Another underwhelming knife from Tops and just like the Bob has no sharpened spine and a weak tip that could not stand up to tip work like the Mora Garberg which I was able to dig out a 4" round by 4" deep hole in hardwood without any damage but when I tried to use the Tops Bob 1/4" of the tip broke off.
I'm a sucker. I bought it as is. My plan is to have a kydex sheath made for it. I know, more money. I don't understand Tops "updating " the design and then using leather for the sheath.
Tops got me with this one. I ordered one last night. My plan is to make or have made a kydex sheath. The history behind the knife is a big part of why I purchased. I'm planning on using it for a camp/hunting knife. No bushcrafting plans with this grind. Hopefully it lives up to the memories.
The thing about Marbles is their products are usually REALLY affordable... this not so much. Love the knife, not the sheath, a bit more than I would pay for a blade this size. Would rather buy an ESSE Junglas for about that price.
Here's my humble opinion...At the end of the day, TOPS made a "modern" version of a blade that was designed in 1915.(?) Could Leo and his Crew have produced a blade that was absolutely off the charts? Sure. They've done so over-&-over throughout the years. However, in my humble opinion (*again), they produced a modern "Tribute" to an early-1900s hunting/outdoor knife. For me, I think they knocked it out of the park. I have an original and would NEVER use it like I would use this particuler TOPS version. I gotta' tell ya' man, I was excited about the release of this knife, and am NOT disappointed. My hat is off to Leo and the Crew at TOPS.
Bingo! this was a design when men where men and carried an axe for wood processing (think Kephart or Nessmuk), not the current thought process of light weight bush craft. this is primarily a hunting knife that can do basic camp chores.
My thoughts exactly. I can’t help but laugh thinking about what men from the bygone era would think of modern American society today. I think they’d immediately head back into the woods and never come out.
I veiw this as a good all around knife. More of a hunting knife than a bushcrafter, although it can do it. I've even read that Horace Kephart actually used on of the original Marbles in his later years.
The marbles knife is pictured in Kepharts book, here is what he wrote about the Marbles knife (I cannot add the photo). For years I used knives of my own design, because there was nothing on the market that met my notion of what a sensible, practical sheath knife should be; but we have it now in the knife here shown (Fig. 104). It is of the right size (4 -inch blade), the Fig. 104.- Sheath Knife right shape, and the proper thinness. I ground the front part of the back of mine to a blunt bevel edge for scaling fish and disarticulating joints.
I can see wanting a more premium steel at that price point. I can't see considering D2 to be a more premium steel for outdoor use. And for the record, Tops does an excellent job with 1095, and it really is a fantastic steel for an outdoors knife. It isn't fancy, but it gets the job done. A good 1095 is tougher and less prone to becoming brittle in sub-zero temps than D2. It is a much better option to take abuse that requires absorbing shock, like chopping or batoning than D2, and is much easier to sharpen in the field. D2 is harder so it can keep an edge longer, but when you do have to sharpen it, becomes more of a chore than you are likely to want to deal with among a myriad of other chores you must accomplish in the field. It is more corrosion resistant, but this advantage is also of limited utility in a knife for outdoors use. I would never dig or pry with a D2 steel knife like I would on 1095. As a machinist, I am well aware of D2 for its use in tooling dies. It is hard and has good wear resistance, but that doesn't necessarily translate to being a premium steel for an outdoor knife. Personally, I'd take 1095 or D2. If Tops wanted to go with a better steel, they could, but they do 1095 well enough I don't think D2 is that better steel for this application.
Hello Gideon, ya do realize that if you ever can't find it, they'll say ya "lost your (TOPS) marbles"!😂 Thanks, keep up the good work! Be safe and take care, "God Bless", sincerely, Randy. 🙏😇👊
no on the handle...no on the sheath... I've owned A LOT of knives and still regularly wear a woodcraft thats about 100 years old. There's no comparison
Hey Aaron, There's one point about this blade that you did not touch upon, and I get why. You're not a hunter. This blade excels as a hunting/woodscraft knife. I know you're not a deer hunter, but for those of us who enjoy both hunting and woodscraft, this blade is an excellent choice for the lower mid-range price point.
In 1914 the Marble's Woodsman and their knives where the first stacked leather knives ever made and was copied around the world b y 1917 Ka-Bar, Case, Camillus, Buck all ran with Marbles design's all their knife blade shapes to the stacked leather was Marble's pattents.
I like that TOPS is putting out designs that are a little more user friendly. Their over the top jimping looks cool until you want to get a bunch of work done with the knife. I love the design of my Cochise but the jimping is a hotspot minefield. Both the super aggressive jimping and the cutouts in the micarta around it kill my hand. The Silent Hero 4 is so much more user friendly. Cerakote is a better coating than powdercoat IMO. It's much slicker and I prefer the look. The Woodcraft caught my eye right away and I didn't realize it was a throwback design. It's beautifully done but clearly at the expense of some useability. It's one I'll definitely consider but more for it's aesthetics.
Sooner than later, Tops and ESEE will have to evolve to higher end powder steels if they want to remain relevant. Imagine some of their classic designs in 3V or MagnaCut….
I agree. Some people say a survival knife should be 1095 so it's easily sharpened, even with a rock. Statistics indicate, though, that people are rescued from survival situations in four days at the most, and usually fewer - I think it's a fraction of a percent that go to five days. I think it makes better sense to have a knife with superior steel that can go four days without needing to be sharpened.
The sheath really kills it for me, at 170 bucks! Right out of the box, a new sheath is required for anyone who doesn’t love this one. And that jacks up the price to, over 200 bucks. A long time waiting for this, to be a somewhat dud(sheath)😕
Well it's not a bad option for a 100 to a 120 max price range. The Lionsteel M5 is in all the way superior, and 15 dollar cheaper. And in fact, i can't find many comparison opponents for the M5 ,up to 230 dollar range. My opinion Aaron, don't bring side to side M5 or (my) T5 , with the markets options ,cause it's a little unfair....he he
This might be my next Tops. I have a Buck with the same style sheath and it’s not something that bothers me. Definitely a sweet looking blade. Awesome review and glad it cut those kabobs!
I have a very old knife that is similar it was my grandfathers hunting knife that he used in ww2. Been waiting for a knife maker to bring that style back. The price is a little to high yet for me. Thank you again for a awesome review. God bless.
I've been looking forward to this for almost two years now. Just bought mine from bhq. I doubt it'll replace my CUT 4.0 as my primary edc fixed blade, but it's going to be in my camp pack Edit: now that I've had it for nearly 2 months, I just love it. Leo knocked the handle design out of the park. Very comfortable for medium to large sized hands. Leather sheath isn't for me, but the knife has got into my camping rotation.
Tops does an amazing job with their 1095, and I love that they are getting nostalgic with some of these classic designs. I don't see this replacing my HOG 4.5 or my Dawn Warrior though. I think I will pass on this one, just but I can see where they are going with it and appreciate the effort.
I love the design and also belive that swedge limits it. I'm going to buy it and grind off that swedge for a flat back that can successfully strike a ferro rod as well as shave kindling. But in all honesty, there is no knife, gun, or piece of gear in my collection that I haven't modded to suit my needs more specifically.
Hi, thanks for the great video. I like the knife design, but for me, I would find some better options for the money. The sheath, unfortunately, they didn´t learn from many similar issues (inc. mine) on the Silent Hero knife - sheath, the strap could be sliced off just by normal use of the knife. Have a great time:-) FM
Not too certain a modernization was all that accurate, but a 'tribute' of sorts. I have an ol' classic Woodcraft. This new one on the other hand is sort of a light-tactical rendition - I suppose. The sheath design features are lousy (being nice). That said, This new version collaboration is not an easy factory rendition. There is quite a bit going on process wise with overall shaping and geometry. Concerning several complexity details in production perspective; cost in my mind is very fair-minded.
The marbles was a hunting knife… the flaws that were given were non hunting/slicing related and were, realistically, tasks that this blade wasn’t designed for. It’s not a perfect knife or design by any means but not every knife is a “baton, carve, notch, bushcraft” knife and I don’t know why that’s how every knife video presents knives nowadays. It’s like “here is an obvious hunting knife… now let’s beat it through a log and carve wood with it”. It seemed to excel at the task it was designed for: slicing. Other than that, you’re killing it with the quality of video! Hopefully this wasn’t too harsh. Keep it up!
Excellent video as always. I saw this knife hit the market and was really curious about it. You definitely answered all the questions I had about this tool. I think if the blade on this knife was 2 to 3 inches longer, it would be perfect for me. Thanks for all of your hard work Aaron. We really appreciate you and your channel.
So far from everything I’ve researched the handle doesn’t do the knife any favors when it comes to woodcraft tasks. One revue reported that the knife was basically torture on his hand after extended periods of use. There are simply other knives, such as those made by Joker, that are more ergonomically designed and competitively priced with better sheaths. Take all this with a grain of salt because I have no personal experience with the knife.
Interesting that someone hated the handle. Sure a mora will be a little more comfortable because of the rubber and larger palm swell but it feels similar to the Mohawk Hunter, tops mini Bob, buck 117. 👍
@@gideonstactical I do too. I've been using that on a helikon tex belt rig setup for several months now and I haven't used a bladder system since. Thanks again and God bless you brother
That Sheath is Definitely geared toward Hunters , that piece of leather that wraps around the handle is for when your going through thick brush it won't grab the handle and pull the knife out of the sheath on you ....👍🖖
G'day Aaron, a bit more belly than I'd normally go for but I like it. Like the BK-18, I reckon it'd make a fantastic partner for a big fella, ... I'm think'n skrarma, parang, or hatchet/hawk, since there's no tip to speak of. Yes the swedge could have been better but not a deal breaker. That sheath however; its like the worst aspects of a buck 119 and a bravo sheath made even more fiddly. Good think'n to use a standard companion as a reference point dimension wise. I really dig that vintage job, ........ bring it back !!!!! Cheers Duke.
Is that a Orvis flannel… I have the same one!😂 I knew I like your content! Going to be getting one of tops marbles knife. I reminded me of my grandfather’s knife
I don't like handles that get thinnest in the middle; that is not how my hand is. Anything made by TOPS is quality even if they sometimes make knives too thick or too odd. TOPS always has quality materials and construction.
Excellent commentary! Great looking blade/knife! Excellent "Return from Marbles to Tops! I had the original Marbles woodcraft. Somewhere along the way... it became: "just the sheath." :( Then I needed "just a sheath... for a lonely knife!" Pretty sure I still have the mismatched combo: where is the question? Thank you! Never "needing" another knife... I am going to Purchase this one, as soon as I go from here... ti ordering another custom built katana of sorts, then onto The " Marbletops Woodcraft! Great job BTW! J
Thank you for the vid. I have been looking at this knife. After your review, however, I think I will pass. The sheath is a game changer for me. I don't like it at all. I went to the AZ Welke site to see what it would cost for a Kydex sheath and it puts this knife and new sheath in the $200 range. That's too much for this knife. Too bad TOPS doesn't offer a sheath option...hint, hint.
Been meaning to ask... 14:57 You are definitely a thumbs up guy! Seen almost every one of your videos and you usually get a thumb up, especially for feather sticking. Do you ever get splinters doing that, or ever chew up the side of your thumb? I always scare myself when I do that because it’s right up against the wood. Am I just a wuss?
@@gideonstactical my best beater is my Drop Forged Hunter. Got it thanks to your video and Donnie's, I don't know why but I play them both from time to time, it was so good that I believe that you guys deserve a commission from CS!
