Tops Armageddon...Solid Performer: I Like It, But...

The Tops Armageddon...looks the part...a great wilderness blade, with a well heat-treated 1095, large steel blade...finger choils, and aggressive belly and recurve to match. I have used it for quite a while now, and I definitely have my impressions. Overall I do like it, but there are some fundamental issues that I have a hard time getting over. Take a watch and get the details!

[@BushCraftBums]

Awesome review! Thanks for sharing and stay Blessed!

[@outerlimitless]

Thanks for watching! Glad you liked it!

[@SoundWave209]

Normally when I’m using a knife that large in the field I would have some comfortable gloves on, you might wanna try that if you’re going to keep the knife. It might help diminish some of the hotspots

[@daveandmerlin]

You shouldn't need to wear gloves with a knife unless it's cheap and nasty .

[@barrybueler3356]

I’ve have the bob and there pukko great knife company especially for 1095 though I know there trying different steels now the Armageddon looks cool a great one tool option great vid 👍✌️and at least on my 2 tops blades I’ve had no problems with sharp handles.i only own a few recurved knives they a pain although the one on the Armageddon is a fairly small curve

[@outerlimitless]

Yeah, the Bob handle is actually pretty comfy...it's the grind that is a bit tough...Scandi ground 3/16" is beefy for a scandi, so the grind angle is shallow. But the Armageddon is a badass looking blade for sure...and actually did pretty good in the slicing tasks...just that hard hook on the handle and the spike in the middle of the grip...damn!!

[@arctodussimus6198]

I got Leo to grind down the little finger choil on my Armageddon. That fixed the only problem I had, and now it’s amazingly comfortable.

[@outerlimitless]

Dauumn! That's exactly what I want! Lucky you got it factory ground! Sweet!

[@arctodussimus6198]

@@outerlimitless Hey, call TOPS Knives, ask for Leo or Craig, and tell them Arctodus Simus (David Hemenway) sent you. They can smooth your choil down like mine. Probably be happy to do it. Although these days those guys are crazy busy. But I’m sure they will do it.

[@PREPFORIT]

Good reviewThat is not a rant that is fact If the handle is uncomfortable now then It is going to hurt like hell later.

[@outerlimitless]

True, I guess it wasn't an unfair rant...it was just a handle bashing...haha!

[@ThorBonesteel]

I don’t think they actually use or test their own knives. But they sure look good.

[@jamess.829]

I enjoyed your review and through the whole video I was thinking that I would rather carry a belt hatchet over that big blade. I also agree with you on the Tops Dart. It's my favorite camp knife and the ergonomics and function are excellent. The Dart and a smaller bushcraft knife make a good combination. Anything that these two can't handle would require an axe.

[@outerlimitless]

I have wanted the Dart for so long. One of these days I will get one!!!

[@jamess.829]

@@outerlimitless You won't regret getting the DART. I've had countless knives over the years and the DART is my favorite over all of them. Very comfortable in the hand. You can choke up on the blade or hold it toward the back of the handle for that extra chopping power and it feels great either way.

[@barrybueler3356]

The falkniven dc3 stone is the best stone for the pockets on a knife sheath in my opinion fantastic stone the dc4 is great to but is just a little bit to big to fit and I own like 10 stones spyderco no name etc

[@mavdog6375]

I know this is an old video but do you know if the sheath comes with button snaps and Velcro now?

[@outerlimitless]

I'm not 100%...you would have to check on their website.

[@rickfalk9319]

Could not agree with you more. There's no denying it's a sexy blade. I also thought it would be a better chopper and someone needs to explain to Tops that sharp and pointy on handles that look cool are not so good. That said, it is fun to personalize and modify to your taste. Mine is still a work in progress but it's enjoyable work. The sharp edges and hooks are gone but the edge profile still needs work (imho) to be a better chopper. Yet I still have this attraction to it that is hard to deny...I look forward to seeing what you do with it and maybe get some pointers I hadn't thought of! BTW, I've had big fun with the BOB and I finally used your fire-starter. Could be a lifesaver. Nice work!

[@outerlimitless]

Yeah man!! Glad to hear from ya!! So yes, I FINALLY got this blade into a video...took me long enough!! Did the fire starter work for you? I haven't used mine too much...I made them for the fun of making them, but I think they need a bit of tweaking to be truly effective. Might help using a lighter, but they were hard to get going with a ferro rod. But yeah, the Armageddon...it's a seductive knife for sure...and really hard to turn away from. It's like I WANT to like it...but hard to fall in love. I will work on some mods...that's always an interesting topic and fun to do!

[@rickfalk9319]

@@outerlimitless The fire starter did work very well! I did cheat a little and used magnesium shavings to help get it going, but once it took off...awesome. I'm going to try making some of my own too! I really want to like the Armegeddon as well. I always end up taking it out again (usually followed by tweaking something else!) and I have had fun with it. Anyway, hope to see any mods you make and have fun!

[@outerlimitless]

One of the modifications that I would make to the fire starter is adding a top layer of magnesium shavings. There are some, but I didn't have a bag of shavings and I used a magnesium block from a cheap ferro rod to add some shavings to the mixture, but It definitely wasn't enough. They burn for a long time...and I am wondering about the water proof/resistance. I'm glad you played with it. Making your own will be fun...it's a good project. I had a busted up pineapple candle, which is why mine are so fruity!

[@rickfalk9319]

@@outerlimitless No wonder it smelled so good! Kinda made me hungry...hahaha. I think more shavings would be a great idea. I imagine they could handle a little water very well, but didn't test that myself. Going to re-watch your video on how you made them and give it a whirl. If you make any changes, let us know! Thanks, man!

[@barrybueler3356]

WE LOVE YOU RICK !!!!!!!🤗😘

[@rickfalk9319]

Thanks Barry! :)

[@barrybueler3356]

😁

[@arctodussimus6198]

The Dart was also designed by Trace Rinaldi... Both knives are fantastic imho. And, I believe the Armageddon deserves a good kydex sheath. I have a custom “Dundee” style kydex sheath that can be carried as a shoulder rig or even baldric style. It’s my absolute favorite knife of any maker. 👍🏻👍🏻🇺🇸

[@outerlimitless]

YES...I have both and both are great. Nice hard use blades, always awesome manufacturing by Tops

[@jonathaneldridge4901]

Just got myself a Armageddon today

[@outerlimitless]

Hope you like it. I've thinned out my collection and the Armageddon remains in my knife block. It's a great knife. I still want to MOD mine, but haven't gotten around to it. Regardless it's a sweet blade. I'll be curious to hear how you like it!

[@huntshackwildernessexperie6820]

Well done on the review . As far as that knife goes I have never used or even held one but that handle doesn't even look ergonomic. I must admit I'm an axe user so big knives don't get my interest peaked. All The Best my friend. Paul

[@outerlimitless]

I really enjoy large knives as a tool...they have their place for function, but more than that, for me, they're just fun and cool to wield around. However, I have also gained a very high respect for axes and have really come to understand their capability much more over the past 2 years. There's no doubt in my mind that a large knife can not replace a good axe. I can't see how...the axe can be super efficient, and the knife just will never hit has hard or as deep.

[@huntshackwildernessexperie6820]

@@outerlimitless I guess it's that up north here I grew up with using an axe and it's natural in my hand. I must admit that the only big knife I have used ( VERY briefly ) was a BK9 and I would like to own one of them. It had good weight and surprising balance and felt very agile in my hand. ATB my friend

[@outerlimitless]

BK9 would be a good choice for an overall capable large blade. Definitely one of the more nimble due to the weight in the handle, especially if you get one with micarta handles. It's also very affordable, lots of them sell on the secondary market, so you could probably get one for fairly cheap if you wanted to mess around. I'd be curious to see how you like that Grandpa's Axe..as I am not really an "axe guy", I might not truly understand what is desirable in an axe for someone who can really wield one...however as a hatchet size, that Grandpa's axe really chops insanely and with the full tang gives it the ability to really use it hard.

[@huntshackwildernessexperie6820]

@@outerlimitless Don't underestimate those little hatchets. I made myself one similar in size to that ,its the handiest little tool They chop , slice, clean fish, dress game, make feather sticks and are east to carry. Great all round cutting tools.

[@ThorBonesteel]

I would definitely buy this knife if it wasn’t for the handle

[@outerlimitless]

It just needs the intermediate choil ground out... Some people have done that perfectly and it's the ideal mod...

[@MK-uc3ow]

What I hate of TOPS products is, the black nylon sheath. It has a nice large porch on it so this point is really good but the two velcros make me mad. They interrupt the blade when we use and they also bite our clothes. Why does TOPS use these velcros in spite of snaps?

[@outerlimitless]

Good point...the velcro is really annoying. I definitely prefer the snaps if we're gonna be stuck with nylon!

[@MK-uc3ow]

@@outerlimitless That could be why TOPS is shifting to the kydex sheath from Nylon ones but it is so sad for me because there is no large porches on it...

[@barrybueler3356]

My biggest knife is 7 1/2 inch blade when I go bigger it’s has been with a machete I’ve noticed that if they call it a knife and it’s huge it’s like $200 but for a machete with the same steel and more of it costs $60-100 just an observation I’ve noticed especially if it’s not a super steel shirtless your making us blush 🤪

[@outerlimitless]

Dude, that's funny you say that...yes, that honkin' steel blade is definitely costly for sure!! And I feel like even high end machetes are not all that pricey. Like LT Wright, Battle Horse, and even Fiddleback who command a premium still have modestly priced machetes. Yeah, that was one hotass day...had to lose the shirt!

[@barrybueler3356]

Yeah I have a few I bought my Ontario for $60 14 inch 1/4 inch spine of 1095 the sheath Isn’t great but it’s a beast for the price.

[@jakecarpenter9084]

tops only uses 1095 high carbon

[@outerlimitless]

They definitely do not only use 1095... however they use 1095 primarily. There are numerous models that use other steels. I currently own the Pasayten Light Traveler in 154CM as well as Tops 20th Anniversary Tex Creek in CPM154. The Operator 7 is in 1075... the Dicers are in CPM 35VN as will as the Camp Creek. There are other examples of non-1095 Tops Knives... but that's a few of the top of my head.

[@jakecarpenter9084]

@@outerlimitless Oh, I had no clue. I own a black rhino, missle strike, and a shadow rider all in 1095

[@jamess.829]

The Tops DART is 5160.

[@daveandmerlin]

No they don't .

[@giorgialeksandria6665]

get a Zombie Tools Parabellum :)

[@marciolprado1]

The knife is very good, but the operator lacks strength and skill.