This knife is a solid choice for survival, bushcrafting, and scouting. The T1 is more of a survival knife and a little clunky when it come to more delicate things, and the T3 is downsized to be just small enough to do just about any trap, stricter, or bobble you wanna make without sacrificing too much chopping power. It also doesn't feel like it's trying to pants you when you have it on your belt like the T1. I saw someone complain that it's half the knife and more expensive. Honestly it's a better knife than the T1 because of the size. It's more slicy and because of that reduced thickness it feather sticks better, food preps better, and carves wood better. It's also a stainless steel knife so less suspectable to corrosion so if you are sea side or live in very humid areas that can be a deciding factor. Also it's got better edge retention and is able to ditch the truck liner coating that flakes off into your meat when you cut it at camp. Since that coating is gone you also get better ferrorod striking and means you don't need to chew out your fire steel with the saw teeth. If you want a knife to go out and chop saplings down and don't care about using it as a normal knife then sure go with the T1 if you want a knife that can also chop down saplings go with this one. Read more
If you want a serious back woods tool and can’t afford a Dave Beck knife this is the one you want. The stainless blade is much easier to maintain than Tops usual 1095 which rusts if you look at it cross eyed. Read more
Some say this knife is "gimicky" I do not agree. I used it to chop down a 3 inch diameter tree and the edge took NO damage. It would still shave the hairs on my arm. Great for starting fires, making feather sticks. Just an all around great knife. Read more
For those that don't understand the price/appearance differences, here is a brief explanation. This particular model is made with different materials to be more resistant to corrosion and weathering, therefore, it doesn't warrant the extra tough coating that is usually found on the other models of TOPS' Tom Brown Trackers, Bushcrafter Kukuri 7, and others. That is the primary difference, and reason for the differences in price/appearance. Other than that, it is EXACTLY the same level of quality as the other models. So, before you take any of the negative reviews to heart, understand that these reviews are written by people that clearly don't understand the product that they are buying and/or how to properly utilize it in the field. Also, as an FYI: This model, despite being the third iteration, is the second largest. In my opinion, it's probably the best everyday/all-around size option for this particular model of knife. But, for those with questions about it, the different models' sizing goes #1, #3, #2, #4, from largest to smallest. The smallest of which, is basically a fancy letter opener, but it DOES still have it's uses in field applications. It's just not gonna be a go-to option for much outside of those smaller tasks. If you're only wanting/going to get one of these knives, go with the #3. Cheers! Read more
Used for a variety of bushcraft tasks. My only complaint is the secondary bevel, which comes razor sharp, but doesn't work as well for detail tasks near the handle. You will have to do a little work with a stone, or see if TOPS will offer a different grind Read more
Besides the weight, I love this knife. A true workhorse in the bush if you learn how to use it. The sheath is solid. Blade fits very securely. The handle fits my hand nicely. It's very comfortable to chop. The sections on the blade are razor sharp right out of the box. So be careful. The weight is a bit much for the size. I recommend the T2 for everyday carry. Read more
Love it Read more
This knife is everything that they say it is. If you don't respect it, it will humble you. A must have for anyone that loves spending time outdoors. Highly recommend it Read more
