If there’s one highlight from the TOPS Knives’ collection the reputation of which precedes it, it has to be the Tom Brown Tracker.
Granted, there are many well-known and highly respected TOPS Knives. But if there is one that has really defined the groundbreaking innovation that the brand has helped spearhead, it’s that one.
Let’s not mince words any further. This post will break down all the reasons (from a high level) that the Tom Brown Tracker enjoys basically universal acclaim.
Why It’s Universally Lauded
The first aspect of the Tom Brown Tracker that will arrest your attention is the blade profile. It is highly atypical, with a broad, flared, somewhat leaf-shaped blade, and two distinct sections of edge.
This is a big knife with multiple working surfaces. There is a broad, swept belly that can be used effectively for skinning and breaking down most game animals, small or large. It can also be used (albeit it slightly more cumbersomely) for preparing fish – pan-dressing, not filleting.
The curved belly of this blade, near the tip, is also effective for carving feathersticks, batoning, chopping, and carving, along with other fine detail work, depending on how sharp you keep the that section of the edge.
There is a hooked section of edge about halfway back from the tip towards the grip, where the “second” edge begins. This section can be used for pulling cuts very effectively.
The second section of edge, near the grip, can be used for push and draw cuts, as well as for scraping tasks and cutting notches in wood. You also have the flexibility with a knife like this to maintain two separate edge geometries, one for fine and the other for coarser work.
In addition to chopping, it’s also worth noting that, given the heft and width of the blade stock, and the full tang, this knife is more than equipped to handle batoning.
The third working section of the blade is along the spine near the tip, where there are aggressive serrations that can be used for working with very coarse material on which a fine edge would be ineffective, like thick cordage, plastic or wood.
The handle of this knife is another thing of (figurative) beauty. It’s large enough so that users with all but the biggest hands can adopt more than one style of grip. You can choke up on the grip near the edge for more control over the blade, or you can walk your grip back to the end of the handle for more aggressive leverage when swinging, so that this TOPS knife can be used for chopping.
The scales, which are made of extremely tough micarta, offer solid traction and tactility, even in adverse conditions, such as when wet, and are large and comfortable, with no hot spots, making this a surprisingly comfortable, grip-filling knife
The only two things that some users have commented on regarding this blade is that it doesn’t flex (though that’s not to be expected in a knife of this design) and that it lacks a pointed tip. Otherwise, considering what it does, it excels.
All in all, this is a big knife that is specialized to be able to confidently execute a wide variety of tasks in the field, which is why it has earned the reputation that it has.
Where to Learn More About This and Other TOPS Knives
Want to get a closer look at the Tom Brown Tracker or some of the other TOPS Knives that typify the brand? Check out The Knife Connection; they carry this and other popular models such as the TOPS B.O.B. Fieldcraft, Camp Creek, Brush Wolf, El Chete, and Operator 7, among others.
