The Tops Knives SXB & SXS: Earning ALL Of My Respect!!!

The Tops Knives SXB and SXS are two knives that I never expected to get my hands on. They don't fit my typical style and I don't naturally gravitate towards them. But as fate would have it, I did happen to get both of these in my hands for a wonderful weekend of hard use, where I relied on these knives as my primary camp tools. All I am going to say is that after two full days of work (over a 3 day period), these knives, and especially the SXB has really earned all of my respect!
www.topsknives.com/sxb
www.topsknives.com/sxs
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[@tomservo3401]

3:22 You would have an easier time and get more efficient chopping if you secured that tree to keep it from wobbling up and down.

[@outerlimitless]

Yeah, of course, but that's not how it always goes...I don't think you understand the amount of work that was performed over the course of the weekend. Sometimes wood secure and supported, sometimes it hovered a bit. When the wood is on the ground you also bury your knife into the dirt. So I opted to chop the logs fairly quickly as they were without hunting for a log to place beneath. It worked fine...got my work accomplished and I move on. It takes more time and energy to go find a way to support the tree rather than just chopping it and moving on.

[@matthewgerlach3056]

100% so much wasted energy trying to chop that small log. Almost pointless otherwise! If not use a handsaw @Outer Limitless

[@slartibartfast2452]

Just watching the *chopping.* I can't help but question if this is your first time using a knife.

[@the-gd9rv]

I would say maybe he was going less for safety but he’s wearing shorts and swinging around a big sharp knife

[@catfishcave379]

I was thinking the same thing,; certainly no trimming logs xp.

[@MountaincraftOutdoors]

Hahahaha, man, I went straight for the comments to see what people were saying about that chopping.

[@johnmoder5306]

Just watching the use of the fire striker. I can't help but question if this is your first time using a fire steel.

[@lavazza8031]

Seul faiblesse niveaux index et vis apres lame ca plie bien ici ,sinon c est un dieux

[@tonyjedioftheforest1364]

Finally got around to watching this all the way through. A very good review so thank you for sharing. I have both but I also have the Tom Brown 4 Mini Tracker which clips nicely to the molle straps on the back of the SXB. The thumb indentation on the back of that one is great for the finer tasks and large round belly great as a skinner for small game. If the SXS was to move the notching teeth up an inch it would be better for your thumb position. I love all 3 knives as a system and also use the Tops MSK2.5 as a neck knife which has a nice Scandi shape which is good for food prep and gutting fish. It fits nicely into the pocket on the SXB sheath when not around my neck. I have also made a baldrick by using a Lowepro camera strap that has a nice shoulder pad so is very comfortable to carry. This clips nicely on to a 6 inch piece of chain that goes through the SXB belt loop giving me the required length so as to have my knives by my side and not chest carry.

[@outerlimitless]

The spine serrations are definitely tough as far as the location...I can see the clear differences with the Tom Brown...but the Tracker has better ergos for thumb position in my opinion. Thanks for watching!

[@extremeedgecustoms]

Love my sxb the sxs I'm in the same boat as you with the pummel half tempted to grind it off

[@outerlimitless]

Yeah, a nice easy mod will go a long way in my opinion. I need to use the SXS some more to decide which guard to grind. I might do the forward guard instead...hard to say!

[@aldenunion]

I got a kydex sheath made from ebay to horizontally scout carry reverse belt where I forget I am wearing it.. Guy made it so perfect it does not make a sound walking.. Does not bother me at all wearing it..1095 excel in the woods..LOVE MY SXB WITH THE ATLUS KYDEX SCOUT RIG....

[@danielcharbonneau222]

LOL loved the end.

[@outerlimitless]

Haha, was driving me CRAZY!! I could barely get through a sentence!

[@daveclark8726]

When you cut and chop if you don’t put the wood on a solid base it bounces and wastes a lot of your energy. You have to work twice as much. A relaxed grip is best so when you chop it’s really like throwing the knife. If you grip too hard you ware yourself out. You should never hit dirt, it dulls the edge. Never pull cut against your leg. Instead use a small tree to support the blade. Safety first.

[@outerlimitless]

I hear ya...and ultimately, of course yes, a solid base, but there's much more than meets the eye in these videos. Many considerations that prohibit "ideal conditions". So I work to the best of my ability for the given situation. As far as the pull cut, are you concerned with the blade rolling/spinning in your hand?

[@FrikinTastik]

Heck of a chunk of steel for sure. On a side note, the ending to this vid was quite unexpected and so freaking funny!

[@outerlimitless]

I usually stick to clean edits on my videos...but this one needed the chaos. It was driving me absolutely crazy...those damn little things were going right in my eyes for like 3 hours straight.

[@albertramirez7599]

I own both those pieces and i hot to say they are for me the best knives I’ve owned to date,they both are beast,i have put them both thrue hell and back many times and they’ve haven’t let me down yet,I highly recommend them both,really you can’t have one without the other!!!

[@PaulLeach123]

Love this knife

[@outerlimitless]

Thanks for watching!

[@LordEagle]

GOOD review,,,,well done.👍👍👍😎

[@outerlimitless]

Thank you! Thanks for watching!

[@danielperalta8779]

Good vídeo. 😊⚔️👍👋 Saludos desde México.

[@outerlimitless]

Thank you for watching! I appreciate the support!

[@daveclark8726]

I like taking the coating off with paint remover and steel wool. Processing oak wood gives it some blueing😅

[@danielslater4092]

One thing I learned from camping with my dogs is to keep a very close eye on my kindling, cuz if feather sticks are involved they will be everywhere else and not on the stick, but I wouldn't trade them for anything.

[@outerlimitless]

The feathers are sometimes hard to keep on the stick...I like to carve them down into a hat or cloth if it's damp on the ground.

[@jellybean7253]

If you were to put a lanyard on the knife and wrap it around your wrist well then just hold the end with two fingers you will get a much better chopping result. I've had the Tom Brown Tracker for many years now. Enjoy.

[@bobross-mu3gp]

Okay so I thought this comment was kinda messed up until I got to the part where he started chopping the wood and I must say your comment is well deserved 🤣

[@Juraimi-cf7kj]

I just owned this huge and heavy fixed blade by Tops..

[@russhay422]

The SXB looks to me more like a modified Bowie than a Tracker per se. It’s definitely on my list.

[@outerlimitless]

I have a ton of respect for the SXB...it's a workhorse knife for sure!

[@user-wd4ge2zh2c]

What? It looks like a large tracker to me.

[@russhay422]

@@user-wd4ge2zh2c size of a Bowie with tracker elements. The saw element is moved closer to the hilt. More of a saw back Bowie.

[@rebelyell2741]

I’d love to see this knife in O1 tool steel with a higher primary grind on both edges. It will be a bit harder to field sharpen, but will also increase durability. Allowing for some slight design changes. Like raising the grind for a better bite during chopping while increasing strength, flexibility before failure, and break outs when hitting hard stone like granite by accident. A true survival knife should be able to dig too in my opinion. 01 and 02 handles a wide range of temperature conditions from Polar to equator. 440C with a quality heat treat is fantastic for polar conditions. Doesn’t do well in high heat. Tends to start rolling the edge quicker but I’ve never had one break out or snap in S. Florida. And all my 440C from the 1980’s goes with me in the Everglades. The stuff I bought back then(440C) is so expensive now. I’ve got a 18 inch bolo (.25 thick)with TPE handle scales I bought in 1994 Christmas morning . 440C, 29 years old now and still kicking butt on everything from brush oak, mangrove, bald cypress, sabo palm., coconuts, drift wood petrified with salt. I wish I bought Two back then at $40. It was before Bush crafting was popular and it was marketed as a fighting bolo.

[@_DST0NE_]

Holy shit I need both!! 😂

[@stephenwest1491]

Is there a sxb extra long like about 3 inches longer as i think its too short...

[@CineresCineribus]

I love my SXB Skullcrusher. I completely Redesigned the handle for better grip and comfort because it's made for Ejs huge mitts. But my only concern I have is where the first mechanical fastener is, that's the thinnest part of the knife, right where it gets the most shock. I'm worried that will become a weak spot in the future.

[@outerlimitless]

It's a great performing knife! I think you'll be fine...there's tons of meat on that knife...and handle tang.

[@CineresCineribus]

@@outerlimitless oh I know it brother, it's mostly that itch in the back of my mind that I wish the finger relief had a little more meat on it. But I've used the hell out of my SXB Skullcrusher so I'm not too worried. I also work on them all the time, check out my services page Hemlock Customs or follow me on IG @d.b.hemlock. Not sure if you saw the El Chete I did for Leo or not, but Tops recommended your video and I was fond of a long review. I absolutely enjoyed it!

[@outerlimitless]

@@CineresCineribus oh, dude... I'm supposed to be talking to you! Mark at extreme edge has been discussing custom work for my T17's. I'll hit you up on Instagram!

[@CineresCineribus]

@@outerlimitless haha sounds good brother!

[@MrGabrielJude]

Ribeye looked good!

[@outerlimitless]

Was fantastic! Thanks for watching!

[@danielww9022]

Dude, the sxb should whack through a 5" branch with ease. You made that thing look like a butter knife. I recommend a different style lanyard, as the one you put on really doesn't provide any benefit. Perhaps try an under-the-wrist braid that fits with a finger gap. I think you'll see a huge difference.

[@JamesGOutdoors]

I forgot to ask in the making the bow video. how did the coating on the blade hold up?

[@outerlimitless]

If you go to 34:02, that will take you directly to the coating discussion after all of the field use. Hope that helps!

[@raider7706]

So much does the set of two go for?

[@jonnyboat2]

Which knife do you like better Tops Tom Brown Tracker T1 - 4, or the SXS, SXB?

[@outerlimitless]

I'm pretty darn impressed at the sxb. It's an acquired taste but it performs

[@tomservo3401]

22:16 damn that poor knife is struggling going through that wood. Part of the reason flat grind blades are my choice for survival/bushcraft. my Longhorn bowie goes through wood like butter and i think the grind helps it retain its sharp edge plus i think the rounded spine adds strength abusing the blade like that.

[@outerlimitless]

The Longhorn is a SWEET blade...definitely a great choice. I agree about the flat grind too, but full flats don't split as well...although the Longhorn can def. do it! I love the rounded spine on that knife too.

[@tonyjedioftheforest1364]

I am interested in the SXS to partner my SXB but found this video unwatchable due to the amount of adverts, not just short ones either.

[@barrybueler3356]

I’ve always thought these blades have looked cool but I never liked a knife with such a wild blade design mostly for sharpening reasons. I do like to see any beast knife in use though 👍🏻. Personally 1095 is in my top 10 steels easy to sharpen tough holds a decent edge great steel for field sharpening my favorite especially for fixed blades is A-2 and 01 right behind it similar to 1095 except O1 rusts easier probably A-2 as well but they sharpen fairly easier like 1095 though 1095 might be a little easier but A-2 and O1 hold a little better edge and are also a little tougher in my exsperiance. I wanna love 3v but I only used it on the Benchmade puuko and the blade grind is thick behind the blade and comes with and awful V grind and it wasn’t fun getting that out maybe a thinner grind without a V grind would be better for me, which I have a .11 inch thick kephart in 3v with beautiful curly maple handles and red liners made by a great company Bark River Knives on of my top 3 knife brands along with BHK and LT Wright. The kephart also comes in a thin convex grind and cost me cost me $300 and I don’t have many keepers so I picked the kephart as one what a beauty I’d even like it more in A-2. I’m sure many would call me crazy Picking A-2 over 3v but I like a knife u can do a days works with that u can just touch up more than a steel that lasts 2 days of works but you have to spend triple the time to sharpen it which is a pain especially in the field with a small stone. I do like the smaller version better. It does scrap but I like a knife with crazy sharp spine the sharper the better one of my sharpest spines in the Ontario SK-5 Blackbird I think it’s is called 154cm kephart design micarta handles handles and a spine sharper than most people keep the edge of their knives.

[@outerlimitless]

I didn't naturally gravitate towards it, but man...it's a serious worker...and felt great doing it. I can definitely recommend these blades...SXB especially!

[@extremeedgecustoms]

I can live with the forward one but that palm digger sucks

[@sgtfatrod8901]

It has the same hook part as the tracker (but more prominent) surely it should make feathers like the tracker with the hook? Obviously you can do it with the flat section but the hook area on the tracker makes the best feathers of any knife.

[@outerlimitless]

I haven't tried feathers in that fashion. That's a good point though...I bet it will do a great job. I'll test that at some point. Thanks for watching!

[@korvenkuningas1016]

I feather the same way with my SXB, it does as the Trackers do.

[@budthecyborg4575]

Thick heavy chopping knives are one of the dumbest things people have ever invented. The worst part is I keep buying them.

[@Mr.tdiv14]

How is Tops knifes warranty? Do they take care the warranty on theirs knifes?

[@outerlimitless]

I'm not certain...but I have not heard anything bad ever about their service.

[@MountaincraftOutdoors]

Good gollie miss Mollie

[@hayyou3213]

What type of sling is that just curious.

[@outerlimitless]

I think this was just a regular strap... Not specifically a sling for this knife

[@tomservo3401]

26:40 ok last comment. I dont think its the diff heat treat its the angle and steel. Stainless isnt going to spark a ferro rod and knives like my longhorn bowei has a rounded spine so unless i use the cutting edge. Idk why everyones so worried about their knives sparking ferro rods? I carry a striker. Its the size of a dog tag.

[@outerlimitless]

What's stainless? These knives are carbon steel. And yes, the differential heat treat on Tops is known to make a softer spine, therefor making striking a ferro rod hard to do with a tops. But in this case the teeth are hardened. And people are worried about it because it's another ability of a knife...strikers are good too...but not always needed, nor wanted.

[@chadpescod-realtor3308]

Straight handle is too hard to grip. Need a severe hook type handle for prolonged chopping.

[@merlesater4484]

I would expect a person going out to the wilderness (?),would be wearing better foot gear. It does appear you are in a well used camp zone. The knives do appear to be a more than worthy investment.

[@PowerMadHeadBanger]

Some people say you shouldn't baton with your survival knife but I think using the wedge technique is too time and energy consuming. If we ever go into a SHTF scenario and end up lasting a long time maybe after a long time in the woods you are calm enough to use the wedge technique but in the beginning I don't it's easy to control the anxiety.

[@outerlimitless]

I find batoning to be very controlled and safe and very effective if done properly. If a SHTF situation, I am not certain any of this would be my go-to solution. But who knows...it depends on the circumstance.

[@andrewsowik6075]

I baton if I take a dip.in a river outa my boat or fall in in winter I'm not carving a wood wedge and go hypathermic I'm batton my knife even my pocket knife would work in a pinch.

[@Jim-su7en]

Can’t believe the shit sheath they ship these with.

[@savageater57]

Bearing on another log, you mean like that LARGE log in the background ? Itlooks like you make jobs more difficult than it is.

[@jessjohnson4978]

Try stabilizing the wood

[@spectermad9180]

Good video as i was watching the video I noticed its just to big it looked like you had a rough time using it ..well its so big and heavy..i know you might personally know the maker and it might be tough saying the truth..but you did good as good as you could do because its so big..

[@outerlimitless]

I don't know the maker. I use tons of knives...large and small...you can watch the performance for yourself. What tasks made it look like I had a rough time? I think it looks like the knife mostly performed very well in most tasks!

[@taylorjeremy71]

He said the SXB performance was great..... your Dunning Kruger effect is showing massive

[@theNHpatriot]

I have this knife and love it . When I cut I brace what I'm cutting with another log or anything to stop it from bouncing I also have a lanyard that I tighten up when I choke up on the back end if you use the the large belly it works just as good as a camp hatchet I use the notch between the smaller working edge and the large chopping edge for curling. It's a big knife. it's not for everyone, but it works great for me and I dont use the sxs. i use an old school tak from Okc as my primary, and when I say old school, I mean when the Randell bros were still involved with OKC. Good video to watch to get a look at the sxb and the sxs

[@joenewman763]

That's not how you use fero rod either

[@Mr.tdiv14]

Can you do extreme test for Tops knifes. Just doing like that is even 5$ knife at Walmart sell can do it. I like to see Tops knifes, Tops price and I hope Tops quality 200 plus knife extreme test for whoever gonna invest for life and death situation.

[@outerlimitless]

How extreme do you want?

[@Mr.tdiv14]

@@outerlimitless how can you able to break them. Thank you for response.

[@Mr.tdiv14]

Sxs is great for cut the meat.

[@chipallen7792]

That looks awkward

[@jorgecanahan3647]

Too bad Tom Brown STOLE the design and put his name on it, google it, it’s there, Utah Knives Works makes the original.

[@kennykamensky993]

I have no respect for tops knives brought a expensive knife from them didn’t even use it in less than a year I went to clean it it was rusty and pitted called tops they did nothing bad business refurbished it myself won’t buy from tops good luck

[@BeefT-Sq]

Coat your knives with BreakFree CLP for storage. Carry a couple of shotgun patches dampened with BreakFree CLP in a medicine vial for care in the field . Ideally, store knives in a safe with a heated rod to dehumidify. Any carbon steel knife can rust, not just Tops.

[@brentmccarley2513]

Was this your first time?

[@user-wd4ge2zh2c]

How is that not a giant Tracker?

[@BeefT-Sq]

Straight handle, skull crusher pommel, saw teeth moved back out of the way, different blade... Short answer : It is a tracker-type knife.