Just received my new TOPS Scalpel in the mail yesterday. After finding it on sale for $35 dollars from
www.knifepro.com, I just had to buy it. I have heard good things about TOPS knives in general from the research that I have done on the brand. The only complaints that I have heard are of the knives being overpriced for the type of steel they use, which is a decent carbon steel called 1095. I have been happy with the edge holding and toughness of 1095 in the past, but some of TOPS blades are pretty salty.
Back to the knife, it is really a pretty neat little piece. It is advertised as being able to be carried either on the belt or in a neck sheath, but personally I think it is a little heavy for neck carry, as the knife is a quarter inch thick. Here are the specs,
Length Overall: 7"
Length Blade: 2 3/4"
Cutting Edge: 2 3/8"
Blade Thickness: 1/4"
Weight: 5 oz
Blade Steel: 1095 High Carbon Alloy RC58
Blade Color: Black Traction Coating
Handle Material: Black Linen Micarta
I have'nt cut much with it yet besides some cardboard and paper and I have only done a couple of stab tests with it into some cardboard and 2x4's. It came shaving sharp but the edge is very thick so it does'nt make a very good cutter, but the point narrows down so that it gets pretty good penetration on a hard stab. It is extremely overbuilt. I might experiment with reprofiling the edge sometime in the future to make it more efficient. Pretty comfortable in the hand and very secure due to the very well fitted micarta slabs. The overall fit and finish is excellent. You can definitely tell that is was finished by hand.
The sheath is decent, it is a simple kydex affair with a metal belt clasp which can be rotated to carry vertically or horizontally. The only thing I don't like about the sheath is that only approximately 2 inches of the handle are sticking out of the top, so you kinda have to reposition your hand after a draw.
Overall, I think it is a pretty neat little blade for the money and it definitely seems as bulletproof as they claim their blades to be. Here are a few pics.