Since 1998, TOPS Knives have seen action in the hands of people worldwide ranging from the weekend warrior type to military operators serving overseas and everyone in between.  That being said, two completely different people can own the exact same knife and own said knife for totally different reasons.  Your knife or gear isn’t tactical until you apply it to a tactical situation.  A boy scout on a weekend camping trip with a knife on his hip, NOT TACTICAL.  An Army Ranger kicking in doors overseas with a knife on his hip, TACTICAL.

It seems like every time you turn around, someone is releasing a new “Tactical” product, turning the word into more of a marketing ploy than describing a practical (and often necessary) application for certain items or products.  Sales Tip: if you have an item that isn’t selling well, paint it tan, make it MOLLE compatible, put the word tactical in the title and watch your sales skyrocket.  Mall ninja’s love that shit.

So because this word has been used to describe items from guns and knives to beer koozies and diaper bags, does this mean that it has lost its practicality? We think not. Is the term overused? Definitely. Even by us sometimes? Probably. Many people overuse and/or misuse the term, but that doesn’t make it incorrect or obsolete. There are a lot of people out there who have purchased a “tactical” knife that will never use it in a tactical situation. And of course,  there are certainly people who have used "non-tactical" knives tactically (if you weren't sick of the word tactical when you started reading this, you will be by the end).

TOPS Knives started making “Tactical” knives when the word still meant something.  These tactical knives have earned their title with blood, sweat, and tears.  These knives weren’t called tactical to boost sales.  These knives were designed for the brave men and women who have to put their full trust into their gear.  These knives were designed with the input and real-world experience of actual military operators, law enforcement officer, martial arts experts, survivalists and the list goes on.  TOPS has used and will continue to use the word Tactical in their descriptions, because to us, this word still has meaning.

No. This is not a knife buyer’s guide, and it is also not a top 10, top 5, or top anything list. This is simply meant to get you thinking about what you actually want in a knife so that YOU can make the decision about what is right for you.

What do I "need" it for?

If you’re a knife enthusiast, it’s unlikely that you “need” a new knife, but the same concepts can apply to you as for those people who are replacing a lost knife or had one break and actually do need a new knife. The most important question is, “what will this knife be used for most frequently?” If you work in a field where you’re regularly opening packages, mail, or cutting a lot of paper-like material, you’re going to want something different than if you’re looking for a concealable self-defense knife. If you work outside the city in rural areas or in nature, you’re going to want something totally different than someone who works in a restaurant. If you’re a hunter, you’ll probably want something different than a military guy or gal about to be deployed overseas. Those are obvious callouts, but it’s the right place to start.

How often am I going to carry it?

Now that you know exactly what it’s going to cut, think about how often it will be on your person. The same adage a lot of people use when buying a new gun is true for knives: the best gun (knife in this case) is the one have with you. So if you’re buying a self-defense knife, and you live in Miami, and it's summer, a fixed blade with a 7-inch cutting edge is not the right knife. An exaggerated example, but you get the point. Consider how the knife will fit on your belt, around your neck, or in your pocket. Also, think about how it might show under a shirt; is it going to dig into your body when you sit; is it even legal to carry in your city/state, or where you work. Since most of the time it will be in the sheath, it’s got to be comfortable to carry or you won’t carry it.

How often am I going to use it?

This is where you start looking at things like ergonomics and steel choice. A knife that you will be using regularly has to be comfortable to hold. There are some knives out there that look amazing (in terms of aesthetics) but are rather unwieldy and uncomfortable to use. There are numerous materials used for knife handles today from classics like wood and bone to high tech like carbon fiber. If you require a solid grip at all times, you’ll want to select a textured G10 or Micarta over polished wood and slick surfaces. If you are doing simple tasks and are interested in aesthetics, a nice burl, exotic hardwood, or some good looking carbon fiber might be a great option. Micarta that is sanded to a polish is going to look and feel quite different from Micarta that is left with a rough texture.

Steel choice, in general, could be its own standalone topic and a broad one at that, but suffice it to say that you should know the basic properties of the steel on the knife you’re going to get. Is it stainless, tool steel, spring steel, or basic high carbon steel? Or is it Damascus or San Mai type steel?

Consider hardness, toughness, wear resistance, and edge retention. Some steels will hold an edge for a very long time, but require a very skilled person and time investment to re-sharpen. Other steels, such as 1095 have great edge retention when heat treated properly, but are still simple to re-sharpen when the time comes. Some steels can take an edge better than others in the first place. Some steels can be hardened to a very high hardness, but are left brittle, so hard use will chip edges. Some may not get as sharp or as hard but may be very impact resistant (great for chopping knives, hatchets, etc.). Remember, the more advanced the steel, the higher the cost.

How much am I willing to spend?

This, like many aspects of purchasing a knife, is extremely subjective. Some people aren’t willing to spend over $100 (some won’t spend more than $50) on a knife no matter how good it is. Some are willing to shell out over $1000 for a custom knife made with exotic materials by a well-known knife maker.  Then, there are people everywhere in between that will spend whatever it costs to get the knife they want. None of these people are wrong. You just have to decide for yourself what a knife is worth to you.

Some of those $30-$40 folding knives look good and work well, but many lack a proper heat treat, which can lead to rolling or chipping on the regular, which will make the knife more hassle than it’s worth. Some of those really high priced knives look so amazing that they never get used or carried, which is fine if collecting is your thing. Some people would rather spend $100-$200 for a knife that will last forever instead of just buying a new one every time the cheap one fails. Of course there are some diamonds in the rough, and some overpriced paperweights out there, but in general, when it comes to knives, you get what you pay for.

What else should I consider?

As if that wasn’t enough, there are many other considerations:

• Blade thickness - thicker blade stock typically equals stronger knives but can sacrifice sharpness. Plus, how much weight are you willing to carry around?
• Edge geometry - axes tend to have wider blade edges (up to 30 degrees or so on each side of the edge) and slicers tend to have narrower (say 17 to 20 degrees) for good reasons. Wider edges are less prone to chipping and rolling than thin edges. Thin edges are sharper and cut better (more cleanly). There is always a trade-off.
• Blade type - Each has its strengths/weaknesses and preferred applications (again, it's all subjective). There are drop points, tanto points, Sheep's foot, clip points, and many more to choose from.
• Cleaning and Maintenance - Do you want a worry free stainless steel that you never have to worry about cleaning, but may be very difficult to resharpen, or do you want a carbon steel blade that will rust when wet, but sharpens easily (keep in mind, many modern carbon steel blades are coating to protect from rust).
• Warranty - Does the maker stand behind its product.
• And more...

In the end, buying a knife should be enjoyable. Shop with your eyes first. Then worry about the rest of the details. Have fun; select something that fits your style.

Why? There are several shows throughout the year that would work just as well, right? For example, the IWA show in Germany. What better place to debut a European inspired design? Or what about the NRA Convention? There are tens of thousands of consumers that attend that show each year. Of course, you can’t forget about the BLADE Show. I mean, it’s a show specifically for knives. Why wouldn’t you debut your new items there too? (Spoiler alert: We debut knives there too) SHOT Show is the place for multiple reasons.

Time of Year

What better time to let your customers know of your plans than in the first month of the year? The SHOT Show is planned long enough after the holidays that it doesn’t interfere with them, but early enough in the year that it’s a great outlet to show off what you plan to do. So for that reason SHOT makes perfect sense to debut the new lineup.

Media

The amount of media presence there is astounding. No other show has been able to provide the same level of coverage by writers, TV personalities, radio hosts, podcasters, bloggers, vloggers, social media influencers, etc. No other show has been able to provide the quality of media coverage either. So the same product debuted at a different show may not receive the same amount of attention as one debuted at SHOT. Especially in today’s “connected” world, the media outlets reporting on SHOT Show are able to disseminate video and pictures immediately. So even though the SHOT Show isn’t open to the general public, people can still see what’s happening without having to fly to Vegas and risk getting the SHOT Show plague. If you've been to SHOT, you know what I'm talking about.

Dealers / Retailers

TOPS is focused on manufacturing top-notch knives and tools. TOPS is not as focused on selling them directly to customers. That’s where retailers come in. Because the SHOT Show caters so well to retailers, and those are the people that make up the vast majority of TOPS’ sales throughout the year, it’s the perfect venue to show off existing products and to show them what’s coming to keep them excited. This allows TOPS to focus on manufacturing quality and allows retailers to do what they do best and sell those quality tools. There is no other show throughout the year where TOPS (or any other manufacturer) has as much direct, face-to-face interaction with the people that directly sell their product to consumers.

Feedback

Some of the knives that TOPS debuts at SHOT have already been tested and are basically ready to be made and sold, but there are always at least a couple on the table that they would like to get feedback on. Due to the large presence of military, LEO, first responders, and other professionals that attend that show, TOPS is able to get feedback on features or details of different models that affect the product that is eventually released.

Now that SHOT Show 2018 is over and 15 plus new models were introduced by TOPS, it is time for the long wait for each of them to become available to the public. TOPS’ typically does not release more than one model at a time. TOPS prefers to release models throughout the year. That means there is always something new out there. This year’s new products ranged from a tomahawk/ax weighing over 3 pounds, to a nessmuk-style hunting knife, to a “3-finger” karambit, to a flipper folder (a collaboration with Maserin Knives from Italy), to an actual Chef’s knife. With such a variety from TOPS’ 2018 lineup, there is going to be something for everyone regardless of your background.

With all of that said, TOPS does debut new items outside of the SHOT Show from time to time. For example, El Chappo, which is a cleaver that was released in February 2018, was debuted at the BLADE Show 2017, and TOPS does have at least a couple of new products planned for a BLADE 2018 debut as well.