is, the Gen-2 (current production) has some nice improvements like changes to pocket clip and mounting along with slight handle improvements (scales flush with the liner, clip placed for deep pocket carry, counter sunk screws, liner modified for easier opening and closing).

I believe the Gen-1 was released just prior to the Gen-1 Spyderco Gayle Brady, and from what I see, possibly produced in same factory and of similar fit-n-finish ... ;-)
(Also, consider the GB-1 and the Gen-1 75 both had liners proud of the handle scales.)

Some of my disassembly notes from a year ago:
View attachment 1713888
(

What a minute.. I thought these Enzo's were made in Finland? And the GB-1 was a came from the Taichung factory didn't it? I remember when the GB-1 came out, I actually got to carry it for a week during a passaround, a hell of a knife!
Ya, that's one of the first things I noticed when looking at pics of these Enzos, how the scales and liners are nicely fitted and look to have a nice finish. I just looked again at the carbon fiber Birk 75 and I definitely see the similarities between that and the Gayle Bradley. In any case I looovvve me a nice scandi grind and really like that ivory linen micarta handle on it too. I may just have to try one. Thanks for the info!

 

[Spey]

What a minute.. I thought these Enzo's were made in Finland? And the GB-1 was a came from the Taichung factory didn't it? I remember when the GB-1 came out, ...

... I just looked again at the carbon fiber Birk 75 and I definitely see the similarities between that and the Gayle Bradley.

Uhmmm ..., Enzo's are made in various countries and marketed out of Finland. Some from Italy also. It is my understanding the 75 was 'designed' in Finland.
Couple hints re: Birk 75; compare the carbon fiber laminated over G10 between Birk 75 and any of Spyderco carbon fiber over G10 laminated scales (say for example the Gayle Bradley released right after the Birk 75, current Gayle Bradley, or a Spyderco Sage-1).
Also consider the Gen-1 Birk 75 (released just prior to the Gen-1 Gayle Bradley) and the GB1 BOTH had liners that were proud of the handle scales.
Construction and design of standoffs, blade stop pin, evidences of EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining) wire-cutting, etc., including Fit-n-finish has Taiwan written all over it ...

My Sage-1 vs Birk 75 (both virtually identical carbon fiber laminated over G10)


My Sage-1 (wearing a Ti-RIL lock & OEM carbon fiber laminated over G10), Birk 75 (carbon fiber laminated over G10), Birk 75 (Linen Micarta)