The TOPS Tibo is available with a red finish exclusively from Red Hill Sheaths. They currently have a limited supply of these knives paired with carbon fiber finished sheaths. Visit the Red Hill Sheaths website or their Facebook page to contact them directly for more information.
Some knife historians will tell you that the first folding knives were friction folders made by the Romans. I’m sure those were decent knives but I can tell you that they didn’t have TOPS Knives’ differential heat treated 1095 steel blades and grippy G-10 scales with their Cryptic Cyber texture pattern. So… Sorry, Romans. This round goes to TOPS Knives.
The TAC-Raze friction folder from TOPS Knives has a lot going for it. As mentioned above, it sports a 1095 steel blade – a steel that TOPS works with extensively and knows how to maximize. It’s black G-10 handle scales feature TOPS Knives’ futuristic Cryptic Cyber texture pattern. The knife comes with a very nice belt sheath which is a huge plus as friction folder users will tell you that pocket carry isn’t always a great idea.
Friction folders, for those who may not know, have no locking mechanism which makes them a great choice in jurisdictions that prohibit locking knives. The knife blade has a tang protrusion that nests into the handle when the blade is open and is held in place by the user’s hand. The knife can not close as long as the knife is being held. This lack of locking mechanism along with their simplicity and a sense of nostalgia has lead to a recent resurgence in the popularity of friction folders.
Check out the TAC-Raze at TOPS Knives.
| Knife Type | Folding |
|---|---|
| Overall Length | 7.63″ |
| Blade Length | 3.25″ |
| Cutting Edge | 2.88″ |
| Closed Length | 5.75 |
| Blade Thickness | 0.130″ |
| Blade Steel | 1095 RC 56-58 |
| Blade Finish | Tumble Finish |
| Handle Material | Black G10 |
| Handle Style | Cryptic Cyber Scales |
| Knife Weight | 2.7oz |
| Weight w/ Sheath | 3.5oz |
| Sheath Included | Yes |
| Sheath Material | Brown Leather |
| Sheath Clip | Belt Loop |
| Designer | Leo Espinoza |
Setting the table is a lot less complicated with the new F.O.R.K. It from TOPS Knives. It has everything you need to put food into your face all in one single tool.
This 1095 steel tool features a spork end and a knife end so it has you covered from soup to steak. It also has a built in bottle opener to cover your hydration needs. The F.O.R.K. It comes with a kydex neck sheath that also serves as a handle when you are using the spork end.
TOPS Knives has been teasing something new, something big and new, for a while now. They just took the wraps off their latest creation, a Viking inspired hand ax called the VI Ax.
On one hand, this is the sort of straight-forward, nuke-proof axe you would expect from TOPS but the subtle details on the new VI Ax are pretty incredible when you look a little closer. It features an interesting offset haft design that puts the bit forward in the chopping stroke for more power much like the bent blade of a kukri. The haft and head have been lightened with attractive concentric milling patterns. The undercut bit lets the user choke up their grip under the cutting edge for knife-like control of finer cutting tasks. There is even a fire drill divot integrated into the micarta handle slabs.
Here is what TOPS Knives has to say about the VI Ax:
The VI Ax, short for Viking Ax, was designed by Leo Espinoza. While it has some similarities to actual Viking axes, Leo added his own flair to the design and it became something totally different.
It is made from one solid slab of 5/16” 1075 instead of the usual 1095. This was to provide better impact resistance with only slightly less edge retention. Its large 5.25″ blade will chop through just about anything you put in front of it. The spike on the back is double-edged to provide maximum damage (2.18″ on the top side, 1.88″ on the bottom). The long handle with grippy Black Linen Micarta gives great reach and power with every chop. A high quality black leather sheath is included with two snaps to secure the ax in the sheath. The sheath was designed simply as a blade cover, not as a belt sheath (for safety reasons). There are small loops on the back that can be used to secure it to a pack or other MOLLE gear.
Take this with you on your next camping trip, put it in your bug-out-bag (if it’s large enough for this), or leave it in your vehicle for easy access. The Vi Ax will come in more than handy when the time comes.
Specs:
| Knife Type | Axe |
|---|---|
| Overall Length | 15.25″ |
| Blade Length | 5.25″ |
| Cutting Edge | 2.13″ |
| Secondary Edge | 1.88″ |
| Blade Thickness | 0.310″ |
| Blade Finish | Black Traction Coating |
| Handle Material | Black Linen Micarta |
| Knife Weight | 39oz |
| Weight w/ Sheath | 44.6oz |
| Sheath Included | Yes |
| Sheath Material | Black Leather |
| Designer | Leo Espinoza |
Check out the VI Ax at TOPS Knives.
The FIEL is one of the latest releases from TOPS Knives. It’s an interesting design because it melds traditional dagger elements with deep bellied, recurve edges. TOPS recently produced a video that describes the FIEL’s design elements and its potential uses.
