TOPS Armageddon Knife: One of the Elite?
TOPS Armageddon Knife is a company that specializes in the manufacture of high quality, military and law enforcement, and outdoor knives that are mission-specific tools designed using the extensive knowledge and real-life experiences of 12 individuals with backgrounds in these said areas.
As a result, we can all be certain that TOPS knives are specifically designed to handle extreme assignments. For those of you who are looking for a REALLY big knife, the TOPS Armageddon definitely fits the bill!
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TOPS Armageddon Intro
This knife was designed by Trace Rinaldi and featured an overall length of 16 1/2” with a 10 5/8” clip point blade with a flat grind made from 1/4” 1095 high carbon, non-stainless steel that has been hardened to 58 Rockwell. The blade’s knife further coated with a black traction coating to prevent corrosion.
Unlike many other large knives this length, the Armageddon weighs a hefty 24 ounces!
This is even when it features a full tang construction with an integral sub-hilt, and black linen Micarta handle slabs. Plus, it supplied with a black, combat style ballistic nylon sheath.
Since we have been writing lately about various large ethnic knives such as the parang, the bolo, the golok, and the machete, it just seemed appropriate to include the TOPS Armageddon even though it is not an ethnic knife design; although, to me, the Armageddon is reminiscent of both the Philippine bolo knife and the Nepalese kukri.
Continued…
Either way, we have been searching for several months now for a really large knife similar to the one used by the characters “Dutch” and “Billy” in the movie Predator (which was designed and built by Jack W. Crain), and we have finally found what we were looking for in the TOPS Armageddon.
With a 10 5/8” flat ground blade made from 1/4” 1095 high carbon steel with a 58 Rockwell and a total weight of 24 oz., this is one hefty knife!
In fact, the Armageddon conceived as something of a cross between a bowie knife and a machete, so you could call it an Americanized bolo or parang designed to handle medium to heavy chopping and splitting tasks that would normally relegate to a hatchet or a camp axe.
Also, due to the use of the 1095 steel, which contains 0.90% -1.03% carbon and 0.30% – 0.50% manganese, this knife is very tough and will hold an edge surprisingly well for such a simple steel composition. Most importantly, if the steel tempered correctly, it will not break, even if you use the knife as a pry bar.
More About TOPS Armageddon
Furthermore, the blade of the TOPS Armageddon features a recurved edge that is reminiscent of the Nepalese kukri that greatly magnifies the chopping power of this blade design, and the clip point tip is excellent for piercing.
Also, instead of the all too small grips we see on other large knives and other smaller pocket-sized versions, the TOPS Armageddon has a true, man-sized grip with a full tang construction and linen micarta handle slabs, which is the perfect handle material for a survival knife because it will not chip, split or crack. It is impervious to moisture, unlike natural materials like wood.
Furthermore, it features an integral sub-hilt in the handle, which aids the user to retain the knife in the hand when using the knife for chopping tasks.
However, as we have said on numerous occasions in the past, we don’t like large “finger grooves” ground into the edge in front of the quillion because it places the back of the edge farther from the user’s hand – thus, decreasing the leverage when using the knife for carving. Therefore, that is the one thing that we might consider changing about this knife.
The bottom line is that we really love the TOPS Armageddon for what it is. We wanted a truly large knife, hefty enough to let me know that we actually have a knife in our hands, and tough as old beef jerky, and we believe that the TOPS Armageddon is all of that and more.
Other TOPS Knives
TOPS Hazen Legion 6.0 Tactical Fixed Blade Knife
If you want a knife with sleek lines and a slim body, the Hazen Legion 6.0 should satisfy your desires with its combat-focused design. The tip offers top-notch penetration power, and performing slashing cuts becomes a breeze thanks to the blade’s length.
Field operators will also find this knife satisfying thanks to its many outdoor survival uses. Plus, 1095 high carbon steel is easy to re-sharpen in the field when it becomes necessary. And to top it all off, the comfortable Black Linen Micarta handle scales along with the protective Kydex sheath make this knife a great choice for collectors.
Overall, we’re dealing with a good knife that comes at a fair price and makes for one of the sleekest, toughest, and useful pieces of survival gear.
TOPS YAC-01 Yacare 10.25in Machete
Yeah, it’s a machete, not a knife. We get it. But hear us out a little before complaining too much. The Yacare made out of 3/16” 1095 with TOPS’ new finish, namely Acid Rain.
With a blade length of 10.25 inches, a cutting edge of 9.88 inches, and blade thickness at 0.19 inches, this is one sleek machete. It has thick, well-contoured black canvas Micarta handles. The design made to function well as a medium-to-heavy machete and with its all-belly blade, it bites deep into vines, thicket, and wood.
Tops Knives have worked with designers with backgrounds ranging from Navy Seals to Airborne Rangers, from Martial Arts instructors to survival experts, and from SWAT Team Members to Native American weapons experts. As a result, you’re dealing with an authentic tactical knife made by TOPS experts in multiple fields of defense, intelligence, and combat. Truly outstanding for the price!
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