TOPS Tanimboca Puukko: First Impressions (I Like It!!) - Preparedmind101 

5 years ago, this video sold me on the Puukko, and I still love it and use it today.

Tops are knocking it out the park this year with the weird and wonderful stuff

Great video Tanner thanks for getting your hands on this puukko so quickly.

I like the screws. Maybe i'm nuts.

I would consider buying this knife just so I could have "Tapioca" stenciled into the leather in large letters... and wear it proudly. It does look like a good one, it's actually the first TOPS knife I'd be interested in. Thanks for the review.

The blade is very nice. Thanks. Tony.

I have been using this knife for several years and I love it, it holds a edge for a long time easy to sharpen and I don’t feel any hot spots. Great video thank you for sharing.

Love that knife. Maybe my next TOPS. Another great video.

Man i love this knife. Feels so great in the hand. You can see the quality and craftsmanship. Thumbs up for TOPS. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 and thx for the perfect video review

Still using my Entrek Forester in 440c that you reviewed sometime back...some of the 'best treated', sharpest blades I've ever used..this is also a nice blade .have a great day...

Its a very comfortable knife, I played with it a bit at shot this year, I plan on picking one up even though I do not need yet another knife :)

I purchased this knife and it quickly became one of my favorite knives in my collection. My Bark River’s are sexier, but this little knife excels in everything Bushcraft.

It looks like a very useful blade. Tops makes good stuff for sure!

Great looking knife, will definitely be picking one up

awesome thanks Chris ! 👊

Nice, functional. Amazing the price differences out there. $99 on BladeHQ, then $141 over on Amazon. Crazy.

Good review, another to go on my shopping list.

Great info Chris... Thanks

I have 3 TOPS knifes..they are all amazing quality.

Great video, thanks for the info.

I love this knife man. Perfect Puukko style knife. Kudos at Tops 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

Tanimboca is a nature reserve in Columbia. Puukko ist the word for knife in Finland. Strange combination!

Telling everyone not to be stupid while you light yourself on fire is actually pretty relatable

I just picked mine up last week and put it to use this past weekend. The handle was perfect length for my hands (size LG gloves) but for those with massive paws this may not be the knife for you. Over all I absolutely enjoyed it.

Thanks Chris!

Love the pukko knives

I'm in the UK and I've had the knife two weeks i got it from tony at moonraker and it's just knocked the barkriver bushcrafter light of my top spot I have a touch of a arthritis in my fingers and the handle is really comfortable

Looks great.

This is the only tops knife that really got me thinking I really need it

The screws are awesome. My multitool only has flat/Phillips head bits. So perfect for out in the field, for me at least.

A straight up no nonsense or embellishment on this blade, not a bad thing as Chris said. Kinda reminds me of Randall's model 10, practical use with wild abandon. Has very nice sheath, no doubts. Good review !

Sweet looking knife. It's just hard to go back to anything else once you get hooked on bark river.

Sweet knife

Lovely blade shape, I even like the aesthetics of the screws & the handle shape. Shame though that TOPS *still* haven't discovered that stainless steel exists. If that was S35VN it'd be a nearly perfect small/medium bushcrafting knife.

Is that a microbevel? Did Tops say why?

I like it, I like idea of the screws. Only thing I would suggest is that flat head screws might look better, suit the traditional look and might be slightly more versatile for removal/adjustment with limited tools.

I reckon the screws are a really good idea. In a jungle environment, one can remove the handle daily to clean, dry and oil the whole blade. Nice one brother

Can the jx5 make a spoon . Or a one knife shelter. Chair or bench. That would be a cool video

That designer makes some awesome knives and even better that he makes them in the jungle

Very practical tool!!! Hey, is that Ash that you are using as a base/worktable? I thought I saw the telltale signs of the Ash Bore where the bark is stripped away.

"Hard to put into words" that's the puukko design talkin'! Those little knives are carving BEASTS Btw, Chris, I dig those screws. If something happened and I HAD to get that handle off in the field, I've always got my Leatherman on me, but I don't have any fancy allen wrenches with me or anything. Way I see it, those screws help lighten my pack.

Chris, where can I find a ferro rod with a handle like the one in this video?

Chris, do you have a thermacell? I'll send you one if you want. They work great!

How is the edge retention on this knife compared to a 1095 mora ?

looks tough as nails,very practical.

Like it. Even the screws. Wish I would have seen it before I bought the tops B.O.B but maybe for Christmas lol

I have two Moras and a Martiini Lumberjack pukko.I like the Tops as well.Too expensive for my budget though at $142 on Amazon.I have the TOPS B.O.B a good hefty knife for general purposes and kicks ass for batoning.

Looks like a good knife although I prefer a drop point blade. Do the scales come off. The screws make me think so, but the forward lanyard holes appear to be fixed. A nice lanyard in the back would help get it out of the case. BTW: I am thinking $100 is a bit steep for that knife.... maybe $50.... but that is just me.... ☺

looks nice. Does the bow drill divits pose a potential hot spot? The looks of the screws aren't bad. just concerned it would let water, or if cleaning fish or game, blood and stuff getting under the scales.

Hey Chris, now that the fallout of the Jess-X incident what are your thoughts on the BK-7 and BK-9? Those two were your go to for big knives. It's plain to see how much you like the El Chete, but thats a bit pricey. Do you still recommend those two BK knives? Do still use your Jess-X or can you just not tolerate looking at it because of the past?

Never even noticed the screws and 1095 and other high carbon steels are my favorites. I prefer when a blade roles. I HATE stainless blades because of chipping.

I forgot all about this knife. Great review Chris. I stopped the video and went to DLT Trading and ordered the Tapioca Pukko. I am not that smart either.

you are getting a lot better at making feather sticks Chris I like the knife I have moved away from large knives my self I prefer around the 4/4.5 for were I live

Chris, do you prefer Tanimboca Puukko over the Scandi Trekker? Looking at both and your opinion is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Looks like the screws make it easier to take the scales off. Those two smaller holes look like they're made for lashing the blade onto and stick to make a spear. Tops is looking better and better because of your reviews. Thanks.

You should definitely give the lagom bush knife by bens backwoods, lester river bushcraft, and produced by lt wright. It is a very similar knife to this one,size wise but the handle looks more comfortable than this one and it is made by lt wright so you know the quality will be next level.

I like the screws too....😁😎😁😎😊

Do we know if El Chete be going to the rust free screws?

I don't mind the screws I could care less about the 90 spine but do wish it had a lanyard hole as I like them. and people put to much in steel as if some super steel makes up for skill and knowledge.

The Tops fixed blade knife reviews police are watching, so far you have covered all the bases including the batoning😜

Had a second look at this video, because I love simple puukko's. And the review is very well done as always! About the knife. I would make/want some changes. First of all lose these holes in the front and relocate the screws. Add a lanyard hole (as you mentioned) and that could be done by making the pommel rounded but sticking out a bit and a small indent in the micarta handle so I can open/crush coconuts. Lose the bow drill divets. Epoxy the handle so no moist can penetrate ever and use corby rivets in titanium, stainless or aluminium. At a retail price of just over 150 dollars right now in my country there's NO WAY I would choose or recommend this knife over other options. I have serious doubts about this Serbian dude that lives in Colombia and telling me that this is the sort of knife they use. They don't. I did spend time in Colombia and talk to survival experts there as of today and none of them uses this kind of knife. It's a commercial hoax. Not saying the knife is bad but to claim that's what they are using in the Colombian jungle is insane. It's all marketing. Give the knife a name that can't be pronounced (as you mentioned) and a claim that they all use it over there and people will buy it. You did. ;)

Do you like it better than the Jääkäripuukko 110?

I suppose I'm in the minority here, but I love the screws. I own so many goddamn knives, it's refreshing to see something different, as long as it's functional.

What sort of watch is that cobber,nice.

I like the way the night looks I have never used it or held it or even seen one in person but to me I'm sure they had a reason for them screws but in my opinion they don't look good with the knife

Is this differentially heat treated? I'm asking better you struck a ferro rod with it.

Is that knife hollow ground? I just got mine and it really looks hollow ground.

I looked at this one at blade show but never picked it up. I can see now maybe I should have bought this one instead of the Brakimo. But if someone doesn't like the screws I'm pretty sure they could contact Tops and get some replacement screws.

do you think it's better than cro van?

Will the handle accommodate large sized hands

i like the handle just fine

Have you thought about reviewing the Condor Primitive Mountain Knife? It's a very similar puukko design to the Tanimboca. Consider doing a comparison???

I know I'm VERY late to this particular party but considering I just picked up a Benchmade 200 Puukko in CPM 3v for less than $130 shipped to my doorstep and this knife is still $99 in 2019for 1095? I don't see the point to getting this. I have my Jaakaripuukko's, Mora's, hultafors, and now Benchmade that is AMAZING to play with for puukko style blades. Not to mention the varous other off brands and such. I just can't see the point. And, judging from the comments here, the sentiments were the same 2-3 years ago too.

Edit ...THREE years later I see an old comment of mine here I now disagree with.👇 I wish the Brakimo had a better handle like this one, I scratch my head with their handle designs, they seem to always screw up a great design with a crappy grip. Update- I have had a Brakimo now for 10 months the handle is thin BUT after using the knife daily I actually like it . The thin shape works cause the handle width and hight . Yes it could be better BUT I've gotten used to it and it just works. Also the edge is so dialed in, it's a freaking awesome SURVIVAL/BUSHCRAFTING TOOL. I highly recommend it now.

Nice.. I rather have a kydex sheath though.. Especially since i would edc this one..

Single lanyard hole on the rear and pins versus the Phillips would have been superior. Oh well, I kind of like it but not sure if ill buy it?

Not everyone can afford the super steels either. Higher build quality higher skilled labor means higher price. It's nice that tops keep a mid-range line that is as high of a quality as it is without driving the prices up for us common men.

I love every bit of it ! Even the screws ,but in all honesty I’ll save up the extra $24 bucks and buy the Benchmade pukko outta 3V ... for $123 from your other video but that said I still feel that this knife is worth the 99....

puukko - with a long uu - is Finnish for 'knife'.

One PLUS for the screws, you can get some quality aircraft grade stainless screws and replace the "gold" anodized colored screws it comes with! The stainless screws would blend better with the blade color!

As for you (and I) now the Sheath needs a dangler. Thats all its missing. You know it.

I have one of these and I really like it. Any idea what the two holes are used for>

Why would they put the lanyard holes so up close to the blade??

a perfect giveaway

Brass hex screws would look better,or permanently attach handles with epoxy.

Your feather sticks will become the BEST EVER, if u sharpen out the secondary bevel. Convex is very nice to feathwrstixk wuth

Lanyard holes are in the wrong end of the handle.

Thanks for the review. But people, don't expect the Tops puukko to perform like a traditional one. I don't have anything to complain about the design, fit or finish, however, the secondary bevel unfortunately ruins the performance of the blade. I guess Tops is doing that because many of their customers handle their knives a litte rough. But out of the box mine wouldn't even cut paper properly. Maybe I just had bad luck with mine. Anyways, I modified the grind and am quite happy now. But it took me several hours to remove that bevel on water stones.

Lots of good info packed in this one, Chris! I don't normally care for brown micarta either, but somehow it works on this knife. I don't own one yet but have used one and loved it. Very intuitive as you said...and oddly I don't mind the looks or the screws. It does what it does so well, it just makes you say 'who cares, I like it'. Great vid, thanks!

Hey Chris unrelated question, where's the best place to get information about camping for beginners? I want to get into it but I'm feeling kinda overwhelmed about the whole thing

I do feel the overwhelming reason people tend to use 10xx steel is that it is cheap...when are you going to review that William Collins knife you got the pretty sheath for?

tricky pulling it out of the sheath?

Respect %

Tanimboca is reservation in Amazon jungle, where lives a designer of this knife.

What type of grind

Why worry about the screws if they don't affect the knives use and purpose? Great review since its a "First Impression". Would you mind adding where you get the Large Ferro rods in your Link's?

Needs a knife to be used where rust is an issue, gets special screws but picks a 1095 blank. Wants a smooth surface for s bowdrill - makes it from micarta.

You could always changed the screw if they bother you probably what I would do

A puukko made for the jungle?

Not to be a jerk but if they designed the knife for someone that's in the jungle for Bushcraft... why not 154cm? That steel is tougher holds a better Edge, a lot more stain resistant than 1095 and sharpens easy. they use those particular type of screws so they can take the scales off and clean the steel beneath so it doesn't rust. with 154cm you wouldn't have to do that.