TOPS KnivesBrakimo Fixed Blade Survival Knife Modified Scandi BRAK-01

WOW! This is a beast of a knife and they make bigger ones! The blade is perfect. I do think I may sharpen it on down to a proper Scandi cut. We will see if that can be done easily or not. Either way, I've very pleased with it so far. Love the sheath with the rotating clip. I mostly carry my knives horizontally and I've modified a lot of sheaths with belt loops from old leather belts. And the positioning of the clip makes it so you can carry without the handle sticking out too far. I'm big enough to hide most of them but this one is just right as it is. Highly recommended.

This blade has been the workhorse of my camping life for a number of years now.

I have had this knife for 12 days now, and I have shown it no mercy. The first thing I did is I tried to strike a ferro rod on its spine. As others have noted, it's not good for that. The spine is to rounded. Toward the tip it works very well though so it's not a problem. Then I tried to get a spark by striking it on a piece of flint. I highly recommend never ever doing that. The metal on the spine is surprisingly soft and I gouged it pretty bad. I really knocked some pretty off of it. I had to use a file to get the burrs off of it. So those are 2 of its weaknesses. I have found one more. The divets (small depressions or dimples) in the handle that are for you to use as a bearing block are to shallow. Every time I have tried to use the knife as a bearing block the spindle slips out of the divet and goes flying. otherwise I am very impressed with the knife. I am really working on getting good at the bow drill method for fire making. So I have batoned the knife through several logs (some of witch were pretty big). I have whittled many hearth boards, bearing blocks and spindles. and the blade is still as sharp as the day I got it (and that is very sharp). Some people complain that the handle is to thin. I don't find that to be a problem of any consequence at all, and I have huge hands. Some people don't like the sheath. I love the sheath. I like that it clips on to the belt. I hate having to undo my belt to put on or take off a knife, or gun, or hatchet holster. The clip on this one makes it super easy to put it on or remove it. Also I like the way the knife is held securely in it, but you can draw it easily and quickly. So, there are some things about it that I don't like, but over all I like it a lot.

My first TOPS knife was the original Scalpel, which I still have. It's a handy knife that moves to different gear or me, as needed. It has a purpose. It's a nasty chunk of sharp steel.The Brakimo was a recent addition to my collection and performed very well on a recent trip deep into the forest.It may be designed for bushcraft, and does remarkably well with many of those tasks, but it also proved itself as a general camp knife, which I really like. Not too big, not too small, just right.I also ran some defensive/offensive drills with it and was surprised how well it worked for me. The sheath retention is good and the knife deploys very well. I'm not sure why others complain about this sheath. It's no BS and the metal clip allows for removal without taking your belt off and is plenty strong, and doesn't snag things. It can be attached to other gear, even with the belt clip still on the sheath.So, for me, this is a solid all around fixed blade knife system that meets more than enough criteria to be a long-term keeper. I don't need custom unobtanium to torture test or impress anyone with. I require gear and tools to function in multiple roles. Tools and gear that are tested and perfected in less than ideal conditions will do just fine most anywhere else.The Brakimo not only fits my hand, it fits my requirements. I expect to enjoy camping with this knife far more than I will ever need it for real survival in the bush or for unmentionable conditions that are not probable. In case other things occur, the Brakimo is good to go and could also double as a field dress tool. It even cuts my open fire cooked steak very nicely, thank you.It's a good knife, period. End of story.

The media could not be loaded. I love the size of this knife. I’m a petite 5’7” woman and this knife fits perfectly in my hand. The knife is very high quality and I can tell it will easily hold up through wear and tear. I don’t have to worry about it breaking.I have never once thought about building a bug out bag nor purchasing a knife before but with the times we are living in it seems like a good idea. If you are a Christian and believe the Bible, you know that we are living in the end times. We need to prepare for the mark of the beast and be ready to survive in the wilderness when persecution comes. So that means you should be prepping now before it’s too late & build a high quality survival bag! This knife will be a great addition to your kit.