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Review:
TOPS Knives by Sky Marshall |
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By Dan S. Defense
A Serious,
Functional Hiking and Hunting Knife
TOPS Knives are based in the Rocky Mountains. For over
ten years TOPS Knives have been making tough and rock
solid combat knifes, that can also be used for hunting
and self defense. Fixed TOPS Knives blades, such as the
one featured in this review--the Sky Marshall, are
designed and handcrafted right here in the US. The
design of TOPS Knives is unique and based on real life
experience ,of folks who actually use or used knifes in
their day to day existence.
While I find TOPS Knives advertising to be a bit over
the top, with way too much bravado, I can understand the
pride TOPS Knives makers take in their product. As a
combat soldier I had several occasions to use different
blades and I only wish I had my TOPS Knives blades with
me back in those days. But, and there is always a but,
since TOPS Knives are high quality combat knifes, which
are made here in the US, they aren't cheap. in fact some
models can be quite expensive.
The question is simple--is a TOPS Knives blade right for
you? Is A TOPS Knives worth the extra money? Are the
TOPS Knives really as good as the advertisement makes
them to be? In this review we will look at the TOPS
Knives Sky Marshall and answer each of the previous
questions.
TOPS Knives puts it well when they say: "Our Knives are
TOOLS designed, and built, using the extensive knowledge
and REAL LIFE Experiences of 12 Operators with
backgrounds in the Military, Law Enforcement, Outdoor
Professions, and the Martial Arts." and that's seen in
the attention to detail and focus on functionality. No
fluff and shiny things here. The Sky Marshall isn't a
fancy knife and it isn't very handsome. It's short and
thick and lacks any artificial elements of "Shiny,
Black, Tactical, Commando, Macho, blah blah, Coolness"
stuff. And because of that and the fact that this is a
true combat knife, I find it to be a beautiful and
functional work of art. So what makes the Sky Marshall
special? It's design and the flawless execution.
The first thing you notice when you grab a TOPS Knives
Sky Marshall is its bulk. The blade is twice as thick as
most knifes, the handle is solid and grips your palm,
even if your paws are sweaty or wet ,and it fits
naturally in several striking positions. The Blade is
solid, black and very sharp. It didn't take the Sky
Marshall long to draw blood from my testing hand. It
feels much heavier than a knife that size should weigh,
but its small size and functional Kydex sheath make it
easy to carry. The blade itself is also surprisingly
balanced and can even be used as a throwing knife.
Some specifics: The Sky Marshall has a blade that
measures 4 3/8" in length and 1/4" thick. The overall
length is 9 1/2", out of which 4 1/8" can be used for
cutting. The handle is made from one of my favorite
materials--the G10. It offers a solid grip in hot and
cold weather and i prefer that my carry 1911 grips be
made of G10. The business end of the Sky Marshall is
made from 1095 High Carbon Alloy RC-58 and you can even
use the tip of the handle as a striking weapon. You
could give someone the "good news" with both ends.
TOPS Knifes says that the SKY Marshall was defined by a
police officer with solid military background. From the
TOPS Knives site: "OFFICER ALLEN GARCIA HAS BEEN A
POLICE OFFICER IN MIDDLETOWN, R.I. SINCE 1988. PRIOR TO
THAT, HE SERVED AS A SERGEANT IN THE US ARMY'S 82ND
AIRBORNE DIVISION. HE HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO BOTH
DEPARTMENT A REGIONALIZED SWAT TEAMS SINCE 1991.. AND A
MEMBER OF THE NTOA (NATIONAL TACTICAL OFFICERS ASSOC.)
AND IALEFI." That is certainly a qualifying resume.
I appreciate the Sky Marshall for two main reasons:
Firstly, it is easy to carry when hiking and its small
size assures it doesn't tangle, hang, pull or otherwise
interfere with any other gear. Secondly, it's very sharp
and very hard, which means that no matter what I'd want
to do with it, I'll be able to do so and not damage the
blade. I was pretty sure that the coating would come off
as soon as I used it to chop stuff off. I was wrong. The
Black Traction Coating is as tough as the knife itself.
I also like the Kydex sheath which keeps the Sky
Marshall close to my body and hold on tightly to my
belt. The fact that the sheet has a rotating steel
spring clip makes it even more versatile and useful.
In summary, The TOPS Knives Sky Marshall is as tough as
the advertisement claims. While reading this review, I'm
sure you noticed my admiration for the functional design
and durable execution. The Sky Marshall is black has a
MSRP price tag of $179.00 while the camo finish costs an
additional $30.00 (2010). I opted for the black version
and after owning and using it for several month I can
state that I'm delighted with it.
Typically, knifes wear down and in the long run cost
more to maintain. In the case of the Sky Marshall, the
initial cost is higher but overall cost of ownership is
lower. Therefore, if you are interested in a high
quality and durable knife, I highly recommend you give
TOPS Knives a hard look and see if there's a model
that's right for you. For me, the Sky Marshall is a
handy and respectful companion that I intend to use for
many years to come.
Until next time, stay safe by staying alert.
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