Hard Use Tactical EDC Fixed Blade Tops Cut 4.0 Review

[@flywheel986]

This tool was never meant to compete with Mora, or Opinel. With this tool, I can slice tomatoes and cucumbers almost paper thin, I can also stab it completely through a thick rack of beef ribs, and can baton through 3" hardwood. One other added benefit this knife provides, is as a throwing weapon, it penetrates to 3" at about 20 feet. No, if you want to peel apples with a single skin, this knife is probably not what you want. However if you want to cape, skin, backstrap and haunch a deer this knife is a beautiful thing.

[@DeusEstPrimus]

Kevin Cleary, With all respect ( and you hinted at this already) what is the knife for? It is a combat/survival/utility knife. I don’t want a knife that is ridiculously hard to sharpen. I need a thick knife, decent edge, good corrosion protection. Everything is a trade off brother. Combat/outdoor utility knives typically don’t excel in any one area. They can and do however, do an acceptable job in many different areas. With all due respect to your opinion, I think we should keep this in mind. You can take a super steel and craft a very sharp knife with a hollow grind, but when the blade chips/rolls/ whatever, and you’re out in the woods, you’ll wish you had a thicker knife that was easier to sharpen.

[@qui-gone]

Have been EDC'ing the CUT 4.0 for nearly 5 years now and have never faced cutting issues. Sure it's not the best slicer, but that's not its intended purpose. The thickness becomes useful in light batoning and / or light chopping. As for food prep, box opening etc., it has performed more than adequately for me. 1095 is easy to sharpen and a small field sharpener is good enough for long hikes. The handle is excellent for self defence. You can use the ring in forward grip for potential pommel strikes too.

[@nater1328]

I just got one. I love it. But the belt loops came on backwards. I’ve tried to unscrew them, but the screws just twist freely in the rivet. How do I remove the belt loops to reconfigure them?

[@cohiba1982]

I’ve had mine for almost two years now it’s my daily carry love this knife for everything one of the best knives I’ve ever owned.

[@qui-gone]

@@nater1328 I could remove mine with a regular Philips head screw driver

[@PowerMadHeadBanger]

I am pretty sure that the designer was thinking self defense\hard use utility, like batoning. That's why he went to TOPS. You are thinking more around the lines of lightweight utility or normal EDC use. The problem to me is the handle who forces the user's grip to edge out only. I like to have edge in grip for several situations.

[@ScottieG59]

This has been my left side (10 o'clock position) carry knife paired with a right side(4 o'clock) carry handgun. I make sure it is retrievable with either hand. I like the secure retrieval with the ring, but I am unsure of the legality if the ring is interpreted as a banned impact weapon.

[@xxfaction6xx]

Same carry for me. My concern is if a jury, or LEO, would confuse this with a karambit, which is illegal to conceal where I live. I run it EDC anyway.

[@ScottieG59]

@@xxfaction6xx I also live close to Missouri and I am never quite sure about their knife laws. Still, that ring makes deployment fast and secure with either hand.

[@randymctavish3728]

I don't worry about it.

[@Jaybird-oo3ih]

If this is a banned weapon you guys need to relocate. It’s legal for me and imma carry it with confidence

[@Sherrodja]

Reprofile the edge and strip the rough finish and it'll perform much better.

[@guitardaddy6]

I can't take people seriously who can't sharpen their own knives...

[@turtlewolfpack6061]

Right?

[@miguellodeiro9671]

I would regrind an inch far top section of the blade to make it shorter, bring the tip down a little bit to a more "spear point" shape, sharpen the top regrinded portion to make Ir double edge, drop the belt loops and carry it right side IWB with a clip in reverse grip. It would be perfect last ditch. I don't think it would be necessary to change the sheath, but I would make a new, more comfortable smaller kydex sheath.

[@Victorsbzh]

Another example of similar grind would be Mossad Ayoob's Razorback. Thx for informative survey!

[@mattadler4710]

I think that the edge thickness has been somewhat of an Achilles heel for TOPS. They are one of my favorite brands, but they need to take the grinds down thinner on anything that isnt meant to be a dedicated combat/tactical knife

[@randymctavish3728]

That handle looks great. I wish I could put a pm2 flat blade edge on ità

[@danielstanius3701]

I need one of these in a bad bad way so perfect

[@danielstanius3701]

Update have one love it 😀

[@Sherrodja]

Would like to see a review on the TOPS C.A.T. fixed blade tanto,. I've had my eye on that one for awhile.

[@matthewadler1329]

It's crazy that there are so few reviews on that...and other TOPS knives for that matter. Makes me wanna make some videos.

[@DZNTZ]

I think you’ve got the self defense aspect perfectly backwards - you want a laser beam, thin, scalpel sharp blade for CQC (like a Ronin 2/Yojimbo or Matriarch). You want ANY contact with the blade to be devastating, and you need a thin, razor sharp blade with a thinned tip to do that. Sure, a sharp stick beats a dull stick lol, but a box cutter is better! A self defense weapon needs to be very focused, once you start talking about “also for edc, or utility, etc etc” you’re compromising. I wish there were more options for purpose built CQC blades.

[@brianminkc]

lol. It will easily cut to the bone on flesh 4 inches deep. It is pretty indestructable and you don't have to worry about breaking it, or breaking the tip. This is a very durable tool. If you want to slice tomato's get you a good Shin chefs knife. I thought you were a bit unfair considering this is a combat style knife that can be depended on in any situation. Honestly, for a 4 inch blade that can be pushed even to EDC use, I can't think of a tougher more durable blade on the market from any manufacturer. The blade is thick but you can thrash on that batoning and processing wood without fear of it breaking or chipping, its also small but just big enough for self defense or combat use, that thick blade and thinning to the cutting edge would produce a gapeing asymetrical wound channel (especially when stabbing) that would be very difficult to close. I think what I am trying to tell you Kevin, TOPS knows what they are doing, they have blades in every branch of the military. I have no idea what you are talking about slamming the edge retention, it holds a razor sharp edge for a very long time.

[@matthewadler1329]

I get the size because it's a very capable outdoor knife, but I would love a mini. 7.25" overall would be perfect. I'm gonna bug the maker about it.

[@requited2568]

Just throw on an ulticlip.

[@billdaniel920]

I agree on your assessment of the Tops Cut 4.0. Who is the manufacturer of "The Bulldog?"

[@Kevinclearysharpstuff]

PMP

[@machinaexmente2729]

The Harpoon is also 1095 😁😁

[@Kevinclearysharpstuff]

It was when it first came out but the recent models are D2

[@matthewadler1329]

@@Kevinclearysharpstuff right. The last carbon ones got bought up last xmas.

[@danielstanius3701]

I'd take 1095 over d2 all day everyday

[@turtlewolfpack6061]

The biggest issue with the CUT 4.0 is that crap coating, which actually retards the cutting ability. The same happens to ESEE. The edge isn't the issue, that is easily fixed, it is that garbage plastic spray paint. That said, I love mine!

[@natureandknives]

Gotta disagree on this one , this knife is excellent in the Bush, your a guy that prefers folders and doesn't do bushcraft So I gotta respectfully disagree on your take on one of my fave tops.

[@Kevinclearysharpstuff]

Use what you like for sure, but I cut and carved and sliced with this beside a bunch of other knives and everything I tried sliced better and bit into wood better. But your right I didnt do only bushcraft I cut vegetables and cardboard as well because thats what I want from an edc.

[@knifesharpeningnorway]

40 or 60 thousand thats just idiotic..... a knife that size should minimum be under 20 thousand if not under 12 ish... im sick and tired of overbuilt crappy blades. All knives are meant to be cutters.. 40 thousand are waaay to thick for even a huge chopper. A chopper should be 15 thousand ish.

[@Sugardaddy501]

Thin the grind back and down a bit; most will never fight with it.